TackleTour

Well, F it. We're doing it boys; we're getting a spinning rod.

Shakey, Neko, 4" senko, and the occasional lil Keitech on a jighead. Maybe a little hair jig? Let's get wild. Paired with some 2000 or 2500 series Daiwa.

Keep the length around 7' and the DM US. Please and thanks.

What are you using, and/or what would you buy?

CGrinder wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 02, 2020 6:49 am

Well, F it. We're doing it boys; we're getting a spinning rod.

Shakey, Neko, 4" senko, and the occasional lil Keitech on a jighead. Maybe a little hair jig? Let's get wild. Paired with some 2000 or 2500 series Daiwa.

Keep the length around 7' and the DM US. Please and thanks.

What are you using, and/or what would you buy?

Love my Kistler Helium 3 7'0" ML! I have mine paired up with a Shimano Stradic 2500 and I use it for almost all of the techniques you mentioned, in addition to the occasional drop shot. I don't have experience with enthusiast-level spinning rods, but I find the sensitivity with that setup to be more than enough for me.

With light line it can definitely manage hair jigs, but I found I wanted a different setup to get better distance (longer rod, lighter line). I got really into tying my own about a year ago and throw those on a 7'6" Cronos MML strung up with really thin diameter braid to a light fluorocarbon leader.

NRX 852s or the 872s. Great rods for so many things.

On a budget the ALX Maestro is really nice for many things too.

I lucked into a Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth Rod rod under $100 (olive colored blank) exceptional rod for anything around 1/4 to 3/8 oz.

The best is the 76MML AGS. It's special. But for 7'-ish, I really like the Legend Elite MLF or the NRX 852.

NRX 901s with Stella or Megabass Flyssa with Certate.

I have 4 spinning rods in this category. Let's disregard the Powell Inferno 702 (although it's a great rod for the price), and I'm left with:

* Megabass Orochi Shakyhead 7'1"
* Expride 6'10" ML
* NRX 6'10" DSR

If I was forced to keep only one, it would be the Orochi. It's super versatile, plenty sensitive and has a good weight range. I use it to throw tubes, Neds, DS, shakyheads, weightless senkos, neko senkos, small Dark Sleepers, and I've even caught a 6lbs jerkbait fish on it (that was an emergency use, though - IMO spinning gear and jerk baits don't go together).

The NRX is the king of DS rods, but not versatile enough if I only had 1 spinning rod. The Expride is very nice for moving baits (it's my go-to spybait rod), but I don't like its taper very much for bottom contact (your mileage may vary).

If I could, I would consider an NRX 852 spinning, reportedly that does everything the Orochi does, but with more sensitivity.

Steez AGS 7'6" MML. Sensitive with great range 1/16 to 3/4 oz. Plenty of power.

My absolute favorite, go-to spinning combo is the G. Loomis NRX 902S (7'6" Medium). I fish great lakes smallmouth bass and this rod covers a vast majority of techniques I use and cannot find a better rod. I use it mainly for hair jigs and swimming Keitech Impacts. It also shines as a mini tube, ned, darter, and spybait rod.

The action is phenomenal with every technique I listed. From moving baits to bottom contact, this rod will not disappoint. Casts a mile and has great power. Sad to say that this rod is now discontinued but with tbe new nrx coming out, I hope they bring it back. I want to try the Conquest 902S.

I pair it with a 2500 stella. Spooled with SX1 braid.

nrx 852s.

76 Ags is great

Custom point blank 73 ml has more power great rod

Another one that looks appealing is the new p5 wind buster I think it’s called

Thanks for the info gentlemen. After emailing Gary, I ended up with the ALX Wizard. It was a coin flip between that and the Addermine to stay around 7'.

These are my fav...
addermine
Steez AGS
Orochi XX ronin
GLX 842S

Conquest 842S and NRX872S are my favorite all around rods.

Another vote for the addermine here!

Open water then 76 AGS or Conquest 902S, around some grass then I'd vote NRX 852. I guess it is cover dependent