Custom built alloy reel
seat on the TC XzogaE
very now and then you come across
certain items of tackle that really
make you say “Wow!” Obviously there
is a lot of superb, top-end kit out there that,
once in your hand, you just don’t want to
put down but there are also some much
cheaper items that really defy their price
tag and bring a big smile to the face.
When I first trialled the Daiwa
Procaster XA spinning rod I really couldn’t
believe the price-point that Glasgow
Angling Centre were selling them at. Quite
often you see a ‘sale’ item, look at the RRP
and think that it never really sells at the
top price, it is a sales gimmick, yet the
Procaster XA really did feel like it was
worth twice the asking price.
I actually gave my Procaster XA away to
a friend who had taken a shine to it, I then
realised that it did fill a niche in my
armoury and I decided to replace it. Did I
replace it with another like for like
Procaster XA? No, I did that typical
tackle-tart thing and decided that the more
expensive Daiwa Powermesh-X would be a
better choice for me. The reality of the
situation was that, while the Powermesh
might have had a better finish, I actually
preferred fishing with the ‘reasonably
priced’ Procaster XA.
Conversely, I recently asked Terry
Graham of Truly Custom Rods to make me
a baitcasting version of my beloved Xzoga
Taka G66 (PE 0.8/60g) as I find the fixed
spool version a simply brilliant all-
rounder. Terry did an excellent job with
a very tarty, custom-built, anodised
aluminium reel seat and stylish
abbreviated EVA hand grips. The
rod is superb, it isn’t quite as
versatile as the FS version
(which will throw and work
from 5g to 50g) but is good for
15 to 50g and makes a
wonderful light jerkbait rod.
Of course such quality doesn’t
come cheap – don’t expect much
change from £200 but, in
my view, it is money
well spent.Review
Recently, on the forum, we had the usual
request for advice on a rod purchase. I
never tire of these requests as, for me, this
is raison d’etre of any forum – first hand
advice, direct from the end user. My
response was to recommend the afore-
mentioned Daiwa Procaster XA but before
I replied I thought I would double check the
price. Whilst looking through the cast
weight options on the GAC website I spotted
the 6ft baitcasting Procaster XA at the silly
price of £30!! I checked postage for this
one-piece rod and noted it was only £6.
This was too good to miss so I placed an
order immediately, oh and then I
remembered to reply to the forum poster.
On arrival the 6ft baitcaster – marketed
as the VB, Vertical Baitcaster – looked
superb. It has a medium/fast blank with a
progressive bend in the top 2/5ths andplenty of power. It
is rated 10-30g yet on the
water, paired with the
Spro Grand Arc Fire Red, it
felt more like a 15-45g. Like my
Truly Custom Xzoga it has a nice
abbreviated EVA handle and is
finished with similar red trim which
looks great against the black blank.
So, here’s the thing, two medium/
light bait-casing rods, both stylish, both
light-weight and both capable of throwing avariety of
lures in the
15-45g bracket. One
cost £30 the other close to
£200, so I guess the question is,
is the TC Xzoga really seven times
better than the Daiwa? For me the answer is
no, and with these sort of comparisons it is
often the case – here’s my thinking.....
Generally speaking, I believe there is a lot
of difference between a £50 rod and a £100
rod and perhaps this price-point gap
represents the greatest leap in quality and
technology, or bang for buck, in our current
fishing tackle market-place. I believe that
the difference, benefit or advantage
between a £100 rod and a £150 rod to be more
subtle and that this theme follows the more
you spend. It is the icing on the cake, theDAIWA PROCASTER XA, XZOGA
TAKA G66 AND THE SPRO
GRAND ARC by Keith Edmunds
Another nice
jack for the
TC Xzoga G66Custom built alloy reelCCusuststotoombbuiltltalalloyooyyyrereeeel
seat on the TC Xzoseseatatoon thethe eTCXzoTCTCXzXzozoogagaggaProcaster XA? No, I did that typical
tackle-tart thing and decided that the more
expensive Daiwa Powermesh-X would be a
better choice for me. The reality of the
situation was that, while the Powermesh
might have had a better finish, I actually
preferred fishing with the ‘reasonably
priced’ Procaster XA.
Conversely, I recently asked Terry
Graham of Truly Custom Rods to make me
a baitcasting version of my beloved Xzoga
Taka G66 (PE 0.8/60g) as I find the fixed
spool version a simply brilliant all-
rounder. Terry did an excellent job with
a very tarty, custom-built, anodised
aluminium reel seat and stylish
abbreviated EVA hand grips. The
rod is superb, it isn’t quite as
versatile as the FS version
(which will throw and work
from 5g to 50g) but is good for
15 to 50g and makes a
wonderful light jerkbait rod.
Of course such quality doesn’t
come cheap – don’t expect much
change from £200 but, in
my view, it is money
well spent.price of £30!! I checked postage for this
one-piece rod and noted it was only £6.
This was too good to miss so I placed an
order immediately, oh and then I
remembered to reply to the forum poster.
On arrival the 6ft baitcaster – marketed
as the VB, Vertical Baitcaster – looked
superb. It has a medium/fast blank with a
progressive bend in the top 2/5ths andplenty of power. It
is rated 10-30g yet on the
water, paired with the
Spro Grand Arc Fire Red, it
felt more like a 15-45g. Like my
Truly Custom Xzoga it has a nice
abbreviated EVA handle and is
finished with similar red trim which
looks great against the black blank.
So, here’s the thing, two medium/
light bait-casing rods, both stylish, both
light-weight and both capable of throwing avariety of
lures in the
15-45g bracket. One
cost £30 the other close to
£200, so I guess the question is,
is the TC Xzoga really seven times
better than the Daiwa? For me the answer is
no, and with these sort of comparisons it is
often the case – here’s my thinking.....
Generally speaking, I believe there is a lot
of difference between a £50 rod and a £100
rod and perhaps this price-point gap
represents the greatest leap in quality and
technology, or bang for buck, in our current
fishing tackle market-place. I believe that
the difference, benefit or advantage
between a £100 rod and a £150 rod to be more
subtle and that this theme follows the more
you spend. It is the icing on the cake, theGENERALLY SPEAKING,
IS A LOT OFA £50 ROD AND