I haven’t broken a AGS guide personally but several our readers have reported doing so on previous generation Steez rods. While these guides should hold up well under normal use I do think babying them does reduce the chance of snapping them from impact during transport or when stowing them in tight rod lockers, and highly recommend using the bundled rod sleeve to decrease the chance of the direct impact with tube edges. Much like a high-performance car this rod requires a little extra work to keep it pristine and is not only par for the course with these guides, but also well worth the effort to keep the investment in pristine working condition.

While The One can be employed for drop shot rigs I found it capable of so much more

Price and Applications: There are three spinning rods in the Steez AGS lineup and The One is designed for shakey head, ned, neko, and drop shot rigs. Using a rod that is this long for these applications is a unique experience, and I wish that I could compare this rod side by side with the Steez “Finesse Game Special” which is 7’1” and rated with a lure range of 1/8-3/8oz. and targets much of the same applications minus shakey head, but including weightless wacky worm rigs.

This fast and powerful stick can even be used for finesse jigs and swim jigs

Though The One is rated from 1/16-3/4 oz. I feel that the rating at the low end is somewhat aggressive and casting such light rigs with a rod with such a fast action and long length felt a little awkward. The rod really excels with weights 1/8oz and up, and I was even able to toss 1oz. swim jigs with this rod with no problem. I can see using this rod for full sized shakey heads or drop shot rigs with 4” and 6” worms but one of the most interesting things about this rod is how versatile it is.

A look at the Daiwa hook hanger in action. Though very functional it is a little on the large side

I didn’t find The One to be the best dedicated drop shot rod, but when it came to having a spinning rod on the deck that can toss a wide range of lures this rod is more than up to the task. Perhaps this is what Daiwa meant when they named this rod “The One.” Beyond the techniques that the rod is specified for I also found The One to be excellent for fishing both football jigs and swim jigs and it is even capable of handling light Texas rigs and paddletails, which all adds up to a surprising amount of versatility for a rod that is designed for finesse applications.

I also found the Certate, and even the Luvias, to be good pairings with this rod. Of course you could always put a Shimano reel on this rod, ah the irreverence

The Steez AGS Series that The One resides in is now the flagship rod series for Daiwa here in the Americas and these rods retail for $549 dollars while the casting rods range from $549-$599 dollars. This is a series investment for any angler, and likely going to want to pair it with a quality Daiwa reel like the Certate, or maybe even an Exist G, though in terms of cosmetics one of the new Ballistic MQ LT reels will match up well with this rod, and is a much more affordable option.

The One doesn't fish like a light finesse rod and the more I fished it the more I began to appreciate the rod's versatility

Competition for the Steez AGS is going to come from the flagship offerings from competitors which include the G.Loomis NRX+, Megabass Destroyer P5, Abu Zenon, Phenix K2, Dobyns Xtasy and other brand’s halo offerings. When it comes to the top finesse spinning rods out there today the G.Loomis NRX+ is still the one to beat, as long as you are a fan of the hybrid drivetrain.

The sensitivity of The One made it one of my go to rods for deep finesse jigging this season. The ability to detect those bites in open water and muscle fish up with the extra leverage of a 7'6" rod with such a twist free blank is inspiring

The Daiwa approach is different this time around and rather than try and beat G.Loomis, and other brands, that focus on fast/extra-fast light powered application specific spinning rods, they chose to leverage their proprietary blank and carbon guides to create rods like The One which put an emphasis on sensitivity, power, and versatility. To top it all off this generation of Steez rods really caters towards more power centric U.S. applications, a first for the family which typically has just offered JDM actions and powers in their halo series.

Conclusion: Daiwa’s new Steez rod series is quite different from the last generation and moves away from more traditional JDM styling to better cater towards American enthusiasts. The One is not your typical ultra-light action finesse rod, and anglers that are expecting this rod to be a traditional drop shot rod may be surprised by the way this rod feels and fishes. The One is all about spinning versatility, this is the one rod that can play across shakeyhead, finesse jig, drop shot, neko, and even full-size NED rigs. This rod excels at being a versatile player with a surprisingly wide lure weight range, and really delivers when it comes to sensitivity through those exclusive carbon AGS guides.

Daiwa's Steez AGS "The One" may not be what you expect in a finesse rod but it is one of the most versatile high-end spinning rods out there

Once you feel that tick through the blank this rod challenges anglers to swing as quickly as they can, and that extra length and fast action really puts the hurt on fish. Battling fish is easy with the extra leverage and non-twisting blank, and at times I found it almost comical how powerful this spinning rod was when bringing large fish to the surface. There is certainly no lack of muscle in this blank. The One may not be the shakey head, or drop-shot rod that you expected, but it is absolutely the one you want if you are seeking versatility in a premium finesse-oriented spinning rod.

Looking for the Daiwa Steez AGS Spinning Rods?
Try Tackle Warehouse and The Tackle Trap