Sensitivity:
After catching decent sized fish I started to get used to the rods
characteristics. It is very sensitive and Daiwa did an excellent job fusing the
SVF graphite with the STT tip. The transition is seamless and I'm not sure how
far down the titanium wired tip goes through the blank but the changeover is not
noticeable. As I noticed in my very first fish battle the rod is a lot of fun to
fish with, simply because the tip comes alive both when twitching lures to life
and when there is a live fish on the line.

|
Notice how
the tip does most of the work on this rod, slight twitches are all it takes |
Telegraph tests were very
affirmative and I found that I could detect even the slightest vibrations on the
end of the tip. No matter how thin diameter a line you use the rod transfers
vibration nicely due to premium Fuji SiC guides. These silicon carbide guides
are very sensitive and durable enough to even fish with straight braid and a fluorocarbon
leader if you wish.
 |
Testing the
sensitivity |
Power: Power is somewhat deceiving on this rod. After months of use I
concluded that the rod is actually quite powerful, though the first few times
you fish the rod it may not feel that way. The tip takes so much of the load
that at times it feels like the main graphite blank should be doing more. After
time I started placing more faith in the super thin tip, telling myself... "it
won't break."

|
Weighted and
finished with a stylish butt cap |
I trust titanium used in spinnerbaits but bearing
all the load on my rod? No the tip never did break, in fact it never faltered.
Once you reach that that comfort level you can begin horsing fish around with
the same ease of mind you have when fishing a traditional Daiwa LT rod.

|
Top notch
Fuji SiC guides are sensitive and durable |
Durability:
Durability was the area I had the most concern about when I first started
fishing with this rod. The initial skepticism has been replaced with confidence
after a half season of fishing with the Cielo. The titanium tip is obviously the
biggest point of concern, but after deliberately stressing the tip with 3
lbs of counter pressure I was satisfied that the tip would easily address any
real life applications. The Fuji SiC guides are top notch, and the exclusive
custom designed tournament reel seat held my reel securely without any issues.
To shield the blank from damage the durable clear coat proved to be effective at
thwarting knicks and scratches. A big plus to cap it all off is that anglers
don't have to take a chance with this rod, as Daiwa includes a Limited Lifetime
Warranty with the package. So go ahead and stress that STT tip without
trepidation!

|
An open
ended hook hanger makes holding odd drop shot weights easy |
Ergonomics: The Cielo has many features that put it right up there with
import offerings in terms of quality ergonomics. Let's start with the exclusive
reel seat which is painted to match the rod, and comes with that oh so sweet
clicking metal reinforced clamp. Next we move on to the natural cork grips which
feature Duracork reinforcement for more long term durability. The butt of the
rod has a metal balancing ring, and a Daiwa insert. The front of the foregrip is
topped off with a gold winding check, and yes...the rod comes with a open ended
hook hanger, making it easy to secure any drop shot weight quickly and easily.
We found the rod weighted and balanced better than most drop shot rods, but on
the downside it is slightly heavier than some competitors with a total weigh in
of 4.7oz

|
Natural cork
grips surround the reel seat |
Price & Applications:
This rod can handle other light baits for other applications like jig and worm
or darter head fishing, but it doesn't shine at these secondary applications.
This rod, more than any other drop shot rod we have tested, is made with a
singular purpose....to be a lethal drop shot stick. If you want a rod that can
do it all...this isn't it. If you like...no, love drop shotting, then the Cielo
is calling for you. With the slightest of twitches this rod can work miracles.
Never has it taken so little to bring so much lifelike action to your vertically
rigged baits.

|
No matter
what size the fish, fishing is exciting with the innovative Cielo |
Now onto the subject of price. The Cielo is one of
the most expensive domestic Daiwa rods introduced to date, but in terms of an
enthusiast offering it falls in line. At 299 dollars per copy the Cielo is a
significant venture for any angler, but drop shot fans will find it a worthy
investment.
Ratings:
Daiwa Cielo
(TDCEL6101DSS) Ratings (?/10) |
Construction/Quality |
This rod is built very well, and out of
quality components. The Fuji guides are top notch and the titanium tip
stands up to plenty of abuse |
9 |
Performance |
Sensitivity is excellent but what really takes
this rod over the top is the exceptional action. Never before has it taken
so little to bring your lures to life. It takes a little getting used to
when casting or fighting fish, but this rod offers anglers a unique...and
very fun new experience |
9.5 |
Price |
A premium rod, and a premium price tag. This
rod pushes right into high end territory with the likes of G.Loomis. While
cheaper than the highest end rods out there it does offer something that
other rods can't and gets bonus points for that |
8 |
Features |
Chock full of features! From the very cool
reel seat to the flip flop paint and open ended hook hanger, this rod has
features normally found only on import offerings |
9 |
Design (Ergonomics) |
Ergonomically this rod is excellent save for
the extra oz of weight due to use of metal components for balancing. Overall
the rod is very comfortable to use and better balanced than the vast
majority of drop shot rods out there |
9 |
Application |
Looking for one rod to do it all? well this
isn't it. This rod is made to be a top notch drop shot rod, and in that area
it succeeds with flying colors. If you plan on using this rod just for drop
shot applications then you won't be disappointed |
7.5 |
Total Score |
8.66 |
Pluses and Minuses:
Plus
Minus |
J
Innovative blend of materials |
L
Very very technique specific |
J
Action unlike any others |
L
Heavier than some competitors |
J
Enthusiast look and feel |
|
J
Very good sensitivity |
|
J
Well balanced compared to many other drop shot
rods |
|
J
Still can't get over that clicking reel seat
clamp...very nice! |
|
Conclusion: I don't think I have had this much fun fishing a new rod for
quite some time, and the innovative combination of graphite and titanium into
this rod is a total success for Daiwa engineers. Thinking outside of the box the team
at Daiwa has successfully created a rod with a balance of super fast tip action,
sensitivity, and power never before achieved by any traditional rod. The tip may
be fine in diameter and may be intimidating to fish at first, but throw all your
preconceived notions out
the window...this tip is tough, and with the slightest of twitches can become
very
effective at bringing your lures to life. The TD Cielo has an overall
"enthusiast" feel to it, and it is great to see Daiwa taking their domestic rods
to the next level. This isn't just another drop shot rod, its entirely unique
both in look and feel. The Super Titanium Tip is truly innovative and pushes
this rod over the top, making the Cielo the only rod this year to receive a
TackleTour Innovation Award!
