
The G870 offers plenty of lifting
power, but is not as light or sensitive as a pure graphite rod
Field Tests: The best way to test the Black
Steel 870 was to pit the rod against Halibut, Sturgeon, and King Salmon. Our
test rod endured a full season of fishing. Since we fished the G870 for such a
variation of species we coupled the rod up with one of our most vigorous reels,
the Daiwa Saltiga.
Complete Rig
for Seeker Black Steel G870-7' Tests |
Rod |
Seeker G870-7' |
Reel |
Daiwa Saltiga SA20 |
Line |
Berkley Trilene Big Game 20lb |

Black Steel consists of a
distinctive blend of E-Fiberglass and graphite within the unique wrap
Casting:
Seeker E-Glass is considered
quite soft and even when paired with graphite the G870 is still a pretty
flexible rod. The good news is the rod flexes at all the right points and
doesn’t feel stressed even when chucking heavy metal. Of course this rod was
designed for deepwater fishing more than continually casting jigs and plugs, but
just because the rod wasn’t designed for it doesn’t mean it can’t be done. The
Black Steel is just stiff enough to allow anglers the flexibility of using the
rod for limited lure tossing, rather than just live bait duty.
The G870 uses a genuine Fuji
graphite reel seat and a set of perfection tip carbide guides. When paired with
our Daiwa Saltiga test reel the seat provided a solid grip, but when fishing
anything larger than Kings we still recommend using a reel clamp for added
security.

The G870 uses reliable Hypalon
grips which are easy to grasp and even easier to clean
Sensitivity: The blended blank exhibited sensitivity characteristics
similar to fiberglass rods. While subtle strikes and taps were transferred
through the entire blank, the rod couldn't compare to pure graphite rods in
terms of being able to genuinely feel ticks a hundred feet down. When compared
to our fiberglass Fenwick Pacific Supreme test rods the Seeker Black Gold was
slightly better, but exhibited a similar personality when it came time to
dragging baits on the ocean floor. During our Halibut tests we moved swimbaits
across the ocean floor. With graphite rods we could easily distinguish the sandy
versus rocky bottoms, and react to strikes quickly. With the Seeker it
unquestionably took a lot more concentration, and we often reacted excessively
when the swimbait came in contact with structure, as it was much more
challenging to discern when the bait was actually being taken.

A genuine Fuji graphite reel seat
secures our Daiwa Saltiga SA20
Retrieve/Power:
Graphite delivers more
lifting power than fiberglass, and the Black Steel mix delivers the goods when
it comes to sheer muscle. When fishing for Sturgeon and Salmon the G870 had
plenty of strength to turn and lift these species without ever feeling stressed.
The one nice thing about Black Steel is that it recoils much faster than pure
fiberglass and while not as fast as pure graphite rods, it didn’t feel sloppy at
all. As the rod arches, and you pump your rig higher the rod reassures you with
it's brawny backbone. You don't need to worry about snapping this rod via
overloading, it can take a profusion of stress...and then some.

Perfection carbide guides are
slick and quiet, but most importantly can bear the pressure of big fish
Comfort:
The G870 is a mid weighted
rod, and while not overly hefty, is certainly heavier than pure graphite stand up
rods. Anglers used to fishing pure fiberglass rods will instantly relate to the
G870’s overall size and mass. Seeker offers the Black Steel in a variety of
different grips, but the choice of standard hypalon grips for the G870 was a
agreeable selection. The rod grip is easy to maintain a solid grasp on even when wet, or
wearing gloves, and is a true blessing when it comes time to hosing off scales.

The G870 can be used for Halibut,
Sturgeon, Salmon, and even small Tuna ...overall a very accommodating rod for
multiple species
Durability: We have
fished the Seeker G870 hard over the last eight months, and the rod has been able to
take everything we threw at it. There is a generous amount of epoxy resin and a
flex gloss coat over the entire blank surface, and this layer helps shield the
rod from potentially harmful nicks and scratches. From jigging and live lining
over 100 feet down, or mooching for Kings, and even baiting Sturgeon, the Rod
hasn’t shown any signs of injury. The Black Steel series of rods feature
attributes that make it a very attractive choice for big fish like Tuna, since
you can basically pump and high stick this rod without risk of overloading.
Seeker stands behind their product and all Black Steel rods come with a Limited
Lifetime Guarantee.
Ratings:
Seeker Black
Steel
(G870-7') Ratings (?/10) |
Construction/Quality |
The
overall construction is excellent and Seeker does an exceptional job
blending fiberglass and graphite together while making this rod feel
extremely powerful, and just as reliable as any pure glass rod |
9 |
Performance |
Performance in terms of power and durability are excellent, sensitivity and
weight could be improved |
8.5 |
Price |
A
reasonable price for a rod of this quality. There are cheaper rods out
there, but don't offer the same level of lifting power that this rod does
|
8 |
Features |
The
rod uses good components and has a nice blend of materials but lacks any
breakthrough type features, overall a straightforward package |
8 |
Design
(Ergonomics) |
The
rod uses high quality Hypalon grips that are comfortable and easy to clean.
If the rod could be lightened and still maintain the same durability and
lifting power it would be perfect |
8 |
Application |
Built to handle a wide range of fish and even capable of tackling some
smaller Tuna species the Seeker G870 is a good rod to have on board when you
just aren't sure exactly what you are going to run into |
8 |
Total Score |
8.25 |
Pluses and Minuses:
Plus
Minus |
J
Awesome lifting power |
L
Not as sensitive as some rods |
J
Fast recoil |
L
Not as light as some rods |
J
Durable, and reliable |
|
J
Reasonable price |
|
Conclusion: Seeker's unique blend of fiberglass and graphite
are a successful attempt at improving saltwater rods. Anglers that shy away from
graphite rods due to fear of "blowing" them up will find the Black Steel rods
offer the same level of durability they expect from glass, with some of the
refinement that only graphite can deliver. The G870 is a multi-talented rod that
can be used to fish an assortment of species, and while it may not be ideal for
anglers who necessitate acute sensitivity from their rods, it will supply the
sway necessary to horse immense fish from profound depths.
