My current baitcast rod lineup, in the order I have acquired them:

 

7' Shimano SLX MHF
7'2" St Croix MF
7' Dobyns Fury MHMF (705CB)
6'8" Dobyns Sierra MHF (683C)
6'8" Dobyns Sierra HF (684C)
7' Dobyns Champ H+F (705C)

 

I'm primarily a kayak angler working small rivers and creeks for spotted bass and lakes/ponds for LMB. I like throwing chatterbaits, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and buzzbaits/whopper ploppers when the time is right. I also spool all of my baitcasters with braid - no leader. Maybe that will evolve as I gain experience and see where a leader is a must, but for now I like the straightforward nature of braid and the characteristics that it has. The Sierra rods, with their more moderate action, were added with braid in mind.

 

The SLX was my first baitcast rod and overall I quite like it, but the Dobyns rods have taken over. Crankbaits, chatterbaits, and whopper ploppers (75, 90, 110) on the 705CB. Jigs, plastics, and spinnerbaits on the Sierras. The mag heavy Champion is brand new but it's got heavier jigs and frogs covered.

 

Where does that leave my SLX? I feel like its power is similar to that of the 684C but the tip is a bit faster. Is it redundant, or does it still have a role to fill?

I like having 2 MH/F rods in the canoe. One is rigged with a spinner or chatter to start, the other with a jig. This year I'm adding a MH/F spinning rig so I'll have 3 setups rigged and ready. Makes it quicker to change techniques without having to retie.

The SLX is closer to an XF. It's more of a jig/pitching rod.

40 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I like having 2 MH/F rods in the canoe. One is rigged with a spinner or chatter to start, the other with a jig. This year I'm adding a MH/F spinning rig so I'll have 3 setups rigged and ready. Makes it quicker to change techniques without having to retie.

Yeah, that's what I'm going for with the Sierra MHF and HF rods. The MHF will see action with 3/8 - 1/2oz lures and the HF 1/2 - 3/4oz. I try to keep it to 3-4 rods in the kayak, and that includes a spinning setup. I might even limit the Sierras to throwing moving baits and put the SLX on jig duty (the St. Croix MF can handle finesse jigs).

 

14 minutes ago, Drew03cmc said:

The SLX is closer to an XF. It's more of a jig/pitching rod.

I think you're right, and that's probably how I'll use it. I may even swap reels between the SLX and the mag heavy Dobyns Champ depending on the conditions.

I'd throw t-rigs on the SLX.