4 hours ago, FishTank said:

 

Megabass, OSP, Raid, Deps, and Jackall have raised prices on a few of their baits as well. For example, the 3in 1/2oz Megabass Dark Sleeper is now $8.99. It was $6.99.  

 

 

New colors are 🔥 though. Morning Goby is going to pull every Smallmouth out the lake.

3 minutes ago, PGA Dropout said:

 

New colors are 🔥 though. Morning Goby is going to pull every Smallmouth out the lake.

Ya. The new colors are awesome and actually make more sense to me than the previous versions.  I will pick some up at some point. My only thing with this bait is that it's a snag magnet. 

Anyone picking this version up?
https://daiwa.us/products/25-steez

36 minutes ago, Diggy said:

Anyone picking this version up?
https://daiwa.us/products/25-steez

I wonder if this is going to replace the Steez AGS…

1 hour ago, Diggy said:

Anyone picking this version up?
https://daiwa.us/products/25-steez

Wow these are actually really nice looking. 

2 hours ago, woolleyfooley said:

I wonder if this is going to replace the Steez AGS…

 

Probably complement. Makes a $400 Zillion a hard sell though. 

Are these the same blanks as the

Steez AGS just without AGS guides and with EVA grips? Or what’s going on here? Hard to imagine Daiwa would replace their $700 model with a $450 rod. Are we going to see the zillions get discontinued?? 

Look like these have svf nanoplus blanks. The 2021 700 model have svf compile x. The steez real control model have both compile x and nano plus. With it being 449.00 look like I might be picking up 0ne to try.

A definite no from me. I have never spent more than $300 for a rod,.... Or reel for that matter, and likely never will.

 

In my opinion, the rule of diminishing return really starts to kick in and I just don't see the bang for the buck above that range.

 

I've got a few rods and reels that run above that price point, but have picked them as good sale prices, seconds, or used in awesome shape. In every instance, my opinion was that I was glad I didn't pay full retail price.

 

Don't get me wrong,... I like my Zillion, my Bantam, St Croix Legend Extreme, Legend Elite IMX Pro, GLX and others, but there just gets to be less of a gain as the price continues to climb. There is a LOT of nice gear in that $200 - $300 range these days

2 hours ago, FrnkNsteen said:

I've got a few rods and reels that run above that price point, but have picked them as good sale prices, seconds

I’ve made this point multiple times. The actual price of a piece of gear is never MSRP. An NRX isn’t a $700 rod, it’s commonly found now with 25-35% discounts. You can get it even more by stacking any stores gift cards on discount. 
 

Daiwa gear routinely goes on sale multiple times a year for 30%+ off. Would I pay $700 for one? No. But I’ll pay $400 when I used to pay $325. 
 

People respond to price changes like these with such negativity. The cost of the brick has been going up like gang busters for over five years now. The Steez AGS rods launched in or around late 2020 into 2021. This is the first price increase and is reasonable/in line with other hobby gear. Look at the cost of a kayak, boat, or golf equipment. They have increased 100-300% in the same timeframe. If a steez rod was sold at $1300 MSRP I’d see a reason to complain. 

Counter point: track down a racing design or real control in Japan if you want a steez rod with AGS guides.

 

Also, do your homework on AGS guides 1st since you won't be able to rely on a US warranty to replace them of you break them.  You are going to have to know if those guides and how you handle rods are compatible.

3 hours ago, TNBankFishing said:

I’ve made this point multiple times. The actual price of a piece of gear is never MSRP. An NRX isn’t a $700 rod, it’s commonly found now with 25-35% discounts. You can get it even more by stacking any stores gift cards on discount. 
 

Daiwa gear routinely goes on sale multiple times a year for 30%+ off. Would I pay $700 for one? No. But I’ll pay $400 when I used to pay $325. 
 

People respond to price changes like these with such negativity. The cost of the brick has been going up like gang busters for over five years now. The Steez AGS rods launched in or around late 2020 into 2021. This is the first price increase and is reasonable/in line with other hobby gear. Look at the cost of a kayak, boat, or golf equipment. They have increased 100-300% in the same timeframe. If a steez rod was sold at $1300 MSRP I’d see a reason to complain. 

 

Let us not talk about the price of golf equipment. 😅

 

I do think it's reasonable to be disappointed by price increases.

 

Still enjoy Daiwa products. Will definitely look at the new 2025 AGS-less Steez.

 

 

12 hours ago, 10,000 lakes Bassin said:

Are these the same blanks as the

Steez AGS just without AGS guides and with EVA grips? Or what’s going on here? Hard to imagine Daiwa would replace their $700 model with a $450 rod. Are we going to see the zillions get discontinued?? 

 

Definitely different.

 

Very interested in the Heavy rods.

19 hours ago, woolleyfooley said:

I wonder if this is going to replace the Steez AGS…

I highly doubt it. They wouldn’t have raised the prices if that was the case. And they definitely wouldn’t replace a $670 rod with a $450 one.

6 minutes ago, LonnieP said:

I highly doubt it. They wouldn’t have raised the prices if that was the case. And they definitely wouldn’t replace a $670 rod with a $450 one.

They will is take away from the already not super popular zillions… Very strange to me. 

Edited July 10, 2025Jul 10 by 10,000 lakes Bassin
Misspelled

2 hours ago, 10,000 lakes Bassin said:

They will is take away from the already not super popular zillions… Very strange to me. 

I don’t understand why the Zillions aren’t popular. I love mine, very light and sensitivity isn’t far behind my Steez rod. At least Daiwa  didn’t raise the price on those.

9 hours ago, TNBankFishing said:

I’ve made this point multiple times. The actual price of a piece of gear is never MSRP. An NRX isn’t a $700 rod, it’s commonly found now with 25-35% discounts. You can get it even more by stacking any stores gift cards on discount. 
 

Daiwa gear routinely goes on sale multiple times a year for 30%+ off. Would I pay $700 for one? No. But I’ll pay $400 when I used to pay $325. 
 

People respond to price changes like these with such negativity. The cost of the brick has been going up like gang busters for over five years now. The Steez AGS rods launched in or around late 2020 into 2021. This is the first price increase and is reasonable/in line with other hobby gear. Look at the cost of a kayak, boat, or golf equipment. They have increased 100-300% in the same timeframe. If a steez rod was sold at $1300 MSRP I’d see a reason to complain. 

Where do you find Daiwa rods for 30% off and when? I’m really interested in a steez AGS power pitch but not at $700.

3 hours ago, LonnieP said:

I highly doubt it. They wouldn’t have raised the prices if that was the case. And they definitely wouldn’t replace a $670 rod with a $450 one.

From what I was told by Ben at The Hook Up Tackle, Daiwa is planning on discontinuing the steez AGS if it doesn’t sell well at the new price.  
 

Whether that’s just him being a salesman or being truthful, I’m not sure. One thing is in his video he says the steez AGS is not worth buying at the new price, which isn’t very salesman like so I’m inclined to believe him when he says they will be discontinued if sales falter. 

30 minutes ago, woolleyfooley said:

Where do you find Daiwa rods for 30% off and when? I’m really interested in a steez AGS power pitch but not at $700.

From what I was told by Ben at The Hook Up Tackle, Daiwa is planning on discontinuing the steez AGS if it doesn’t sell well at the new price.  
 

Whether that’s just him being a salesman or being truthful, I’m not sure. One thing is in his video he says the steez AGS is not worth buying at the new price, which isn’t very salesman like so I’m inclined to believe him when he says they will be discontinued if sales falter. 

They weren’t worth $550, but were when I picked up mine at $320. It’s all relative when you ignore MSRP. I mean, St. Croix Legend lines at 40% off is a great value. At least when they ran torzites. 

I would definitely be holding out for 20% or 25% off sales

1 hour ago, woolleyfooley said:

Where do you find Daiwa rods for 30% off and when? I’m really interested in a steez AGS power pitch but not at $700.

I got my BC1 a few years back for $440 off Amazon of all places. I believe that one retailed for $599 at the time so obviously I jumped on it.

So who's going to be the first to buy the newly added $1000 poison ultima to have "this is the most sensitive rod ever!" moment on the internet 😂

 

Probably not wort it... but I want it!!!

 

On 7/9/2025 at 7:20 PM, Diggy said:

Anyone picking this version up?
https://daiwa.us/products/25-steez

Well if anyone knows where they normally go on sale and when I’d really appreciate it!

On 7/9/2025 at 6:20 PM, Diggy said:

Anyone picking this version up?
https://daiwa.us/products/25-steez

Steez XT 2.0?  Appears to be.  The XT shared a blank with the AGS Steez, but came with Alconite guides.

On 6/16/2025 at 4:55 PM, HawkeyeSmallie said:

Crazy how expensive fishing can be now.

Can be. Just gotta do it on the cheap and effective lol

58 minutes ago, Joedodge said:

Can be. Just gotta do it on the cheap and effective lol

Dude you sound like my wife! Lol

 

 

12 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

Dude you sound like my wife! Lol

 

 

Hahaha. I’ve cheapened up pretty good over the last couple years. I used to run all wild and stuff