Without sounding to much like the tradtional fisherman and following the same paths. I am having a hard time trying to find a suitable rod without killing my budget. I've had the Tatula Elite M/MH-XF rod in the past and loved it frankly. The only other rod Daiwa makes that is somewhat similar is the Steez AGS "The Sensor", however the cost is a huge hang up. $599.99. Gasp! I am fortunate enough to have friends who give me good deals, but what I am wondering if there is a similar rod out there which meets or comes close to the finesse style of both these Daiwas. Ideally the rod would handle 3/16oz to 3/4oz, line 10-17lb and 7' in total length. Price point- $350 or less. Custom is totally an option. Do I just bite the bullet and buy a used Steez? I hate this subject becasue at the end of the day it's just a fishing rod.

Nothing about the specs in your post make me think finesse. Is the point justifying expense on a rod purchase? If so, I’d come at it from the other direction: how much do you want to spend, and what’s the biggest bang for the buck at that price?

This JDM Abu baitfinesse has several fans on the forum, and is a go-to rod for me on inshore kayak.

I have one longer L from Abu Prototype series, and @softwateronly has several more.

We've covered this before, finesse rods are the opposite of UL, and it's one of the odd topics where people who've never fished baitfinesse post opinions about it.

Another that really shines, though it's multipiece, Yamaga Blanks Blue Current Wizy 72B

1/16 to 3/4 oz

@NathanDLTH I have the Sensor and a few other rods that are similar in ways. What are you wanting to do? shakey heads, t-rigs, and finesse jigs? Mostly in grass or rock? Is it the solid tip?

-Phenix K2 714MH/F You can keep a watch at amazon, phenix randomly heavily discounts. My K2 was at $204 last fall instead of $550 or whatever crazy price and a Phenix MH plays much more like a diawa M/M+

-2018 Poison Adrena 6'11M+/F This rod is older and hard to find, but still compares very favorably

-Major Craft Days360 6'10M/RF Different style tip, similar/equal sensitivity, mid and backbone. Should deliver to your door under $400 now and closer to $300 if you can wait and hunt the jdm sites.

-Major Craft Days 692 M/F. Looks like it could be at your door for $190. It is just an amazing value and I do the exact same baits as the sensor. I think the blank might even suit me better, but I do prefer the guide train on the sensor and believe that's why it's just a little more sensitive in hand. But the reality is that there is no functional difference, I can still discern everything my bait is doing, and it costs a 1/3 the price. My clear choice for a sensor replacement when considering price. The 1 piece is a different blank, so it has to be the 2-piece to compare.

Like @bulldog1935 said, I have 3 Abu Garcia Prototype salt rods. 2 in the BFS 1.5g-15/20g and my newest is 3.5g-40g. I haven't been able to use it yet, but should compare well in most ways. $250 ish.

• Abu Garcia Salty Stage Prototype KR-X XBCC-732MML/RF

I stash rigs at our inland lake, in-laws lake, and travel some from the city back and forth. This is my justification for having so many that kinda overlap. I bought my sensor used and paid around $300 just a few months after it's release, and knowing what I know now, I also wouldn't pay msrp and I really really like the rod.

scott

3 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

This JDM Abu baitfinesse has several fans on the forum, and is a go-to rod for me on inshore kayak.

I have one longer L from Abu Prototype series, and @softwateronly has several more.

We've covered this before, finesse rods are the opposite of UL, and it's one of the odd topics where people who've never fished baitfinesse post opinions about it.

Another that really shines, though it's multipiece, Yamaga Blanks Blue Current Wizy 72B

1/16 to 3/4 oz

This is an interesting rod choice, but the lure rating along with line matches what I am looking for. I am just trying to find other rods that may be comparable to the rod I've had my eye on for a long time. I haven't fished many Abu rods, mostly stick to Megabass and Daiwa. This looks on "paper" to be a fun rod that will do a lot of different applications.

@NathanDLTH - what are you looking to throw on it? A top end of 3/4 implies you’re thinking about bigger baits. And something with that range isn’t going to be ideal if you’re strictly throwing that 3/16 range all the time.

1 hour ago, softwateronly said:

@NathanDLTH I have the Sensor and a few other rods that are similar in ways. What are you wanting to do? shakey heads, t-rigs, and finesse jigs? Mostly in grass or rock? Is it the solid tip?

-Phenix K2 714MH/F You can keep a watch at amazon, phenix randomly heavily discounts. My K2 was at $204 last fall instead of $550 or whatever crazy price and a Phenix MH plays much more like a diawa M/M+

-2018 Poison Adrena 6'11M+/F This rod is older and hard to find, but still compares very favorably

-Major Craft Days360 6'10M/RF Different style tip, similar/equal sensitivity, mid and backbone. Should deliver to your door under $400 now and closer to $300 if you can wait and hunt the jdm sites.

-Major Craft Days 692 M/F. Looks like it could be at your door for $190. It is just an amazing value and I do the exact same baits as the sensor. I think the blank might even suit me better, but I do prefer the guide train on the sensor and believe that's why it's just a little more sensitive in hand. But the reality is that there is no functional difference, I can still discern everything my bait is doing, and it costs a 1/3 the price. My clear choice for a sensor replacement when considering price. The 1 piece is a different blank, so it has to be the 2-piece to compare.

Like @bulldog1935 said, I have 3 Abu Garcia Prototype salt rods. 2 in the BFS 1.5g-15/20g and my newest is 3.5g-40g. I haven't been able to use it yet, but should compare well in most ways. $250 ish.

• Abu Garcia Salty Stage Prototype KR-X XBCC-732MML/RF

I stash rigs at our inland lake, in-laws lake, and travel some from the city back and forth. This is my justification for having so many that kinda overlap. I bought my sensor used and paid around $300 just a few months after it's release, and knowing what I know now, I also wouldn't pay msrp and I really really like the rod.

scott

Mostly finesse jigs, weightless soft plastics, bottom composition will be a mix of rock and grass. The Sensor is a solid tip construction.

That K2 sure seems nice and espically at the price you got it for! Sounds like a steal!
I've love to try a Poison, but since they use the Ci4 reel seat they are out. I had an NRX+ 873 and just couldn't get comfortable with the reel seat.
Oddly enough Major Craft is my BFS rod, I do like the constrction for the price point. I like the lengths as I bank beat quite a bit these days. Both Major Craft rods sound like they would really be a good balance between fun fishing and cost effective. I'll have to do some looking.

The Abu's have some real appeal with the cost and lure weight range. Lenght is good to, wish they were in production and being they are prototypes might be a while before they are on the market?

What are you hinting at by saying, "Knowing what I know now."? I have only paid MSRP a couple times for high end rod and won't do it again. I like the Sensor on paper. Just want feedback and other options if they exsit. Thank you!

4 hours ago, NathanDLTH said:

Mostly finesse jigs, weightless soft plastics, bottom composition will be a mix of rock and grass. The Sensor is a solid tip construction.

Yes, it's one of two that I own. Curious if that's why the sensor was so high on your list. There's a new MC Days 360 that should be released any day now that is a solid tip and has my attention.

D360C - S69MH/RF

https://www.majorcraft.co.jp/rod/days360/bait/

The Days 360 6'6MH has become my favorite jig rod, the Days360 S69MH sounds like a baby between the days 610M and the 6'6MH

which if it is, will certainly find place in my hands because I'm such a fan of those rods.

4 hours ago, NathanDLTH said:

That K2 sure seems nice and espically at the price you got it for! Sounds like a steal!
I've love to try a Poison, but since they use the Ci4 reel seat they are out. I had an NRX+ 873 and just couldn't get comfortable with the reel seat.
Oddly enough Major Craft is my BFS rod, I do like the constrction for the price point. I like the lengths as I bank beat quite a bit these days. Both Major Craft rods sound like they would really be a good balance between fun fishing and cost effective. I'll have to do some looking.

The Abu's have some real appeal with the cost and lure weight range. Lenght is good to, wish they were in production and being they are prototypes might be a while before they are on the market?

What are you hinting at by saying, "Knowing what I know now."? I have only paid MSRP a couple times for high end rod and won't do it again. I like the Sensor on paper. Just want feedback and other options if they exsit. Thank you!

The K2 was just pure luck that I came across @FellowAnglers1 post about it and he was cool with me placing the order. Copy on the c14 reel seat. The MC rods are really perfect for me.

The Abu's are called prototype, but they are in fact production runs. Honestly, I did not have a favorable view of Abu prior. What I had seen, touched, or read about just felt like they were coasting on their reputation. @bulldog1935 recommended Kurodai, and I'm glad I listened because I was wrong.

North-One Tackle

Abu Garcia SALTY STAGE PT KURODAI XKRC-73MLS-BF Baitcasti...

Abu Garcia SALTY STAGE PT KURODAI XKRC-73MLS-BF Baitcasting Rod Condition: Brand NewJapan Domestic Model. Length (cm): 7 feet 3 inches/221 Section: 2 Closed Length (cm): 113.2 Weight (g): 80 Tip Diame

Shortly after I also grabbed the 7'9L Kurodai and they have revolutionized my lightweight fishing as I have enjoyed not messing around with any spinning tackle the last 3ish years. Here is the one I just purchased and hope to put on some fish by Monday afternoon. The literature is slightly misleading, says 7-35g online, but the rod itself says 3.5-40g. Either should be at your door under $325 even with tariffs.

釣具の総合メーカー ピュア・フィッシング・ジャパン

SaltyStage KR-X Prototype Boat Casting（ソルティーステージ プロトタイプ ボ...

釣具の総合メーカー　ピュア・フィッシング・ジャパンの製品紹介ページです。AbuGarcia・SaltyStage KR-X Prototype Boat Casting（ソルティーステージ プロトタイプ ボートキャスティング）の紹介をしています。

North-One Tackle

Abu Garcia SALTY STAGE PT BOAT CASTING XBCC-732MML Baitca...

Abu Garcia SALTY STAGE PT BOAT CASTING XBCC-732MML Baitcasting Rod Condition: Brand NewJapan Domestic Model. Lure Type: BC Section: 2 Length: 7 feet 3 inches/221.0cm Closed Length (cm): 114.2 Weight (

What I meant by "what I know now," is just that the jdm rods in the $250-350 range have completely skewed my perception of quality vs price. The Steez does not standout in any meaningful way when taking into account the extra $2-300. I was fortunate to find a used one, happy I did as I really enjoy fishing with it, but will not replace it at msrp. This goes for the K2 as well.

scott

Both rods I mentioned, Abu XKRC Kurodai Baitfinesse, and Yamaga Blanks Wizy, are in Beastfinesse catagory. Made for light lures and big fish. My friend fished through his ST Major Craft on schoolie seatrout, until the tip splintered in fatigue - not quite in this game, IMO. (He replaced it with Yamaga Blanks BCIII)

My rods range from 13Fishing

to EverGreen

what matters is they do what I demand (redfish, snook, tossing light lures into coast wind)

My $.02, find a Phenix MH X Fast rod in the price range you want and you will not be disappointed. I spent Saturday afternoon throwing weightless D Shads for river smallies in heavy current and was never outgunned. I lost a 5+ by trying to rush the fish, but caught a 3-04 that was over 18" in some ripping current. It sets the hook well, can also toss a 3/8 and 1/4 Baby Jack just fine and I will have zero issues throwing something as light as a weightless Trick Worm if I need to on my one rod bank or wade trips. Their rods are underpowered versus say an Abu or Daiwa. A MH is more of a M+ and handles everything in their weight range just fine.