Top 6 HIGH-END Rods

[UmairF]

What would your top 6 high-end rods be? Looking to hear what you guys consider “gems” and what you use them for. Can be a mix of casting and spinning. Curious to hear from the NRX+, P5, and Daiwa Steez AGS lines.

[PBBrandon]

Dobyns DRX755, ultimate jig rod. Can pretty much do everything you need with a heavy. I think it really excels with dragging football jigs. Light, balanced, and top end sensitivity

 

Shimano Poison Adrena 7’3” MHRF, amazing moving bait rod. Used to have a DC734 as my “do it all” moving bait rod and the PA is on another level

[Bigbox99]

Vintage slant bridge Megabass.  Megabass X7 series.  Designo rods.  Evergreen high end like the Direwolf, Black Rose ect.  Individual rods that were the standout and must have from that line (71MH Valkyrie, Otomat US destroyer, Super Red Demon Black Jungle ect).  High end stuff that only circulating in the hands of enthusiasts and collectors.  Tacklewarehouseslop is fine but not what I consider top tier for my tastes.

[Bigbox99]

I'll also add the Aaron Martins flipping stick Orochi XX but in the red trim JDM Special Edition.  Not a super high end rod but those red Special Editions are rare and with Aaron's passing it would be a nice addition to my collection.

 

Just not sure how much I would use one and I do fish all my rods.  My 7'5"1st gen Orochi XX is a heavy rod that I don't love jigging and worming with so an even longer more powerful rod wouldn't get much use which is why I will probably never track one down.  I also already have a vintage flipping stick destroyer with spiral wrapped guides that fills the niche of cool old Megabass flipping stick that I need to fish more often.  Pic is the destroyer and weird similar vintage Daiwa lefty flipping frame reel.

[king fisher]

[Catt]

38 minutes ago, king fisher said:

 

Next would be Berkley's Lightening Rod 

[newapti5]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

 

Next would be Berkley's Lightening Rod 

 

Hey that's my very first baitcasting rod! I used to believe that spending $100+ on a fishing rod is for suckers.  

[UmairF]

11 hours ago, newapti5 said:

 

Hey that's my very first baitcasting rod! I used to believe that spending $100+ on a fishing rod is for suckers.  

Used to think that too but here we are neck-deep! 😂

[Bigbox99]

Hey, the 7' MH Lightning rod makes for a good ultra cheap heavier moving bait rod.  I use one with a $40 Aliexpress reel spooled with 15# green BG as a stand in for my MH Valkyrie and LIN10 Black Jungle with 14# Sniper.  It does the same job just as well throwing and working chattebaits, cull shads, 3/4 oz L bills and thanks to the mono, does better with ploppers and buzzbaits.  The Valkyrie is more forgiving when a fish is hooked poorly but the Lightning rod and elastic mono combo is no slouch either and can be pretty forgiving when a fish is hooked badly with a treble.  

 

Its kind of a low vs high build with the $40 rod and $40 reel vs the $500 rod and $500 reel with a $50 handle.  

[Logan S]

My favorite high end rods before I started building my own were the Megabass Phase 3 Nautilus and the Phase 3 Bearing Down.  The 1st Gen and 1st run of XX rods were also some of the best production rods ever made (IMO).  The Perfect Pitch and Spinnerbait Special were amazing...But really the entire 1st run lineup of the XX series was incredible...EMTF, DSR, TV, Swingfire, Jerkbait special, Ronin, and Shakeyhead were also all homeruns.  If they didn't mess with that series of rods I'd likely still be using them.  

 

I wasn't as impressed with the Valkyrie I had, but I only ever had 1.  Similarly, I wasn't as impressed with the USA Destroyers.  The one grail rod I was always looking for but never got my hands on was the X7 Simoom.  

[F14A-B]

2 minutes ago, Logan S said:

My favorite high end rods before I started building my own were the Megabass Phase 3 Nautilus and the Phase 3 Bearing Down.  The 1st Gen and 1st run of XX rods were also some of the best production rods ever made (IMO).  The Perfect Pitch and Spinnerbait Special were amazing...But really the entire 1st run lineup of the XX series was incredible...EMTF, DSR, TV, Swingfire, Jerkbait special, Ronin, and Shakeyhead were also all homeruns.  If they didn't mess with that series of rods I'd likely still be using them.  

 

I wasn't as impressed with the Valkyrie I had, but I only ever had 1.  Similarly, I wasn't as impressed with the USA Destroyers.  The one grail rod I was always looking for but never got my hands on was the X7 Simoom.  

Why do you think they were that incredible? I’m curious, knowing you’re currently a rod builder, what made those rods so good? Do you think it was an issue concerning profit margins or something else that made them change the line up? Appreciate it. 

[Logan S]

15 minutes ago, F14A-B said:

Why do you think they were that incredible? I’m curious, knowing you’re currently a rod builder, what made those rods so good? Do you think it was an issue concerning profit margins or something else that made them change the line up? Appreciate it. 

Lightweight, sensitive, balanced, ergonomic, well made, and they looked pretty good too...They were also significantly better than other rods in their price point ($275-$300) at the time, my opinion of course, but if you disagree you'd be wrong .  I think the only reason they weren't more popular is because MB decided on a full cork handle at the peak of the era when your rod HAD to have a split grip and/or a funky color in order to be 'cool'. 

 

Most importantly, they had models with powers/actions that just really fit incredibly well for what I consider all of the 'core bass fishing' techniques.  It was the perfect mix of dedicated technique rods that were perfect for certain things with versatile models that could do a lot of things really well.  You could cover everything you need at a very high performing level to fish anywhere in the country with any technique using only XX models - Something that is surprisingly rare.  I don't know for sure, but my guess is that the reason the series was a homerun was because Aaron had a big influence on them and Megabass listened.  The time they were released was probably the most diversified time in bass fishing history and Aaron was at the top of his game too.  They even added a couple models very shortly after release to fill some holes, that no one asked for, meaning it was likely Aaron and the other MB pros giving feedback.  

 

The 2nd Gen XX were fine and I know on paper or whatever they were the same or 'better', but they absolutely did not have the same 'it' factor.  IMO the 1st to 2nd gen XX was like the E-series to G-series transition for Shimano reels.  I did like the 2nd Gen FSS though, but overall they were 'meh'.  

[Bigbox99]

43 minutes ago, F14A-B said:

Why do you think they were that incredible? I’m curious, knowing you’re currently a rod builder, what made those rods so good? Do you think it was an issue concerning profit margins or something else that made them change the line up? Appreciate it. 

Megabass will just make a change to a new line of rods and depart from what they did before.  The best way to look at it is that Megabass will create a line of rods based on an idea for a new type of graphite material and then develop a theme for the rods.  They will not be related to any previous line or rods or a direct improvement over an older model.  That's why older Megabass rods are as well liked as newer ones.  Each Megabass rod exists in its own universe doing their own thing instead of being a direct evolution of a previous line.  In some cases the old stuff is even more exotic and strange than the rather mundane modern rods that have more mass market appeal.

 

I've owner both gens of Orochi xx and 2nd gen is definitely lighter and it's probably a better tool for it.  I just really like real seat better on the 1st gens and I like how the braided carbon wrap on the blank has a snakes skin appearance.  It's beautiful and cool looking for how it was made when the 2nd gen just put on some cosmetic wrap to try and make the snake skin connection.  I appreciate the effort but it comes off as cheap to me.  Modern Megabass rods in general don't do it for me.  It's like they are soulless compared to the old rods.  

Also there was some minor backlash over the change in the Perfect Pitch.  It was probably better off for it in the long run but the old PP was a real XF with a ton of power.  You can pitch a weightless senko on that rod and then go bomb a frog.  It had this really great XF action for pitching that to this day makes it the stand out of the line for many.  The 2nd gen nerfed this action and made it more moderate but it was redeemed in time when it became an excellent all arounder junk fishing H rod.  Something the 1st gen was ABSOLUTELY not.  Also they turned the EMTF into a crankbait rod (it was the bottom contact of the 1st gen) and the Brailist was the bottom contact rod of the 2nd gen.  A lot of people got tripped up by that change and when looking for a replacement next gen EMTF for jigs they ended up with a crankbait rod.

[Bigbox99]

I still use 2 to this day with matching Megabass Zillions.  A PP and EMTF.  The red one is an EMTF (1st gen Brailist).  It's a limited edition version that I think was only sold in Japan.  They are often referred to as the JDM 1st gen Orochi xx.  They balance out right on the lock nut or into the reel seat but are heavy by modern standards.  I think the handles are counter weighted to get that balance.  If you are just pitching and holding tip up with plastics and such they are great.  It's the constant worming that will make you fell the weight.  I use my EMTF as a gilly and a dark sleeper rod.  When I am bottom hopping a sleeper I can feel the weight so it's mostly a Gilly, other weightless plastic and Cull Shad rod these days. 

[Hulkster]

Maybe not as 'high end' as some the others but they are high end to me (over $500 up here Canada) lol 

I have two Imx Pro rods that I absolutely love. The MBR 9903C and SJR 901S both 7'6 rods that are light, sensitive, durable and cast like a dream.  

[FishTank]

Some of my favorites and this might change from time to time...

 

Megabass Evoluzion 30th Anniversary Edition Super Diablo II 

 

 

Tenru Rayz Integral RZI484B-L 

 

 

Megabass P5 Kasumi Six Eleven

 

 

G. Loomis NRX+ 883 BJR

 

 

G loomis NRX+ 894 

 

 

Megabass P5 Whippet and honorable mention G Loomis 872S

 

 

And still untested but will probably make the list. 

 

Daiwa Steez Real Control 611 MH  Fast 

 

 

Another would be the Kistler Hunt BFS 3X Ultralight. My favorite BFS rod.

 

 

[Darth-Baiter]

I like shopping from the MB P5 lineup.  there is almost a flavor for everyone.

 

having said that, I have a shiny new Oricchi X10 that feels like a fantastic moving bait rod.  it is fairly parabolic and cant cast a chatter bait across my front yard with authority.  lessoned learned..I chatter bait Hooked up in a manzanita tree is no joke.  

[woolleyfooley]

4 hours ago, FishTank said:

Some of my favorites and this might change from time to time...

 

Megabass Evoluzion 30th Anniversary Edition Super Diablo II 

 

 

Tenru Rayz Integral RZI484B-L 

 

 

Megabass P5 Kasumi Six Eleven

 

 

G. Loomis NRX+ 883 BJR

 

 

G loomis NRX+ 894 

 

 

Megabass P5 Whippet and honorable mention G Loomis 872S

 

 

And still untested but will probably make the list. 

 

Daiwa Steez Real Control 611 MH  Fast 

 

 

Another would be the Kistler Hunt BFS 3X Ultralight. My favorite BFS rod.

 

 

I’m really looking forward to hearing what you think about that steez real control! You have steez AGS too, right?

[FishTank]

7 minutes ago, woolleyfooley said:

I’m really looking forward to hearing what you think about that steez real control! You have steez AGS too, right?

I do not. It was on my radar but I have not purchased one. This will actually be my first Daiwa rod.

[ABU is overpriced]

Big fan of Studio Composite rods. Just wish they had more models.