Current Lineup, anything you feel would be a good fit?

[GardenStateFishin]

What’s up y’all - gearing up ahead of the warm weather. Can’t wait to get out there! Have basically built  a completely new lineup and wondering if anyone has any favorite rods they own and think would fit well in my lineup or would replace anything. Debating possibly picking up a windbuster for dedicated free rigs and when I feel like throwing jerkbaits on spinning? Hear mixed reviews but really want to throw a lot of free rigs this season and not sure if the big feel of the 872 is right for the job. Also haven’t gotten try the 844c mbr yet so not sure if it’s the right rod to handle chatterbaits. Primarily a kayak angler so prefer rods under 7’3

 

Spinning:

 

- Expride 6’10 MSB (solid tip):  dedicated strolling

- Expride 7’2 ML:  dropshots; neds; okashira’s

- NRX+ 842s SJR:  4” senkos; dropshots; neds; small swim baits/spybaits

- NRX+ 852s JWR:  shallow water - Shakey heads; 1/4 oz t rigs; wacky rigs; 5” senko work 

- NRX+ 872s JWR:  deeper water - Shakey heads; tubes; paddle tails; free rigs??

- Daiwa Steez AGS “The One” (7’6) MML:  do it all rod when I limit down # of rods I’m taking on the yak and willing to deal with the long length

Casting:

- Dobyns Sierra 701C w/ aldebaran BFS:   BFS set up

- Megabass P5 Destroyer OneTen Stick: jerkbaits/finesse cranks

- Megabass P5 Destroyer Dark Sleeper: 3/8-3/4oz Dark Sleeper; 1/4-1-2oz Texas; 3.8-4.3” swimbaits; light spinnerbaits

- NRX+ 844c MBR: Chatter baits / square bills / lipless / spinnerbaits / flukes / swim jigs / paddletails / topwaters/ kaera frogs

- NRX+ 873c CRR: 3/8-1/2 oz Texas rigs / 3/8-1/2oz jigs / 3/8 oz shakey heads

 

appreciate any input! 

[MRQturbo]

I'm the opposite.. I prefer longer rods over 7'3... Do you not fish heavy cover?... I don't see anything in your lineup that I would use in heavy pads or matted weeds... 894c or 904c would be a great addition to give you something with power to fish heavy cover... Or 854c if you prefer the shorter rods... 

[GardenStateFishin]

17 minutes ago, MRQturbo said:

I'm the opposite.. I prefer longer rods over 7'3... Do you not fish heavy cover?... I don't see anything in your lineup that I would use in heavy pads or matted weeds... 894c or 904c would be a great addition to give you something with power to fish heavy cover... Or 854c if you prefer the shorter rods... 

yeah definitely missing there. I honestly don’t fish much super heavy cover. Lack of confidence thing, have never had much success but then again have never had a rod that feels good doing it so probably the right call

[casts_by_fly]

Yeah, you need a ‘big stick’. We have plenty of heavier stuff especially after June. For me that’s an amistad but ymmv. 

[GardenStateFishin]

Appreciate it y’all inspired me! Gonna pick up an Expride 7’4 Heavy and start learning the way of the jig in some heavier cover this year 

[MRQturbo]

6 minutes ago, GardenStateFishin said:

Appreciate it y’all inspired me! Gonna pick up an Expride 7’4 Heavy and start learning the way of the jig in some heavier cover this year 

Great choice.. You can use it for frog, trig and punching duties too... Easiest place to find fish in the heat of summer.. Under the heaviest cover... 

[GardenStateFishin]

Just now, MRQturbo said:

Great choice.. You can use it for frog, trig and punching duties too... Easiest place to find fish in the heat of summer.. Under the heaviest cover... 

just what I was hoping to hear! Sad the brailist is no longer an option but this 7’4 H Expride has been on my list for a while and just been putting it off so excited to give it a go. Appreciate the help!

[GardenStateFishin]

25 minutes ago, MRQturbo said:

Great choice.. You can use it for frog, trig and punching duties too... Easiest place to find fish in the heat of summer.. Under the heaviest cover... 

think I should go 7’3 XH or the 7’4 H? 

[MRQturbo]

23 minutes ago, GardenStateFishin said:

just what I was hoping to hear! Sad the brailist is no longer an option but this 7’4 H Expride has been on my list for a while and just been putting it off so excited to give it a go. Appreciate the help!

The braillist is my frog rod.. It's a MH but it's got some good power and a nice tip... The only thing I ever have tied on it is a Keitech noisy flapper frog... If I ever had to replace it, I'd add another nrx 894c for frogging duties.. 

2 minutes ago, GardenStateFishin said:

think I should go 7’3 XH or the 7’4 H? 

I hear good things about the 7'3xh...i haven't held one in my hands tho... 

[GardenStateFishin]

1 minute ago, MRQturbo said:

The braillist is my frog rod.. It's a MH but it's got some good power and a nice tip... The only thing I ever have tied on it is a Keitech noisy flapper frog... If I ever had to replace it, I'd add another nrx 894c for frogging duties.. 

I have a good deal on an 894 as well. Just feel like it’s a little too close to my 873, maybe slightly heavier application but wasn’t sure if it would really open up that heavy cover pitching/frogging duties like the Expride 7’3 XH or 7’4 H will 

[DaubsNU1]

That is a helluva stockpile @GardenStateFishin!!

[GardenStateFishin]

3 hours ago, DaubsNU1 said:

That is a helluva stockpile @GardenStateFishin!!

Thank you brotha! Some might call it an addiction 

[FishTank]

Megabass P5 Madbull with a Daiwa Steez A II.  Looks like you need a good crankbait rod.

[GardenStateFishin]

35 minutes ago, FishTank said:

Megabass P5 Madbull with a Daiwa Steez A II.  Looks like you need a good crankbait rod.

Crankbaits another one of those no confidence baits for me and that I’ve been putting off. Definitely on the list. Hear good things about that madbull 

[GardenStateFishin]

56 minutes ago, FishTank said:

Megabass P5 Madbull with a Daiwa Steez A II.  Looks like you need a good crankbait rod.

Madbull over the daemos?

[FishTank]

41 minutes ago, GardenStateFishin said:

Madbull over the daemos?

Absolutely.  I have the Daemos and it's good for 3/8oz jigs, swimjigs, spinnerbaits, softplastic and maybe some topwater but it was just ok for crankbaits.  I also don't care for the 844c for square bills.  Too stiff to keep fish pinned in my opinion but great for jigs and softplastic.  

 

My favorite crankbait rod from Megabass is the Kasumi Six Eleven but it's more of a BFS rod.  Second would be the Z Crank Elseil.  I use it for both jerkbaits and 3/8oz crankbaits.  Anything deep or heavy goes on a Loomis IMX Pro Deep Flex.  

 

I have to confess that I haven't fully fished the Madbull other than just tossing a buddy's around but it would seem to be the kind of rod you are missing.  

 

Crankbaits for me have been crazy good the past few years. 

[FishTank]

@GardenStateFishin I will say one thing sort of bothers me about the Madbull and the Super Destroyer, the carbon fiber handle.  Its comfortable but slick. Once I got use to it on the Super Destroyer,  it wasn't bad, just different. 

[softwateronly]

10 hours ago, GardenStateFishin said:

think I should go 7’3 XH or the 7’4 H? 

I don’t know the 7’4H but I love the 7’3xh. And I can assure you it is definitely has different level of power from what you already own, whereas the 7’4 will overlap more.  If you’re throwing big jigs in heavy slop, it’s a great rod. 
 

scott

[GardenStateFishin]

8 minutes ago, FishTank said:

@GardenStateFishin I will say one thing sort of bothers me about the Madbull and the Super Destroyer, the carbon fiber handle.  Its comfortable but slick. Once I got use to it on the Super Destroyer,  it wasn't bad, just different. 

I actually did some research and a bunch of people are loving the new orochi x10 bandersnatch and Omnia has a sweet sale on em right now so I picked that up. Apparently great for cranks, chatters, square bills and a lot of other reaction baits so gonna give it a go! Plus agree - like the cork handles bit more

8 minutes ago, softwateronly said:

I don’t know the 7’4H but I love the 7’3xh. And I can assure you it is definitely has different level of power from what you already own, whereas the 7’4 will overlap more.  If you’re throwing big jigs in heavy slop, it’s a great rod. 
 

scott

Yeah think I’m gonna go with the 7’3 XH. Think it’ll open up more in my lineup! Appreciate the insight! 

[MRQturbo]

1 hour ago, GardenStateFishin said:

Madbull over the daemos?

Javelin is my preferred P5 for moving baits....i have 2 that I'll use for spinnerbaits and for medium depth cranking... 

[GardenStateFishin]

3 hours ago, MRQturbo said:

Javelin is my preferred P5 for moving baits....i have 2 that I'll use for spinnerbaits and for medium depth cranking... 

have heard good things about that. THU tkl on yt put out a review saying bandersnatch is just a shorter version of the javelin so feel like it’ll be perfect for me

[10,000 lakes Bassin]

Im very curious about that Expride 7'4 heavy, I cant decide between that Expride or the p5 BMG for my 3/8-3/4oz pitching and short casting jig rod for something like a siebert grass jig or a dirty jigs flippin jig. 

[softwateronly]

53 minutes ago, 10,000 lakes Bassin said:

Im very curious about that Expride 7'4 heavy, I cant decide between that Expride or the p5 BMG for my 3/8-3/4oz pitching and short casting jig rod for something like a siebert grass jig or a dirty jigs flippin jig. 

 

Curious of the 7'7H and 7'4H comparison too.  The 7'7H in the A version is uniquely versatile and one of my favorites.

 

scott

[10,000 lakes Bassin]

18 minutes ago, softwateronly said:

 

Curious of the 7'7H and 7'4H comparison too.  The 7'7H in the A version is uniquely versatile and one of my favorites.

 

scott

yeah I also wonder how it compares to the poison adrena 7'4 regular. 

What do you use the 7'7 for?

[softwateronly]

9 hours ago, 10,000 lakes Bassin said:

yeah I also wonder how it compares to the poison adrena 7'4 regular. 

What do you use the 7'7 for?

 

Now that I have a couple dozen rods; it's my 6" swimbait rod on a open hook jighead, a-rig, 5-7" heavy hook scrounger, and deep cranks 15+.  I also back up other combos throwing heavy football jigs out deep, carolina rigs, heavy swim jigs, heavy chatterbaits, preacher hair jigs, and pitching creatures into cover.  The only thing that doesn't work the well for me is horizontally retrieving jigs in cover.  The mod/fast action that makes it so versatile, loads too deep for me to work the jig free of cover without losing control as it pops free and unloads the rod, jumping the bait farther than I want.

 

scott