L_A_2015_S_

fine tuning, the more delicate balance and

sensitivity that we generally pay the extra

cash for, once we’ve breached the £150

threshold. Will these rods catch us more

fish than a £100 rod? Maybe. Will we get

more pleasure using them? Affirmative.

On the bank both the Xzoga and the

Daiwa performed well. I have had a

number of jacks to scraper doubles and

they both made playing such fish a

pleasure. They both cast and worked a

wide variety of baits from SP’s, crankbaits

through to jerk-baits and did the job well.

Both, I must add, were fitted with Spro

Grand Arc Fire Red reels with similar line

diameter. Which one would I recommend?

Well, it depends on the end user.

If a newcomer to lure angling was

looking for a nice medium/light

baitcaster or light jerk rod I would

recommend the Daiwa in an instant. Would

I advise him to save up for a few more

months and buy the TC Xzoga? No I

wouldn’t, the Daiwa Procaster will more

than suit his needs and serve him well

during his introduction to the sport. Why

then, did I buy the Truly Custom Xzoga

Taka G66? Again, I will try to explain.

Xzoga blanks are incredible and I am a

bit of a blank nerd, they almost defy the

laws of physics. They are insanely strong,

especially the Taka U and Taka G models

indeed the Taka U is 80% graphite with E

glass giving strength and flexibility (under

load), the Taka G is 99% graphite. The

Taka G exhibits a really nice combination

of flexibility and sensitivity, you can feel

the tiny knocks resonate down to your

palm yet on the cast they load really

effortlessly for long casts and when

playing fish they bend sweetly to absorb

sudden runs and headshakes. The blank is

also lighter and, unsurprisingly, better

balanced than the Daiwa.

Of course, buying a custom rod means

you have unlimited choice of fittings and

Terry will adorn your rod with whatever

you choose, often hand building components

himself. All of the above gives that icing on

the cake with a delicious cherry on top, that

fine detail and exclusivity for which I am

willing to pay. Also, with a Xzoga blank, I

have the confidence to use the rod for a

variety of hard-core disciplines – I would

have no qualms in taking this rod to any

exotic destination to pursue all of the

mega-aggressive species within its category.

I would also like to take this opportunity

to mention the Spro Grand Arc series. I

have previously reviewed both the fixed

spool and the baitcaster versions and these

reels are still going strong without any

issues and still feeling as tight and precise

as the day I bought them. If Spro made a

sub-200g reel with the outstanding

smoothness of a Grand Arc I would, quite

literally, have one

on every spinning

rod that I own.

As mentioned

above I have recently

bought two more Spro

Grand Arc Baitcaster

reels, this time the

‘Fire Red’ model as

they look so cool and

are a little lighter

than the black version

due to a few carbon

components. This

version weighs 214g

has a 6.3:1 ratio, boasts

8 stainless steel ball

bearings, 1 needle

bearing and holds a

tidy 130 metres of

0.29mm. They are

perfect for the 10-60g lure bracket and I

have used one on my heavier set-up (while

my Revo Inshore was being repaired)

throwing jerk baits up to 80g, all day, with

no issues. Retailing at around £100 these

reels represent superb value.

It is fair to say that all of the items above

have indeed made me say “Wow!” and is

kit that I would have absolutely no

reservations in recommending to others.

Yes, you do get what you pay for but...

sometimes.... you get a lot more.

Spro Grand Arc reels available from

http://www.thepikeshop.co.u

Daiwa Procaster XA rods available from

http://www.fishingmegastore.com

Truly Custom Rods available from

http://www.trulycustomrods.co.uk

The Spro Grand Arc Fire

Red looks great on the

Truly Custom Xzoga G66

fine tuning, the more delicate balance and

sensitivity that we generally pay the extra

cash for, once we’ve breached the £150

threshold. Will these rods catch us more

fish than a £100 rod? Maybe. Will we get

more pleasure using them? Affirmative.

On the bank both the Xzoga and the

Daiwa performed well. I have hada

number of jacks to scraper doubles and

they both made playing such fish a

pleasure. They both cast and worked a

wide variety of baits from SP’s, crankbaits

through to jerk-baits and did the job well.

Both, I must add, were fitted with Spro

Grand Arc Fire Red reels with similar line

diameter. Which one would I recommend?

Well, it depends on the end user.

If a newcomer to lure angling was

looking for a nice medium/light

baitcaster or light jerk rod I would

recommend the Daiwa in an instant. Would

The Daiwa has

enough flex to

make catching

jacks fun

I BELIEVE THERE

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN

A £100 ROD