opinions on daiwa steez STZ601MFBA

[v3n0m]

Does anyone have this rod?
I'm looking for a shorter close quarters casting rod for a wide variety of lures...light t-rigs, top water, 3/8oz blades, rattletraps, and squarebills up to 5/8 oz.

Is this rod alot softer than the 6'3" MH? I know some of you guys have the 6'3", should I go with that one or the 6'0"?

Thx

[DavidSA]

I have the 6'3MH version and use it for exactly what you describe your need is. I can't come up with any reason to drop down to the 6M unless you want a shorter rod or will work mostly 1/4oz baits.

A little about the Steez 6'3MH

a- It is best used as moving bait rod. Best appications are Sammy 100, Pointer 100, and PopR in any water. Squarebills around cover, spinnerbaits/buzzbaits around cover and dock. It will work fine for a Sammy 85 or pointer 78 but a bit more in the perfect zone with bigger bait. You can cast a mile on this rod even though it is short.

b- Rod feels like a M power rod to hold but has more backbone then you would think. You can reel a fish out with 3lbs of grass on it. Blank is hard to describe. Has a bit of trampoline affect in it you can feel more then other rods. I will note that I rarely ever loose fish on this rod yet it is fast action.

c- With a light reel you can jerkbait or topwater fish all day long with very little fatique. Lighest rod I have ever owned.

d- Not my favorite for plastics but I have used it extensively for Senko's one trip and it was fine. I don't like to fish plastics on short rods and the rod is not as sensitive in my hand as a GLX.

[EJP1234]

I agree with David, if it is actually rated as a medium, and the 63mh is what daiwa would call a mh, then the 6'm would be bad at t-rigs and such... The 6'3"mh is more like a medium to me, and I cannot see fishing the 6'3"mh around thick cover at all... however I love mine and as stated it is light... I use mine to throw spinnerbaits and it excells at that.

[DavidSA]

I agree with David, if it is actually rated as a medium, and the 63mh is what daiwa would call a mh, then the 6'm would be bad at t-rigs and such... The 6'3"mh is more like a medium to me, and I cannot see fishing the 6'3"mh around thick cover at all... however I love mine and as stated it is light... I use mine to throw spinnerbaits and it excells at that.

I was actually shocked at how well it did around thirk hydrilla and heavy moss. That it will throw a 1oz lipless crank I find pretty amazing as well. The rod casts and feels like a M powered rod but I think in the hook setting and retrieve area it fishes in power like a typical MH rod by Loomis, Powel, Shimano. Don't think it is as stout as a Zillion MH or a St Croix MH.

[EJP1234]

but compared to the 6'7"mh and the 7'mh it's no where near a mh in that regard, those are way more powerful blanks to me.

[DavidSA]

but compared to the 6'7"mh and the 7'mh it's no where near a mh in that regard, those are way more powerful blanks to me.

Yep, those are MH more in terms of the Zillion MH or a St Croix

[v3n0m]

Thanks for the info gents!

[v3n0m]

Forgot to ask Do you guys like the 6'7" size? Is it good for heavy jigs and 10" worms?

[Gone Phishin]

I do not own the 6'3" stick, but I do own the 6' model; it's paired with a Chronarch 51Mg.

I use this combo for Pointer 78 DD's, small poppers, and small spinnerbaits. I am very happy with this stick, and it handles the above baits quite well.

If using a 5/8oz crank, I would definitely bump-up to a heavier stick.

Hope this helps.

[v3n0m]

Thx all.

[EJP1234]

Forgot to ask Do you guys like the 6'7" size? Is it good for heavy jigs and 10" worms?

I would think so, but I personally use rods in the 7' range or above for those type of techniques because of hook setting leverage with the added length.

I am using the 6'7" a lot right now, as I use it for traps and chatterbaits. In the summer it is also used for spinnerbaits when the grass is stouter, as well as for buzzbaits and other top water lures.

Basically I like the 6'7"mh for moving type of baits.

[Pin]

For heavy jigs and 10" worms I'd go to the 7'1" Compile-X, or 7'4" XBD, or 8' Compile-X as they are better suited for those applications. I'd personally lean towards the longer rods as you want to move more line on the hooksets. I use my 8' Compile-X and Zillion 8' for heavy jigs and big worms dunking thick weeds and deep weedlines. Hope it helps.

[froteur]

i had a 601 but sold it because it is just lighter powered than i typically use. it is a good rod, just not for me.

i have never had a 6'3" but had 2 6'7" steez's. they were nice rods but i started making a move to longer rods so i made two people here on tt happy steez owners.

i still have the 7', two 7'1" compile-x's and an 8' compile-x. the 8-footer is still my favorite rod (sorry to all of my phenix rods).

as stated earlier, i would use the 7'1"(or 8') compile-x for heavy jigs and 10" worms.

-perry-

[v3n0m]

thx guys!