... feed the bait monkey soon.

 

For most of us north of the border, the water is going hard and I've already busted out my snowblower. I haven't been out fishing in over a month and I'm already thinking about next season and new tactics. This past year, I bought a new spinning rod, Dobyns Fury 703 that was added to my 2 rod arsenal; a Fury 735c (single hook / swimbait rod) and AG Ike Delay 7' (reaction and topwater). I love the finesse side of bass fishing, lighter tackle, lighter lines and more exhilaration after a couple of seasons of strictly power fishing reaction style presentations.

 

I really enjoy dragging jigs and ned rigs, swimming jigs/chatterbaits, and throwing swimbaits; i just don't toss as many cranks and ripbaits as before. Due to my lack of set ups, I double duty all of them and it can be annoying retying leaders and baits. I want to add one full set up and/or replace the Ike Delay with a more versatile rod.

 

1. Should I buy a dedicated swimbait rig, to eleviate my 735c to single hook presentations only?
   1. Only caveat is that I'm torn about getting a treble hook SB rod vs a Hudd type SB rod. I won't spend more than a $40-50 on a swimbait.
2. Should I buy a versatile MH rig, so I can still jig/chatterbait/paddle tails?
3. Should I buy a casting Medium rig, like a 733/703c, so I can still finesse jig/paddle tails/shakeyhead but also still use cranks/jerkbaits/topwater? Think power finesse rod.
4. I'm going through some lifestyle changes, so I may consider a St. Croix Triumph, Daiwa Ardito or AG Ike Travel rod for traveling.

 

1. I mostly fish from a boat or angling kayak
2. I do bank fish from time to time
3. I really want to buy a float tube
4. I might hold out till spring to buy or load up next week for Black Friday/TW.

Edited November 21, 20196 yr by Dangerfield
Simplified post

Based on your requirements I would get a medium powered Ardito.  I’ve seen them for around $80.  Add a Tatula 100 for $99 and that is one heck of a combo.  I have 2 Arditos:  medium spinning and medium heavy casting. Fantastic rods.

If you go the traveling route, I'd highly suggest an Ardito as well. I have (2), both M and MH 7'0" casting rods ( I can carry both in the same case!). Look around you can find them for well under msrp. Fantastic rods indeed.

11 hours ago, Tizi said:

Based on your requirements I would get a medium powered Ardito.  I’ve seen them for around $80.  Add a Tatula 100 for $99 and that is one heck of a combo.  I have 2 Arditos:  medium spinning and medium heavy casting. Fantastic rods.

 

11 hours ago, MountainMan83 said:

If you go the traveling route, I'd highly suggest an Ardito as well. I have (2), both M and MH 7'0" casting rods ( I can carry both in the same case!). Look around you can find them for well under msrp. Fantastic rods indeed.

Is that Medium casting lean more towards MH than Medium? Would a heavy gauge hook be asking too much for this rod? I'm thinking like a dark sleeper hook / chatterbait and swimjig hook.

The MH I have is pretty close to a MH compared to my other Daiwa rods.  I cannot comment on the medium since I don't own one, but I would expect similar.

3 hours ago, Dangerfield said:

 

Is that Medium casting lean more towards MH than Medium? Would a heavy gauge hook be asking too much for this rod? I'm thinking like a dark sleeper hook / chatterbait and swimjig hook.

I only have two other medium casting rods, a Daiwa Cronos and a BPS Carbonlite 2.0 and I would say the power is similiar. I would probably go for the MH with what you want to throw there.

have either of you had to replace/warranty claim a rod due to the reel seat screw failing? Seems to be the only knock I can find against these rods.

Nope.  I have used the casting rod for 2 season now.  Zero issues.  The spinning for 1 season.  Zero issues.

 

I use Daiwa reels on the rods, not sure if that helps the situation you are describing.  I have never heard of that issue until now.

That's awesome, I've had an unusual turn of events.

 

TLDR: I received a 7' MH Shimano Zodias spinning rod today for free from my brother in law. New thread :I'm looking for a new spinning reel.

 

So earlier this fall, I watched him get a massive window knot on the water. He proceed to try and quickly pick it but didn't notice his slack line proceeded to get caught in the trolling motor. His reel starts singing, the trolling motor joins in and beforeyyou know it, his spinning rod starts crumbling to pieces at each guide in a matter of seconds. It was a devastating scene. 

 

So he sent the handle back to Shimano for warranty claim; total hail Mary. He explains he broke fishing and Shimano agreed to proceeded with a replacement but somehow they opened 2 POs for the claim, which we thought 1 for the claim and the other to issue his replacement. I said to him that he'd have to have a horse stuffed up his ass for them to ship him 2 rods in return. Well, turns out they were separate claims, and 2 separate rod tubes were on his door step. They shipped him 2 brand new MHF Zodias rods.

 

He's been fishing his whole life and he always preaches that he only needs a few steps and I'm on the total opposite end, the more the merrier. For some reason he felt compelled to give me one of them and claimed he was "paying it forward" because he didn't think the claim would have gone through in the first place. I didn't know what to say, other than thank you and are you crazy.

 

So looks like I'm looking for a new spinning reel now and this thread has a new purpose.