Just plain slick, the new XMG 50 Bass Rod from
Lamiglas (continued)
Power:
The EXC 722 has a relatively low power rating of 2 which makes it possible to
use lighter lines on this rod. While not optimal for jerkbait fishing, this rod
can do it with the unique taper. What this rod is ideal for is single hook
applications, like Texas and Carolina rigging plastics. The lower power made
this rod excellent at Clear Lake, where the crystal clear water demanded lower
test lines for finesse fishing.
A
very close look at the handle shows the interwoven strands
When there was a fish on the
line the tip would load quickly, and the backbone on this rod provided
reasonable lifting power, but you certainly wouldn’t want to overload the
backbone on the EXC 722.
The
handle is long enough for double handed casts
Sensitivity: The
XMG 50 is designed to exhibit superior sensitivity through the use of 57 million
high modulus graphite coupled with the carbon handle. The carbon weave is so
similar to the graphite that it telegraphs even slight ticks well through the
handle, whereas they would have been lost through a traditional cork grip.
The
soft touch reel seat does provide a tighter grip on single handed casts
For the most part anglers
will still depend on their fingers for sensitivity rather than through the palms
of their hands, so the XMG 50 does have a blank through reel seat and the
absence of any foregrip does make it possible to extend your index finger onto
the blank itself.
The
rod can cast small lures well, but a more parabolic rod would cast further, this
rod is more about accuracy than supreme casting distance
Ergonomics: Our
editorial team was somewhat split on the comfort of the XMG 50’s carbon fiber
grip. While all of our staffers agreed that the blank was sensitive, some of our
editors felt it was slipperier than traditional cork. The soft touch reel seat
did help, especially when the rod was wet.
Fuji
Alconite guides handle the line
Cal and I both found the
seat to be easy to hold, and attributed the concerns with the grip on the carbon
fiber to the fact that the material does indeed feel very different than cork.
In the end the carbon fiber handle is certainly going to be a matter of
preference to the individual angler. After fishing with the rod for a number of
days I found myself really quite used to the singular feel of the carbon fiber
grip, and began to relax my fingers as I cast.
The
carbon fiber seat is almost the same level as the reel seat, providing a
seamless and comfortable transition
Next Section: More ergonomics, Price and
Applications
