Hi Gents,

 

Per the title, anyone have this rod?  I've done some searching and there isn't a ton of first hand about it. Based on what I'm reading, it looks like it is more or less the medium light blank design that they have thinned down the tip to be ultra light while still retaining a lot of backbone shortly into the rod.  When I bought my zodias last year, this is about exactly what I was looking for.  I love my zodias, but this one has my interest.

 

thanks

rick

 

Alright. I went and did it and bought the “like new” used version from Alf.  Got it today.  This is going to be a cool rod. It is listed as ultralight but that’s just the top 15” of the rod. It’s like they grafted an ultralight tip to a medium light bottom. The bottom half feels like my 6’10” zodias ML. I compared them side by side with my stradic on them.  Both balance great.  The PA is obviously lighter in the tip (power and weight) which helps it balance. It’s lighter overall. I’d guess 0.25-0.50 oz total without weighing them. 
 

The tip is light for casting 1/16 plus plastic. Or even a 1/16 maribou jig. A light wrist flick loads it up for the top 12-18”. I’ve obviously not fished it yet, but I think it’s going to be great for a light Ned or a lighter jig head minnow.  It has a lot of feel for the quick wrist flip sidearm.  And actually l think the first time I fish it might be for trout. It has the perfect feel for that. 

I have eye balled this rod in the past, but never got my hands on it. Interesting build with that tip. Seems like a rod that would be right up my alley. 

On 11/19/2024 at 1:08 PM, casts_by_fly said:

Hi Gents,

 

Per the title, anyone have this rod?  I've done some searching and there isn't a ton of first hand about it. Based on what I'm reading, it looks like it is more or less the medium light blank design that they have thinned down the tip to be ultra light while still retaining a lot of backbone shortly into the rod.  When I bought my zodias last year, this is about exactly what I was looking for.  I love my zodias, but this one has my interest.

 

thanks

rick

 

Yes I do. Wish Shimano would have left the ultralight rating off . I t fishes more like a ML to me but it's a cool little rod. I use it for drop shot and the minnow shaking deal.

Sounds like my 7'6" mlxf Avid Walleye.

 

Don't have one, but it fits my definition as the perfect drop shot rod

Alright, so I’ve fished this rod for a while now.  For comparison I also have the 7’2” ML Poison adrena and the 6’9” ML Zodias.  The UL/M has a 2500 sized stradic on it with 10lb 131 braid and 6 or 8 lb fluoro leader.

 

I stand by my initial statement- This is a cool rod.  I understand the UL/M rating now after fishing it for 6 months, most trips (about 30 trips this year now).  The tip is an ultralight tip. If you loaded it up with 4 lb mono you could throw a single salmon egg for trout (and I might this spring).  The top third of the rod has the power of an ultralight into a light.  For casting purposes think of it as a light.  My light power rod in the basement with a 1/8-3/8 rating has a heavier tip than this.  Where the M part of the rod comes in is when you hook a fish.  The bottom half of the rod has the power of a true M.  Just tonight, I landed an 8lb striper on it.  I landed a 5# striper, a 10# channel cat, and various other smaller fish on it.  It has the power in the butt to lay it to one.  This has become my jig and minnow rod.  The light tip means that I can load up the tip on a cast when flicking it from any angle with any amount of line out past the tip with the least wrist action.  It just flexes and flings.  

 

Where this rod is confusing, is setting the hook.  I have lost a couple fish because I tried to just reel into them with an open hook on a jig and minnow.  On the 7’2” PA ML, with a #2 or 1/0 VMC hook on a neko rig, I just reel and lift the rod.  I’ve not lost a fish yet and some have been hooked in the thick of it.  On this rod, you have to reel into it until the top quarter of the rod starts flexing and THEN set the hook. You need that medium power in the bottom half to drive the hook home.  Now that I know that, it’s not a problem, but i was confused for a trip or three.  And, I’m talking size 1-1/0 light wire open hooks.  So know that if you have one and haven’t figured it out or if you’re considering one.  

 

On the whole, this is a cool rod. Super light, comfortable in the hand, great casting action and plenty of power for open water or mild cover fish.