Major Craft Delivers an Ultra-Light Stick Armed with an Extra-Fast Punch (continued)
Features: Major Craft spared no expense in detailing this rod or filling it out with top-end components. Featuring titanium framed SiC guides and a color scheme of red and gold, the MSS-602UL is a handsomely composed little stick and quite worthy of its Japanese
Domestic Market credentials. Lest we forget to mention, of course the MSS-602UL came in its very own velvet sheath that features two compartments: one each for handle and tip section of this two piece stick.
More of the MSS-602UL's clean detailing
This rod features a foregrip/lockring combo
Application: Whether you choose to take this rod on high country hikes to secluded trout streams and lakes or fish it off the dock for bluegill and crappie, the MSS-602UL can support the entire range of ultra-light specific techniques and game fish. If you choose to go a little outside the tackle box and pursue harder charging fish, thanks to its extra-fast taper, the MSS-602UL can handle these challenges as well. Just remember to enjoy the battle and not try and horse those big fish in.
The foregrip/lockring combo provides for more sensitivity than a rod with a standard foregrip
Even though you're likely to never see it (unless you slide the foregrip/lockring up) the MSS-602UL's reel seat is caped off by this winding check
Warranty: Standard warranty coverage does not apply to this or any other Major Craft stick. Since these rods are built for the Japanese market only, Major Craft has no vehicle by which to offer warranty support outside of their intended market. Should it become an issue, some vendors may offer to facilitate these dealings for you, but, if this is important to you, any such concerns should be made clear before making a purchase.
Ratings:
|
Major Craft Toy II MSS-602UL Ratings (?/10)
|
| Construction/Quality |
A finely crafted stick with top end components |
9 |
| Performance |
Thanks to the combination of an extra-fast taper and UL rating, performance was really very good |
8.5 |
| Price |
Quite decent as far as import rods go |
8 |
| Features |
Not much missing here though a hook hanger might be nice |
8.5 |
| Design (Ergonomics) |
UL sticks are a joy to fish and the MSS-602L is no exception |
8 |
| Application |
For UL applications, this rod will hang with the best |
8 |
|
Total Score
|
8.33 |
Pluses and Minuses:
|
Plus Minus
|
| J Good Value for an Import Rod |
L A bit expensive if compared to US domestic products |
| J The difference here is in the Extra-Fast taper |
L No warranty outside of Japan |
| J Quality Components |
|
| J Excellent Sensitivity |
|
One of the larger fish managed while fishing the MSS-602UL in the ultra-clear waters of Lake Camanche,
California
Conclusion: Prior to my discovery of über-tackle, I was a big on finesse techniques for bass employing ultra-light spinning gear. The Major Craft MSS-602UL not only took me back in time to some
techniques I had long neglected, but it was the perfect compliment to techniques that are best served by a rod with an incredibly light tip and a good amount of backbone. Naturally, the MSS-602UL is a very good panfish and trout stick, but thanks to its extra-fast taper, it can do so much more. Relative to US domestic offerings, this is certainly a premium offering, but when compared to the market within which it is intended to compete, this ultra-light wonder is almost a steal. Major Craft proves once again, that owning a piece of über-tackle does not necessarily come with the need to spend über-money.
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