Daiwa SMD664ULFS Fishing Rod Review
Our verdict
At $59.99, the Daiwa SMD664ULFS is a one-piece, ultra light graphite rod built for crappie on 6-pound line, and its 4.6-star average, even across a smaller 46-review sample, points to a well-regarded finesse rod rather than an all-purpose rod for heavier species.
Check price on AmazonBest for
Crappie anglers who want a dedicated ultra light, one-piece graphite rod for light line finesse work, and who are comfortable trusting a smaller but strongly-rated 46-review sample over a larger one.
Skip if
Skip it if you need a rod for bigger species like catfish or bass, want a two-piece rod for easier transport, or prefer buying only from listings with hundreds of reviews behind them.
- Material Graphite
- Weight 0.36 Pounds
- Length 6.5 Feet
- Line Weight 6 pounds
- Target Species Crappie
- Technique Casting
- Priced 20% above the category median ($49.99 across 56 tracked models)
Our scorecard
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Owner rating4.6/5
4.6 average across 46 owner ratings
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Popularity1.1/5
46 owner reviews, fewer than most models here
The overall score is owner satisfaction weighted by how many reviews back it, so a high rating from few reviews counts for less. The bars below show where this model stands against the other fishing gear and tackle we track in this category on price, popularity and size. Context, not marks against it, and our read of the data, not a lab test.
Overview
Crappie fishing rewards a light touch, since the fish have soft mouths and often bite gently around brush piles and docks. The Daiwa SMD664ULFS is built for exactly that, a 6.5-foot, one-piece graphite rod with an ultra light power rating and a 6-pound line rating, sized for finesse presentations rather than horsing power.
At $59.99, it costs more than the Zebco ZCASTC56TEL's $19.99 but less than the Ahi RSB-800's $89.99, both of which are built for different jobs anyway. The Zebco is a medium-power trout rod rated for 12-pound line, and the Ahi is a medium heavy bait-fishing rod rated 2 to 10 pounds. Neither matches the SMD664ULFS's specific ultra light, 6-pound crappie focus, which makes direct pricing comparison less useful than looking at what each rod is actually built to do.
Review-wise, the SMD664ULFS holds a 4.6-star average, tied for the highest of any rod in this comparison, though its 46-review count is the smallest sample here. A bought-last-month figure of 100+ suggests it is still selling at a steady pace despite the smaller review base, which is a reasonable sign for a rod aimed at a narrower slice of anglers.
Pros
- 4.6-star average ties the top rating in this comparison group
- Ultra light power and 6-pound line rating built specifically for crappie finesse fishing
- One-piece graphite blank at 6.5 feet, likely to transmit light bites better than a jointed rod
- 100+ bought last month shows ongoing demand despite a smaller review count
- At 0.36 pounds, it is light enough for extended one-handed use over a session
Cons
- 46 reviews is the smallest sample among the rods compared here, which makes the rating less statistically certain
- 6-pound line rating limits it strictly to light-line finesse work, not larger species
- One-piece construction at 6.5 feet is harder to transport or pack than a breakdown rod
- No color options are listed beyond brown, and size is simply listed as one size
Specifications
| Material | Graphite |
|---|---|
| Weight | 0.36 Pounds |
| Length | 6.5 Feet |
| Line Weight | 6 pounds |
| Target Species | Crappie |
| Technique | Casting |
| Size | One Size |
| Color | Brown |
| Pieces | 1 |
| Feature | Ultra Light |
Performance notes
An ultra light power rating paired with a 6-pound line rating is a specific combination built for detecting subtle bites, exactly what crappie fishing calls for around brush and dock structure. The 6.5-foot length is on the shorter side, which trades some casting distance for the kind of close-quarters control that matters when working a rod tip around cover. Graphite construction keeps the blank light, and at 0.36 pounds the whole rod should feel nimble for repeated casting over a long session. Being a one-piece rod, it avoids the small loss of sensitivity that a ferrule joint introduces on multi-piece rods, which matters more on ultra light gear where bite detection is the whole point. The tradeoff is that a one-piece 6.5-footer takes up more room in a vehicle or storage tube than a two-piece rod of similar length would.
What buyers say
A 4.6-star average matches the highest rating among the rods considered here, but it rests on only 46 reviews, a noticeably smaller sample than the 111 to 433 review counts seen on the other rods. That makes the rating encouraging but less statistically solid, a handful of reviews can swing an average more than they would on a listing with hundreds of ratings. The 100+ bought-last-month figure helps offset that concern somewhat, showing the rod continues to move at a steady pace rather than sitting on old reviews from a single early burst of sales. For a specialty ultra light rod aimed at a narrower audience than a general-purpose casting rod, a smaller but strong review base is not unusual.
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Frequently asked questions
What species is the Daiwa SMD664ULFS built for?
It is built for crappie, based on its ultra light power rating and 6-pound line rating. Those specs suit light bites and finesse presentations around brush piles and docks rather than larger, harder-fighting species that need a stiffer, more powerful blank.
Is 46 reviews enough to trust the 4.6-star rating?
It is a smaller sample than some alternatives, which have 111 to 433 reviews. The rating is encouraging, but a smaller review count means it carries less statistical weight than a rod with a larger review base and a broader spread of buyer experience.
Is this a one-piece or multi-piece rod?
It is a one-piece rod at 6.5 feet. That typically means slightly better sensitivity for detecting light bites compared to a jointed rod, though it takes up more space to store or transport in a vehicle or rod case designed for shorter lengths.