I have heard the Recon blanks are slightly better than the M1, but I don't know as far as the factory rod and what components they have on them. I built a Phenix X-10 Composite and love it, I'm now selling my Dobyns Champion XP 704cb Glass and Tatula crankbait rod, because I like it so much.

The only other Phenix rod I have is the X-11 deep diver composite which I don’t need. 
Even being rated up to 3 oz it fishes square bill’s, jerk baits and chatter baits really well. 
I’m gonna sell it for another composite because it’s kind of overkill for the waters I fish most. 
 

Actually I was thinking about the X-10

 

 

 

 

Mike

3 hours ago, Mike L said:

The only other Phenix rod I have is the X-11 deep diver composite which I don’t need. 
Even being rated up to 3 oz it fishes square bill’s, jerk baits and chatter baits really well. 
I’m gonna sell it for another composite because it’s kind of overkill for the waters I fish most. 
 

Actually I was thinking about the X-10

 

 

 

 

Mike

 

That's funny because I was thinking about building a X-11 sometime in the future for XD 6, 3/4 oz lipless, bigger whopper ploppers and other heavier deeper divers. It's weird because it's even lighter than the X-10, which came out to 3.9 oz. after I built it even with Winn Grips on it.

 

Do you have the factory X-11 or a custom?

 

The X-10 is in between the Dobyns 704 glass and the Tatula 7ft M/R. It's not quite as whippy with a little more power than the Dobyns, but more parabolic and not quite as powerful as the Tatula. All 3 are great cranking rods, I just like the lightness of the X-10.

13 hours ago, kayaking_kev said:

 

That's funny because I was thinking about building a X-11 sometime in the future for XD 6, 3/4 oz lipless, bigger whopper ploppers and other heavier deeper divers. It's weird because it's even lighter than the X-10, which came out to 3.9 oz. after I built it even with Winn Grips on it.

 

Do you have the factory X-11 or a custom?

 

The X-10 is in between the Dobyns 704 glass and the Tatula 7ft M/R. It's not quite as whippy with a little more power than the Dobyns, but more parabolic and not quite as powerful as the Tatula. All 3 are great cranking rods, I just like the lightness of the X-10.

Mine is a 6 yd old factory model that I bought from one of their reps I met at

I Cast that year. 
I’m surprised you said the X-11 is a little lighter. Which honestly got me thinking...

I guess I just assumed that the X-10 was lighter just based on their rating.

 

It definitely has the power with a good transition for what you’re looking for it to do. 

It’s not that sensitive but I can still feel what happening at the end of the line. 
And it really is surprisingly light for a composite and balances well especially with the older Johnny Morris Sig reel on it which is quite heavy compared to today’s standards. 
 

I think you’ll be happy with it. 
 

 

 

Mike

On 3/29/2021 at 11:32 AM, Pbrl said:

Honestly these are the two I am leaning towards.. Might do one of these and a bantam MGL then do a cheaper rig for the second.

Out of curiosity, why are you choosing the bantam mgl? Have you found one at a good/reduced price or on sale?

 

couple reasons I ask: 

1. I have not used one yet, I have only gotten up to the chronarch mgl and the bantam is one I’ve been looking at but never committed to yet. 
2. IMO, I would splurge a little more on the rod and set myself up to increased sensitivity and detect more bites and downgrade to a chronarch or curado level. To me, saving at least 100 on the reel to put into a rod would make for a better fishing experience. 
 

1 minute ago, TxRaider said:

Out of curiosity, why are you choosing the bantam mgl? Have you found one at a good/reduced price or on sale?

 

couple reasons I ask: 

1. I have not used one yet, I have only gotten up to the chronarch mgl and the bantam is one I’ve been looking at but never committed to yet. 
2. IMO, I would splurge a little more on the rod and set myself up to increased sensitivity and detect more bites and downgrade to a chronarch or curado level. To me, saving at least 100 on the reel to put into a rod would make for a better fishing experience. 
 

I have been wanting one for a couple years now and if I were to purchase one it would be on ebay from Japan most likely. But I plan on sticking with a rod at or under $200 and $200 for the reel. I know it is pretty unlikely that I will find a Bantam in that range but one can dream lol. I have a Tatula Elite and like it and was planning on picking up an SV for one of these setups and have found a used curado DC for $170 locally that I will hopefully get for the other setup. 

1 minute ago, Pbrl said:

I have been wanting one for a couple years now and if I were to purchase one it would be on ebay from Japan most likely. But I plan on sticking with a rod at or under $200 and $200 for the reel. I know it is pretty unlikely that I will find a Bantam in that range but one can dream lol. I have a Tatula Elite and like it and was planning on picking up an SV for one of these setups and have found a used curado DC for $170 locally that I will hopefully get for the other setup. 

Nice. Yeah the bantam is one I want to eventually get.
 

I am still in the process of filling holes in my line up and after I get a frog rod I’ll be looking to get another jig rod. I’ll definitely be taking a hard look at the Zodias. But more than likely I think I’ll try and get an OrochiXX rod or another Expride.

1 minute ago, TxRaider said:

Nice. Yeah the bantam is one I want to eventually get.
 

I am still in the process of filling holes in my line up and after I get a frog rod I’ll be looking to get another jig rod. I’ll definitely be taking a hard look at the Zodias. But more than likely I think I’ll try and get an OrochiXX rod or another Expride.

The Orochi xx looks so nice. I thought about maybe just doing one really nice rig with an Orochi and the bantam or metanium mgl. But think it would be wiser to widen my lineup.