Fox Duolite Specialist

[Fred Boniface]

I purchased this rod thinking it would be ideal for fishing the Upper Great Ouse for Perch or for bream and roach on my local Furzton stillwater. I did buy in a shop but thought the firm action must be my (typical angler!) overestimate of weight.

I took the rod to Furzton and was surprised to find how far it would punch a loaded Korum flat method feeder. I began to think that the rod could not match the stated test curve so I checked the rod today on my improvised garage "jig". The solid top, rated at 0.5 lb, took 1lb 10oz to pull to the 90 degree deflection that should indicate the test curve.

Rating a product which is so at odds with its stated rating is a problem I did not want. It is a competent, well made fishing rod, unfortunately the one I have is most definitely not what Fox describe in their sales literature. I have only tried to estimate the curve for the solid top but I am a little concerned that if thecarrier section for the quivers is also so over strength then that will cause a mismatch with the sensitive(soft) quivers supplied.

QUESTIONS:

1 - Am I correct in thinking that the test curve is the force (weight) required to pull the rod to a 90 degree curve ?

2 - How does a product so at odds with its description find its way to the marketplace ?

3 - The Fox website contains no contact details for phone or e-mail ( as far as I could see) so has anyone got these details so I can ask them a few questions?

 

[Bryan Baron 2]

1 correct

for 2 and 3 i would take it back as its not as advertised.

 

[Fred Bonney]

Fred

FOX.....0208 559 6517

or email pmoring@foxint.com

 

[Mr Cholmondeley-Corker (PaSC)]

Fred

Did you load the rod with it FULLY ASSEMBLED? The TC is arrived at when the tip is perpendicular to the butt. ie if the but is clamped horizontal in a vice then the tip would be verticle whne load to the tc.

Matt

 

[Dave Slater]

Fred,

I would buy a Drennan instead if the Fox isn't right for the job. I have two Shimano Technium Specialists which have done me very well for many years, but are no longer made. I bought a couple of 1oz tips for the Upper Ouse perch fishing as the lightest with the rods are 1.5oz. The spare tips are now very hard tocome by so Inow have opted for Drennanto replace them.Do you need a straight top as well as the quiver section? If not then the Medium Feeder would be ideal. I have opted for this, a lovely light rod which I am sure would be perfect for the Upper Ouse,as I can use the old Shimanos for the odd stillwater session I do for tench or perch. If you need the straight top as well the Avon would fit the bill instead of the Medium Feeder.The beauty of Drennan is that the tips are easily obtainable, have a vast range, and fit all their rods. My tackle dealer let me change some of the tips provided with the rod as I prefer glass and the rod comes with two glass and two carbon.

 

[Fred Boniface]

Bryan - thanks for confirmationof TC measurement. I bought the rodwhen I was travelling on a contract in NE England so cannot easily get back to store just now, so I will try to contact Fox first.

Thanks Fred - contact details are just what I wanted for a start. I will contact Fox later today to discuss.

Topper - rod made up and strappedto the ladderhanging in roof of garage on roof trusses - tip loaded untiul it was pointing straight doown - so it looks like my technique of loading rod is adequate.

Dave - I appreciate the comments about alternatives but I thought I was buying a "soft actioned" rod at a very good price.

_____________________________________________________________

It is probably my fault for not trusting my instincts and realising the rod did not have the soft action that I was expecting. The mistake was believing the literature !

Should have followed the Obi Wan principle. . .

 

[Sean Meeghan]

Hi Fred. I'm a little suprised by this as I have the Avon Duo rod which is the one up from the Specialist. The Duos are the prvious model, but I'm fairly certain there are only cosmetic differences from the Duolites. The Avon is rated at .75lb for the quiver top and 1lb for the solid top. The Specialist is rated at .5lb for the quiver and .75lb for the solid top.

Whilst I've not measured the test curve on mine I've used it a fair bit and I've no reason to doubt the rating. It feels slightly over-gunned playing barbel on 8lb line and fine when playing chub on 6lb line, which is what I'd expect from the TC.

I've found that many of the Fox rods have interchangable sections - the top section of my 1.5lb tc Barbel Special fits my avon duo perfectly - so I wonder if there's been a mistake when putting the rod in the bag (perhaps in the shop). Whatever the cause I expect Fox will be happy to have a look at it for you.

If you're going to Clattercote (think I've seen your name on the list) bring it along and you can compare it to my Avon.

 

[Michael Brough]

Having the same rod, which I used for perch and roach fishing last season, like Sean I was also suprised. So I did the test and 8oz pulled the avon top round nicely. Perhap Sean is onto something with the shop putting the wrong top section in the bag. Must say having bought the rod for the same purpose as you I'm very happy with it, so worth sorting it out rather than going down the new rod route.

 

[Fred Boniface]

Michael - thank you for confirming that your rod has an appropriate TC - that is very useful information.

To double check I have repeated my test, slightly amending my method. The first time I had the butt section on two brackets which had the effect of, say, holding the butt approx 12"above the handle. I measured the curve at 1 - 10 oz on that occasion.

I repeated last night with a slight difference. I strapped the handle to the rooftruss around the reel seat, leaving the remaining butt braced against the truss. I would equate that to the typical one handed fish playing situation, where the butt is braced against the forearm. I got a practically identical result, 1 - 9 oz using on my digital scales to weigh the tare basket and leger weights.

I suspect that we had similar intentions with our respective purchases of this particular rod.I reckon"Mr. Fox" needs to do a little explaining about their calculation of TC or, much more likely, why the rod has been supplied so at variance with the blurb. Although I tried the display model in store, thepurchased rod came from back room stock, so I suppose it couldhave been very different from the demo model. I will keep the forum posted.

 

[Fred Boniface]

19 May 09 - Rod has now been returned to FOX for their inspection and comments.

The rod was returned by my local shop MK Angling Centre, who could not have been more helpful, even though the rod was originally purchased elswehere !

I will updateforum members as and when I hear from FOX. Depending on the result of theirdeliberations I will update my review of this rod acordingly.

 

[Wolfman Woody]

It's got me FOXed.

/forum/smilies/confused_smiley.gif

They're usually pretty good unless one's got mixed up with a different batch at the factory and then wrongly labelled.

 

[Fred Boniface]

I submit below the response I have had from Fox - the text is a direct cut & paste of their mail to me.

I had beenhoping for a slightly more illuminating response, from what they have written I wonder if they read my complaint . . ..

<img title="Offline" src="http://gfx2.hotmail.com/mail/w3/ltr/im/offline16.png" id="P___1950475567" /> Paul Moring (pmoring@foxint.com) Sent:22 May 2009 10:13:34To: Fred Boniface

Dear Sir <div align="left"><div align="left">Thank you for the rod from milton keynes angling we have taken a look mat this rod where we have found that there is no faults with the breaking strain of the tips and the rod itself so we will be returning to milton keynes angling theeeee rods have been on sale for ove 18 month and as of yet we have no problems with.RegardsFox.

Paul Moring <div align="left">Customer Services <div align="left">Telephone - +44 (0208) 559 6517 <div align="left">Fax - +44 (0208) 501 1655 <div align="left">Mobile - n/a <div align="left">Email - pmoring@foxint.com <div align="left">Skype-

FOX International Group Ltd

 

[Fred Boniface]

I will be checking the rod I get it back and once again loading the rod and trying to establish its test curve.

It certainly has me puzzled and makes me wonder whether the TC rating that we have accepted for many years has any relevance at all. Alternatively there may be another explanation as to how the advertised TC is so at variance with the (normally measured) TC.