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391 Posts
Good Write up and Pics,Looks a Nice rod,Nothing like receiving a New rod and Unpacking,All thoughts of Lockdown and Covid 19,Go out the window,N70 is a lot of rod for the Money,Good review by Henry,Tempted myself.Here's a few pics and observations so far....
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So I've been fishing using a 9ft 6 Majorcraft Zalts for the last 4 years and it's a great rod, but a little heavy and I fancied something lighter with a bit more finesse.....
Last year, I fancied adding to my arsenal by getting something with a bit more grunt, and decided on a Century, but something just didn't click with me.....and I've never taken to Century rods during my bait days.....never have liked the way any of them felt - purely a personal thing though.
So I plumped for the HTO Nebula 10ft version, and been very pleased with it for the money, even if it was a little stiff for a lot of the fishing I do, and the lightness saw me using it all too often....
Still missing the finesse side of things, and being a majorcraft fan, I decided on the new Rod due out this Autumn and duly put my name down for one a few months back....
Fast forwards to October and I'm told that the launch has been put back to 2021 with no firm date. I've sold some bait gear and don't want the money to be wasted elsewhere, and I'd read some good things about the N70, and a few bad things too......
By the time I'd decided and tried to buy online, they are all out of stock......then found one from Shut up and Fish.
Ordered and came next working day......for that sort of money, I was looking forwards to it coming, and dreading it at the same time.....
First impressions when unpacking the very well packaged and protected rod, was a huge disappointment!
It looked a very expensive version of the much cheaper Nebula!
Put it together though and gave it a waggle and it felt a bit better. Took it outside in the garden, and put the Nebula together and the two are polar opposites to be honest. N70 much slimmer at the butt to. Strapped a reel on each and threaded the braid through the guides and had a play pulling both tips round and suddenly all was a lot better with the world...they may have looked similar but they are miles apart.
A lovely build and finish, with a nice rod bag too.
Personally would have liked larger rings like the Century has, but maybe that would spoil the action...not a huge fan of the diddy rings, but got used to it with the Nebula. Really liked the handle personally, and the reel seat, but mindful of the issues @wightman had with the Winn grip when wet!
First session was in horrible winds and rough conditions around Portland.....huge sidewind at the first mark, and started off with a large Patch, followed by a 115 Gunny. Blanked, but wow...this thing can cast a heavier lure very very well...slightly worried that it is over-gunned for normal fishing now though....
Later in the day, I'm fishing with a much lighter Sidewinder eel and save the day with a low 40 - the rod is a joy to use, even though its only a very small fish. What's more, its been wet for most of the day, and the Grip gives me personally, no issues. I've also had a few casts with @Dorset Dan Century Graphex, and although a lovely rod, I know I'm very happy with my choice...
Last Friday late, I decide to hit a local mark as there is no wind....I chuck in a few softs, and just a Patch 100 and off I go. Just fished a Dolive in the end, and popped my cherry with a high 40...only 1 fish but tide wasn't moving at all and was very pleased with how the rod felt with a light soft on...very sensitive.
Henrys review of the N70 was one of the reasons I plumped for it, but I couldn't understand how he had said that the rod seemed to adapt to whatever lure weight you were casting with - ridiculous claim to be honest.......until you use the rod yourself...completely see where he's coming from now!
I'm sure there are plenty of good rods out there for less money, and a few for more too, but currently, I'm very happy with mine. One thing I couldn't get used to with a lot of lure rods is the much shorter handles - having a longer handle on the Nebula and N70 suits me and makes them feel slightly shorter rods when actually fishing with them too..
Mart.