18 hours ago, evo2s197 said:

Got two new combos a few days back for shakey heads and 1/4 keitech football jigs , first one is a:

Steez Racing Design 6101ML+FB, paired with a Steez CT SV

 

Second is a NRX+ 852C paired with Aldebaran MGL 31 HG

 

Both are very similar in power.

I spooled both with 8lb Tatsu.

Both rods were fished with a 1/4 tungsten swagger tackle shakyhead jig and a 7 inch Strike King 3x worm.

 

The difference between the two is eye opening but I'm not surprised based off my experience with the other models of the RD series I have, the NRX+ is heavier, less balanced, not as sensitive doesn't cast as well and doesn't look as good compared to the Racing Design, similar results when I compare my NRX+ 843C MBR to my Racing Design Hustler Finesse Tune MH solid tip, I Do not have a NRX 844 to do a comparison vs my Heavy powered Racing Design.

 

The difference in reels is more of a preference, the Steez CT feels more solidly built and in my opinion is less finicky casting a myriad of lures, the Shimano is plasticy feeling but gets the job done in a pinch it needs an update badly.

 

This specific Daiwa series is cream of the crop for the ultimate bottom contact rods, they just don't come in longer lengths some people prefer, the models I have range from 6ft10 to 7ft, and no the new 2021 Steez rods are not just as good, because I have those also, these RD rods are just Special, it's a shame they aren't more readily available.

 

The comparison is equivalent to a GLX VS a NRX+ the Racing Design being the NRX+

 

Anyways here's some pics.

Those racing design rods are absolutely gorgeous! One day I’ll have to pull the trigger on one. Killer combo my friend 

18 hours ago, evo2s197 said:

Got two new combos a few days back for shakey heads and 1/4 keitech football jigs , first one is a:

Steez Racing Design 6101ML+FB, paired with a Steez CT SV

 

Second is a NRX+ 852C paired with Aldebaran MGL 31 HG

 

Both are very similar in power.

I spooled both with 8lb Tatsu.

Both rods were fished with a 1/4 tungsten swagger tackle shakyhead jig and a 7 inch Strike King 3x worm.

 

The difference between the two is eye opening but I'm not surprised based off my experience with the other models of the RD series I have, the NRX+ is heavier, less balanced, not as sensitive doesn't cast as well and doesn't look as good compared to the Racing Design, similar results when I compare my NRX+ 843C MBR to my Racing Design Hustler Finesse Tune MH solid tip, I Do not have a NRX 844 to do a comparison vs my Heavy powered Racing Design.

 

The difference in reels is more of a preference, the Steez CT feels more solidly built and in my opinion is less finicky casting a myriad of lures, the Shimano is plasticy feeling but gets the job done in a pinch it needs an update badly.

 

This specific Daiwa series is cream of the crop for the ultimate bottom contact rods, they just don't come in longer lengths some people prefer, the models I have range from 6ft10 to 7ft, and no the new 2021 Steez rods are not just as good, because I have those also, these RD rods are just Special, it's a shame they aren't more readily available.

 

The comparison is equivalent to a GLX VS a NRX+ the Racing Design being the NRX+

 

Anyways here's some pics.

? That Daiwa combo  is absolutely beautiful. A Ferrari in fishing gear in my humble opinion.

46 minutes ago, evilcatfish said:

Those racing design rods are absolutely gorgeous! One day I’ll have to pull the trigger on one. Killer combo my friend 

Thanks, they are my favorite series to use just outright performers on the water, I like how I can get away with lighter lures in deep water because they just transmit every little thing that other high end rods either miss or deaden, they are pricey but if you are serious about any sort of bottom contact fishing they are worth it.

21 minutes ago, Eric 26 said:

That Daiwa combo  is absolutely beautiful. A Ferrari in fishing gear in my humble opinion.

That pretty much sums it up, looks and performance.

Finally got my hands on this little thing. Can't wait to glue it to my 844 MBR's reel seat where it'll stay for the rest of its life

I mentioned I had the Alcance reel for 6 months before I found the rod I wanted for it. 

The Valleyhill MH has a jade green reel seat, and a green trim band on the rod blank. 

It was easy to put a splash of green on the avail handle with knob caps and handle washer. 

The hard part was getting light in to show the colors. 

 

I’ll admit, I am a sucker for that shade of Forest/British Racing green.  Hard to see in the pics but I bet the colors look great in person.

On 1/22/2022 at 8:21 AM, redmeansdistortion said:

Sweet

Just got this ktf finesse spool in. I've been tinkering with my alphas sv for some years, even tried to sell it a couple of times before. I tried MB Zonda honeycomb in it recently but found it unsuitable for my needs. I would like to find a shorter handle for this eventually but i think I'm done messing with the rice rocket for now.

 

 

12 hours ago, 4g63power said:

I would like to find a shorter handle for this eventually but i think I'm done messing with the rice rocket for now.

SLP Works makes a 75mm bait finesse handle, but it only comes in red.  I wish it came in other colors because I really prefer a shorty for some of my reels as well, but don't have anything that would jive with the red.

5 hours ago, redmeansdistortion said:

SLP Works makes a 75mm bait finesse handle, but it only comes in red.  I wish it came in other colors because I really prefer a shorty for some of my reels as well, but don't have anything that would jive with the red.

I have a 92mm zpi handle on it and would like replace it with a 85mm so i can still use the purple zpi nut and bolt.

1974 Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 5500C.  Simply cleaned with an aftermarket handle.

Wish I could see it, doesn't show up for me. 

 

My raced 4600 just got its own aftermarket handle - Haneda Craft titanium with wood knobs. 

Photo lights don't do justice to the polished and heat-tinted titanium - it's iridescent like a rainbow, with bands of gold, red and blue. 

The round drag knob is ZZeta.
The red handle nut was left over from a Studio Composite handle (I used on a salt reel with a KDW titanium nut).

My new swimbait setup. Phenix X15 8' and a Concept Z3. Works really good and what i was looking for.

 

 

Made a little upgrade to my Alphas Air TW handle. 

23 minutes ago, walleyecrazy said:

Made a little upgrade to my Alphas Air TW handle. 

 

Nice handle and knobs. Roro are always out of those knobs. 

2 hours ago, FrankN209 said:

 

Nice handle and knobs. Roro are always out of those knobs. 

It took me a while to find them, but I got lucky and found one set in stock at Bait Finesse Empire. 

Built my own poormans zillion tw hd lol

Zillion 10 with backlash x Livre handle and main gear/worm gear from zillion sv 7.3

 

@4g63power

Great reel, Snazzy handle with my favorite Livre b/c knob. 

The long handle is both a mechanical advantage and lure-presentation advantage on the X-high-geared reel. 

Exactly why I eventually put the counter-balanced SB handle on my high-geared Super Duty. 

 

The purchase of the handle + ff knob worked out well for me, because I had a cobbled handle on my offshore jigging reel that benefited from the very light and large EF-37 knob that came on the SB.  The 14-g knob replaced a 40-g pot-metal knob on the Gomexus carbon handle, and took all the torque out of the rod.  The low-geared Caiman doesn't need a long handle, but you can't beat a big lightweight knob - poor man's Conquest. 

I consolidated and upgraded 4 baitcasting setups into 1 over the winter:

 

 

^ This is my new G. Loomis NRX+ 842C MBR paired w/ the Shimano Aldebaran MGL 50 HG. I wanted simplicity and versatility and believe this setup will fit my 'power finesse' style perfectly.

Just got an unexpected package from Japan! ?

3 hours ago, DINK WHISPERER said:

Just got an unexpected package from Japan! ?

I have the same Scorpion DC in RH that I am excited to put to use.  It is on my chatterbait rod.

3 hours ago, Msl819 said:

I have the same Scorpion DC in RH that I am excited to put to use.  It is on my chatterbait rod. ?

Let me tell you this thing is unruly with that MGL spool! I'm not impressed at all with my initial testing. Backlashes galore..... 

3 hours ago, DINK WHISPERER said:

Let me tell you this thing is unruly with that MGL spool! I'm not impressed at all with my initial testing. Backlashes galore..... 

what did you spool it with?  Is it a brake setting issue? line choice issue?

9 minutes ago, Msl819 said:

what did you spool it with?  Is it a brake setting issue? line choice issue?

Not sure if there is an issue just yet. It's spooled with 15lb CXX right now. It was also really windy but it is a DC after all right?

If I put it on the wind mode there was no distance at all in the cast. The best settings ended up being internal on mono (N) and external on 3 with no side to side on the spool tension.

The only other DC reels I've used are the Metanium and SLX and they were basically impossible to backlash.

I'm going to do some more in depth testing this weekend.