What a rod. Fit and finish is insane. Beautiful. Looks way nicer than a 99 dollar rod. The reel seat I found to be comfortable. I have the 7’ M 1/4-3/4 ounce model. But man I tell you it is like casting a broom stick for a M rod lol. If your aren’t 3/8 ounce within trailer or atleast 1/2 ounce. This thing is just not a wonderful caster. I really feel Like it’s closer to MH honestly. Anyone else run into this issue? 

1 hour ago, Joedodge said:

What a rod. Fit and finish is insane. Beautiful. Looks way nicer than a 99 dollar rod. The reel seat I found to be comfortable. I have the 7’ M 1/4-3/4 ounce model. But man I tell you it is like casting a broom stick for a M rod lol. If your aren’t 3/8 ounce within trailer or atleast 1/2 ounce. This thing is just not a wonderful caster. I really feel Like it’s closer to MH honestly. Anyone else run into this issue? 

Some rods are like that.  The Lews 7' MH you see in a few forms in big box stores is like that. I have the Walmart Hank Parker one and it has a super stiff slow loading tip for a MH and needs 1/2 oz total weight to load the tip to cast with any accuracy.  This is actually a good thing because in a sea of $50 cheap rods it's a standout as a 3/8 to 1/2 oz jig, big Texas rig, frog and even as a short punching rod.  It's got all your heavy jig hook needs covered for $50 if your don't mind a shorter rod.  

 

For a stiffer tipped medium rod I would use it for weightless plastics like 5" to 6" senkos, turd baits and do a lot of skipping to shoreline.  A lot of your "weightless plastics" end up being 3/8 to 1/2 oz in weight.  I use my 72M gen 1 Zodias for that and it's a stiffer tipped slower loading medium powered rod that is rated down to 1/4 oz but it never sees anything wighter than a 5" senko.  Also, the real soft tips on rods don't translate rod motion into hook sets as well as the stiffer tipped slower loading rods do so I also find that to be an advantage for plastics.

5 hours ago, Joedodge said:

What a rod. Fit and finish is insane. Beautiful. Looks way nicer than a 99 dollar rod. The reel seat I found to be comfortable. I have the 7’ M 1/4-3/4 ounce model. But man I tell you it is like casting a broom stick for a M rod lol. If your aren’t 3/8 ounce within trailer or atleast 1/2 ounce. This thing is just not a wonderful caster. I really feel Like it’s closer to MH honestly. Anyone else run into this issue? 

Spinning or casting?

I have the Spinning model and I find 5/8 oz is it's max. I love the rod personally. It's comfortable, sensitive, and looks great. 

 

I read reviews saying the casting model fishes like a MH. I also have a JDM variant 6'10 MH-R that I also really like. 

2 minutes ago, LCG said:

Spinning or casting?

I have the Spinning model and I find 5/8 oz is it's max. I love the rod personally. It's comfortable, sensitive, and looks great. 

 

I read reviews saying the casting model fishes like a MH. I also have a JDM variant 6'10 MH-R that I also really like. 

Mine is the casting. I’d love to try one in spinning. It does fish just like a MH if you ask me lol. It’s a beautiful rod. And handles and balances great. Just wish it felt more true to the rating. 

4 minutes ago, Joedodge said:

Mine is the casting. I’d love to try one in spinning. It does fish just like a MH if you ask me lol. It’s a beautiful rod. And handles and balances great. Just wish it felt more true to the rating. 

If it helps I got the 7' M spinning rod mainly for senkos around cover and it's perfect. Balances nicely with a Daiwa Exceler 3000. Both of mine are two piece models. 

Personally I feel any casting rod rated 1/4-3/4 or 1/4-1 oz. to be a MH power.  Although I have no plans on buying any more rods, it's always nice to get feedback from someone that is actually fishing a rod.  Thanks.    

 

11 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

Personally I feel any casting rod rated 1/4-3/4 or 1/4-1 oz. to be a MH power.  Although I have no plans on buying any more rods, it's always nice to get feedback from someone that is actually fishing a rod.  Thanks.    

 

No worries! Ya know I was kinda thinking that. My mediums that are rated to 5/8. Have a much softer better casting tip. I’m no one to give a review haha. Just trying to help

7 hours ago, Joedodge said:

What a rod. Fit and finish is insane. Beautiful. Looks way nicer than a 99 dollar rod. The reel seat I found to be comfortable. I have the 7’ M 1/4-3/4 ounce model. But man I tell you it is like casting a broom stick for a M rod lol. If your aren’t 3/8 ounce within trailer or atleast 1/2 ounce. This thing is just not a wonderful caster. I really feel Like it’s closer to MH honestly. Anyone else run into this issue? 

I have the spinning model 7’ M/F.  Yes it does feel a bit stiffer than other medium spinning rods.
 

I don’t mind though.  I’ve found it’s niche for me is Wacky rigs, Shaky Heads, Tubes and such around somewhat heavier vegetation than I’d normally be comfortable using a spinning rod. 

I received the rod on July 9 and fished with it yesterday - for the first time - on July 12.  I was suspicious of the strength of the rod due to the construction of section between the rod butt and rod grip.  Every time I cast, this section of the rod would twist and make a crackling sound. Sure enough, on the 6th cast, those section snapped.   I was casting a 6th Sense popper. Safe to say, I unlikely to purchase another Daiwa rod - even though I only use Daiwa reels.

 

 

6 hours ago, Mike Parent said:

I received the rod on July 9 and fished with it yesterday - for the first time - on July 12.  I was suspicious of the strength of the rod due to the construction of section between the rod butt and rod grip.  Every time I cast, this section of the rod would twist and make a crackling sound. Sure enough, on the 6th cast, those section snapped.   I was casting a 6th Sense popper. Safe to say, I unlikely to purchase another Daiwa rod - even though I only use Daiwa reels.

 

 

Welcome to the forum.  I wouldn't let one bad experience keep you from ever buying another Daiwa rod.  You'd be doing yourself a disservice.  Daiwa makes plenty of good rods.  The Aird X is highly regarded in that price range.  I have several of the original Tatula casting rods.  Like them a lot.  Excellent rods for the money.

 

Enjoyed my 7'6" HF Zillion before it got stolen.  Have an old V.I.P. Smallmouth 6'9" MF that is also a pleasure to use even tho I've come to prefer 7' or longer casting rods.

 

I don't like the OG Villain 76" MHF I got, but am okay with the other Abu rods I have.

Thanks you for the advice on the AirdX.  I'll look into it.

20 minutes ago, Mike Parent said:

Thanks you for the advice on the AirdX.  I'll look into it.

I'll double down on the Aird-X - despite having Victory and Mojo Bass rods as my main rods, I still have two Aird-Xs that I use....7'0" MH/F for spinners/chatters and 7'0" H/F for frogs. They definitely perform above their price point, and going on 5 years, they've never given me a problem.

I own the following:

7'0" M-F

7'0" M-F (G)

7'0" MH-F

7'3" H-F

7'0" MH-F Spinning

 

They are amazing rods for the price. Light, sensitive and really well balanced. They follow line with most Daiwa rods that can be much stiffer than other brands. They are on my deck most of the time, and use them interchangeably with Rebellions.

For the XTs, I like all their 7'0" models, but would not recommend the 7'3", 7'4" and 7'6" Heavy models. They are too tip heavy and absolute broom sticks. The 7'3"MH-F is also quite heavy at the tip.

I agree. I like my 7’ M just fine. But the 7’3” MH I could probably live with out lol

I have 2 Coastal Aird rods a 6'6" and 7', great beater rods, i think the best at the $45-50 price range.

On 7/13/2025 at 7:44 AM, Mike Parent said:

I received the rod on July 9 and fished with it yesterday - for the first time - on July 12.  I was suspicious of the strength of the rod due to the construction of section between the rod butt and rod grip.  Every time I cast, this section of the rod would twist and make a crackling sound. Sure enough, on the 6th cast, those section snapped.   I was casting a 6th Sense popper. Safe to say, I unlikely to purchase another Daiwa rod - even though I only use Daiwa reels.

 

 

Sounds like a defective rod that should be returned.

Tom