Post by Purple on Oct 1, 2010 15:42:02 GMT
I was having a clear out today - listing stuff I simply wasn't going to use anymore, when I stumbled across an old favourite - the Dam Ignite 7ft 6 inch / 9ft 6 inch uptider.
Whereas some dual purpose rods come with two tips, this one comes with one 5ft top section, and two butt sections, one 2ft shorter than the other, hence the two total length options.
As you'd expect from Dam, it's a combination of cheap crap and decent design, with plastic reel seats that look like they came from Woolworths, really rather nice sparkly decals along the blanks, and properly lined rings. I (like Dam) figure the reel seats aren't going to take a lot of strain, so they're perfectly adequate for the task, just don't expect Gucci here, but the rest of the rod is well up to scratch.
The blanks are described as Carbon "composite" with Aluminium Oxide guides, casting weight goes from 4 oz to 10 oz (which lets face it makes this a pretty tough bit of kit), and the blurb suggests that with the shorter butt section she qualifies as a 20 to 30 lb boat rod (which I can well believe). Curiously though, with the longer butt section attached she feels even stronger, but that might just be the leverage effect.
First thing you'll notice, is that this is not a "slim line" rod. Both butt sections are literally as thick as a broom stick, and only way you'd get them to bend would be trying to lever your car out of the mud. But despite this, each configuration does feel distinctly different, the shorter version more "brute strength", while the longer one gives you more leverage to play the fish out. The curve under strain is nice and even in both lengths though, so you only really "feel" the difference in your arms.
But what I like the most about this rod, is that you can take the three sections with you as a set, then decide which set up to use when you get out there, or change half way through a session to adapt to conditions - and this rod will handle some pretty heavy conditions.
It may not be a rod you can boast about in the pub (not exactly a designer label), but credit where it's due, it's actually a very capable bit of kit, versatile, and with just the right combination of "feel" over "power" - and all this for 25 quid on ebay ?
But honestly, don't judge this one by the price or the label - I'm keeping this one because of how it feels and what it can do ............ definately recommended.
Whereas some dual purpose rods come with two tips, this one comes with one 5ft top section, and two butt sections, one 2ft shorter than the other, hence the two total length options.
As you'd expect from Dam, it's a combination of cheap crap and decent design, with plastic reel seats that look like they came from Woolworths, really rather nice sparkly decals along the blanks, and properly lined rings. I (like Dam) figure the reel seats aren't going to take a lot of strain, so they're perfectly adequate for the task, just don't expect Gucci here, but the rest of the rod is well up to scratch.
The blanks are described as Carbon "composite" with Aluminium Oxide guides, casting weight goes from 4 oz to 10 oz (which lets face it makes this a pretty tough bit of kit), and the blurb suggests that with the shorter butt section she qualifies as a 20 to 30 lb boat rod (which I can well believe). Curiously though, with the longer butt section attached she feels even stronger, but that might just be the leverage effect.
First thing you'll notice, is that this is not a "slim line" rod. Both butt sections are literally as thick as a broom stick, and only way you'd get them to bend would be trying to lever your car out of the mud. But despite this, each configuration does feel distinctly different, the shorter version more "brute strength", while the longer one gives you more leverage to play the fish out. The curve under strain is nice and even in both lengths though, so you only really "feel" the difference in your arms.
But what I like the most about this rod, is that you can take the three sections with you as a set, then decide which set up to use when you get out there, or change half way through a session to adapt to conditions - and this rod will handle some pretty heavy conditions.
It may not be a rod you can boast about in the pub (not exactly a designer label), but credit where it's due, it's actually a very capable bit of kit, versatile, and with just the right combination of "feel" over "power" - and all this for 25 quid on ebay ?
But honestly, don't judge this one by the price or the label - I'm keeping this one because of how it feels and what it can do ............ definately recommended.
