Daiwa’s new Steez rods exhibit just as much Performance as they do Style (continued)
 

Power: Mid way through our tests I was able to test both sensitivity and power when dragging a grub over a rocky outcropping. I was amazed how sensitive the rod was and could feel the very texture of the rocks as my football headed rig bumped along the bottom. Suddenly I felt a tick, and with a hard set I was rewarded with nothing. As I reeled the grub in I discovered that the fish had successfully pulled off one of my tails. Rather than rig a new grub up I decided to put the bait back in the water quickly. Bump, bump, bump…and sure enough I felt that familiar “TICK,” and this time as I set the STZ631 I was rewarded with a familiar shake and dive.

The Steez features a split grip complete with alloy checks that cap off the Air-Foam grips nicely

The STZ631 may be rated as a Medium-Heavy but I often forget that fact due to the rod’s overall light weight. With a fish on the line the MH rating proved to be dead on. For a 3.4oz stick the STZ631 sure has plenty of reserve power. As the fish dove I was able to still control it, and the rod adapts quickly by loading up evenly. After a short battle I lipped the 4.5lb largemouth, and was utterly impressed with the STZ631’s concealed power.

The Steez STZ631 was surprisingly powerful and controlled fish over 4lbs with little difficulty

Ergonomics: Ergonomics on this rod are top notch. We have already addressed the clever Air-Beam two finger design and the elimination of the seldom used traditional fore grip to reduce weight. There are many other details in design a special gasket liner is used inside the easy grip fore-nut. This gasket also allows anglers to tighten the machined nut on your premium reel without fear of scratching the foot. A big plus when you are fishing with magnesium based reels.

The Steez reel and rod together proved to be extremely comfortable to palm

To provide comfort and sensitivity Daiwa implemented new "Air-Foam" grips which are noticeably lighter than cork and conventional EVA grips. They are extremely light, yet dense so they don't have a spongy feel. I absolutely fell in love with these grips, as they feel compact and sensitive, but are not prone to signs of age like cork.

Close up of the Air-Beam reel seat

Domestic anglers that pick up the STZ631 will notice something missing…this rod is devoid of a hook hanger. Enthusiast anglers will like this fact as it is truly a Japanese design. Hook hangers not only add weight they also bring hooks dangerously close to the rod, often allowing them to scratch and nick the surface of the blank. Most Japanese anglers overcome the lack of a hook hanger by simply hanging their bait at the base of the first guide standoff. The lack of a hook hanger will likely be viewed as ridiculous by most mainstream anglers, but welcomed by enthusiasts.

Wasn't that seat blue in the last picture? We never get tired of the Steez's flip-flop inside out paint finish

Price & Applications: Daiwa has been steadily increasing their rod lineup in the US, bringing back classics, and also delving into the premium market with rods like the Cielo and Steez. For some anglers spending 350-500 dollars on a Daiwa rod is a hard concept to grasp. While Daiwa rods in the US have traditionally been in the sub 200 dollar range the company has been building and marketing premium rods overseas for quite some time.

No hook hanger means relying on the titanium guide frames to hold your bait

Now anglers stateside no longer have to drool over the import only options, the Steez rods are here, and they are available from many e-tailers, including the largest shops like Bass Pro (even if it is by special order). With a price tag of $349.95 the STZ631 is among the more affordable Steez rods, which range in price from $349 all the way up to $499 for the 7’1” Compile-X flipping stick. At $349 the STZ631 is not cheap, but it isn’t overpriced either, and is priced similarly to Loomis GLX.   

I don't remember being this excited about a domestic rod for a long time... the Steez rods are more like premium import rods than just another high end domestic stick

Warranty: This rod is warranted for a lifetime, and Daiwa wanted to make sure the components would stand the test of time. In cases where Daiwa could not find a component on the market to meet their strict requirements they went to the lab and engineered their own solution. Daiwa affectionately calls this "no-compromise technology."