Hi everyone,
I'm looking to build a bass rod for bigger cranks and light swimbaits (like StrikeKing 6XD or 1.5oz swimbait). Something with mod or mod-fast action i think. Was looking at the NFC sale and wondering if anyone had comments between these two x-ray rods for this application:

MB 765-1(X-Ray NEO) 7’6?
- 12-25lb, 5/8oz-2oz, Mod-fast Action, MedHeavy Power
MB 7109-1(X-Ray LMX)
- 12-30lb, 1/2-2oz Mod-Fast Action, Mag Heavy Power

Is the NEO a fibreglass blend? I don't really see the weights of the blank. Given they are the same price on sale which would you suggest? They seem to have similar specs except for the material used. Thanks in advance!

The Neo is a blended blank. They use a unique glass according to some prior info on this blank. My Neo weighs a touch more than 3 oz. I have not completed a build with it yet so I cannot comment on its power relative to other blanks.

Darin,
If I needed a punch rod down south in heavy cover, I'd look at a MB7109.

The MB 7109&7108’s are some serious sticks!!!

Thanks everyone. Think the 7109 is too stiff for throwing the crank baits? My heaviest rod is MB 705 MH so i guess the 9 rated power looks on paper to be a big jump lol

I just finished a neo build. In my opinion it’s is nearer a fast action vs the moderate as it’s listed. Seems to have plenty of power and I don’t think a 6xd or a 1.5oz Swimbait would not be any problem. I think up to 3oz should be fine and down to 3/8 seems doable. Just playing with it, seems about average for sensitivity but pretty good for a fibreglass blend. I could see myself throwing heavy chatterbaits, swimbaits, swimjigs, even pitching and frogging. I’ll have to get it out on the water to confirm all this though. I have the 7108 on order so I’ll see how they compare then.

I would say a 6” plastic swimbait on a weighted hook is too heavy for my NEO. A 5” Keitech style on a weighted hook is about perfect. I will need to get a scale out again, but I think the 6” is 2oz without the weighted hook and the 5” with the weighted hooks is about 1.5 oz. Heavy spinnerbaits are good to go. I don’t throw crank baits much, so I don’t know about those. The tip is definitely light enough to go lighter than what I have tried too, but I really like how a 5” keitech feels on it.


EDIT: The 6" swimbait is about 1.3 oz unweighted. I think I had a 1/2 oz weighted hook on it.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/15/2020 12:39PM by Dean Veltman.

I haven't fished with my NEO a ton, but it handles an 8XD very nicely on 15lb fluoro. I'm sure it'll be fine for a 6XD and I have slung a 6" hollow belly on a 1oz. jig head with it. Loads that swimbait up and launches it.

Does sound like the NEO will work fine for what i want to try it on thanks! FYI, my friend wanted to try the 7109 so guess I'll have both to compare in the end. Maybe i can try building a rig to gather some CCS info or something and share