P5 Z-Crank Elsie uses

[newyorktoiowa57]

I'm looking for an all around medium rod for a variety of techniques, primarily like a senko, small plastics, small keitech, some poppers, etc. I would like a rod that has similar action to a Robyn's 703 but higher end. 

Will the ZCE be a good all around medium choice? I know people say it's a treble hook rod, but in my experience Mb "treble hook rods" are too stiff for those applications (at least to me)

For reel I will probably go Met or the new steez

[djhands]

I use mine for moving baits and light top waters. I would go with the bait finesse rod if you are staying on the lighter side or go with the dark sleeper if you're using heavier plastics 

[FishTank]

I just used mine for the first time yesterday. I really enjoyed it. It seems to be a pretty universal rod. It could probably handle a 5in senko with an 1/8oz bullet weight but no more and this rod would not be my first choice for that application. I really liked it for poppers (Pop-x), Vision 110jr's, and shallow square bills. I don't see it being a deep crank rod or a light jig rod. I will have to try some soft plastic on it, weather permitting.  

[newyorktoiowa57]

1 hour ago, FishTank said:

I just used mine for the first time yesterday. I really enjoyed it. It seems to be a pretty universal rod. It could probably handle a 5in senko with an 1/8oz bullet weight but no more and this rod would not be my first choice for that application. I really liked it for poppers (Pop-x), Vision 110jr's, and shallow square bills. I don't see it being a deep crank rod or a light jig rod. I will have to try some soft plastic on it, weather permitting.  

Do you know how it compares to like a Dobyns 703?  I was hoping for something like that action but higher-end overall. Enough flex for some trebles but can throw a senko as well.  It sounds like it would be pretty well suited for what I want. 

 

How do you compare it to the 611-F4.5 MB jerk bait rods?  I had that model before but it was too stiff for trebles to me, but for guys used to higher end stuff maybe it was soft enough for them.  It was a good Senko rod.

 

What reel did you try on it?

[FishTank]

44 minutes ago, newyorktoiowa57 said:

Do you know how it compares to like a Robyn's 703?  I was hoping for something like that action but higher-end overall. Enough flex for some trebles but can throw a seiko as well.  It sounds like it would be pretty well suited for what I want. 

 

How do you compare it to the 611-F4.5 MB jerk bait rods?  I had that model before but it was too stiff for trebles to me, but for guys used to higher end stuff maybe it was soft enough for them.

I'm guessing you mean Dobyns. I only have one to compare to, the 702C Champion XP. It's good rod but the P5s blow it away in just about every category.  I would say it's more of a Medium power and kind of soft through out. The Z-crank loads quick but not too quick.  The tip is soft but recovers quickly, which is what I like in both a topwater and jerkbait rod. The Dobyns is sort of the opposite of that. 

 

I looked at both P5 jerkbait rods and thought one was too short and the other was too stiff but I really have not given them a complete assessment. I also need to spend more time with the Z-Crank.  I will say this, the search for my perfect jerkbait rod is over. It throws and works the 110 and jr just the way I want it and it is less fatiguing on my old wrist and hand.

 

 

[newyorktoiowa57]

3 hours ago, FishTank said:

I'm guessing you mean Dobyns. I only have one to compare to, the 702C Champion XP. It's good rod but the P5s blow it away in just about every category.  I would say it's more of a Medium power and kind of soft through out. The Z-crank loads quick but not too quick.  The tip is soft but recovers quickly, which is what I like in both a topwater and jerkbait rod. The Dobyns is sort of the opposite of that. 

 

I looked at both P5 jerkbait rods and thought one was too short and the other was too stiff but I really have not given them a complete assessment. I also need to spend more time with the Z-Crank.  I will say this, the search for my perfect jerkbait rod is over. It throws and works the 110 and jr just the way I want it and it is less fatiguing on my old wrist and hand.

 

 

How about for like small spinnerbaits?  What reel did you try?

[FishTank]

2 hours ago, newyorktoiowa57 said:

How about for like small spinnerbaits?  What reel did you try?

I'm going to say no to the spinnerbait.  It might be OK but based on the few fish I have caught,  the power isn't there. It might just be me.

 

I have it paired with a Conquest 101.

 

I'm still undecided on a senko but it might work. What do you think?  (Insert sarcasm here).

 

 

 

 

Seriously though,  the tip is still softer than I like for a senko and it loads slow on a hook set. Casting a weightless 5in is easy and it does a fine job.

[waymont]

How about a GLX 842 mbr? 
I love mine for shaky heads, poppers, small swimbaits, up to 5/16 spinnerbaits, I even use small cranks like og tiny and old Rebel wee r’s square bills. Love this rod

Probably a touch lighter power to the Dobyns 703 though

Oh, and it’s a great jerkbait rod too

[softwateronly]

On 12/26/2023 at 11:36 AM, newyorktoiowa57 said:

I'm looking for an all around medium rod for a variety of techniques, primarily like a senko, small plastics, small keitech, some poppers, etc. I would like a rod that has similar action to a Robyn's 703 but higher end. 

Will the ZCE be a good all around medium choice? I know people say it's a treble hook rod, but in my experience Mb "treble hook rods" are too stiff for those applications (at least to me)

For reel I will probably go Met or the new steez

 

Incase your MB search doesn't pan out;

 

For me, this rod is the diawa steez ags "the sensor". The xfast, soft solid tip, transitioning to what feels like a mod/fast mid section is way more versatile then I expected.  I don't throw senkos anymore, but I do throw shakey heads, split shot, free rigs, finesse jigs, hair jigs, blade baits, tail spinners, nichols mini 33 spinnerbaits and underspins on this.  I pair it w/ a jdm zillion spooled w/ pe #1.2 to fc leader.  

 

scott  

[newyorktoiowa57]

5 hours ago, waymont said:

How about a GLX 842 mbr? 
I love mine for shaky heads, poppers, small swimbaits, up to 5/16 spinnerbaits, I even use small cranks like og tiny and old Rebel wee r’s square bills. Love this rod

Probably a touch lighter power to the Dobyns 703 though

Oh, and it’s a great jerkbait rod too

I have played with the CNQ 842 in the store and would love to own it, but unfortunately those prices have just gotten too steep.  IMX-pro 842 also has a great action but I don' think the build quality matches the price.  GLX would be a compromise but I haven't been able to get my hands on one in a store yet. 

 

I very seriously considered the GLX before, but some people on tackle tour thought the reel seat was weird so I hesitated a bit. I really like the 842 action though so maybe I should consider it more-I guess there is n nix 842 now too?

[waymont]

56 minutes ago, newyorktoiowa57 said:

I have played with the CNQ 842 in the store and would love to own it, but unfortunately those prices have just gotten too steep.  IMX-pro 842 also has a great action but I don' think the build quality matches the price.  GLX would be a compromise but I haven't been able to get my hands on one in a store yet. 

 

I very seriously considered the GLX before, but some people on tackle tour thought the reel seat was weird so I hesitated a bit. I really like the 842 action though so maybe I should consider it more-I guess there is n nix 842 now too?

I’ve heard some people don’t feel comfortable with the grip. I personally love the grip. I have a bunch of IMX pros too, I think they are fantastic. They have a very slight stronger blank. 
 

[newyorktoiowa57]

7 minutes ago, waymont said:

I’ve heard some people don’t feel comfortable with the grip. I personally love the grip. I have a bunch of IMX pros too, I think they are fantastic. They have a very slight stronger blank. 
 

Do you know anything about the NRX MBR version?

[waymont]

7 hours ago, newyorktoiowa57 said:

Do you know anything about the NRX MBR version?

I don't. Never fished one. I have a bunch of GLX.

IMX-Pro, and both older versions of IMX and GLX

[newyorktoiowa57]

On 12/28/2023 at 9:51 AM, waymont said:

I don't. Never fished one. I have a bunch of GLX.

IMX-Pro, and both older versions of IMX and GLX

Can you throw Neds on the clx 842 with the right reel?

[waymont]

51 minutes ago, newyorktoiowa57 said:

Can you throw Neds on the clx 842 with the right reel?

I did all last season. I used a Daiwa Alphas Air TW w 8lb braid on my GLX 842. I only used 3/32 with a trd.

[newyorktoiowa57]

31 minutes ago, waymont said:

I did all last season. I used a Daiwa Alphas Air TW w 8lb braid on my GLX 842. I only used 3/32 with a trd.

What about on an SV reel with a larger spool?  Was thinking about the new steez

[waymont]

1 hour ago, newyorktoiowa57 said:

What about on an SV reel with a larger spool?  Was thinking about the new steez

Not sure about that reel on it. I have used a Zillion sv with 20lb braid with 1/8oz shaky heads on an 842 a lot, and it's a great mix.