Daiwa steez real control rods

[woolleyfooley]

 

Just saw these in a tackle warehouse video. $1299.99 msrp, though they can be found for half that from Japan.
 

Anyone know more about these? Apparently Daiwa spared no expense for the absolute best sensitivity possible.
 

My biggest issue with them is the reel seat. It completely covers the rod so while holding it you can’t feel the blank at all. Who builds a rod specifically meant to be the ultimate in sensitivity but has a reel seat that completely covers the blank? Am I overreacting about that?

 

Quick review by Tackle Tour and specs from Tacklebrosus. Interestingly enough, I can’t find this rod on Daiwa’s website. 

TW video:

 

Pictures of the reel seat that I dislike:

 

 

So, thoughts?

[KP Duty]

I have 173H ST.  I do wish the reel seat had a partially exposed, blank-through design.  It's sensitive, but I think they left meat on the bone.  13 bills for one is too much f or sure.

[webertime]

2 dirty secrets you might find interesting.  Sometimes that "rod" you see in the cut out of a reel seat isn't the rod blank.  It's a Shim of material that sizes the seat to the blank.  EI it's a "extra layer" between you and the blank like the reel seat not getting a cut out.

Some production rods that are "1 piece" are actually 2.  The handles are build on one section then the blank is glued into that section.  It's easier to mass produce this way since a seat and grip can be slapped together then the guides on the blank can be done in line.  Then all they have to do is line up the seat and blank vs do that from the start which takes a bit more care in the build process and saves money if there are goofs. 

 

My point, that reel seat functionally won't effect the sensitivity of that rod.  I'd love to try one.

[FishTank]

I just picked up the 6'11'' MH Fast and it was a two piece grip joint. The reel seat would need to be that way with this type of build but I don't think it will affect the sensitivity of the rod.  I haven't taken it out on the water yet. I have just tossed it around the yard and it feels amazing. We will see when the ice thaws. 

[Bigbox99]

Another dirty secret is that the majority of rods from Japanese companies (Shimano, Daiwa ect) are actually two peice rods that join at the grip and for the US market they simply glue the two together so they can call it a one peice rod since the US market has an irrational HATRED for two peice rods.  They have to remove a feature and gain nothing in return to appease the US market and this boggles my mind to no end.  

13 hours ago, FishTank said:

I just picked up the 6'11'' MH Fast and it was a two piece grip joint. The reel seat would need to be that way with this type of build but I don't think it will affect the sensitivity of the rod.  I haven't taken it out on the water yet. I have just tossed it around the yard and it feels amazing. We will see when the ice thaws. 

The reel seat doesn't have to be that way for a 2 pc joint at the handle.  It can be absolutely normal looking.  I have rods that join at the handle and the "exposed blank" at the reel seat looks exactly like the blank.  I suspect the choice to use that reel seat was to harken back to the 1st gen Steez rods with their air beam reel seat.  

[FishTank]

16 hours ago, KP Duty said:

I have 173H ST.  I do wish the reel seat had a partially exposed, blank-through design.  It's sensitive, but I think they left meat on the bone.  13 bills for one is too much f or sure.

 

It almost makes me chuckle to ask this.... Have you used the 173H ST for frogs? I almost got this one instead of the 611MH-SV.  

 

To think a $1300 rod for frogs.  

3 hours ago, Bigbox99 said:

The reel seat doesn't have to be that way for a 2 pc joint at the handle.  It can be absolutely normal looking.  I have rods that join at the handle and the "exposed blank" at the reel seat looks exactly like the blank.  I suspect the choice to use that reel seat was to harken back to the 1st gen Steez rods with their air beam reel seat.  

 

Good to know. This is my first grip joint rod. I have not seen one without a completely closed reel seat. I thought it would be that way to help hold the joint together.  

[softwateronly]

7 minutes ago, FishTank said:

 

It almost makes me chuckle to ask this.... Have you used the 173H ST for frogs? I almost got this one instead of the 611MH-SV.  

 

To think a $1300 rod for frogs.  

 

 

Necessary, no.  But I look at it like this, certain ways to catch them are more enjoyable than others.  I spend more money on the rigs for those baits to maximize my enjoyment and usually my catch rate too.

 

scott

[KP Duty]

12 minutes ago, FishTank said:

 

It almost makes me chuckle to ask this.... Have you used the 173H ST for frogs? I almost got this one instead of the 611MH-SV.  

 

To think a $1300 rod for frogs.  

 

Good to know. This is my first grip joint rod. I have not seen one without a completely closed reel seat. I thought it would be that way to help hold the joint together.  

Even the 'exposed blank' grip joint rods don't really have an exposed blank.  It's a sleeve that runs through the handle that is exposed.  IMO...exposed, blank through design is one of the reasons Loomis stays at the top.  The 173 would do well with frogs I imagine...I just don't throw frogs very often.

[woolleyfooley]

23 hours ago, webertime said:

2 dirty secrets you might find interesting.  Sometimes that "rod" you see in the cut out of a reel seat isn't the rod blank.  It's a Shim of material that sizes the seat to the blank.  EI it's a "extra layer" between you and the blank like the reel seat not getting a cut out.

Some production rods that are "1 piece" are actually 2.  The handles are build on one section then the blank is glued into that section.  It's easier to mass produce this way since a seat and grip can be slapped together then the guides on the blank can be done in line.  Then all they have to do is line up the seat and blank vs do that from the start which takes a bit more care in the build process and saves money if there are goofs. 

 

My point, that reel seat functionally won't effect the sensitivity of that rod.  I'd love to try one.

Interesting! Is that why it will say “1 piece plus grip” for some rods? Do you know if the steez AGS rods are built that way? @webertime

23 hours ago, FishTank said:

I just picked up the 6'11'' MH Fast and it was a two piece grip joint. The reel seat would need to be that way with this type of build but I don't think it will affect the sensitivity of the rod.  I haven't taken it out on the water yet. I have just tossed it around the yard and it feels amazing. We will see when the ice thaws. 

What is a two piece grip joint? Is that like what webertime was describing? 
 

Oh and is yours a spinning rod or a casting rod?

7 hours ago, KP Duty said:

Even the 'exposed blank' grip joint rods don't really have an exposed blank.  It's a sleeve that runs through the handle that is exposed.  IMO...exposed, blank through design is one of the reasons Loomis stays at the top.  The 173 would do well with frogs I imagine...I just don't throw frogs very often.

So are you saying all “exposed blank” grip rods are just a sleeve except Loomis? @KP Duty

[woolleyfooley]

This is the steez AGS. Is that the blank exposed? Or a sleeve?

[KP Duty]

1 hour ago, woolleyfooley said:

Interesting! Is that why it will say “1 piece plus grip” for some rods? Do you know if the steez AGS rods are built that way? @webertime

What is a two piece grip joint? Is that like what webertime was describing? 
 

Oh and is yours a spinning rod or a casting rod?

So are you saying all “exposed blank” grip rods are just a sleeve except Loomis? @KP Duty

I can only speak for shimano and some daiwa grip joint rods, and they have a sleeve.  I'm not sure on that daiwa sensor seat.

1 hour ago, woolleyfooley said:

This is the steez AGS. Is that the blank exposed? Or a sleeve?

Not for sure, but I bet it is a sleeve, and I bet the blank doesn't go all the way through the handle.  That is how my Poison Glorious rods are.

[FishTank]

@woolleyfooley This is an image of my rod from Daiwa JP's website. This is how the rod comes. You join the blank to the grip and you are good to go. 

 

[woolleyfooley]

21 hours ago, FishTank said:

@woolleyfooley This is an image of my rod from Daiwa JP's website. This is how the rod comes. You join the blank to the grip and you are good to go. 

 

So it actually comes as 2 pieces? Do you know if the steez AGS comes as 2 pieces?

[FishTank]

1 hour ago, woolleyfooley said:

So it actually comes as 2 pieces? Do you know if the steez AGS comes as 2 pieces?

 

Yes the Real Control rods are a two piece but once you put it on, it's super secure.

 

I'm a little confused on the second question myself, as I am new to Daiwa rods and also have not taken a close look at the Steez AGS rods. In the past, I was not a big fan of them. I didn't like the look or feel and then there were people that said they had broken guides but it looks like in 2021 they were redesigned. If I am seeing it correctly the JDM Steez models are a grip joint and there are also regular two piece models in the Shore Competition line. The US AGS models are one piece. Here are a few videos to get an idea of what they have. Hopefully this helps and I got some of it correct. 🤷‍♂️

 

 

 

 

 

[KP Duty]

On 2/8/2025 at 5:14 PM, woolleyfooley said:

This is the steez AGS. Is that the blank exposed? Or a sleeve?

Here is a pic of one of my Poison glorious rods.  You can see just how far the blank goes in the handle.  The blank doesn't run tip to butt in an effort to shed weight.  

 

[4g63power]

Since 2021 all daiwa japan bass rods are either grip joints or center cut 2 piece for lower shipping cost and easier warranty service. Most Daiwa USA rods are still one piece, but yea a lot of them the blanks do not run through reel seat. Even split grip, they are assembled separately. The older steez rods with air beam seat didn't have blanks run through it either.

[woolleyfooley]

22 hours ago, FishTank said:

 

Yes the Real Control rods are a two piece but once you put it on, it's super secure.

 

I'm a little confused on the second question myself, as I am new to Daiwa rods and also have not taken a close look at the Steez AGS rods. In the past, I was not a big fan of them. I didn't like the look or feel and then there were people that said they had broken guides but it looks like in 2021 they were redesigned. If I am seeing it correctly the JDM Steez models are a grip joint and there are also regular two piece models in the Shore Competition line. The US AGS models are one piece. Here are a few videos to get an idea of what they have. Hopefully this helps and I got some of it correct. 🤷‍♂️

 

 

 

 

 

I’m quite fascinated to learn this. Do you have any pics of the joint on the steez real control? Does it screw in or snap in or what?

5 hours ago, KP Duty said:

Here is a pic of one of my Poison glorious rods.  You can see just how far the blank goes in the handle.  The blank doesn't run tip to butt in an effort to shed weight.  

 

So does that attach to the grip? How is it kept secure? 

[FishTank]

2 hours ago, woolleyfooley said:

I’m quite fascinated to learn this. Do you have any pics of the joint on the steez real control? Does it screw in or snap in or what?

So does that attach to the grip? How is it kept secure? 

 

Go to around 23:45 in this video and you will probably get the idea. 

 

 

[woolleyfooley]

On 2/10/2025 at 7:17 PM, FishTank said:

 

Go to around 23:45 in this video and you will probably get the idea. 

 

 

That’s so interesting. Thank you! So the steez real control comes like that and you attach it exactly as he says?

[KP Duty]

4 hours ago, woolleyfooley said:

That’s so interesting. Thank you! So the steez real control comes like that and you attach it exactly as he says?

Yes...they fit snug and I don't pull them apart generally.

[woolleyfooley]

So does anyone with a steez real control also have experience with other high end rods like the NRX+? I’m curious how the sensitivity of this rod stacks up against the other heavy hitters, considering Daiwa claims this rod was built to be as sensitive as possible.

[Bigbox99]

2 hours ago, woolleyfooley said:

So does anyone with a steez real control also have experience with other high end rods like the NRX+? I’m curious how the sensitivity of this rod stacks up against the other heavy hitters, considering Daiwa claims this rod was built to be as sensitive as possible.

Nope but I do have lews rods that have an actual exposed blank at the reel seat and Tatula rods that in addition to probably being glued together 2pc joint at the handle rods sold as 1pc rods that also don't have an exposed portion of the "blank" at the reel seat and just have a dent in the reel seat to look like a cutout to expose the blank.  The Tatula rods are way more sensitive.  This whole exposed blank thing at the reel seat is vastly over stated IMO.  I think it stems from an old timer line of thinking that you need to put your fingers on the blank or line in front of the reel to feel bites.  I've written it off as bass fishing fudd lore like needing to set the "spool tension" for bait weight on reels.  When I hear it's one ear out the other.  

[FishTank]

4 hours ago, woolleyfooley said:

So does anyone with a steez real control also have experience with other high end rods like the NRX+? I’m curious how the sensitivity of this rod stacks up against the other heavy hitters, considering Daiwa claims this rod was built to be as sensitive as possible.

 

You'll have to wait until the ice thaws. 

[MickD]

Build your own, then you know exactly how it's built.  Seats come "both ways," sized to the blank and one size for all with a sleeve between the blank and the seat.  I use the Fuji ACSM seat which is ordered to fit whatever blank I'm using.  No sleeve.  Blank goes all the way to the butt knob of the split grip. 

 

Anyone discussing sensitivity have a "sensitivometer" to objectively measure sensitivity, so that advertising,  expectations, price, looks, etc. don't affect the evaluation?  Didn't think so. 

[F14A-B]

Apparently the Japanese swear by testing that metal transmits vibration better than other materials, which is why the reel seats always use an aluminum lock nut. My first GLoomis rod made in 94 had an aluminum lock nut also. Personally I don’t like them and I really don’t care what it’s made out of as long as it secures my reels.. 

Other users have stated better “feel” with say, Shimano Bantam reels vs the Metanium (Aluminum vs Magnesium) 

Dunno, just what I’ve read lately..