the Reel is the Daiwa Zillion.  Line is garden variety Sunline Sniper in 12 lb.  i have fished weightless Senkos with it, and some 3/8 Keitech Jigs..but MOSTLY a 1/8 bullet weight with a 3-4 inch creature.  i have gone down to a 1/16 bullet on occasion, when i didnt want to bury the bait into underwater grass mats.   i've fished rivers, lakes and Tidal waters.  

 

the rod is friggen sensitive.  i can feel the tiniest line-nick when it hits the first guide.   i felt me slap a flying insect once.   bites are very noticable.  i love it.  yesterday's Clearlake bass felt like they were sending a written invitation for me to jam the hook home. Subtle was not on the menu.  the rod tip is surprisingly moderate.  this allows me to backhand, forehand, roll cast very easily.   ALL my rods had a "learning curve" with casting.  you all know what i am talking about.  as a righty, all my cast go left on super fast rods.  i have to recalibrate my timing on the release.  the X-Bites was super intuitive. i looked pro in a very short time.   i just about "Bonked" a Cormarant yesteday when i sent my bait to it.  i swear there was a bass hiding in it's shadow.  ACCURATE!!  the rod is stupid light. CAST ALL DAY light.   my biggest bass on it so far is a 5.5lb fish.  no problem!!  i actually hate the sitiation when a bass dives deep and hard and i cant keep up, resulting in my rod pinned against the side of my kayak.  in my mind this cuts the length in half and all the load is on the front end.  SCARY.  the backbone when i am fighting a fish correctly is awe inspiring.  i never feel panic enough to rush it.  yesterday, i hooked two bass very gently.  at the corner of the mouth.  the hooks almosh shook out of the enlarged hole/rip.  the X-Bites pinned them.   the new-rod look and smell is gone from my X-Bites.  i need to wipe it down with a silk diaper or something.  it is beautiful.  the F&F is perfect.  the rod is understated and looks like a regular rod.   i might wish it had a bait keeper tab, but i will "Borrow" one off of a friends Daiwa AGS or something.   i dont know how i feel about that tiny trigger knob.  i think i wish it was bigger.  (but this affects my grip, maybe not yours)

 

i'll put together another set up soon.  Shimano Bantam and MB Madbull or something.  maybe the FMJ..:D  the FMJ makes sense for my love of the pitch with big worms.  

I got an X Bites last summer, caught one little fish on it, then snapped it when pushing the kayak through tall grass. The sound still haunts me. I got my warranty replacement from MB and I have come to really love the rod this summer.

 

I am also using a Zillion SV TW with the 8.1:1 gears from my JDM Zillion HD. When I bought the rod (sight unseen) I didn't know it has micro guides, and my usual braid-to-leader setup didn't play nice. I went out last weekend and fished straight braid and had a blast. Just this afternoon I spooled with with 14# Sniper. I'm not much of a fluoro guy but I'm going to give it a shot.

 

The X Bites has essentially become my dedicated t-rig rod, although it does great with 3/8oz jigs as well. I try to keep the total weight of the lure in the 3/8 - 3/4oz range. I need to find one of those 5+ pounders to catch on it. Glad you're enjoying yours.

Come and visit me!  I’ll find you a fiver!

I have an X Bites and I'm really trying to like it. I got it used on ALF, the next day went out on my buddy's boat, I set it down and I heard a bone jarring "crunch". He stepped on it between the grip and the butt section. I tried to send it into MB, but because it was used they wouldn't warranty it. So I had to send it to my local rodsmith. He repaired it and even put a hook hanger on it. It wasn't very clean of a repair aesthetically, but it's serviceable and seems to work OK. The action seems to still be there. 

 

I use it for a finesse football jig and 3/16 to 1/8 Texas Rig. Caught some fish. I paired it with a Zillion SV TW G 8:5 30lb Braid. 

 

I just got a similar NRX+ 854 for Christmas and to me the sensitivity is amazing. I feel like the NRX+ has more feel. Might end up selling the X Bites for a loss the 854 is that good. 

Had the rod, kept reaching for my loomis 873 crr so I sold the x bites to my friend for a friend price. We both are happy. Nice rod though and it is beautiful if that makes a difference to you.