Product Review: Daiwa TD ZED

Over the past few years the astronomical rise in the popularity of light lure fishing has injected masses of technology, innovation and creativity into the fishing industry. Nowadays if you walk down to your local wharf you are more likely to see people flicking soft plastics and blades than the typical bottom bashing bread and butter bait fisho. Both methods of fishing are very effective and a great way to pass some time but we can truly vouch for the convenience of spinning lures with one light rod and reel combo. In cooperation with Daiwa Australia we designed the TD ZED to be the ultimate mid-range inshore soft plastic and vibing rod, and over the past 6 months we've put these rods to the test and are wholly satisfied with the outcome. 

From the reel seat to the guides every design feature of the the TD ZED was implemented with convenience in mind, we've spent thousands of hours fishing with plastics and vibes both in the estuary and offshore and have used our collective knowledge towards this rod. The ZED series is fitted with a sleek ergonomic reel seat and grip unique to the TD ZED series, lightweight anti tangle Fuji K-Guides and all models fold down into 2 sections for transport.

TD ZED 702LXS-DA

The lightest and most popular rod in the range, this 2-4kilo spin rod pairs perfectly with any reel from 1000 - 2500. We built this rod with the thought of chasing anything from Whiting to school Jew on light soft plastics and vibes, specifically with lures like the EcoGear VX, ProLure v42 or any paddle tail / curly tail soft plastic from 2-3 inches. Chasing estuary fish on light line can be a rewarding way to fish as you can be confident that you'll land high numbers of fish and it isnt uncommon to run into Mulloway, Kingfish or large Flathead when spraying out casts. If you do run into bigger fish the 702LXS handles well under heavier drag and has the power to control fish when they are boatside.

Last winter on a trip to the Snowy Mountains we tested the 702LXS on Brown and Rainbow Trout in lake Eucumbene, Trout fishing requires a level of ultra finesse you dont need in saltwater, running leaders down to 4lb and sending out long casts in order not to spook fish. The TD ZED  was a joy to use in the fresh, balancing really nicely with a 1000 sized Shimano eggbeater. It's forgiving tip did well to soak up headshakes and pressure from jumping Trout meaning that pulling hooks, even when using tiny trebles wasn't a big issue. It launched out 48mm Double Clutches and small Rapala countdown lures even through a strong crosswind, the fast taper let me get the most out of the small bibbed minnows as I could slowly work them around structure with small movments of the rod tip. 

*One of many Brown Trout from a trip to the Snowys

TD ZED 702MFS-DA

This rod is the middle ground between light estuary finesse and heavy inshore / light offshore, if you are going out for a session and can only take one rod, the 702MFS is the one we would opt for. It'll cast lures as light as 3.5g, so those smaller vibes like the EcoGear ZX30, or plastics with 1/12th sized jig heads will still work on the 4-7kg TD ZED. This rod best pairs up with a deep spooled 2500 or 3000 sized reel running 10-15lb braid. What this rod was really designed for was chasing Jew and large Flathead far up Estuary systems, just like the 702LXS it has a very fast tip, an essential feature of a lure fishing rod. The handle / butt / grip is the same as the lighter model, this gives you more control over how you work each lure as there is less weight in the rod. Although, don't be fooled by its unassuming build, the MFS has a serious backbone and when hooked up on this rod you can really crank the drag down if need be. With how good reel technology is these days and the weight reduction in the mid to high range Daiwa and Shimano reels, this combo will not weigh much more than your average Bream outfit, with the bonus ability of being confident enough to stop larger Mulloway or Pelagics! 

TD ZED 762 MHFS

We comissioned the heaviest TD ZED model with Snapper, Mulloway and pelagic fish in mind. This rods cast weight is rated to over 1oz for plastics meaning you can use bigger jigheads and profiled lures in deeper water. This opens up the door for many different ways to fish whether that be areas with strong current such as inside breakwalls or Snapper drifts out wide in 30-40 meters. The advantage of the longer 7'6" blank means both that you will get a better cast from your lure and that this rod will have a softer top half whilst still maintaining a fast tip. This means you get the best of both worlds, a rod that can launch plastics with anything from 1/6th to 1oz but also has plenty of backbone and stopping power for when you hook something bigger. The ZED series was designed with practicality in mind, the 762 has a longer split butt section which reduces weight, fits nicely under the arm and when put in rod holders it will keep your reel away from the gunnel. 

Our staff suggest pairing the 762 MHFS with a 4000 or 5000 sized reel and x8 20lbs braid. It is important to match your rod to an appropriately sized reel as a balanced combo will cast further and be easier to fish with, especially when using lures such as soft plastics or vibes. 

*Ernie making light work of this quality red on the 762 MHFS

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