CB Rod Wars Part 16: Cranking for Strikes with the Airrus
Wildlife Copperhead (continued)
Casting:
The Wildlife Copperhead provides good launching power. Because it’s a graphite
construction, you can expect more accurate control on each cast. The graphite
is designed with a moderate action and loads up nicely when tossing crankbaits
near or far. I don’t know what it is but I’m finding a lot of the crankbait rods
I’ve reviewed recently have rear grips that could really use an extra one or two more inches in
length for a good double handed cast. The Copperhead could use one more inch but
if you look at the butt cork section, it’s designed for better grip during those
double handed. Just add one more inch and I would give it two thumbs up.
Shaped rear
butt section for better grip when casting double handed
As mentioned above, the
Copperhead WL701M is also good for other baits such as plastics. I used a Revo
Skeet Reese reel with braided line for some plastics fishing in Mexico with the
Airrus rod. It worked nicely when pitching or casting creature baits with a
one-forth ounce bullet weight. Because of its softer action, you’ll have to set
harder but by using braided line it increases the hookup ratio.
The
Copperhead's graphite construction makes it sensitive enough to use as a back-up
plastics rod
Sensitivity:
The last two crankbait
rods I reviewed were a blend of graphite and glass, and weren’t the greatest in
sensitivity. The Copperhead is full graphite and as expected is very sensitive.
You can feel lures ticking structure and the vibrations are sent straight to
your hand. And when tossing plastics, this stick has the characteristics that
can be used to work these baits incase you didn’t have a plastics rod handy.
This rod uses
the traditional Fuji reel seat
Power:
Usually you sacrifice one
for the other, and because this rod is extremely lightweight and sensitive, it
lacks in power only when fighting larger fish. I mean I was able to handle bass
up to 5 pounds in Mexico with the Copperhead without any problems. It’s only
when you hook into hefty seven plus pounders that the rod feels
underpowered.
The graphite
blank responds immediately when you hookset
Hooksetting power isn’t a
concern with the Copperhead. Though the rod exhibits a moderate action, the graphite
construction will respond immediately when you go for that sweeping hookset.
A very
lightweight rod, only 3.9 ounces
Ergonomics:
The Airrus Wildlife WL701M, as mentioned earlier, is one of the lightest
crankbait rods we have on the list. When you first pick it up you’ll notice how
feather light it is thanks to the high-modulus graphite blank, no foregrip, and
split rear grip. But because it’s so lightweight, our lab results show that the
rod’s balance point is 11.5 inches from the center line of the reel seat, very
common in rods of this weight as you sacrifice balance for weight.
Great value
rod for its built quality and performance
Price & Applications:
The Airrus Wildlife Copperhead is one of the least expensive rods on our
crankbait rod list, coming in just right above the Quantum and Lucky Craft rods.
Good overall rod with a great price. Application wise the rod
has the right action and power to work shallow to medium diving crankbaits and
other moving baits, but is not limited to just these applications.
This
particular model is a good all-purpose crankbait rod for shallow to medium
divers
