As well as all the other rods I have for spinning and baitcasting I wanted one of 8 feet to cast an average size of lure. This 2.40 metre (8 ft) is dead right for casting your average size spoons and crankbaits and 8 feet is a good length and for me, about the maximum. Any longer and you have trouble with overhanging trees in some swims and you may have to break it down to get it in the car. You can go shorter without losing any power on the cast, but this is the shortest Technium that Shimano make to cast these weights.
The rod has a nice response, it's crisp and yet not too 'tippy' as some can be. The rings, although single legged, are strong and light and there is a small keep ring near the handle. It has a spigot rather than an over-fit joint, which to my mind is better, and there is a nicely finished screw-down reel seat that looks every bit like stainless steel, but is of a carbon or similar material. It has a nice design and feels like one straight run from cork to cork, warm too.
The handle is not too long and really comfortable to hold. The problem with many handles on spinning rods is they design them too long, extending well beyond the elbow. Those are fine on a 13 or 14 feet float rod, but with spinning rods you may want to change hands or simply swing the rod in front of your own body occasionally and a long handle just gets in the way.
So far I haven't had any doubles on it, about 8lbs is the heaviest, but I have no doubt it will handle pike up to 20 lbs if not more, if asked. I teamed mine up with an old (but still very smart) Super Aero 4000 with 30lbs Power Pro and that is a perfect size and capacity for this size of rod. The rod has a nice blue/black twisting weave in the pattern.
However, Shimano being Shimano, since I bought this they have brought out the new 2008 model. The designation of the new one is 'Technium DF BX 2.4m', the AX has changed to a BX and the reel seat looks to have changed. I haven't seen the new one yet, but this is what Shimano told me -
“The improvements on the TECHNIUM DF BX Spinning over the previous AX is in the carbon that is used. The previous model was manufactured using what we class as XT60 carbon, the new model is produced from XT100 carbon, the higher number denotes that the tonnage of the carbon is higher. This means that the same action can be achieved, but resulting in a slimmer and much lighter blank.
Many other features remain the same such as the Shimano Aero Hardlite guides. Specially developed guides that mean the stand-off of each guide is perfect for minimal resistance from the line. This can be seen when you look through the butt ring, you can see through every eye including the tip ring.
There is also a newly developed reel seat that looks aesthetically better with less use of graphite and more cork between sections. The cork also used in the handle has also been upgraded to what we call 'Powercork', this is a treated cork that will not absorb moisture or bacteria and retains a shop look for a much longer time, unlike regular cork.”
Be aware of this change, but also be on the lookout now for bargains as the older model, the one I have, may appear in the sales. Whichever model you get I doubt you will be disappointed.
Rating: 9/10 |
