Favorite Fishing Jack Hammer Review

I’ll start this off by saying that I am a finesse-fishing addict. I ALWAYS have a few spinning rods on my deck and I cannot count how many giant fish or checks I have cashed in tournaments using spinning rods. With that being said, I know what I want from spinning tackle and know a good finesse setup when I see one. That is why when I had the chance to choose a rod and reel from Favorite Fishing for a review, I chose the Jack Hammer 7’ medium spinning rod and Jack Hammer reel in the 2500 size.

First Impressions
When the rod and reel arrived I was immediately impressed with the fact that it came with a rod sock and neoprene case for the reel. I don’t know why more companies don’t do this; it is not that expensive and goes a long way in protecting your equipment.

The reel felt smooth right out of the box and matched the rod perfectly. I also liked the styling and just overall how the combo felt in my hand.

One thing I did notice was that the rod felt much lighter than a typical medium spinning rod I am used to, but that is a good thing for how I fish and is what I said in the video below that explains my first impressions.

On the Water
Like I mentioned in the video, it is crucial to get out on the water and use the rod to really get a good feel for it. Luckily, this was prime time for fall finesse fishing and I took it out on several trips before sitting down to write this review. The rod and reel performed flawlessly for a drop-shot and Ned Rig but was a little light for other techniques.

The Rod
Fishing it was great. The rod was very sensitive and I could feel bites with ease.  It is also very light! Their website lists it at 3.5 ounces, which is less than an 8” Huddleston swimbait.

One thing I noticed right away was that it has a single guide foot instead of two like most spinning rods have. This is by design and is a new type of guide from Fuji called the Titanium single stick guides. These help to reduce weight and the guides also help increase sensitivity.

One thing that I see as a drawback after fishing it was the placement of the hook keeper. Initially, I thought it was a good spot (halfway between the reel and first guide), but realized my braided line would get caught there from time to time.

Here are a few more specifications of the rod I used:

•    Model #: JHM-701 M
•    Length: 7'0"
•    Lure Weight: 1/8-5/8
•    Line Weight: 6-12
•    Power: Medium
•    Action: Moderate Fast

The rod retails for $289.99, which puts it at a high level for today’s bass rods. It definitely has the style, components, and sensitivity you would expect for a rod that costs this amount.

The Reel
The reel was also a very pleasant surprise. I had heard of their rods before but the reels were somewhat new to me. It was smooth, casts well and I had zero issues with the drag even while connected to some big smallmouth. The drag is probably the most important part of any spinning reel and the Favorite Fishing Jack Hammer passed the test.

Here a few specs for the reel that retails for $149.99:

•    Lightweight carbon composite body and side cover
•    Titanium nitride covered anti-twist line roller and spool lip
•    10 stainless steel ball bearings

Overall, the Jack Hammer rod and reel surprised me with how light and sensitive it was. I was impressed with how it performed with light tackle, and even though the name Jack Hammer may be misleading for a finesse setup, it had enough power to put a few nice fish in the boat. My first impression of Favorite Fishing was a good one and I think they have a winner with the Jack Hammer.

Neko Rig Tricks

I just returned from a trip to a media event in Minnesota where I was able to ride along with some pro anglers. I was paired with Shin Fukae, the FLW Tour pro from Japan. He is a finesse fishing wizard and had some cool tricks to show for the Neko rig.

Here are a few takeaways and tips I learned:

1. First it is a Neh-ko, not Nee-ko rig like I have been saying all along.
2. He had a special type of tungsten Neko weight that looked just like a screw. This helps to keep the bait in place and not fly out on a cast.
3. He also used a small piece of what looked and felt like surgical tubing to hold the hook. This is better than an o-ring because it stays much more secure and you will lose less baits (and weights) on the cast.

Here is Shin talking a little more about the technique and how he rigs it.

Shop products listed (affiliate):
Gamakatsu G-Finesse Weedless Wacky Hook: https://goo.gl/L8uMBz
Yamamoto Senko: https://goo.gl/19g7ce

Lew's Mach Speed Stick Rod Review

The Lew's Mach Speed Stick was a rod of firsts for me. It was the first Lew's rod I have ever owned, the first time using a rod with Winn Grips and also a first for the MicroWave guides. The Winn Grips and MicroWave guides were things I had heard plenty about and it was cool to finally use them on the water.

Overall, the rod was fun to fish. It is lightweight, comfortable and does the job it is intended to do. I was surprised at how well the rod fished for just $79.99. The model I have is a Spinnerbait Rod, but it handles square bills, jerkbaits and lipless crankbaits as well. I think it would also be a good topwater rod.

The features of the rod are pretty impressive. Here is a list of what they list on TackleWarehouse:

• IM6 Blank with Carbon Nano Tube construction
• Lew’s SoftTouch Skeletal reel seats 
• American Tackle “AIRWAVE” guide system 
• WINN Inc. Dri-TEC, advanced polymer grips 
• Lew’s built in trigger hook keepers

The IM6 blank is light and is good enough for reaction baits where sensitivity isn't crucial. I'm not sure how the other models will do, but for this purpose, it is just fine. The reel seat and hook keeper were nice features. I didn't notice anything spectacular about extra casting or less line slap with the MicroWave guides, but it didn't hurt either. I love the Winn Grips though and say that is probably my favorite part of the rod. They are comfortable and just feel better than other rods.

One negative is the quality. My rod has epoxy drip on one of the guides. Not sure if this is a common problem, but it was not good. I'll clean it up and all should be good, though.

The epoxy drip was one of the negatives.

For $79.99, the rod does a great job and has some really nice features. Although it is not my favorite rod, it is good enough to deserve a place in my arsenal. I think it would make an excellent rod for someone new to fishing or someone on a limited budget. 

You can find it at TackleWarehouse, by clicking this link. (NOTE: Link is an affiliate link)

Video Review:

Gift Guide for a Fishing Father

I just saw a gift guide put together by Rapala and their family of brands. A few items caught my attention because I have used them and agree that they would make a good gift. Here are the items they included in their guide that I would love to receive on this Father's Day.

Storm® 360GT Searchbait™ 

The latest and possibly most versatile bait from Storm® — the new 360GT Searchbait™ — offers Dad the perfect confidence lure to help him catch his limit anywhere, anytime. A dynamic searchbait, this lure allows anglers to efficiently cover water and uncover more fish. Once Pops locates his target species, he won’t even need to switch up his presentation. The 360GT Searchbait boasts a natural swimming action fish can’t refuse. And, fishing it couldn’t be easier. Simply cast it out and reel it in with a steady retrieve. Creating the ultimate illusion of natural movement, the 360GT Searchbait pairs a lifelike, single-ball rattling jig head, a realistic, phthalate-free soft body and 3D holographic eyes, with a toe-in boot tail that elicits incredible action at any retrieve speed. Each 360GT Searchbait is easy to rig, and comes equipped with an exclusive VMC® Coastal Black™ hook with an extended “leg” on the line-tie added to further enhance its action, and is available in a wide variety of color patterns to perfectly match regional forage species anywhere.

Simply put: This one fishes circles around every other bait. When he ties it on, Dad better hold on tight and be ready for action.

Retail: $4.99-$5.99

Rapala® Shadow Rap® & Shadow Rap Shad® 

Two instant classics, the introduction of the Rapala® Shadow Rap® and Shadow Rap Shad® shook the angling world. After a day on the water tossing these killer baits, dear ol’ Dad will understand exactly why. With unique movements that mimic the last moments of a dying minnow and shad respectively — two of the most common forage species in U.S. waters — the original Shadow Rap and Shadow Rap Shad were painstakingly designed to feature lifelike profiles to create innovative presentations that have proven to fool Bass and other game species time and time again. Unlike most jerkbaits, the Shadow Rap kicks almost 180 degrees right, then left, with each flick of the rod, allowing it to be fished nearly in place with little forward travel, keeping its slow flickering fade right in the strike zone longer than ever before. The latest addition to this acclaimed family of baits, the Shadow Rap Shad triggers bites in three ways: 1) on the kick, 2) with a slow, seductive rise, and 3) with a snap back to life. Both Bass-bustin’ models come in standard and deep varieties, and in several attention-grabbing finishes, allowing Pops to find fish no matter where they lurk in the water column.

Retail: $8.99

Terminator® Popping Frog 

If your father is a topwater diehard, he won’t be able to get enough of the new Terminator® Popping Frog. Built with a cupped face that creates a loud, strong pop, this frog drives fish crazy by causing a major commotion in otherwise calm waters. And, unlike lesser frog baits, the Popping Frog’s extra soft-body boasts a custom-designed weight shaped and positioned to help the bait compress easily when fish bite, delivering increased hook exposure and ensuring Dad will convert more strikes into adrenaline-filled fights. Featuring a razor sharp VMC® frog-gap hook, round-rubber legs, a heavy-duty welded line tie and lifelike detail from nose to rear, the Popping Frog is also tail-weighted to increase casting distance and stability on the retrieve. The lure is 2 ½ inches long, weighs 9/16 ounces and comes in 16 lifelike color patterns. A favorite bait type for Bass anglers everywhere, this fresh take on frog fishing is sure to become a fast favorite.

Retail: $9.59

Shimano Tranx Review

I've been using a new Shimano reel for the past month and have loved fishing it. The Shimano Tranx is a big, beefy reel that is perfect for swimbaits and deep crankbaits.

The reel comes in two sizes a 300 and 400 size. The reel I have is the 300 and it is giant compared to most of my low-profile reels. The trend over the past several years is for lighter, smaller and more compact baitcast reels. Looking at the Tranx compared to them shows how big this reel is, but if you compare it to a reel like the famous "green Curado" from the late 90's, it really isn't that big.

The Tranx weighs about 11 ounces for the 300 size and this is where you really notice the size difference. The handle is another piece of the reel that is big, but with a technique like swimbaits, it will help handle big fish.

One of the best things about the reel is the great line capacity (150 yards of 17lb) and the 22 pounds of drag. It comes in two different retrieve speeds, a 5.8:1 and 7.6:1 (HG). The HG models come with a big single power handle, which I am not really a fan of and the 5.8:1 comes with the double handle. I have seen some posts online about changing out the handle on the HG models, so that is another option if you want the double handle with a faster retrieve.

Overall, the Tranx has been great to fish with. It casts well and is very smooth thanks to the Shimano technologies like X-Ship. The one downside would be the weight and it's relatively limited use. I have used it for swimbaits but think it will also be great for deep crankbaits like a 10XD.

It retails for around $300 from Tackle Warehouse.

Here is my video review of the Tranx:

Dyeing Soft Plastics

Something I should really do more of is dyeing my soft plastic baits. I do it quite a bit with a creature bait like a Zoom Brush Hog around the bluegill spawn, but that's about it. I like to dye the tips of those baits with chartreuse to imitate bluegill and it works really well. 

I don't know why I don't do it more. Probably because I hate the mess. I remember a tournament fishing as a Co-Angler where I spilled some JJ's Magic on my boater's carpet. It was an accident...but it sucked. 

I discovered something in November that has me wanting to dye more baits. Mark Menendez showed me a new product that makes it easier to dye your baits and store them, but it also protects your boat from the chartreuse dye. It's called the Dyeing2Fish Dyesafe Kit. It's so simple, a box with a place to store your dyes that doubles as a safe place to dip and dry your baits. Again, so simple, but I really like the product and what it does.

Here is Mark talking about the kit:

A Review of the New G. Loomis GLX

G. Loomis has been one of the top (if not #1) rod names for many years. I remember when I first started getting serious about bass fishing in the late 90's and how Loomis was the rod to have. It was like that before then and continues now. Their top rods for years was the GLX (now you can step it up with an NRX) and they just released a new version. I've fished with it and have come away impressed.

The GLX has always been known for being balanced and sensitive and the new version is definitely that. It is also very light, even compared to previous versions, as they have reduced the weight of the blank by 20%. A light rod isn't everything, but it sure is nice. Having a light rod with good balance is more important and these rods are well-built and fun to fish.

The model that I have is the 843C MBR, a 7'1" medium heavy rod that can be used for many different techniques. I chose this model to give it a good test across several different techniques. Football heads, small swimbaits, tubes and more were all excellent on this rod. I also see it being a solid rod for anything within the 3/16 - 5/8 oz. it is rated for including pitching jigs and throwing spinnerbaits.

The new GLX rods have Fuji ‘K’ frame guides with SIC rings. These are top quality and will withstand braided line without any issues. The rod also features a carbon fiber butt cap. The carbon fiber looks awesome but also helps to balance the rod with a little extra weight down there.

Honestly there is nothing I didn't like about the rod and how well it performed. Light, sensitive and balanced are my biggest takeaways from fishing this rod. It is also very comfortable to fish with the reel seat and exposed blank. Matched with a Curado 70, this was one sweet setup. The one downside would obviously be the cost. Not everyone is going to be able to afford a rod that retails for over $400, but then again, you get what you pay for.

Rapid Fishing Solutions Line Guide and Line Clips

Sometimes the simplest things are the best solution. That is the case of two new products from Rapid Fishing Solutions.  I first heard about them at a media event in Buffalo, NY earlier this year and now it seems like they are really catching on.

I had the pleasure of fishing with the guys from this company two years in a row and they showed me the line clips while on the water. We were fishing Lake Erie in a rocking boat and it was never easier to put line through my guides. I even did it backwards by mistake and it still worked. 

Again, so simple, yet so effective.  They also have a line clip that helps keep your line in place after you break off a lure or are done for the day.

 Line Clips

Line Guide

They are inexpensive and make life so much easier. Tackle Warehouse has them both: Line Clips and Line Guide.

Bassmaster Elite Series pro Mark Menendez is a big fan of both of these products. Watch below as he explains them.

Inexpensive Bass Fishing Gift Ideas

'Tis the season and I've been getting asked what I want for Christmas. When you are as serious as fishing as we all are, it needs to be something good that we will actually use.  Here are four of my choices for bass fishing gift ideas and all are under $30.

Abu Garcia Reel Maintenance Kit

This small package has everything you need to clean, maintain and repair your reels. The best thing is it is all in a neat box and can stay in one place for when you need to use it.

Flambeau Utility Boxes w/Zerust

These boxes are sweet. They are tough and come in tons of sizes. The best part in my opinion is that the dividers have Zerust built into them to protect your baits from rust.

Dyeing2Fish

A very simple idea that just makes sense. This is a kit for dyeing you soft plastic baits without having to worry about spilling it all over you boat and hands.

Shimano Power Pliers

More than just a pair of pliers, the Shimano Power Pliers are awesome. They have a split ring tool, great braid cutters and are made with a fluorine coating to prevent corrosion.

Seaguar Finesse Fluorocarbon Review

I have been fishing the new Seaguar Finesse Fluorocarbon on some of my reels for a few months now. For my spinning gear I almost always use braided line with a fluoro leader, but I decided to spool this new line up as a mainline to really put it to the test. It has really impressed me both with how manageable and strong it is.

The line is a double structure fluorocarbon (similar technology to Tatsu) that combines two different resins; a stronger outer core and softer inside. This gives it the strength and manageability. The line is soft and limp but also has excellent knot strength.

Here's Cody Meyer talking about it:

What's With the Sizes?

If you look at the sizes of the new line you will see something a little different. Instead of the standard 4,6,8, etc. for pound test you get something much more precise. The line comes in 5.2, 6.2, 7.3 and 8.4 pound test. This was designed to dial it in even further for finesse techniques. I don't know about you but there are times when I debate between 6 and 8-pound leaders and wish I had something in between. 

Caution

One word of caution about this new line is how thin it is. I spooled up a reel with minimal backing and went through the whole spool of 5.2 and still had room left on my spool. I like to have it filled up nearly all the way for better casting and had to put more backing than normal to get it to my liking. Being thin is a good thing. Make sure to check the diameters compared to other brands. It is a huge difference.

Price
The line comes in a 150-yard spool and retails for $26.99 at TackleWarehouse.com. It is a premium fluorocarbon and priced higher than some of Seaguar's other lines. I do believe it is worth it for how well it performed on spinning gear.

Overall the line performed flawlessly. I caught two smallmouth over five pounds with the 5.2-pound and that was a blast! I still prefer braid as my main line on spinning, but this also makes an excellent leader material.

Strike King Tour Grade Skipping Jig Review

There are so many good jigs on the market. When I’m picking one I usually decided based on a few factors: sizes offered, skirt type and color and price. I’m not really partial to any brand and use plenty of different ones to get the job done. A jig is a jig, right? That’s very true for most situations, but some specialty jigs deserve a place in your jig box. 

One that I have been using is the Strike King Tour Grade Skipping jig and I like it. It has all of the things I look for; a good hook, nice skirts and colors. The price is a little high at $4.79, but this jig is all quality. 

The real key here though is the head design. Like the name implies, this thing is meant to skip. It has a flat head design that helps it skip like a rock. I have found that it skips very well, but like anything else, its not going to immediately make you an awesome dock skipper if you have never done it. Most of the time, I have no problem skipping a regular jig. It’s hard for me to say this helps make it that much better. 

The other features of the jig are perfect though. My favorite part of the jig is the screw that helps to secure your plastic keeper. I have seen this on other jigs but that doesn’t make it less of an awesome idea. They keep the soft plastic trailer secure when skipping or pitching and it is very easy to use. I wish all jigs had this feature. 

Besides the head shape and screw, it features things you will see on just about every jig out there. A good weedguard, sharp hook, etc. I like the jig a lot and mostly just because of that trailer keeper. The flattened head design is also cool and may make you a better skipper, I just didn’t see it in my testing. It is definitely worth a recommendation. This jig has everything I look for in jigs.

It is available in both 3/8 oz. and 1/2 oz. and in a variety of good colors. Tackle Warehouse and other retailers are now carrying them.

Storm Arashi Vibe Review

One of the newest baits in the Storm Arashi lineup is a lipless crankbait called the Storm Arashi Vibe. It looks like a few other lipless crankbaits on the market in that it has a thin design that is much skinnier than most other “traps”. It’s a pretty standard size (2-3/4" and 9/16oz) and I have had success with the bait. It has some cool features, but I am still not sure if it is different enough to stand out in a bait category that just about every brand makes. Here’s my full review.

One of the features that Storm talks about with this bait has to do with the sound. Lipless cranks are known for some loud rattling noises. Others have gone silent, some have changed their sound and others have becoming knocking baits. The storm is one who has changed the sound to make it a little different and appeal to bass that have been conditioned to seeing, or rather hearing, lipless crankbaits whizzing by throughout the year. The Storm Arashi Vibe has a single rattle and makes a less noisy knocking sound. You can hear it while shaking it in your hand and it definitely is a little different.

All of the Arashi baits have a self-tuning line tie and rotated hook hangers. These are an awesome feature and I have really liked it for their squarebills and deep divers. However, for a lipless I do not see it being as big of a deal. Still cool features though. They claim the hook hangers keep the hooks closer to the body and help to reduce snags. I hardly ever snag these so it is hard to say that it is a big deal.

Like I mentioned earlier it is a very thin bait. This is designed to give it a more subtle design and it may. As you can see in the picture below it also has a unique design that gets thicker near the tail. 

I caught fish on this bait, but do not know if the bait I was using really mattered. It looks good, comes with a reasonable price tag and catches fish. That enough should be worth a look. It retails for $7.99 online at places like TackleWarehouse.com.

CastAway Taranis Carbon Extreme Rod Review

CastAway makes some great rods.  Last year I reviewed the Skeleton V2 and came away impressed. It was my first experience with their rods and I am still enjoying that rod a year later. That rod retails for around $190. How about one of their rods that cost half as much? That would be the Taranis series that I have been fishing for the past month.

A stunning rod

The model I have is the CXWRM66, a 6'6" medium heavy casting rod.  Its designed for worm fishing, but I have found it to be much more versatile than that. I have used it for worms, jigs, lipless crankbaits and even buzzbaits so far. It is rated for 8-17lb line and lures from 3/16 to 3/4 oz. making it useful for many other techniques as well.

The rod retails for $99.99 and the look and feel of it make it seem like a rod that costs much more. It's really a stunning look and features a Carbon Nano Tube composite for added strength.  It is also pretty sensitive as well. The components are all solid too. Stainless steel frame guides and Aluminum Oxide inserts are things that you usually don't find on rods in this price range.  I'm also a big fan of EVA handles and this rod has some good ones.

High quality and comfortable EVA

Style...all the way to the butt

One downside to the rod is that it feels a little heavier than the Medium Heavy action it is rated at.  It may just be the shorter length or fact that all rod brands vary so much, but I would consider it closer to a Heavy action.  It's not a bad thing though, power is good!

The rod line features nine freshwater models and seven saltwater models. All of the bass rods are technique specific and have you covered for just about any technique you would want to use. Overall, the CastAway Taranis is an excellent rod for the money.

Storm Arashi Spin Review

Spybaiting as a technique is not brand new.  I published a review and video right here over three years ago, yet it is still kind of a secret among many anglers.  Now that Storm has released the Storm Arashi Spin, it may be time for it to hit the mainstream.

Before this release there were only a handful of Japanese companies making the baits.  These were all solid baits and have caught their fair share of bass.

The Arashi version is slightly different in the design since the propeller system has a different amount of blades. Instead of having two blades front and rear, it has three on the front and two in the back. I chatted with Brandon Palaniuk about this at ICAST and he said it has a much different feel in the water.  After using it, I agree.  It’s not like it is going to give you a ton of vibration or anything, but it is definitely different and you can feel it if you are an experienced spinbait user.

The overall quality of the bait is good.  I did have an issue with the line tie not being completely closed.  It allowed my line and knot to slip out, but the bait still worked and I didn’t lose any fish because of it.  Besides that, it is solid.  They have a pretty good selection of colors and the hooks are super sharp. They may be a little too thick, but still a good quality hook is important.

The action of the bait is also different that some of the other spinbaits I am used to.  It has a wider shimmy as it falls, but almost no side to side as you retrieve it through the water.  It is part of the appeal of the bait. Subtleness is key.  The action on the fall was impressive though and is sure to generate some interest from clear water bass.

Overall, at $7.99 you can’t beat it. It may not be on the same level as the Japanese baits, but it is a serviceable lure that is sure to get more people experimenting with spybaiting.

Connect Scale Digital Bluetooth Fishing Scale Review

Every angler should have a good scale on the boat or in their tackle bag. If not, your fish story is always missing a page.  With that being said, there are some great scales on the market. The Connect Scale is a solid scale just when it comes to weighing fish.  The many additional things it does make it a great scale.

The advances in technology have really made fishing better.  This scale a good example as it utilizes Bluetooth, smart phone apps, social media and GPS to get a much bigger picture of each fish you catch. Connect Scale allows you to log your catches for future reference as well as to instantly share the bragging rights pictures with all of your friends and family on social media.

I like how it allows you to add more fish catch data for later review.  It automatically logs the weight, exact GPS location, air temperature, date and time.  With a few taps and typing, you can add more detail to round out your fish catch log. If you weigh each fish with this scale, it is all there. 

Using the scale is fairly simple.  Once you have the app installed and running on your smart phone and weigh the fish, it will say "HOLD" when the weight is captured. It will then seamlessly update that weight to your app. 

You can then add pictures and other data and then share it if you would like. It just shares the weight, species and picture of the fish so don't worry about giving away your exact fishing locations.

There are some other features which I haven't used yet. There is a section in the app for culling in a tournament. It tracks your keepers as well as how many you caught that day and your overall average. This is a pretty cool feature that I need to take advantage of.  

If I were to choose a downside to it, it would be the cost. At $89.99, it is more than many other scales on the market.  With that being said, no other scale comes close to it in terms of overall capability.

Three New Phenix Rods for Spring Fishing

Each winter I add a few rods to my collection.  My latest three are from Phenix rods and I have a plan for each one of them.  I had the chance to use them last week and they are going to be great.

Tube Rod - Phenix Recon 2 Spinning Rod 7'2" Medium

I have been looking for a new rod to throw tubes on.  In the past I used the same rod I use for drop shotting and it was ok, but I wanted a rod with a little more backbone.  I also plan to use this slightly heavier spinning rod for wacky-rigs and some light Texas-rigs.

I have it paired with my Shimano Sustain 2500 and it balances perfectly and also looks great.  I'll rig it with 20lb Seaguar Smackdown braid and 8-10lb Seaguar Tatsu leader.

Fiberglass Cranking Rod - Phenix Crankbait Casting Rod 7' Glass Red

I have always been a fan of fiberglass rods for cranking.  I do not use it for all of my cranking, but the 100% glass rods are great as they allow the rod to load up and not rip the trebles out from the mouth of fish.  This rod is very light for an all glass rod and has some great cosmetics on it as well.

I have it paired with a Abu Garcia Revo SX and 12lb test Seaguar InvizX right now and will be using it for my mid-depth cranks this season.

All-Around Baitcast Rod - Phenix M1 Casting Rod 7'2" Heavy

I love this rod!  It's a heavy action rod, but it is light enough that you can do just about everything with it.  I really like the M1 series, they are light and very sensitive.  I have been using it for swimjigs and ChatterBaits so far.

I have my Shimano Chornarch CI4+ with 15lb test Seaguar InvizX fluorocarbon on it for now and the whole setup is very light.

All three of these setups should get plenty of use this year and so far I am happy with how they look and feel. I would recommend each of them if you need a rod for these techniques.