The One Rod to Rule Them All

[NathanDLTH]

Over the years we search and search for the right rods for the specific techniques. Spending more trying to find the one.


For me, my search has ended and I don’t know if I’ll ever find another rod that replaces my Steez Universal Light. We know Daiwa has dubbed the “The One” for spinning rod the 7’6 M/ML, but in terms of casting this little 6’9” medium/fast action rod is the one I grab more often then not.


In 2022, my intentions changed how I was looking at my fishing rods and reels. Wanting to have a more productive outfit, but less rods to become more efficient. Fishing my gear to the fullest. Gary from Tackle Trap suggested I pick up this rod for jerkbaits and other finesse techniques. I chase a lot of river smallies here in Minnesota and lot of that time is spent on the banks of the Mississippi. It took a little convincing for me to actually purchase the rod, once I did it was love at first sight.


The fast action helps with bait manipulation, twitching baits and detecting bites. The tip is fast and light, then once under load gives you power to land fish. I mainly fish jerkbaits on my Universal Light, in recent outings small spinnerbaits, finesse jigs, smaller finesse swim jigs and topwater. What took me back was after each different technique, “I was like what’s next?” What can and can’t this rod do?


I mainly keep my Steez SV or Alphas SV on this rod, running either 10-12lb flouro or braid to a leader depending on what I am doing. These reels pair perfectly with this rod, lightweight and comfortable. Running either reel allows me to effectively apply the techniques I’m fishing, whether a small moving bait or a finesse jig. I’m confident this rod can do it all.


In terms of Jerkbait rods, for me the Steez Universal Light is at the top. Daiwa has a winner here and if you’re someone who’s pond hopping or loves throwing jerkbaits this is one rod you need to check out.


You can find them at The Tackle Trap: Steez Universal Light

[dragon1]

Nice! FWIW, you should do a load test on the blank in the other direction against the backside of the AGS guides, or just load the front by pulling line against the blank or loading some weight. I know the Gen II AGS are much stronger/less brittle, just sayin'.

[BoatBuggy]

Well it's your fault I have a Universal Light.....

I got mine from TT back in Dec and have it paired with an OG Steez SV TW and 10 lb fluro. The whole setup is butter. I didn't really have a use for it at the time but I'd wanted to try a Steez AGS rod and I wanted a shorter medium rod to do stuff that the 7+ ft MH ones I have way too many of don't do very well.

I started out using it for throwing smaller moving baits in open water - 3" swimbaits on 1/16 or 1/8 heads with thin wire hooks, 110 Jr and 110+1 Jr, Pop-X (I swapped out the fluoro spool with an 8 lb mono spool) - and of course it excelled at all of those.

Then one day I was getting pissed at not being able to accurately throw or skip a 3/16 Uoze Swimmer in and around flooded bushes with any of my usual MH gear so I tied it onto the UL. That thing stayed tied on for a week and rarely left my hand. It has plenty of oomph to set a medium wire hook and haul a 5 lb Rayburn largemouth out of the bushes. I confess I was a little surprised by that and now I could see owning a 2nd UL.....

Then I decided to get off the bank and fish some deeper offshore stuff for pre-spawners so I tied on a 1/8 shakeyhead and a Zoom finesse worm. I felt the first tick in 20 ft of water and every tick after that all the way up to my elbows and now I could see owning a 3rd UL.....

Thanks for nothing Nathan.....

[dragon1]

Well it's your fault I have a Universal Light.....

I got mine from TT back in Dec and have it paired with an OG Steez SV TW and 10 lb fluro. The whole setup is butter. I didn't really have a use for it at the time but I'd wanted to try a Steez AGS rod and I wanted a shorter medium rod to do stuff that the 7+ ft MH ones I have way too many of don't do very well.

I started out using it for throwing smaller moving baits in open water - 3" swimbaits on 1/16 or 1/8 heads with thin wire hooks, 110 Jr and 110+1 Jr, Pop-X (I swapped out the fluoro spool with an 8 lb mono spool) - and of course it excelled at all of those.

Then one day I was getting pissed at not being able to accurately throw or skip a 3/16 Uoze Swimmer in and around flooded bushes with any of my usual MH gear so I tied it onto the UL. That thing stayed tied on for a week and rarely left my hand. It has plenty of oomph to set a medium wire hook and haul a 5 lb Rayburn largemouth out of the bushes. I confess I was a little surprised by that and now I could see owning a 2nd UL.....

Then I decided to get off the bank and fish some deeper offshore stuff for pre-spawners so I tied on a 1/8 shakeyhead and a Zoom finesse worm. I felt the first tick in 20 ft of water and every tick after that all the way up to my elbows and now I could see owning a 3rd UL.....

Thanks for nothing Nathan.....

Haha...good stuff! The Bait Monkey is officially a GORILLA.

[NathanDLTH]

Nice! FWIW, you should do a load test on the blank in the other direction against the backside of the AGS guides, or just load the front by pulling line against the blank or loading some weight. I know the Gen II AGS are much stronger/less brittle, just sayin'.

Thanks! Yes, that is something I should do! Considering the wide range of techniques I am able to cover with this rod. I’ll see what I can put together later this week. Kinda on watch, waiting on the little girl to make her appearance.

[NathanDLTH]

Well it's your fault I have a Universal Light.....

I got mine from TT back in Dec and have it paired with an OG Steez SV TW and 10 lb fluro. The whole setup is butter. I didn't really have a use for it at the time but I'd wanted to try a Steez AGS rod and I wanted a shorter medium rod to do stuff that the 7+ ft MH ones I have way too many of don't do very well.

I started out using it for throwing smaller moving baits in open water - 3" swimbaits on 1/16 or 1/8 heads with thin wire hooks, 110 Jr and 110+1 Jr, Pop-X (I swapped out the fluoro spool with an 8 lb mono spool) - and of course it excelled at all of those.

Then one day I was getting pissed at not being able to accurately throw or skip a 3/16 Uoze Swimmer in and around flooded bushes with any of my usual MH gear so I tied it onto the UL. That thing stayed tied on for a week and rarely left my hand. It has plenty of oomph to set a medium wire hook and haul a 5 lb Rayburn largemouth out of the bushes. I confess I was a little surprised by that and now I could see owning a 2nd UL.....

Then I decided to get off the bank and fish some deeper offshore stuff for pre-spawners so I tied on a 1/8 shakeyhead and a Zoom finesse worm. I felt the first tick in 20 ft of water and every tick after that all the way up to my elbows and now I could see owning a 3rd UL.....

Thanks for nothing Nathan.....

Well you’re welcome! You could blame Gary too if you so desired to go down that path lol! ��

It’s really an incredible rod from all the techniques you’ve shared and it’s a lot of what I do as well fishing how I do. I have the Steez Moving Bait Versatile and P5 Deamos, and a Zillion73MH, while they are truly unique in what they offer. All of them are a little bit in overlap which is where they will be.

I’m in agreement with you, the UL excels so much at all of these I have contemplated selling some of my rods listed above to fund a second UL simply because of the sheer versatility. It’s incredible what Daiwa and their engineers were able to come up with when they created this rod. It’s darn near perfect in so many ways.

[dragon1]

Thanks! Yes, that is something I should do! Considering the wide range of techniques I am able to cover with this rod. I’ll see what I can put together later this week. Kinda on watch, waiting on the little girl to make her appearance.

That's AWESOME!!! CONGRATS to you and your wife, and your family!

[NathanDLTH]

That's AWESOME!!! CONGRATS to you and your wife, and your family!

Dragon1, thank you!! We are excited! Mom and baby are healthy and pregnancy has been good!! I’m excited to finally be a dad and at 41 too lol!

[dragon1]

Dragon1, thank you!! We are excited! Mom and baby are healthy and pregnancy has been good!! I’m excited to finally be a dad and at 41 too lol!

Damn son! Good work and make sure to get your health and eating habits inline! I had our first when I was 33 and youngest when I was 40 years old...but now at 54 years old, I am back healthy and stronger again, up to 550-600 (average) pushups as part of my calisthenics and warmup before 1.5-2 hours of weights. I am even back up to 8 plates x 45 each side on sitting incline leg presses...so while I don't have the flexibility and pliability and joints of when I was in my 20-40s, I did take the steps to get my neck, teeth/gums and eating habits back in line the last few years. The toughest part of aging when working out however, is the recovery...there is no substitute for proper rest and nourishment.