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Print versionMTI 15lb Offshore
As with all other fishing tackle, rods come in all shapes and sizes. Expensive masterpieces, value for money tools and junk fit for PoundSaver. It’s the motivation behind the design of the rod and the company producing it that makes all the difference! You get what you pay for in life – expensive gear is usually expensive because it’s the best. Cheap gear is the reciprocal! Value for money gear on the other hand usually has a top driving force behind the design and construction process, but also understands his customers are day-to-day anglers who do not grow money trees. A well made “value for money” item of fishing tackle shouldn’t compromise features, fittings or performance, but find a happy medium and this is where the MTI 15lb class offshore steps in.
Firstly this is not a biased review even though I am reviewing one of Mike T’s rods on WSF. If I thought the MTI 15lb Offshore was junk it would have long been sent to the recycling depot with the rest of the cheap tackle I’ve seen over the years. My mission is to promote good angling for all and I’d rather spend my time reviewing good tackle than wasting it reviewing bad. There is no room for bad tackle on shop shelves and my personal view is that page space should be better spent reviewing good tackle and not crap.
The current trend seems to be for longer rods, both beach and boat, and the MTI 15lb class offshore boat rod is a rod that takes some of its ideas from this current trend. Some would call it reproducing; I would call it natural evolution! If somebody comes up with a good idea, of course any sensible company is going to pick up on this, cherry pick what they like, drop what they don’t like, add their own flair and hopefully make a better version and this is just what MTI’s Innovation team have done.
The first of the long boat rods I found nose heavy and I struggled to find a reel to pair with them that gave a sexy feel and a nice balance; this was how I stumbled into the MTI 15lb class. On a trip fishing the Thames for thornies I moved a fellow anglers’ rod only to find it was one of the spoken, and having not seen one before I was keen to inspect. Instantly I noted that it was slim, light and well balanced at the reel and had slim grips – something that I like. On returning home I instantly scrounged one and paired mine with a small Accurate Boss Magnum reel loaded with 30lb Calcutta Ultrabraid.
In years gone by many anglers owned one or two rods and used these for all species fishing (a carbon Swiss army knife so to speak!), but today’s angler is more astute and requires maximum sport from his quarry. As they say “the right tool for the right job” and like all other rods, the MTI 15lb offshore has specific uses.
It makes a great rod for fishing sand banks, where a sporting rod with grunt to support lead is required. It makes a great rod for bottom fishing on the drift (dinking) for bass! Loaded with braid, the MTI offshore with its long length offers ultimate control over baits fished over a hostile and rough seabed. One lift of the rod with the zero stretch of braid will take your bait at least 8ft clear of the seabed. The MTI is even just about tippy enough to promote fun with bream whilst retaining enough stamina in the lower sections to raise conger or tope, but by far my favourite use of this rod is for fishing lures or live baits.
The 15lb Offshore’s length (when used with low diameter super braids) allows the lure and live-bait fisherman superior control! Its length and progressive action will cushion any crash dive when fishing with a flying collar rig over wrecks and reefs. Its length again is great for working jigs, small pirks and hopper rigging close to the seabed for species like cod. And finally, its length offers a more direct strike using live-baits when the hook needs to be set! The MTI 15lb Offshore makes a great specimen rod for the charter angler and a good all-rounder for the small boat angler.
After acquiring mine in early 2008 my 15lb offshore has dealt with multi species fishing in Ireland, Bass and smooth hound fishing in the Solent, Ray fishing in the Thames estuary and it has just returned from a week’s holiday in the Channel islands where it coped very well with the offshore bank fishing and some heavy mid channel wreck fishing. It’s the only super-long rod in my quiver aside from my up-tiders and I’m sure it will remain there until somebody evolves a better version!
MTI 15lb Class Offshore boat rod specifications
- Length: 8’8”
- Two-piece, Short Butt - Long Tip
- Intermediate Rings: Fuji Alconite BMNAG
- Tip Ring: Fuji Alconite BMNAT
- Reel Seat: Fuji
- Butt Cap: Fuji Rubber Push On
- Lines: 12lbs to 18lbs
For more information visit www.mtifishing.com
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