I don't quite get asking for advice after ordering type posts. :-D

I think you will be lucky to get anyone replying to be honest. Most people who are after budget LRF gear go for the HTO range. They now have a couple of years experience in producing the rods and the newest ones are an improvement over the first releases and are hard to beat in terms of value for money.

Anyway, I think the rod you've ordered is aimed at the American freshwater scene and might be OK for LRF but then again maybe not. Please let us know what you think when you get the rod.

 

I don't quite get asking for advice after ordering type posts. :-D

I think you will be lucky to get anyone replying to be honest. Most people who are after budget LRF gear go for the HTO range. They now have a couple of years experience in producing the rods and the newest ones are an improvement over the first releases and are hard to beat in terms of value for money.

Anyway, I think the rod you've ordered is aimed at the American freshwater scene and might be OK for LRF but then again maybe not. Please let us know what you think when you get the rod.

Hi Scott, thanks for the reply. I wasn't really asking for advice, like I said I already have and enjoy the 'HTO' 7-21. I was asking about this rod as this was the new model for 2014. The older version had been around for 36yrs from what I can gather. Seeing how the new one is now 12 months old I wondered if anyone had tried one. Sorry you seem to think I asked for which should I buy after I already had bought it. Once it arrives I'll do a first impressions review..

Chris..

 

I had a look at them a few weeks back - they have a nice blank but the reel seat is cheap plastic that looks like it will break the first time you put a reel any where near it!

 

Yeah I agree with the above, maybe your better with a korum lol

 

Hi guys, having just ordered one of these rods in the 7' 2gm to 7gm range. I was wondering if any of you had/have any experience of them. It cost less than £25, so there's not much lost if it's a bad one. I already have a 'Rockfish' 7 to 21

Thanks.

Chris..

I would say it's designed for fishing small meps and has a softer action for the trout scene. Shakespeare have already introduced a LRF rod in there range looking very similar to the early HTO'S for £29 which would of been designed more to the style LRF fishing involves.

 

Chris you may need to watch for saltwater damage to the rings etc...

You may need to keep washing the rings in warm soapy water as corrosion may occur ???

Can you keep us updated on how it goes mate ?

 

Chris you may need to watch for saltwater damage to the rings etc...

You may need to keep washing the rings in warm soapy water as corrosion may occur ???

Can you keep us updated on how it goes mate ?

Well, the rod arrived undamaged.

It doesn't come with a cloth bag for starters.

First impressions are it has a very slim blank, but a thick tip by comparison to most lrf rods I have seen.Hmmmm!!
With no reel on it is tip heavy or feels like that to me. Once the reel is in place then it sorts that out. The reel seat
that was mentioned earlier looks OK and holds the 'Catana' in place comfortably.

It's very soft action almost lazy when put at the side of Shakespeares .5 to 7gm lrf rod. As a side note they seem to have
an even newer model out for lrf on there webpage

The all steel insert free rings look interesting, they seem to be the same as there 'agilty' range of sea rods. They look
'Nickel' coated all over, where the insert would normally be the steel is rolled over and through the ring.

That 'tip', man it's thick and solid glass, it makes up half of this section of the rod, on a rod rated with a higher casting
weight would probably be far better.

Overall it will do what it says on the tin, ie 'spinning rod'. It might be Ok for 'drop shotting' on your local canal or still water,
perhaps even down a harbour wall. One thing is for sure though if you do hook a bigger fish the rod won't let you down.
With a 7 year warranty and in the hands of someone as ham fisted as me, then it's keeper.

As an 'lrf' rod this is probably not going to make it.

As post script I would add I haven't tried fishing with yet, the above is just based on what I found by having one in my
hands and side by side with two dedicated 'lrf' rods one from Shakespeare and one from Tronix

 

Chris you may need to watch for saltwater damage to the rings etc...

You may need to keep washing the rings in warm soapy water as corrosion may occur ???

Can you keep us updated on how it goes mate ?

Nick, that crossed my mind as well. I'll keep you posted as to how things go with it.

Thanks for all the other replies, hopefully it will be a positive report when I post about it. Or I will be seeing
how good that long warranty is

Scott the rocks around 'Whithorn' look very tempting, enjoy the blog btw

 

Ugly sticks have always had a rolled in solid glass top that's what they were know for and has been since they were first introduced.

 

Sounds like a 6lb class boat rod rung for a fixed spool.

I'm sure you'll get some use out of it.