JS8588

I am finally quite strongly tempted to try a Sustain FJ. Heretofore my hesitancy was due to the line roller bearings.

If you can live with 6'6 https://thehookuptackle.com/products/orochi-xxx-mult-piece-rods?_pos=1&_psq=slend&_ss=e&_v=1.0&variant=39510043885735 I have & enjoy this rod.

Thank you for illustrating why I've never bought Shimano anything. I'm sure they're good reels, but for value, I like Penn, for Luxury, I like Daiwa.

Yeah, if the stateside dealers don't have what you're looking for in stock, wait. The warranty is worth it.

Sunline super natural has been great for me so far. Discovered it in the 2nd half of last season. 4lb stuff got me out of some snags where 6lb stren magnathin snapped...and the sunline is the same or lower diameter per lb test. Good line!

If you want to order the same rod with a warranty https://thehookuptackle.com/products/orochi-xxx-baitcasting-rods Or https://tackletrap.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1066_2409_2410 I've done business with both. 100% positive experience.

Since no one else has yet replied, I have the Slend. It's a good rod. It's no more sensitive than my Daiwa Ardito ML. It's the same blank Phenix uses as well, so with that in mind, I might find something in the Phenix lineup that will come with a warranty.

Best is tatsu. I still haven't fished braid but I have to say flouro does give a sensitivity edge vs mono. Only downside of flouro is it rules out topwater presentations.

I fish small presentations on light line (nothing heavier than 8lb mono in fresh water). I got skunked maybe 3x last year out of 50+ outings. Do I catch big fish? No. Do I catch fish while the guys around me using heavier gear & bigger lures are cursing about not being able to get a bite? Yes. I don't know that I'm outsmarting the fish, but I'm also not using what everyone else is & it seems to be working out well for me.

I learned (and caught a lot of fish on) a Zebco 202. So will my son when he's old enough.

What I'm looking for is a JDM Ajing rod like the Tenryu Lunakia, the Abu Garcia Eradicator, and/or Graphiteleader Corto. Am I eventually going to buy some/all of those? Yeah. Problem is, no warranty support. I suppose if I buy all 3 & something breaks, I'll still have a backup.

The Daiwa Ardito is what you seek.

Fair, but XF is XF (except when it isn't). I'm a multispecies angler. When people ask what I'm fishing for, my answer, invariably, is "whatever bites".

If there's something we know about St. Croix rods, it's that they run a little heavier than their rating. Well, I've found an exception to the rule. When I saw St. Croix was expanding their lineup to include 3 piece Extra Fast Trout Pack rods, I was pretty stoked. I've had good experience with their (unfortunately now discontinued) Legend Trek series. A 7'3 Medium Light Extra Fast works well for most of the fishing I do. The rod's overall weight is lighter than my beloved 7'6 ML XF Daiwa Ardito & is rated for lighter lures. So, what's the problem? This thing is a noodle. It is neither a ML nor an XF. It's a light moderate action rod. When assembled, it actually droops slightly under its own weight. I'm sure it will be a fine rod for many people, but I have no use for it. Tackle Direct did a great job shipping it to me in a timely fashion (ordered Wednesday afternoon, received this morning.) I'm absolutely sure they would take care of a return/exchange. I may go that route, but the incorrect ratings/specs are the fault of the manufacturer. I've heard good things about St. Croix's customer service. I'll be giving them a call on Monday & testing it out. Specifically, I'm going to ask them to swap this rod for an Avid Trek 7'6 Medium. I'll be happy to pay the difference in price. Fair is fair.

I feel like Phenix might have one in their lineup.

I exclusively fish 2 & 3 piece rods. For most of last season, the 7'6 ML XF Ardito was my primary rod. I also used a TFO 7' ML Traveler & towards the end of the Summer/Early Fall, an Orochi XXX Slend Light 2 piece. The Ardito & Orochi were about equal in sensitivity with the Traveler being somewhat behind, probably due to having more "paint" on the blank vs the clear coat finish over the Ardito & (most of) the Orochi's unsanded blank. I'm fairly confident the Orochi, the Ardito, & Phenix Redeye rods are all made in the same (Chinese) factory because the blanks look (and from my experience, fish) identical. The Orochi XXX definitely is the highest end rod with Fuji K guides & a nice, even somewhat stylish, reel seat. The TFO Traveler is next in the fit & finish department with the Ardito coming in last. The guides are simple Fuji Aluminum Oxide affairs & the reel seat gives you the impression something might come unglued* with enough time & use. That said, it is the least expensive and I didn't experience any issue with it after dozens of trout, crappie, bluegill, & bass. It even held together after a fall off the dock that trashed/bent the Penn Clash II 2000 I had paired it with all season. *The casting rods have a much sturdier feeling reel seat than do the spinners. I have a 7'6 MH Casting Rod iteration of the Ardito but I've only fished it once thus far. Agree with the above comment that it's more of a Heavy than Medium-Heavy. I did manage to twist the stripper guide out of place when taking the rod apart some time at the end of August. I did notice the guide wrap was a little loose when I first received the Ardito in March & absent-mindedly using it as a leverage point for takedown was for sure MY mistake. That said, I decided to send the rod to Daiwa & see what, if anything, they could do for me as part of the 5-year Warranty. I was fully prepared to pay for repair/replacement. Let me say, Daiwa responded to every email through the process. I've heard CS nightmare stories about them before, but that was not reflected in my experience. They told me they wouldn't be able to repair it to factory standards and would send me a replacement (at no charge) as soon as one became available. I received a brand new rod the first week of October. Hope that helps.

I own 3 of em. Quite a bit.

Placed the order just before 2pm. Just got a shipped notice via email (within 4.5 hours). Yeah, Tackle Direct is good.

Will do. I'll eventually be picking up the 7'6 Medium Avid Trek to go with the Daiwa Saltist Backbay I got over Black Friday weekend. I exclusively fish 2 & 3 piece rods. Keeps me from the excuse of "takes up too much room".

I actually just placed another order with Tackle Direct. Going to give St. Croix's new 7'3 ML 3 piece pack rod a try. Looks a little lighter than my Ardito ML.

Tackle Direct does a great job every time.

Don't do it.

Came here to say this. I fished a Kage LT (not the Kage MQ LT, which I also own but in a 4000 size) for the 2nd half of last season & absolutely loved it. Don't know if they have any in, but I ordered mine from Tackle Trap out of Alabama. Might want to give them a call.

I fished this past season with mostly a Penn Clash II 2000 & a Battle III DX. They both worked well until I trashed the Clash II when I took a misstep off the dock. Battle III is still chugging along.

I've been aware of this since 5th grade science class, but it's colloquial at this point, so I just accept it.