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Powell Inferno 765 Small Swimbait/Utility Rod


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7'6" MH Fast action rod

16" handle

Rated 3/8 to 3 oz

$109.99 on TW

 

Picked this rod up recently as a utility rod for smaller glides, big underspins, smaller wakes, smaller line throughs, etc. I have to say, this is a really great rod for smaller stuff. I paired it up with a Daiwa Tatula HD 200 HSL, and it casts a mile. Rig was set up with Suffix 832 braid, 65 lbs, and a heavy fluoro leader (for the pike). Used the Eric Aske crimp set up for a 50 lbs fluoro leader and had no issues. When not fishing for toothy critters, will sub the heavy fluoro leader for a simple 17 or 20 lb fluoro leader with a Crazy Alberto knot and 4-5 feet of the fluoro up front.

 

Action of the rod is really nice for a utility rod. It's listed as a fast action, but it has a little more bend down into the middle of the blank than a typical fast action rod. It's a perfect balance for being able to set a single jig hook with confidence while still having enough of a pseudo-parabolic action to throw treble baits on with confidence. It balances well, loads well, and casts great. I've been frustrated in the past throwing treble baits on truly fast actions with big fish generating a lot of slack with big head shakes. The head shakes causes that fast tip to oscillate a lot, creating slack and opportunity for the fish to shake off. No such issues with this rod. If you love a longer handle, this rod will feel short to you. I don't mind it for the smaller baits, so I have no issues with the 16" handle length.

 

I used this rod couple of months ago on a trip for pike and smallmouth. It performed flawlessly. I threw a variety of baits with no issues. Threw a 3/8 oz 6" underspin swimbait rig (single hook) and had no troubles getting solid hooksets in both pike and smallmouth with the rod. Loaded well at the light end of it's rating and was easy to control casting the lighter bait with accuracy. Also used it to throw a Shellcracker, Jackall Mikey and Evergreen Esflat. Caught fish on the treble baits and had no issues with too much play in the tip on the head shakes. Rod loaded well into the top of the middle section of the blank to keep the headshakers at bay on the treble baits. (Side note: the Evergreen Esflat is a sneaky good bait).

 

I will say that I don't think this rod really handles baits over 2.5 ounces well. You can do it, but it feels like a bit much for the rod. It's rated up to 3 ounces, but I wouldn't push it much over 2 unless you needed to. It could certainly do it in a pinch, but there are much better rods for the bigger stuff.

 

In summary, I think this is a great utility rod for smaller baits. I would throw smaller jig hook bait and line throughs with confidence (big underspins, Mission fish, Rising Sons, little boogers, 6" Savage line through, etc). It's also a great rod for your smaller hard baits (Mini slammer, 7" slammer, Shellcracker, smaller wakes in general, and smaller glides like the S waver 168 and the Savage Shine Glides). Action is NOT fast enough to throw big frogs and you'll probably be disappointed if you're throwing smaller punkers or other walk-the-dog style top waters with the rod (bends a little far into the blank for the walk-the-dog action to come easy). 

 

$110 well spent, in my opinion. See previous post of Flipside for pike pictures from the trip. The smallies didn't make the post, but nailed a bunch and the rod did great.

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