kschultz76

With the sale I saw you can get within $25 of that price range.

On top of the rod being able to handle casting and pitching your total weight you generally want some reserve power for setting the thick heavy hook on those jigs and handling the fish and whatever cover you’re in. Take a look around, some places have been offering deals on the Megabass Orochi XX rods, and the Perfect Pitch in that series has been often praised as a great 1/2 and 3/4 oz jig rod plus other presentations like frogs. I just got one but haven’t had a chance to fish it. But for a heavy powered or xheavy powered rod it’s super balanced and has a great taper.

Ah well it sounds like I stand corrected. My experience is all with the newer crop of Shimanos.

I’m pretty the knob shafts are the same on all the Shimano bc and spinning handles regardless of knob style. I’ve interchanged knobs on Stradic FJs as well as on Stradic CI4+ reels and Scorpion 1001XT, Chronarch CI4+, Chronarch MGL, 13 Mets, from Curado I’s. The different knob types just have different depth recesses for the screws and different knob caps. Alsi the handle knob bearings should all be the same size for all the handles and knobs. But sometimes when swapping a bearing in for a plastic collar you need a small metal shim for the snuggest fit. You can order them from Shimanos parts website.

Do your self another favor and order some of the Hedgehog handle knob bearings and add two bearings under each of those knobs if they only have one or none right now.

I have put the Septon PG II knobs that have come on many Shimano bc reels on my Shimano spinning reels. They’re only a few bucks a piece and very comfortable. But you have to order the correct ones for your handle orientation bc they’re contoured for right or left hand grip specific.

Pure beauty!

I’ve not used a Zbone, but I’m happy with my Helium 3 rods, well built, solid blanks, lightweight, and sensitive. Unless one of the free rods in the deal right now interest you may want to see if they run the “pick your discount” sale again. When they do that the Zbones go for 40% off.

TW is the only place that mentions jig in the name of the Spinnerbait Special. MB only labels it the Spinnerbait Special.

I must admit I am finding your opinions a bit contradictory but they’re your experience and opinions and you’re entitled to them. My experience and opinion differ though on the Spinnerbait Special and I’ve had one for years. It to me is most definitely a true med fast taper, but it has a power and crispness that keep it from feeling like a typical moving bait rod. Makes it versatile for a variety of applications. It’s my favorite heavy cover squarebill rod. I’d agree it will handle a 1/4 finesse jig with a light wire hook especially in sparse cover. Step up to a normal 3/8 oz jig with a heavy hook and it would not be my go to choice. Sure in a pinch it’s will handle that 3/8 oz jig if you need one rod for a lot of techniques, but in my time with it I’ve learned I don’t prefer for that application. The rod is in my opinion a very unique taper like a lot of MB rods do super versatile. I have ave two Kistler HE 3 rods - 7’1” MH/XF and a 7’0” L-MH/F. Both of these rods in my experience have a faster taper then the Spinnerbait Special though I don’t think the L-MH possesses the same power, and neither has the same crispness that the Orochis have. For true 3/8 jigs the MH 4 power HE is great and does well in my experience. I’ve only recently gotten the L-MH but I think for finesse jigs round the 1/4 oz mark it will do well. I also have a KLX CRT MH ModFast. Great treble hook bait rod and a taper not dissimilar to that of the Spinnerbait Special, but it doesn’t have quite the same power and definitely not near as crisp. It feels less refined and you can tell it’s not in the same price point as the Orochi. The OP set out looking for two jigs rods around the $260 price point. Generally GLX, NRX, and Zbones are going to exceed that mark a bit unless you find that just right sale. OP also stated 3/8 and 1/2 jigs in the first post. For the deal that was posted from TackleSupplyDepot you can’t go wrong with the Orochi XX series, do your research to determine which will be best for you. Based on what I’ve heard and read from some sources I trust, and my own hands on experience with some of the Orochi rods I’d be looking at the EMTF and the Perfect Pitch if I was looking only at the Orochi line. The Tour Versatile and Jig n Worm could be alternates to the PP and the TV will handle 3/8 jigs no problem as well as 1/2 oz and a bunch of other stuff. The TV states med fast but it doesn’t fish that way to me and is mighty powerful. I would be getting a PP but instead I got an FMJ and an MBR 844 for my needs. The SS will add versatility for a lot of moving baits and finesse jigs, and some other stuff in a pinch. I also truly think the Kistler HE3 line up has a ton to offer at your price point and for your needs, and for the around 3/8 oz I’d go 4 power MH and around 1/2 oz I’d expect the 5 power Heavy to be a good choice. However the MB tapers are so unique it’s hard I compare them directly to the HE3 series or anything else. Good luck and let us know what you’re end up with and how you like it.

^ This!

Well answered my own question. They’re listed on the MB USA site as an authorized dealer.

Has any on confirmed they’re an authorized MB USA retailer and the MB USA will honor the warranty? If they are then that’s certainly a good deal. Edit: answered my own question they are listed on MB USA site as authorized dealer.

Up to 3/8 or under 1/2 oz go EMTF. For 1/2 oz and above the feedback I’ve always heard is that the Perfect Pitch is the way to go. The Tour Versatile will also handle 3/8 and 1/2 oz jigs and I have this rod. While it’s a good rod I just don’t think it has the same feel as my other Orochis and I’d go Perfect Pitch first. If if you want the best scoop on the Orochi rods give Gary a call at the Tackle Trap. I have the Spinnerbait Special and it’s a very versatile rod but I would not suggest it for specific jig duty. It will handle small jigs in a pinch. But for specific jig fishing the EMTF or Diablo Spec R even are better choices. The SS is a truly med fast taper that’s crisp and powerful. For me it doesn’t pitch as well as I’d like for jig fishing and has a deeper flex on the hook set then I’d like. My HE3 MH is certainly much faster taper then the SS. Let us know how it turns out.

Every Loomis option beyond the E6X is going to far exceed your stated price point. However “rep samples” of GLX can be gotten around $360 from some shops like the Tackle Trap. If considering a Loomis I’d look at a GLX MBR 844 which can handle 3/8 and 1/2 jigs and a variety of other presentations. I just got one and am very impressed with this rod already though I need a lot more time with it on the water. But you you really don’t need to spend that kind of coin to get a couple of good jig rods. Lots of great options in your price range have been suggested. The ALX rods have a good rep though I’ve not fished one myself. There’s also the St Croix Avid, Avid X, and LTB to consider as well. Good luck with your selection.

Agree my HE3 MH is plenty fast for jig and trig fishing. Maybe not a true xfast but I don’t think you need an xfast for jigs. Not dissimilar from the taper in my GLX MBR.

Right at the 260price point I’d recommend the Kistler Helium 3 line. Probably one of their MH 4powers and a H 5power to cover the range. If you can wait till they have a sale you’ll get them closer to 200a piece. If if you can up your price point to 300 then I’d look at Megabass Orochi XX series, probably the EMTF and the Perfect Pitch. I’ve not used those specific rods myself but they’re well regarded for the range of jigs you’re wanting to throw. They’re also extremely versatile sticks. Dobyns rods are are always a popular choice but I don’t have experience there to weigh in.

Another vote for the Tatula CT given your price point.

I preface this with I don't have meaningful experience with more then two Daiwa reels. But I have a bunch of recent Shimanos that have been my reels of choice. Recently wanting to to see what it was all about I just got a Tatula SV to try out figuring at it's price point it was easy enough to move on. I did have it cleaned and tuned before I got it, and adding some bearings and upgrades. But I'm pretty impressed and pretty please. Super easy to dial in and casting and pitching without drama are a breeze. It's got a super smooth and solid feeling especially for its price point. It's earned a place in my line up pretty easily, and is going stay there. In act I may order another. I dont get quite the distance I do with some of my Shimanos, but I think I need to get comfortable backing off the brakes a bit more. But it more then makes up for it in control and accuracy. It's gonna be my go to short roll casts and pitching and learning to skip in close quarters.

MB Orochi XX line up in my opinion. The Diablo Spec R is one of my favorite and most versatile rods. It will handle all that you're looking to do as long as your lure weights are reasonable. I've fished 3/8 oz trigger creature baits on it no problem as well as 1/2 oz red eye shads, and both 3/8 and 1/2 oz swim jigs with rage grub trailers. It does it all. If you want some more length and something with a bit more focus on single hook lures the EMTF is another good choice from what I hear. Though I have no personal experience with one.

Didn't think you were knocking the Tatulas at all, nor would I be upset if you were because I literally just got mine this past weekend :). Know what hat you mean about handling and comfort, some reels just don't fit all hands well. SV103 was that way for me, I wanted to like that reel but no dice. I know now what you mean about the micro module, I've got a 13 Metanium and a Chronarch MGL. Buttery only begins to describe it. I'm not sure any reel can ever compare to my 13 Met, especially after it was cleaned and tuned with stock bearings. There is not a thing about that reel I would change. Once it it has been cleaned and tuned and bearings added the Tat SV is probably nearly as smooth as my Chronarch MGL. I was was thinking I might get another one of the Tat SV but now that I read this may need to reconsider that. Of course now that I just fondled my 13 Met again I may just need to get a Met MGL or a NOS 13 Met if I can find one. Mad have some great choices in the market today and I think an angler would have to try pretty hard to chose an ad reel between Daiwa or Shimano at this point.

Thanks for the great write up. Sounds like some impressive performance. Silly question but was your real fresh out of the box from the factory or was there anything done to it like a bearing flush and relube? You compare it pretty favorably to the Tatula variants. Was one of those the Tatula SV? Asking because I just got a Tatula SV to try and I'm pretty impressed by its ease of use, solid feel, and how smooth it is. But mine is not stock, it had a cleaning, tuning, and some bearing upgrades before it got to me. In so impressed by the Tatula SV in considering getting a second. Every other one of my reels is a Shimano and this is the first Daiwa that has swayed me, but not the first I've tried. Don't think it will be worth replacing my I series reels just yet, but if they ever do need to be replaced sounds like the K series is a great upgrade path.

Is it getting out of control at the beginning or the end of the cast? How many brake shoes engaged and what's the dial set to? The newer SVS system isn't as aggressive in braking as the original so needs more braking applied typically. I'd suggest starting with all 4 shoes engaged, dial turned up, spool tension set to lure weight. Then slowly back down on the brakes till you find the sweet spot. I think on my MGL for me it ended up being 3 shoes on with dial btw 2-4. Whereas on my older SVS reels it was 2 shoes on and dial ***. My experience with Shimano SVS reels is that spool tension must be adjusted to the lure weight. Is the rod you were using appropriate for tossing a 3/8 squarebill? Just wondering if the rod choice while testing was causing you snap the cast? Give some more time you'll get it dialed in.

I agree with those that have mentioned for all around versatility a 6.x ratio might be better. Either way you go with some presentations you'll have to reel faster and others slower. But either ratio will work for sure.

Sounds like a great first baitcasting setup. Unless you prefer the shorter rod for some reason I suggest getting the 7'1" version of that rod. Will give you more leverage for hook sets with heavy hooks, as well as better distance casting and pitching. It it might be a little powerful for lipless cranks, but set your drag a little looser and use a line with a bit of stretch to compensate.