Are you getting the Steez?  I was just throwing it out kinda as a joke.  But if you're only going to have 1 spinning combo, that is the rod to have.  I had a great day fishing Lake Michigan for smallies today and my main producer was a Ned on a 1/10th oz head and the new TRD FattyZ.  I caught a good number of 16" to 18" healthy, strong smallies and fighting them on the Steez was an absolute joy.  The rod is so sensitive, light, crisp, yet still has good backbone.  The picture I posted was of a catfish I caught earlier this year on the Steez.  Took me about 10 minutes to finally land it.  You're going to love the rod.  

On 6/6/2025 at 1:08 AM, Ficious Cycle said:

I suspect that when anglers have said I “need” a ML rod, their focus has been mostly on the rod’s power rating, rather than its lure rating.

Basically. I have the same Tatula Elite rod. It’ll throw a 1/16” oz ned rig a ways sure, but the Tatula Elite ML/F will throw them a lot better and is also a little more sensitive due to having less power. It’s also better for hooksets with those real light wire hooks and better at jeeping fish pinned. That M/F will work but it’s more ideal for drop shots and shaky heads or maybe ned rigs around grass - that rod does have decent power to it for stuff like that.

 

My other thought on the matter is sometimes I want a drop shots and a tube - that’s my most common finesse scenario but maybe something else. Now you can have both rigged.  There’s been lakes that’s all I need.

2 hours ago, Junk Fisherman said:

Are you getting the Steez?  I was just throwing it out kinda as a joke.  But if you're only going to have 1 spinning combo, that is the rod to have.

As a kayaker, I wanted to keep it 7’ or less but the Daiwa 7’6” ML rods are great with of course the Steez being the best of the best,

 

I got the Tatula Elite Cody Meyer 7’ ML/F instead, largely because my other ML is a St Croix that runs over power and I wanted to throw a ned rig better, especially at one particular location where a few feet is the difference between getting skunked and catching fish. It does the job well.

Yeah, I secured a Steez. It's officially on its way from Japan!

@Junk Fisherman

@Boomstick

A huge thanks to you guys for the advice and input.  

 

On another note, I flip-flopped again on the reel for the Ark shallow and mid-depth crank, lipless, and squarebill composite casting rod. I'm back to the Zillion SV TW for that one.

 

As it turns out, the only casting rod that will actually be getting a new Bantam instead of a Zillion is the H/f 7'2" Shimano Poison Adrena B which will be used for flippin', pitchin', skippin', and froggin' in open water or sparse to moderate cover. The Bantam's rigidity and power make it ideal for these techniques and pair perfectly with this Adrena's backbone and sensitivity.

 

And while the H/ms deep cranker, bladed jig, and spinnerbait rod would be well served by the Bantam's rigidity, I think it's best served by a torquey 5-speed. So, that rod is keeping it's Zillion SV TW, since the Bantam MGL A 150 isn't available in a 5-speed.

 

The only other rod in the lineup that, in my opinion, would be well served by the Bantam is the XH, but for those applications, the Zillion HD gets the nod.

 

That's the latest, fellas! A heartfelt thank you to ALL the contributors to this thread. Your insights have been invaluable. And a tip of my hat to bassresource.com. You guys are the best thing that ever happened to my bass fishin'! Thank you, sirs!! @Glenn and company and @Mike L.

 

Does anyone see any remaining gaps in the lineup... aside from that BFS casting rod the D**N monkey keeps nagging me about?

 

 

8-Rod Lineup:  One cork-handled rod was enthusiastically welcomed into the family

 

ML+/f   7'6" Daiwa Steez AGS "The One" Spinning (2023), 1/16 to 3/4 oz
      Daiwa JDM Exist G LT Spinning Reel LT2500S-XH 6.2:1

M/f  7’0” Abu Garcia Fantasista X Jerkbait Casting, 3/16 to 5/8 oz   

              Daiwa JDM Zillion SV TW 7.1:1

MH/f  7'0" Shimano Poison Adrena B Casting (2024), 3/8 to 1 oz
      Daiwa JDM Zillion SV TW 6.3:1

MH/mf 7'2" Evergreen Brett Hite Combat Stick "Showerblows" rod to 1 oz
      Daiwa JDM Zillion SV TW 6.3:1

MH/mf 7'0" Ark Invoker Pro Composite Crankbait Casting, 1/8 to 1-1/2 oz
      Daiwa JDM Zillion SV TW 6.3:1 

H/f   7'2" Shimano Poison Adrena B Casting (2024), 1/2 to 1-1/2 oz
      Shimano JDM Bantam MGL A 150 7.1:1

H/ms  7'3" Evergreen Brett Hite Super Combat Stick Composite, to 2 oz
    Daiwa JDM Zillion SV TW 5.5:1

XH/mf   7'8" Evergreen Brett Hite Combat Stick "Wake Bait" Casting, to 4 oz
    Daiwa JDM Zillion TW HD 7.1:1

 

 

37 minutes ago, Ficious Cycle said:

Yeah, I got a Steez. It's en route from Japan. Thanks very much, fellas!  Tight Lines~

 

@Junk Fisherman

@Boomstick

 

 

Did you get "The One"?

@Big Hands

 

Hey, Jeff!   [waves!]

 

I'm thrilled to announce that I've secured The One!

 

Even better, it's being paired with an Exist, making for an incredible combination. Exciting times ahead, my friend!!

 

38 minutes ago, Ficious Cycle said:

Hey, Big Hands! [waves]

 

I'm thrilled to announce that I got "The One"!

 

@Big Hands

 

Excellent! 

 

That's one heck of a quiver.

20 hours ago, Big Hands said:

Excellent! 

 

That's one heck of a quiver.

 

[grin]

 

Does anyone see any remaining gaps in the lineup... aside from that BFS casting rod the D**N monkey keeps nagging me about?

 

Let's hear your thoughts. Please share!