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Enthusiast Review

 


Phenix Rods Goes High End With K2

 

Date: 1/5/17
Tackle Type: Rod
Manufacturer: Phenix Rods
Reviewer: Cal






Total Score: 7.8 - GOOD

Introduction:
Phenix Rods has, for some time, been concentrating their R&D on rod series within the $100 - $200 range. They originally debuted in the bass market with their Ultra MBX rods which now retail for between $299 - $319, but mostly it's been about their Recon, Maxim, and X-Series Composite Cranking sticks. Fans have been clamoring for the company to build a series of high end sticks based on their K2 blanks that are sold to the public but hadn't been available from the company as a fully built rod until about 2015. We managed to get our hands on one of these coveted sticks and here now is our look at the TX-713C K2 from Phenix Rods.

 

Phenix TX-713C K2 Specifications

Material Toray T46 Carbon
Length 7'-1"
Line Wt. 4-12lb
Lure Wt. 1/16 - 5/8 oz
Pieces One
Guides 10 + tip (Fuji Ti/Torzite)
Rear Handle Length 9"
Power Rating Medium Light
Taper Fast
Rod Weight 3.7 oz
Origin Made in China
MSRP $525

 

Quality/Construction: Phenix's TX-713C K2 is a seven foot, one inch (7'-1") stick built on a blank rolled with Toray T46 Carbon. The blank features a carbon weave wrap from the butt end to about one third of the way up the blank. The blank for the most part is left unfinished exposing its lightly sanded surface (you can still feel the ridges from the cellophane wrap, but the hard edge has been taken down).


Introducing Phenix's K2 series TX-713C.

The rear trip is a split design made of EVA foam with dark, hardwood accent pieces. Epoxy work over the threadwraps and brand logo is executed well with little to no excess. The blank on our test model is straight and the smallish guides are aligned.

 

Quality Ratings for Phenix TX-713C K2

Finish (1-5)
Grip (1-5)
Epoxy (1-5)
Blank (1-2)
Guides (1-2)
Total
Possible
Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10)
5
5
4
2
2
18
19
9.47

 


Rigged and ready to go with a Shimano Chronarch Ci4+.

Performance: With the influx of rods to review over the last couple of years, it's always nice when a flagship model shows up to the lab. I paired the TX-713C K2 with a couple different reels including a Daiwa Steez and Shimano Chronarch Ci4+.


Casting a 3/8oz jig with plastic trailer, the rod felt a bit overloaded.

Casting: The TX-713C K2's carries with it a three (3) power designation (decoding the "713C" in the middle of the model number reveals '71" for 7'1", "3" for power, "C" for casting) with a lure rating is up to five eighths of an ounce (5/8oz). While power numbers vary between manufacturers, for Phenix, a 3-power rod was typically considered medium-heavy. This had been our experience with their original Recon series of sticks. However, an upper end lure rating of 5/8oz is typically more of a "medium" powered rod, so I approached this stick with the mindset of a medium powered, all purpose type fishing rod.


I didn't notice the rod's "ml" rating until after a few casts. Its lure rating of 1/16-5/8 oz is a bit generous on the top end.

On my first cast with this "3" power stick, using a 3/8oz jig searching for smallies on Lake Berryessa, something was up and I had to take a pause. The rod felt even softer than a medium power. That's when I took a closer look at the rod's recommended numbers and saw printed on the blank "ml" or "medium-light". I continued to fish this stick with a jig because my Chronarch Ci4+was spooled with 12lb Tatsu Fluorocarbon, but all the while that 3/8oz jig, with a Damiki Knockout trailer, with a probable combo weight of right around 5/8oz if not a shade over, was a bit heavy for that blank.


The rod's lightly sanded blank - ridges from the cellophane wrap during baking still show, but the hard edge is taken down.

On subsequent trips, I paired the TX-713C K2 with a Daiwa Steez spooled with six pound (6lb) Tatsu or an Aldebaran BFS spooled with 6lb Sunline Supernatural monofilament and used the combo as a bait finesse rig throwing drop shotted Roboworms. This was much more in the rod's wheelhouse and it fished very similar to Phenix's original Recon series PHX-C682 in terms of casting. That rod's lure rating? one eighth to half an ounce (1/8 - 1/2 ounce) with a power rating of medium-light. Fish the TX-713C K2 with lures from half an ounce down and you'll be fine.


The lower third of the rod features this carbon weave wrap.

Sensitivity: Where this stick truly shines is with its sensitivity. The K2 blank is everything it's been touted to be in terms of sensitivity. I put it right up there with the best I've fished including G.Loomis NRX, the original GLX, Megabass Orochi XX, and Evergreen Kaleido. This stick was a little overloaded with my jig combination, but still had good feel. When kept within its lure rating fishing a drop shot, it felt as though I was using spinning gear.


Making adjustments to accommodate the rod's lure rating.

Power: Taken back into the lab and strapped to our RoD WRACK, the TX-713C K2's deflection characteristics reveal a power curve that aligns almost perfectly with our 2011 What the Finesse baseline sticks. Had I performed this test prior to taking the stick out on the water on Lake Berryessa, I could have avoided my confusion and hastened the rod's review, but it just goes to show you even we get crossed up by a product's specifications when purchased sight unseen.


Fig 1 : The chart above illustrates the deflection characteristics of our Phenix TX-713C K2 against
our 2011 WTF baseline sticks

Out on the water, I had little difficulty landing fish when using this rod as a drop shot stick because I simply lift and reel when fishing that technique. On my original trip fishing a jig, I only got a couple of hits and managed to land one suicidal spotted bass. As demonstrated in the chart above, the TX-713C K2 has a very light power curve so don't expect to be crossing eyes with pro-style hooksets when using this stick.

Performance Ratings for Phenix TX-713C K2

Pitch (1-5)
Cast (1-5)
Sensitivity (1-5)
Hook Set (1-5)
Control (1-5)
Total
Possible
Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10)
3
4
5
4
4
20
25
8.0


Checking out the rod's taper.

Next Section: The K2 Utilizes Torzite Guides

 

   

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