Has anyone used this (166H-SB/2) poison adrena rod for swimbaits? How long is the handle and how well does this handle lower weight lures (0.5oz) and lighter weedless treble hook baits like the citizen 6? Thanks!

If it fishes like my Major Craft Benkei 6'8" Big Bait, it's a nice rod, but a bit stiff for most of what I was using it for. Shorter swimbait rods are, for me, limited to close quarters.

I have a Major Craft Days 702H and I was just trying to get a higher end replacement. Would you say this poison adrena struggles with 0.5oz? I would throw frogs sometimes on it, and would just need some good castability. Fishing off a paddleboard so need a shorter rod. How is the handle and is it tip heavy? Have heard some people complain about those.

Half ounce is where I would get cautious on a rod like that, especially if easy casting from a paddleboard is part of the goal. The short length absolutely helps in close quarters, but that same tradeoff usually means the rod wants to be loaded a little more before it starts feeling good, and that can make it a compromise if 0.5 oz is the normal bait instead of the occasional low end. I would rather give up a little on the top end than buy a short swimbait rod that never really loads right on the lighter stuff. Is the Citizen 6 and 1/2 oz range your everyday use case, or just something you want it to cover once in a while?

1 hour ago, Kow said:

Half ounce is where I would get cautious on a rod like that, especially if easy casting from a paddleboard is part of the goal. The short length absolutely helps in close quarters, but that same tradeoff usually means the rod wants to be loaded a little more before it starts feeling good, and that can make it a compromise if 0.5 oz is the normal bait instead of the occasional low end. I would rather give up a little on the top end than buy a short swimbait rod that never really loads right on the lighter stuff. Is the Citizen 6 and 1/2 oz range your everyday use case, or just something you want it to cover once in a while?

I am throwing a ~1 oz free rig, beast hook soft plastic, tk, or citizen 6 90% of the time and will only pick up a frog once in a while. Will mostly be using the upper end of the weight range. Do you know how this rod balances?

If you can manage a couple more inches of rod, have a look at the Falcon eye crosser. It is 6'11" but feels shorter. It's intended as a frog rod but it does great with that 1oz bait range whether pitching a plastic or throwing a 3/4-1oz spinnerbait/vibrating jig. And of course it's a great frog rod. I'll throw a 6" magdraft on it (freestyle or not) and it does well there too.

3 hours ago, alphv said:

I am throwing a ~1 oz free rig, beast hook soft plastic, tk, or citizen 6 90% of the time and will only pick up a frog once in a while. Will mostly be using the upper end of the weight range. Do you know how this rod balances?

Got it, that changes things quite a bit. If you’re around 1 oz for 90% of your casts, that rod is much more in its sweet spot and the occasional frog shouldn’t be a concern.