So many rod questions

[CJ BRIBIE]

Hey guys, as the title states I've got a few questions on rods after I unfortunately found that my rarenium balances perfectly with a daiwa tournament ags Nightrider. Anyway, I love the Nightrider's ratings (1-4kg, 1-6g) and feel, but at $950 it's hard to justify. I'll most likely use the rod with every type of lure eventually, in search of both bream and flatties. As such I'm looking at something with the power to pull in flatties as the Nightrider seems to have. Looking towards a stiffer rod, around that of the Nightrider or a 4-8lb majorcraft volkey.

1. Is the battler feral kat similar in stiffness and action to the Nightrider? I notice the only difference on paper is 1 inch in length, but up around double the price.

2. Is the tournament ags worth the price tag over the battlers?

3. What is the stiffness like in a mb deep throat (compared to other rods if possible so I can get a rough feel of where it stands), and would it handle flatties as well?

4. Does anyone have any other rods they can think of which would suit my needs?

5. When the term 'crisp' is used in reference to a rod, what trait or characteristic does that describe?

Thanks for all the help in advance

[redfinfisho]

The tournament AGS rods are very expensive rods with an emphasis on "very", so no personally I don't think the price tag is justified when you can get a battler for $490, in saying this they are an amazing rod.

Out of the battler range I would definitely not pick the feral kat to compare to the nightrider on paper they may look similar but I can assure you the feral kat is a very different rod to the nightrider, the biggest difference would be that the feral kat has "Mega Top" this means the rod has a solid tip section the mega top gives a very different feel to the rod, it is very sensitive and flexible but also very thin, I own 2 daiwa steez rods with mega top and love them but this is for light work and they don't like casting heavy weights but they definitely have benefits in other areas. The feral kat is a rod that is capable of throwing very light weights but has a very strong butt section, I don't know you may pick up a feral kat and love it but it is not like a night rider. For example I would see the feral kat right at home throwing unweighted plastics into snags for big Ep as it can cast the light weights but has the balls to pull them out.
(There is a few feral kat steez's still available fro ray and annes for $299 posted if your keen that's where I just got a super sky flash from)

The Rod that resembles the nightrider the most out of the battler range for me would be the baewolf, I have one they are a great rod. I also have a deep throat and can tell you they are not Stiff rods at all, they are awesome rods but have a regular taper, but are still very crisp but they are nothing like a night rider and by the sounds of what your saying not really what you're looking for.

For me the Term "crisp" refers to how quickly the rod blank becomes straight again after you cast, flick or impart action on it. So if you cast and the rod wobbles around for a while I wouldn't say its crisp but if you cast and the rod becomes straight again very quickly then I'd call it crisp its a little tricky to explain but you know a crisp rod when you feel one, its all about the feel.

Any other rods I'd recommend well depending on your budget, battler baewolf, black labels, maybe wait for the new commander rods daiwa are about to bring out there are many rods to choose from but if its also for big flatties you would want something around the 7" mark something that can cast around 7+g and be around the 8lb-10lb mark.

[CJ BRIBIE]

cheers for all the info mate, exactly what i was hoping for and super detailed! i've compared the beowolf and nightrider side by side and found that the nightrider has a lot more power in the tip and is less whippy than the beowolf.

Glad to see i was on the right track in what I thought crispness referred to, and thanks for the info on the megabass. Looks like it's not quite what I was looking for, being more towards my samurai 201 than the nightrider.

The closest match to the nightrider I've found is a majorcraft volkey blc 4-8lb, which I would have bought already if it were a two piece. It had the same stiffness and only slightly more feeling of power when loaded up side by side, and took just a split second longer to return to its neutral point after a flick etc. seems like it may be the go for the money, even though I'd have the nightrider if it were a fair bit less.

Thanks again redfinfisho

[redfinfisho]

Yer ive never felt the major craft and your right the the night riders top section is stiffer and probably more ballsy than the baewolf but over all the baewolf is a ballsy rod they are different but out of the battler range it's probably the closest match maybe followed buy the thunderstorm

[chopperdog]

You can import a Volkey for about $210. At half the price of those other rods there's a reason they're so popular

[CJ BRIBIE]

Yeah they're well priced, but brings me back to my wish for a 2 piece 7ft volkey in the 4-8lb class. Already looking at the 6'6 5-10lb 2 piece as a bass/flatty/trevally rod. Put a kayak on top of that and my money is all but disappearing!

[bamm]

Volkey major craft 4-8 1 piece $280 shipped 2 piece around $200
C12 gen 2 samaki 4-8 $299 rrp

Don't need too spend a billion dollars when these rods are sweet with good components

[chopperdog]

Originally Posted by CJ BRIBIE

Yeah they're well priced, but brings me back to my wish for a 2 piece 7ft volkey in the 4-8lb class. Already looking at the 6'6 5-10lb 2 piece as a bass/flatty/trevally rod. Put a kayak on top of that and my money is all but disappearing!

You can get a 7ft volkey in 4-8 1 piece as Bamm said a lot cheaper than those other rods. And if money is an issue surely that beats a $500 Daiwa stick??

The 6'6" is a great kayak rod btw. I use the 5-10. Perfect for what you want. Don't stress about the other 6" either. A 7 foot won't behave any differently except it can be hard to reach the tip sometime on a kayak. 6'6" is better in that situation

[bamm]

Originally Posted by CJ BRIBIE

Yeah they're well priced, but brings me back to my wish for a 2 piece 7ft volkey in the 4-8lb class. Already looking at the 6'6 5-10lb 2 piece as a bass/flatty/trevally rod. Put a kayak on top of that and my money is all but disappearing!

i use 4/8 on bass man just get something like the volkey or as mentioned above they have good bottom end

ive caught snapper on my 4/8 around reef it didnt snap and i lent on it

[manno]

Here ya go CJ

http://www.breammaster.com/forum/sho...threadid=59574

[CJ BRIBIE]

I'll probably end up with just the volkey, but you guys know how it is when you feel a nice bit of gear at the tackle shop haha. Up around Scarborough bamm? Would be convenient if it works for bay snaps as well.

[CJ BRIBIE]

Originally Posted by manno

Here ya go CJ

http://www.breammaster.com/forum/sho...threadid=59574

Don't tempt me haha, but it looks like the nightrider was sold already anyway

[manno]

Originally Posted by CJ BRIBIE

Don't tempt me haha, but it looks like the nightrider was sold already anyway

Nah the bloke took the waterzombie and the heartland only.

Nightrider waiting for a good home mate...

[CJ BRIBIE]

Maybe I'll have to have another play with one and see what I think. As you said though, if it was a two piece rod it would be so much easier to decide

[chopperdog]

Originally Posted by CJ BRIBIE

I'll probably end up with just the volkey, but you guys know how it is when you feel a nice bit of gear at the tackle shop haha. Up around Scarborough bamm? Would be convenient if it works for bay snaps as well.

My 5-10 has landed snapper at scarby to 65cm without a worry A mates 4-8 handled a 75cm model happily but snapped at the kayak due to high sticking when the landing net missed the mark by a few cm.