Daiwa Team Daiwa S TDS-701MXS Spinning Rod Product Review

Rod Review

The Search for One Spinning Rod? Daiwa's TDS-701MXS (continued)

Power: The TDS-701MXS is a medium powered rod with an extra-fast taper, so it's a lot more powerful than the usual spinning rods we fish for review. In fact, this stick is similar to the casting rod in this series we reviewed last year but one power softer. As a result, we compared its deflection characteristics to our Search For One baseline rods rather than our What the Finesse rods and found it lines up very well with these sticks.

Fig 1 : The chart above illustrates the deflection characteristics of our Daiwa TDS-701MXS Spinning Rod against our 2010 The Search for One baseline rods.

Thanks to the stick's extra-fast taper, it sets up quickly on a hookset and has more backbone through the length of the rod than you typically expect from a spinning rod. This stick makes for an excellent rod with baits featuring a single, jig-style hook.

Performance Ratings for Daiwa TDS-701MXS Spinning Rod
Pitch (1-5)	Cast (1-5)	Sensitivity (1-5)	Hook Set (1-5)	Control (1-5)	Total	Possible	Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10)
3	4	3	4	4	18	25	7.2

The top part of the rod is an unsanded blank but finished with a glossy clear coat.

Features: The TDS-701MXS features a very minimal grip consisting of a small foregrip above the reel seat, and a section of foam at the butt. There is no grip area below the reel seat because the seat secures from the bottom. The rod's guides are aluminum oxide with stainless steel frames. There's an open ended hook keeper above the foregrip on the left side of the blank and the stick does not come with a rod sleeve.

Features Ratings for Daiwa TDS-701MXS Spinning Rod
Grip (1-5)	Guides (1-5)	Reel Seat (1-5)	Hook Keeper (1-5)	Rod Sleeve (1-5)	Total	Possible	Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10)
4	3	4	4	1	16	25	6.4

This same nut is potentially troublesome on the casting rods, but pretty much out of the way on the spinning rod.

Design/Ergonomics: Tipping the scales at just 3.8 ounces, the TDS-701MXS is very light for a medium powered stick, but of course, with that light weight comes a bit of tip heaviness. However, matched with just about any spinning reel and this tip heavy feel is quickly neutralized.

Lab Results for Daiwa TDS-701MXS Spinning Rod
Model	Avg RoD (2-32 oz)	Taper	Measured Weight (oz)	Balance Point (inches)	Balancing Torque (ftlbs)
Daiwa TDS-701MXS Spinning Rod	2.17	Xtra-Fast	3.8	10	0.19
MBR783C GLX2000	1.72	Fast	4.8	5	0.11
TSFO 26 Rod Avg	1.69	--	4.92	7.65	0.19

One minor issue we had with the casting rod was the reel seat lock nut and the semi-sharp ridge at the end. This same nut is used on the spinning rod but because it's flipped around to the bottom of the reel instead of the top, it's a non-issue here.

Design & Ergonomics Ratings for Daiwa TDS-701MXS Spinning Rod
Grip (1-5)	Colors / Graphics (1-5)	Balance (1-5)	Weight (1-5)	Total	Possible	Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10)
3	4	3	4	14	20	7.0

All TDS series rods come with aluminum oxide guides with stainless steel frames.

Application: Given this stick's power and taper, I found it's best suited for applications like small paddletail baits, tubes, smaller jigs, and anything else with a single, jig-style hook. It's a bit overpowered for more finesse applications and a bit fast in taper for moving bait applications. Trouble is, my personal preference with a rod of this power is to use a casting stick instead of spinning. Of course, there are many who prefer the opposite and that's why there's this stick.

Bass Rod Application Ratings for Daiwa TDS-701MXS Spinning Rod
Rip/Jerk (1-5)	Steady (1-5)	Lift & Drop (1-5)	Drag (1-5)	Twitch (1-5)	Total	Possible	Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10)
3	3	4	4	3	19	25	6.8

The butt end of the rod features a small EVA grip area.

Ratings:

Daiwa TDS-701MXS Spinning Rod Ratings (?/10)
Construction/Quality	A clean build on a straight blank	8.95
Performance	Solid performer	7.2
Price	Hard to beat at this price point	9
Features	Can't expect much in this price point	6.4
Design (Ergonomics)	Though more powerful than the typical spinning rods I fish, very comfortable to use	7
Application	Too powerful for finesse, but good power for single-jig style bait applications	6.8
Total Score		7.56
Ratings Key: 1 = terrible : 2 = poor : 3 = lacking : 4 = sub par : 5 = mediocre : 6 = fair : 7 = good : 8 = great : 9 = excellent : 10 = unbelievable! For More Details of the updated rating system visit our explanation here

Pluses and Minuses:

Plus	Minus
+ Tough to beat price point	- Was hoping for more sensitivity out of "IM-7" material
+ Better arrangement of reel seat hardware
+ Decent general purpose spinning rod build

If your search is for an affordable, general purpose spinning rod, the TDS-701MXS is worth a look.

Conclusion: Looking for a general purpose type spinning rod? The TDS-701MXS is slightly better suited for jig-hook style baits, but can be used to support a variety of applications thanks to its "medium" power. When it comes to a rod with similar power and taper, my preference is for casting gear, so this rod is a little difficult for me to get into, however, I certainly appreciate its place in the market. And of course, there's more to fishing than simply bassy applications!

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