Interestingly, before going to Japan 2 years ago a guy told me about the Stingray 66 and I said I could never do a casting rod without a trigger. 😅 before leaving to come back I found 2 locally that I had to pick up. On New Year’s Day I got to meet up with a good friend and do some fishing. The first rod I wanted to try out was the Stingray 66. I have it paired with a Daiwa SV Light Ltd in the 8:1 ratio. And I instantly fell in love. I’m more of a smaller bait and lighter line kind of guy. Without the trigger the rod just melts to my hand. There is nothing between my fingers and since it’s so light there was no fear of the rod slipping out of my hand. I usually cast two handed so that wasn’t a concern either. I stuck my first good fish of the year and on a new favorite combo. It’s good to be back in the US of A! 
Happy new year everyone!

Here's a few crazy versatile mag-finesse+ sleepers for me.

Gekkabijin + Rays deep BFS SV spool + 40lb YGK X8 Upgrade/10lb Polyflex leader + custom Vinnie Lamiglas Infinity 873 --> anything from 1/8 oz beetle spins to 1/4 - 1/2 oz topwaters, 1/4 - 3/8 cranks, 3/8-3/4 lipless, 1/4-3/8 Swimjigs and 3.3" - 3.8" swimbaits ...does it all and casts far with minimal effort, and provides smooth power, and control.

Ian tuned & polished Steez Limited SV 105/(7.9 Steez EX brass gears and drag washer stack/carbontex) Evergreen Tactics Super Nova glass cranking rod + Rays BFS spool + 16lb YGK SS112 + 10lb Polyflex leader.  Anything with trebles from 1/4-1/2, mostly shallow to mid depth cranks and lipless, also great for poppers 1/4-3/8 (not walking, just classic popping/blooping).  I also like tossing 1/4 - 3/8 inlines and 1/8-1/4 beetle spins.

Tuned and modded Scorpion 1000XT/Brenious 7.7 brass gears/Carbontex + Yamaga Blanks Blue Current III 82B + 20lb X9 + 10lb Polyflex leader. Love this combo for distance casting Lipless and open water combing with 1/8 - 1/4 oz cranks...the length allows for great line control on moving water to guide the bait downstream in between rock/snags/structure.  I also like 1/8 ball head + 2.8 -3.3 swimbaits.  If you chase trout and white bass in open water, this combo also bombs 1/4-1/2 oz spoons.  If I want to go lighter, I have an Avail ALD0918 BFS spool for it as well.

Just a few non-traditional mag-finesse combos that cross over well into BFS and even ML-M techs.

This past Tuesday I was casting a 3/4 oz OG Yozuri Sashimi lipless on a custom Vinnie built Lamiglas Infinity 873 (7'3" MH XFast) with 40lb YGK X8 Upgrade main line + 10lb Polyflex leader. I was able to make long consistent casts with the brake at 9-10 for hours and into some windy conditions as well on Old Hickory. I also managed to get into eight bass and a few skipjack, the biggest bass was 16.5" and about 2.25 lbs. This Gekkabijin and spool didn't skip a beat, had plenty of power and was extremely smooth...and long casts were had with just an easy flick of rod sidearm or overhand.

I also tossed 1/4 oz shallow cranks, 1/8 oz Beetle Spins, 1/4 oz Binsky blade baits, and 1/3 topwaters, all with ease, on this custom 873. And to note, this rod has an exceptional and special tip and top portion that allows for tossing 1/8 oz up to 1 oz without any issues, however it is nowhere near a BFS or mag-finesse rod.

The best thing is that even with the long 45-55+ yard casts with the 3/4 lipless, I still had several yards of mono backing left on the Ray's BFS deep spool.

Just wanted to leave some input for those that want to get more mileage from their Gekkabijin and other Daiwa BFS reels that have this same sized spool.

"It is like a finger pointing away to the Moon...don't concentrate on the finger, or you will miss all of that heavenly glory."

This feisty 13.5" smallie launched several times out of the skinny water and put up a fun fight.  Rod is a Tiemco Golden Wing 6'10" LP+J, 8lb Sunline Xplasma Asegai + 8lb CXX leader + 1/4 oz Yellow Magic popper in Tennessee shad.

I'm considering this rod for 1/8-3/8 shallow to mid depth cranks, poppers, and will be using light braid + leader, and likely an OG Aldebaran MG7 with BFS spool.

Anyone have any input on this rod?