[Update 17/06/06] I have decided to update this review, due to having used the rod for much longer and for many more species. The rod remains one of my fav's, its main strenghts are its light weight enabling me to literally hold it all day, its high quality finish throughout, the rings, grip, blank and nicely finished cork handle. The action is "tippy" enough to hit shy or fast bites but bends right through to the butt and never seems to lock up. I have not had issues with line sticking to the blank in wet weather which is always a bonus.

[Update 17/06/06] The only downside I have found is that the rod has no hook ring. Although given that I am prone to breaking these, its probably no bad thing lol.

[Update 17/06/06] On the openening day of the season I used this rod to target rudd on a local estate lake. Hitting bites was a sinch and the lovely action never pulled a light hook once. I also landed a 7lb common on 4lb mainline, 3lb bottom with a size 18 hook, without to much difficulty. The rod bending all the way through the butt when the fish made a hard run for the reeds. It's not designed for big fish (there is a power version) but the days fishing proved to me that it was capable of taking the strain.