G-Rods Game Changer Fishing Rods preview

ProducTTpreview

A "Game Changer" from G-Rods?

Date:	2/26/17
Tackle type:	Rods
Manufacturer:	G-Rods
Reviewer:	Zander

Introduction: With no signs of slowing down whatsoever, G-Rods has officially just introduced a new series of rods based on the innovative graphene material interwoven into the blanks to improve strength and sensitivity. Up until now G-Rods have been pretty exclusive, and getting your hands on a Pro Bass rod was both somewhat challenging and expensive. To expand their reach G-Rods is now introducing their more aggressively priced "Game Changer" Series, which is designed for mainstream anglers.

Meet the Game Changer, the newest rod series from G-Rods

Game Changer? A pretty bold statement, and why not? G-Rods is all about pushing the envelope, and their use of graphene was a first for the fishing rod industry. Just three weeks ago we published a review of the company's Pro-Bass Series rods, where we found the BA-7MHC "an easy pick for our Innovation Award."

The Game Changer rods is a more mainstream series of rods designed for a broader audience retailing for $189-$249 dollars

While the Pro-Bass rods retailed around the $359 dollar price range the new Game Changer rods range from only $189 to $239 dollars, which puts them squarely in the mainstream performance range. The original Pro-Bass Series featured clean styling that focused on the metal and graphite components rather than fancy colors or graphics, the Game Changer rods are no different.

The Game Changer rods look very similar to the Pro-Bass Series with the most easily identifiable cosmetic difference being lighter eva grips etched with the series name

In fact if you just looked at the blanks on the new Game Changer rods they look almost indistinguishable from the higher-end series. The most noticeable styling difference are the EVA grips which are a lighter grey color and the series name is etched out of each side of the main handle grip.

The Fuji PTS reel seat is finished with a machined aluminum and graphite nut. The pewter finish gives the rod a very stealthy tactical look

So what makes these rods different, and more affordable? These new rods use a slightly lower modulus blank, but the same Toray/Graphene carbon fiber technology is still used throughout the rod. The Game Changer rods feature Fuji PTS reel seats with a soft touch finish and a beautiful machined aluminum and carbon fiber fore-nut (which is almost identical to the Pro-Bass rods) to help lock reels in place, and give the rods a high-end look. The metal components on this new rod series have a pewter/gunmetal color finish which gives these rods a very stealthy, even tactical, look and feel.

The guides are not Fuji but they are still titanium

Another way that G-Rods was able to bring down the price point was to use proprietary guides instead of Fuji. These guides look pretty refined, and upon closer inspection they are clearly constructed out of titanium. When we hold the rods in hand they feel lightweight but not quite as balanced as the Pro-Bass series, but like all rods reel weight affects the overall handling and we will have to spend more time on the water to pass final judgment.

G-Rods Game Changer Rod Specifications
Model	Applications	Length	Lure	Line	MSRP
GC-68M-1C	Jerkbait	6'-8"	1/4-5/8	6-14	$189.95
GC-69M-1C	All Purpose	6'-9"	1/8-1/2	6-12	$199.95
GC-7M-1C CR	Jerkbait & Light Crankbait	7'-0"	1/16-1/2	4-12	$219.95
GC-7MH-1C	Fast Casting	7'-0"	3/8-1 1/4	10-25	$219.95
GC-73MH-1C	Flipping	7'-3"	3/8-1	10-17	$229.95
GC-76H-1C	Flipping	7'-6"	1/2-1	12-25	$239.95
GC-711H-1C CR	Magnum Crank	7'-11"	3/8-2 1/2	12-30	$249.95
GC-7M-1S	All Purpose Spinning	7'-0"	1/8-5/16	6-14	$219.95

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