Hello All - I just finished year three of fishing - learning a ton and looking to potentially add a rod to the mix.

With the holiday sales coming up I figured I would ask people for recommendations now - so when the sales come I will be armed with information.

 

At this point I am looking at:

-Shimano Zodias - 7'6" - Light/Mod-Fast - 1/16-3/8 - 4-10lb (I have grown to like Mod actions rods as I seem to land more fish with them)

-Shimano Xpride - 7'6" - Med-Light/Fast - 1/8-1/2 - 4-8lb

-Daiwa Tatula Elite - 7'6" - Med-Med/Light - 1/16-1/2 - 5-12lb

-Megabass P5 Flyssa - 7'6" - Light/Fast - 1/16-3/8 - 4-10lb (would have to get at a discount/discounted gift card type price or if one were available used as this is a very pricey rod)

 

If you have had any of these rods and can provide some information on your experience with them that would be great (both pros and cons).

I would like to try throwing hair jigs - yet I don't necessarily want/need a rod that can only throw hair jigs - ideally the rod would be able to throw some other baits/lures as well.

 

Thank you in advance for your time and information.

 

I've been fishing the Daiwa TATULA Elite AGS 7'6" Seth Feider - Hair Jig / Neko Rig rod since 2018.

I use it for hair jigs and ned rigs.

I like it.

https://youtu.be/3OXnPQs0bqQ?si=BbfhPzizwOWyzja9&t=26

https://youtu.be/KuPRtdajOLU?si=9Ut0UCNkwfQMQs1N&t=116

A-Jay

 

 

When you have a 7'6 L power rod, its going to be really soft, almost 1 dimensional. 

With ML blanks, even F actions have a progressive bend under load.  Youre not going to tear out too many hooks, is any at all.

Daiwas higher $ 7'6 m-ml/ml+ are great.  The Steez 7'6 ML+ "The One" is one of the only mass produced rods that I think was worth the money.  Its rated 1/16-3/4, the 3/4 is a little optimistic, but it can fish 1/16 to 5/8 very effectively.   With the price increase they're close to $700 now.  Talula Elite did have a blank in its last gen that was very close.  The Feider M-ML was rated 3/32-1/2. (i think)  The newer Feider AGS is 3/16-1/2.  Supposedly it hasn't really changed very much.  Daiwa introduced the Johnson, a lighter 7'6 ML AGS 1/16-5/16.  The Johnson is a light hair jig rod, where the Feider is a hair jig/neko, just more power in the mid-section and lower end to set a heavier hook.   What's weird is the Tatula Elites have the Chris Johnson and its the same rating as the Elite AGS Feider.  It doesn't have the AGS guides, which make it a little less sensitive and have a little more weight in the tip. 

Those ML+ Tatulas can be hard to get at times.  If you can find a shop that has one, make sure ot check it out.

Im not saying the other rods are bad.  The 7'2 Expride is great and I would think the 7'6 is too is too, but I've no experience with it.  

Good Luck.

As mentioned above, Daiwa has several 7'6" hair jig type spinning rods. From what I can gather, the 7'6" Steez ML-L/F ("The One") and the 7'6" Seth Feider Tatula Elite ML-M/F-AGS (I own one and really like this rod) are the most similar in intent. The 7'6" Tatula Elite Chris Johnston is an ML/F and is not as stiff as the other two.

 

They also offer a Tatula and Zillion 7'6" ML-M/F but I have felt the Zillion version and it seems like more of a 'noodle' than the Feider model in spite of both being ML-M/F. I haven't had my grubby mitts on the Tatula version.

 

St.  Croix also has some hair jig spinning rods of various lengths. The one I have is a Mojo Bass 7'6" ML/XF (that has since been discontinued) that I found to be an excellent weightless wacky Senko rod

 

 

P5 Flyssa gets my vote as its the only one on your list that I own. Beautiful and sensitive rod will abundant power down low (Megabass trait). I use the rod for a crazy number of techniques incl. hair jigs, finesse football jigs, small underspins, MB screw-heads and small swim-baits, drop-shot, unweighted plastics, and spybaits. I would also consider finesse rigs with weights below 1/8 oz if you do that sort of thing.

That said i'm sure any of those rods would work for this as well, if its got an xfast tip it would work for strolling as well.

@A-Jay  @Patrick Oliver @GetFishorDieTryin @Big Hands

Thank you for the replies and sharing information on your experiences with these rods.

I will look to get to my local (45 minute drive) tackle shop this coming weekend and see if they have any of these rods in stock (they carry Daiwa, St. Croix, some Shimano but not Megabass). The closest BPS/Cabela's is 1.5 hours away and Omnia/Thorne Brothers are 2 plus hours away so I would check their inventory first before making a trip there. 

I have winterized the boat and will be lucky to get back on the water before the end of April - so I have time to search. The information you provided will shape my search, thank you !

^^^^save gas and time by using your phone^^^^
Tom

I have the G. Loomis imx pro SJR 901S which is a 7'6 light powered rod that is awesome for all things small. It is light powered by label but it has the same specs as the 901S in the NRX line which is labelled ML. go figure lol 

@WRB-2.0 Yes.....I will call first to see if the rods are in stock....thank you for the reminder !!

Last spring I picked up one of the new GLX 891s sticks and it is now my favorite rod for many finesse presentations. Keeps fish pinned and casts 1/8 hair jigs just as well as my St Croix Victory Crosshar did. 

It's so interesting to see the variety and regional nature of fishing. Around here people throw a lot of hair jigs at walleye, steelhead and trout but they're smaller and lighter.  I could get by with a 7’6” lite action and maybe the ML for deeper walleye, but I throw hair jigs on a 8’6” ultralight with a moderate action.  And, I was watching a YouTube video with a crappie guide earlier and he swore up and down that anything less than 10' and you're at a disadvantage.