I am looking to get a new bottom contact rod for smallie fishing on rivers. I am going to be mainly throwing 1/4-1/2 oz jigs, dark sleepers, and things of that nature. That said I have been looking at a couple different rods/reels and was hoping that people could let me know if they have used these rods and if it would work for what I am looking to do. Not going to be doing any kind of punching or flipping so I don't need something super powerful and lean towards having a lighter more sensitive rod

 

Rods:

Megabass Dark Sleeper

Evergreen Orion Degal 

Shimano Poison Glorious 6'8ML

G.Loomis GLX 854C JWR 

 

Reel:

Daiwa Steez SV TW

 

Thanks in advance for any help! 

Have you thought about the X Bites?

 

It could be perfect for what you are doing.

 

I have the reel, have two actually. No complaints.

8 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

Have you thought about the X Bites?

 

It could be perfect for what you are doing.

 

I have the reel, have two actually. No complaints.

Nope I hadn't, the 1/4-1oz threw me off on their lure weights. I generally view that as like 1/2 oz being the ideal weight and I may get there with a jig and trailer but also don't want it to struggle with a 1/4. That said I'd love to know if you have tried throwing the minimum on there

5 minutes ago, Abassa said:

Nope I hadn't, the 1/4-1oz threw me off on their lure weights. I generally view that as like 1/2 oz being the ideal weight and I may get there with a jig and trailer but also don't want it to struggle with a 1/4. That said I'd love to know if you have tried throwing the minimum on there

 

I just know I've heard the X Bites is the perfect finesse jig rod.

 

Throw that Daiwa on there and you might have an amazing Smallmouth jig rod.

 

Not sure if you have any P5's yet but I'm a HUGE fan.

 

They run circles around NRX+'s.

Instead offing you a specific rod want advise that lure weights in rods vary greatly and are only a guide. 
JWR meaning jig and worm rod ie; bottom contact rod. What makes a good jig rod is light weight coupled with hook setting power. Sensitivity comes from the high density graphite blanks, reel seat and guide train. Several very good JWR rods are available high price isn’t your best baseline.

Line used is very important and if you choose braid w/leader make sure the guide train is functional with leader knots. My suggestion is use straight premium FC line around 12 lb test.

Medium Heavy or 5 power rods can easily cast 3/16 oz weight and 3/4+ weights regardless of the lure weight rating using the reel you plan to use.

Rod weight between 3 1/2 oz to 4 for rods 6’10” to:7’3” and mfr you have good customer service and warranty.

Tom 

PS, If I was looking for a rod today the Okuma X series rods meet all the above; XB-C-731MH Xfast

2 hours ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

Not sure if you have any P5's yet but I'm a HUGE fan.

 

They run circles around NRX+'s.

I actually own a couple MB rods. I have the orochi bandersnatch, PopX stick, and recently picked up the destroyer evoluzion cliffhanger. I love all those rods and honestly the biggest reason for not getting another MB rod is that I love trying new things 

2 hours ago, WRB-2.0 said:

Instead offing you a specific rod want advise that lure weights in rods vary greatly and are only a guide. 
JWR meaning jig and worm rod ie; bottom contact rod. What makes a good jig rod is light weight coupled with hook setting power. Sensitivity comes from the high density graphite blanks, reel seat and guide train. Several very good JWR rods are available high price isn’t your best baseline.

Line used is very important and if you choose braid w/leader make sure the guide train is functional with leader knots. My suggestion is use straight premium FC line around 12 lb test.

Medium Heavy or 5 power rods can easily cast 3/16 oz weight and 3/4+ weights regardless of the lure weight rating using the reel you plan to use.

Rod weight between 3 1/2 oz to 4 for rods 6’10” to:7’3” and mfr you have good customer service and warranty.

Tom 

PS, If I was looking for a rod today the Okuma X series rods meet all the above; XB-C-731MH Xfast

This is super helpful! I have been fishing a ton but mainly focused on BFS so little hard baits, small crank baits, and topwater which is why the whole bottom contact world feels like learning a different language. I was planning to run braid to FC leader and given the comment above would I want to make that leader super short so that it isn't messing with the guide train? I have always had bad luck backlashing with straight FC on baitcasters so want to avoid it if I can 

2 hours ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

 

I just know I've heard the X Bites is the perfect finesse jig rod.

 

Throw that Daiwa on there and you might have an amazing Smallmouth jig rod.

 

Not sure if you have any P5's yet but I'm a HUGE fan.

 

They run circles around NRX+'s.

Whenever you get into Rods  of that caliber it’s splitting hairs

I don’t agree with  the running circles around the NRX 

Well I can't comment as much on the rods, but the Steez SV is a really nice reel. It actually brakes better and casts further at the same time than say a Tatula SV.

1 hour ago, Abassa said:

I actually own a couple MB rods. I have the orochi bandersnatch, PopX stick, and recently picked up the destroyer evoluzion cliffhanger. I love all those rods and honestly the biggest reason for not getting another MB rod is that I love trying new things 

This is super helpful! I have been fishing a ton but mainly focused on BFS so little hard baits, small crank baits, and topwater which is why the whole bottom contact world feels like learning a different language. I was planning to run braid to FC leader and given the comment above would I want to make that leader super short so that it isn't messing with the guide train? I have always had bad luck backlashing with straight FC on baitcasters so want to avoid it if I can 

Use a line treatment, I use Tangle few a drops during the outing to keep the line wet.

KVD works if you put it on the spooled the day before and use Tangle Free during the outing. Very light thumb just enough to keep the line smooth coming off the spool. 
Tom

3 hours ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

Have you thought about the X Bites?

 

It could be perfect for what you are doing.

 

I have the reel, have two actually. No complaints.

I kinda agree. I have this rod and it’s just about to take top spot w respect to #’s of fish caught.  
 

1/2 total weight is definitely on the high side of the rod.  3/8th is the sweet oh so sweet spot.  
Rod is accurate, sensitive, and fights like the dickens. 
my reel is a lowlier Zillion SV TW. 

1 hour ago, rangerjockey said:

I don’t agree with  the running circles around the NRX 

 

When it comes to looks?

 

Night and day.

5 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

 

When it comes to looks?

 

Night and day.

 

If looks catch fish, I'm using these all day....

 

Ahhh. I see you favor fishing w plastics!

 

dah du bump!

8 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

 

When it comes to looks?

 

Night and day.

For me , fishing rods are just a tool. Looks mean absolutely nothing.

I buy performance.

So like, half ounce jigs as in compact like a Keitech or more full sized?

29 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

Ahhh. I see you favor fishing w plastics!

 

dah du bump!

Silicone jigs. 😁

1 hour ago, rangerjockey said:

I buy performance.

 

Let me introduce to you the Megabass P5.   

Oh I went through a mega bass phase

4 hours ago, rangerjockey said:

Oh I went through a mega bass phase

What do you consider better?

16 hours ago, WRB-2.0 said:

Use a line treatment, I use Tangle few a drops during the outing to keep the line wet.

KVD works if you put it on the spooled the day before and use Tangle Free during the outing. Very light thumb just enough to keep the line smooth coming off the spool. 
Tom

I have never heard of this before, is it something I just rub on the line with a paper towel or cloth? 

16 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

I kinda agree. I have this rod and it’s just about to take top spot w respect to #’s of fish caught.  
 

1/2 total weight is definitely on the high side of the rod.  3/8th is the sweet oh so sweet spot.  
Rod is accurate, sensitive, and fights like the dickens. 
my reel is a lowlier Zillion SV TW. 

Nice will for sure take a look at the X-bites! I am a dummy and finally weighted my "3/8" oz jigs with their skirt and trailers so its more like 5/8 oz (19 grams). Also I have the Zillion SV TW and of all the expensive gear I've bought that reel has caught me the most big fish, something about it just consistently gets me into the nice ones regardless of rod or presentation 

17 hours ago, Boomstick said:

Well I can't comment as much on the rods, but the Steez SV is a really nice reel. It actually brakes better and casts further at the same time than say a Tatula SV.

Have you found it easy to break in? I have read some people saying they had to get it out a couple times to get it tuned, but for all my baitcasters I have gotten the sweet spot pretty quickly 

16 hours ago, PGA Dropout said:

So like, half ounce jigs as in compact like a Keitech or more full sized?

More full sized I believe, I just picked up the war eagle finesse jig in 3/8 and then some dark sleepers in 3/8 and 1/2. I'm new to the bottom contact world so not totally versed in the variety of different jigs 

9 hours ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

What do you consider better?

Agree, I can't think of rods that are better than MB for the money. Maybe G.Loomis but outside that the only way to get a better rod is either custom or the really specific JDM models 

2 hours ago, Abassa said:

Have you found it easy to break in? I have read some people saying they had to get it out a couple times to get it tuned, but for all my baitcasters I have gotten the sweet spot pretty quickly 

Not at all. Like all Daiwa reels, it's very easy. So as a rule of thumb with Daiwa reels, you basically don't have to touch the tension knob. It should be set when it arrives, if not, tighten it a little and loosen it until the spool just begins to click and you won't have to touch it again.

 

I use 16# fluorocarbon (Daiwa J-Fluoro Samurai specifically, that line handles great) on mine. I usually just set the brakes at 8 and I don't have to worry about thumbing the spool. It casts adequately far, so I figure I might keep it easy. If there's wind or I'm doing tougher casts or sometimes for pitching I may set it at 10, and for skipping docks, I'll turn that up to at least 14, usually 16 if I'm confident in my skipping abilities, but I used 20 last week as I hadn't skipped anything in a while.

 

With the brake on 8, it performs similar to my Tatula SVS on 10, and 16 is very close to the Tatula SVs on 20. But the Steez SV casts further.

Fluorocarbon line doesn’t absorb water like Nylon Monofilament lines do.

To keep the FC line from springing off the spool during the cast creating a backlash line treatment like KVD coats the surface of the FC line to allow the line to wet ( hold water) to reduce springing off the spool during the cast.

KVD is a spray and can be applied by spaying the spooled line on the reel. Just rotate the spool and spray then let the treatment soak into the FC over over night.

Tangle Free is a liquid that comes in a 2 oz squeeze bottle. You apply the Tangle Free  directly onto the spooled line, a few drops,  prior to using the reel or anytime while using the reel as needed to keep the line wetted and laying on the spool during the cast. 
2 oz bottle should last about a season depending how often you fish. Basically a liquid silicone Tangle Free will stay fresh for years. Tangle Free works good on mono or copoly line and FC line.

Tom

 

On 9/12/2025 at 10:39 AM, Boomstick said:

Not at all. Like all Daiwa reels, it's very easy. So as a rule of thumb with Daiwa reels, you basically don't have to touch the tension knob. It should be set when it arrives, if not, tighten it a little and loosen it until the spool just begins to click and you won't have to touch it again.

 

I use 16# fluorocarbon (Daiwa J-Fluoro Samurai specifically, that line handles great) on mine. I usually just set the brakes at 8 and I don't have to worry about thumbing the spool. It casts adequately far, so I figure I might keep it easy. If there's wind or I'm doing tougher casts or sometimes for pitching I may set it at 10, and for skipping docks, I'll turn that up to at least 14, usually 16 if I'm confident in my skipping abilities, but I used 20 last week as I hadn't skipped anything in a while.

 

With the brake on 8, it performs similar to my Tatula SVS on 10, and 16 is very close to the Tatula SVs on 20. But the Steez SV casts further.

Yep I am familiar with the Daiwa's reels, I have a couple zillion SV TWs and loved their ease of use. Part of me did like the I guess customizable aspect of being able to play with the spool tension knob on my Shimanos but that was more so for BFS style lures where the spool tension is much more important vs if I am casting heavier baits. 

I recently bought the new spinning St. Croix Legend X2 7'3" MLXF and 7'1" MHXF casting rods. They are the most sensitive rods I ever used. I don't have any Megabass rods but have a Loomis NRX+ 812S. The Loomis is good but the St. Croix's are definitely crisper.

Plus their warranty can't be beat. With the Japanese rods you have to physically ship the rod back and you are at their mercy. Most likely SOL.