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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | Before I re-purchase a Big Nasty again, I wanted to take a little pulse on what the masses are throwing these days with all the new products out.
I'm looking for a rod that is about as close to perfect as perfect gets |
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Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | For big blades predator heavy 2 inches off the tip Tranx pg |
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | I am certainly a "palmer", have tried to go the route of the upper grip and just can't do it.
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| I like the new real seat for palming better than the old style... As do others i fish with. It might take some time to get used to, or you may never like it. Test out a buddies first |
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Posts: 528
| The best big blade rod I have right now is a Tackle Industries 10'6" xxh. Hands down the best big blade rod I have ever used. I have two big nastys and two of the TI 10'6" xxh rods. I built all of the rods the way I want them, which makes them all a little lighter weight than stock rods. I use the big nastys for small stuff now like top water and showgirls. The TI rods get all the work when it comes to anything from junior cowgirls up to supermodels. The extra length is awesome in the 8's and really lets me bomb cast baits to cover a ton of water. I have them both paired with a pg tranx. James at TI is an awesome guy to work with to boot, with great customer service. |
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Posts: 32930
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Big Dawg customized by Tuscarora is my favorite. I haven't tried a 10'6" TI but like the 9' and 7.5' we have for general use. |
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Posts: 1039
| I dig my Big Nasty for blades. |
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Posts: 256
Location: plant earth | cabelas predator muskie 9' love the grip. great price too. they had a cave sale online got it shipped to my door just a fuzz over 80 bucks. |
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Posts: 537
Location: Gilberts IL/Rhinelander WI | Best option in my opinion is a custom st Croix elite. I had been using a big nasty for blades up til this year and really like the elite. It's light and I really like the action of the rod. I also have a predator heavy but feel it's a little light in the tip, even with 2" off. I know some guys using an XH predator, but I have no experience with that rod.
Good luck on the search, I feel anyone recommending anything but st Croix is inevitably using price as a factor to determine the best rods. I'm assuming you're looking for the best for the job, not best bang for a buck. |
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Posts: 155
| muskyhunter47 - 7/21/2016 8:32 AM
For big blades predator heavy 2 inches off the tip Tranx pg
Ditto for the rod, I have this set up on a 9' blank and love it.
I use the HG Tranx though, the PG will pull much easier, but I prefer the speed of the HG |
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Posts: 910
Location: South-Central VA | For my personal preference, the only blank I've found with a stiff enough tip is the Big Dawg. A close second is a Premier H built to 9'.
jeremy |
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Posts: 89
| No question, legend elite 9 heavy. After using a big nasty and some other top of line rods, I love the st croix elite. Had thorne bros convert to 18 cork handles. Awesome!! |
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Posts: 116
| I like that 9'6" asault Stick-Hulbert Rod for big blades with a TranX. Figure 8 dream rod. |
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Posts: 528
| 5th lake brad- your comment "I feel anyone recommending anything but st Croix is inevitably using price as a factor to determine the best rods. I'm assuming you're looking for the best for the job, not best bang for a buck." is way off base. I recommended the 10'6" xxh TI because it is better than the big nasty for big blades in my opinion. I have two of each. The TI is better at throwing and figure eights with big blades in spite of the fact that the blanks cost about half as much. Don't get me wrong, the big nasty is a great rod, the TI 10'6" xxh is just better with big blades. |
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Posts: 992
| Headlock - 7/24/2016 6:37 PM
I like that 9'6" Custom X for big blades with a TranX. Figure 8 dream rod.
I'll second this one...been using it more and more and it's starting to get more use over the big nasty for this application. |
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | By figure 8 dream rod on the Custom X, I assume that means it doesn't overly flex and slow you down? As in let's say, the Slingblade?
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Posts: 537
Location: Gilberts IL/Rhinelander WI | musky513 - 7/24/2016 11:38 PM
5th lake brad- your comment "I feel anyone recommending anything but st Croix is inevitably using price as a factor to determine the best rods. I'm assuming you're looking for the best for the job, not best bang for a buck." is way off base. I recommended the 10'6" xxh TI because it is better than the big nasty for big blades in my opinion. I have two of each. The TI is better at throwing and figure eights with big blades in spite of the fact that the blanks cost about half as much. Don't get me wrong, the big nasty is a great rod, the TI 10'6" xxh is just better with big blades.
Cool, glad you found a rod you like, it was just an opinion, and I've been wrong before. |
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Posts: 1039
| 5th lake Brad - 7/25/2016 12:13 PM
musky513 - 7/24/2016 11:38 PM
5th lake brad- your comment "I feel anyone recommending anything but st Croix is inevitably using price as a factor to determine the best rods. I'm assuming you're looking for the best for the job, not best bang for a buck." is way off base. I recommended the 10'6" xxh TI because it is better than the big nasty for big blades in my opinion. I have two of each. The TI is better at throwing and figure eights with big blades in spite of the fact that the blanks cost about half as much. Don't get me wrong, the big nasty is a great rod, the TI 10'6" xxh is just better with big blades.
Cool, glad you found a rod you like, it was just an opinion, and I've been wrong before.
I don't think you are wrong. It is just a preference. My preference is St. Croix. I've never held a TI rod that I liked. Something always felt "off" about them when in my hands. Yet I don't think I've held a Croix that I didn't instantly like. All about personal preference. |
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Posts: 2067
| For me the 9'8' Predator XH is perfect , I usually have 6-7 rods in the boat ..it's what I grab every time for 9's, 10's or 13's |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | Try a TI Musky XH rod. Perfect for big blades!!
https://tackleindustries.com/product-category/musky_pike_bass_walley...
James
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Posts: 61
| 9' -9'6" predator XH, if you're talking 9's and up.
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Posts: 925
| What Predator rods are you guys talking about? Cabelas? Thorne Bros? Fenwick?
I personally have been throwing TI 8'6" rods for a few years now. I throw the XH Mag for Everything. Including Super Models. I was throwing the Super Model with the XXH Mag but found it wasn't necessary. I team this up with a Tranx PG.
I tend to spend my money on reels. I've never spent more than probably $150 on a rod. I might be missing out. |
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Posts: 298
| For a stock rod I doubt you can do any better than a big nasty. If you want the perfect rod for you custom is the only route. If I was building my perfect big blade rod it would be a 9'8" Thornes XH predator. 16" handle and I would go with Torzite guides. THey are crazy expensive but so much nicer and lighter. The Predator H with 2 inches or so off the tip is great for bigger blades unless you need the ability for speed at the side of the boat. Mine falls on its face a bit with 10s in the 8. I use it for supermodels at low light/dark when I am making slow smooth 8s but I don't care for it when it comes to day time use and supers.
However the H is a far more comfortable rod in hand over the course of a long day but I think the torzites on the XH would mitigate that. If you really like the nasty have a custom builder make you a custom nasty with your preferred handle length, material, and guide set. The Nasty and the Predator XH have very similar stiffness at the top of the rod with the main difference being the Predator series has a more parabolic action than the very fast action legend tournaments. I prefer the action of the predators but I can see how many people like the faster action of the LT series. |
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Posts: 1416
Location: oconomowoc, wi | 9'6" TI |
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Posts: 670
Location: mercer wi | Nasty or 9'h elite |
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Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | Im tacking a bought Thorn Bros predator .custom built by Lonnie .
Thorn Bros was the original others trying to make money off the name |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | PS-Don't forget to try Nick with Jawbreaker Custom rods if your looking. He has all brands of blanks he can build on. He also had the new 96, 10 and 106 Tackle Industries TI blanks.
https://www.facebook.com/jawbreakercustoms/
James
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Posts: 92
| Love my big nasty and PG tranx for big blades. To me its the ultimate all around rig for just about anything except jerk baits.
That being said i also have an XH predator from thornes in 9' 6" Length. I actually prefer the big nasty in this application as the predator is too soft for me in the tip at boatside with the big stuff. Its all in what you prefer , but there is definitely a difference in hookup for me. |
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | You can take my opinion FWIW, but after pricing out a Predator Rod at over $500 (yikes), I opted to go with the TI Rod.
I used a Big Nasty for 5 years I think...After using the TI Rod last week extensively on 10s and 9s, there's absolutely no reason I can justify spending double that to get a Big Nasty. I am anything but cheap , but I strongly feel there is no way there should be a $200 gap between the rods that seemingly function the same. You are paying extra for the paint job and logo in my opinion |
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Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | The big difference is where the rods are made USA rods cost more to make then rods made in china. Both good rods but its where they are made. It makes me upset my chevy was built in mexico but cheaper laber. Every one complains when jobs leave the USA. But they keep buying made in china and other countries. It might not be in my life time but america will go down the drain.every one wants big money but dont spend it on goods that are made here |
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