Penn’s first mistake when producing the Powerstix Pro Bass was to name this rod a ‘bass rod’. This rod is much more than just a bass rod.

Some years ago my angling took a slide towards light tackle fishing – fishing with tackle that is balanced towards the species I seek - without being over-gunned - yet tough enough to land them and this is where the Powerstix Pro Bass fits nicely into my rod quiver, it’s a good all-round, light tackle, close quarters, shore fishing rod!

Today my shore fishing comprises of a bit of plugging, for which I have two plugging rods and two bait-cast rods. For mulleting and freelining for bass I use a duo tip Barbel rod... the fast quiver-tip for mullet, and the tougher, slower action Avon tip for bass fishing with minimal end tackle. For the rest of my shore fishing I use a bass rod (or flatfish rod as they’re pretty similar). Whether its touch ledgering crab or lugworm for bass off the beach, float fishing for mackerel and gar from the pier, estuary flounder fishing, wrassing from the rocks or bubble floating live-baits, a bass rod would be my first choice of rod to use. They’re versatile, light to carry and capable of handling all the situations I would fish and all the species I’m likely to target.

There’s a true saying in life – “pay peanuts and get a monkey”. In a nut shell I’m saying if you pay very little for something, expect very little in terms of quality and performance. At the other end of the scale, if you pay top dollar, expect the best. But if you take time to shop around mid range priced tackle, you’ll always come across top-class performing equipment at a good price, and this is where the Powerstix Bass finds its home... on the shelf marked ‘great quality – nice price!’

The current Penn Powerstix Pro Bass is an improved version of the old Powerstix Bass and (since I cropped my last bass rod earlier this year using the car boot) has already become a trusted part of my shore rod collection. The Powerstix Bass is an 11.6’, three piece rod, of three equal lengths, so its carrying length only measures 3.10’. The rod comes with its own Cordura style hard, protective tube with shoulder strap, making this the ideal rod for rock hopping or roaming – it’s size means it’s easy to travel with and it’s protective tube means it’s not going to get damaged (or shut in the car boot) en route.

The Powerstix slim EVA fore and butt grips, make it feel slim and sexy and are a pleasure to cast with. And whilst on the subject of casting, loaded with the maximum of 4oz, the power of the 24 TON carbon blank can be unleashed – it’s slow, through action means that it can cast a good sized crab bait and maximum weight, swiftly, smoothly and accurately, with ease, which is what you want for any close quarters shore fishing, let alone bass fishing. The perfect rod for all close quarters shore fishing, for species like bass, wrasse and flatfish, is a rod than can put a bait, a reasonable distance, bang on target with as little noise as possible, and this sums up the Powerstix Pros Bass motivation, design and capability.

Cosmetics don’t really come into how good or bad a rod is, but the Powerstix Bass looks good too. It has ten Fuji guides neatly whipped into place in the same colour as the rod – deep red, with a silver trim. The reel seat isn’t Fuji but Penn’s own and although I am a Fuji fan when it comes to guides, if the reel seat on any of my rods is good quality, which it is, I am happy.  The last 50cm of the rod tip is reflective which means bites can be seen clearly at night, and whilst on the subject of bites... Just last weekend I took my Powerstix Bass out wrassing. I paired it with a Shimano 8000B GTE Bait Runner loaded with 20lb Calcutta braid...

...With complete accuracy I landed all my casts onto the small sand patches, close in, off the rocky headland I was fishing. For bait I was using peeler crab - shell off, legs still on - bound to the hook with baiting elastic. With the Zero stretch in my braid and the Powerstix Pro Bass’s bite-sensitive fine tip, I could almost count the legs being bitten off my crab bait, aggressively, before each proper take.

I said earlier this rod feels sexy and casts smoothly, but by far the Powerstix Bass’s best curves are when it’s playing a fish. It’s slow, through action means this rod gives maximum sport, whilst it still retains enough grunt through the lower section to keep control. The Penn Powerstix Bass gets the thumbs up from me. With an RRP of around £80 and an online price about £65, this Bass rod offers great value for money.  

Jim O'Donnell with a nice wrasse taken on the Penn Powerstix Pro Bass Rod

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