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Enthusiast Review

 

Phenix Rods Goes High End With K2 (continued)

Features: As with most sticks in this price category, the TX-713C K2 comes with its own rod sleeve. Though in another strange quirk, our rod arrived with the butt end inserted into the sleeve first so when I untied the sleeve, I had to pull the rod out by its tip. The rod's nylon sleeve is best used to protect the rod in storage and isn't great as something with which to slide the rod in and out of the rod locker fully rigged because you can't pull the sleeve over the entire rod with a reel installed.


In a break from their norm, Phenix is using top of the line, name brand, Fuji guides on their K2 series (titanium framed Torzite guides).

Features Ratings for Phenix TX-713C K2

Grip (1-5)
Guides (1-5)
Reel Seat (1-5)
Hook Keeper (1-5)
Rod Sleeve (1-5)
Total
Possible
Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10)
4
5
5
3
3
20
25
8.0


The reel seat featuring an integrated hook keeper is still Phenix's own.

In another twist for Phenix, their K2 rods all feature name brand, Fuji guides. Not only that, they're Fuji's top end, titanium framed guides with Torzite inserts. Phenix usually employs their own, unspecified guides with similar performance characteristics to Fuji's product, so we were surprised to see name brand guides on these sticks. The reel seat, however, is their own proprietary design and the rod's hook keeper is built right into the reel seat trigger - a design that looks cool, but one I'm not a fan of functionally.


The rear grip is EVA foam.

Lab Results for Phenix TX-713C K2

Model
Avg RoD (2-32 oz)
Taper
Measured Weight (oz)
Balance Point (inches)
Balancing Torque (ftlbs)
Phenix TX-713C K2
2.76
Fast
3.7
6
0.12
DSR820S GLX
3.02
Fast
3.9
8
0.15
SMR822-SP GLX
2.75
Fast
3.7
7.5
0.15


Wood accents give this rod a more refined aesthetic.

Design/Ergonomics: The TX-713C K2 is relatively light and balanced for its power and length. The rod's grip design is comfortable to hold and the textured reel seat is a nice touch. Colors and graphics on this stick are very subdued with the best aesthetic feature being the clever use of a dark, hardwood material as accents throughout the grip including a decorative foregrip and the reel seat's locking mechanism/forenut.


There's even a wood piece beneath the forenut.

Design & Ergonomics Ratings for Phenix TX-713C K2

Grip (1-5)
Colors / Graphics (1-5)
Balance (1-5)
Weight (1-5)
Total
Possible
Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10)
4
5
4
3
16
20
8.0


An aluminum winding check caps off the handle assembly.

Application: The TX-713C K2 is built with a fast rating, which, for a rod of its power is a really good, general purpose taper. You can use this stick for both horizontal and vertical bait presentations. The only trouble being it's still just a medium-light powered stick - and closer to light than medium. So given that, there's only so much you can throw. Smaller cranks, rip baits, and topwater baits are all within this stick's wheel house as long as you're okay throwing diminutive baits. Where this stick is at it's best in my opinion, is with your tricked out BFS casting reel throwing drop shot and split shot rigs for finicky bass.


The rod's butt end shows Phenix's careful detailing and mix of materials.

Bass Rod Application Ratings for Phenix TX-713C K2

Rip/Jerk (1-5)
Steady (1-5)
Lift & Drop (1-5)
Drag (1-5)
Twitch (1-5)
Total
Possible
Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10)
3
4
5
4
3
19
25
7.6


The integrated wood forenut is a very nice touch.

Ratings:

Phenix TX-713C K2 Ratings (?/10)

Construction/Quality Built quality worthy of a flagship series 9.47
Performance This stick's bright spot is its sensitivity 8.0
Price Quite high on initial impression but considering the rod's components, a fair price 6.0
Features A nice blend of features though we'd have preferred a more standard hook keeper on a bait finesse rod 8.0
Design (Ergonomics) A very attractive and relatively well balanced build 8.0
Application Within the rod's power rating, there's a lot you can do, but given the rod's power rating, it's really more of a finesse tool than anything else 7.6

Total Score

7.8
Ratings Key: 1 = terrible : 2 = poor : 3 = lacking : 4 = sub par : 5 = mediocre : 6 = fair : 7 = good : 8 = great : 9 = excellent : 10 = unbelievable!
For More Details of the updated rating system visit our explanation here

 

Pluses and Minuses:

Plus

Minus
+ The rod's blank is among the most sensitive we've fished - Rod's lure rating is a bit high
+ Top end, name brand components - On the K2 series in general - very limited selection of available models
+ Stealthy yet refined aesthetic  

 

Conclusion: I have mixed feelings about this stick. Once I figured out the rod's true power curve and fished it with that mindset, everything was fine, but I didn't appreciate how the rod's model number, and to some extent its lure rating, was inconsistent with other rod series in Phenix's arsenal. Or so I thought. I went back to look through Phenix's website and it seems ratings on the Recon 2 series have been readjusted. The first generation Recon PHX-C682 I have carries a lure rating of 1/8-1/2oz while the Recon 2 PHX-C682 is rated at 1/16-3/8 oz. The 3 power Recon 2 rods have a lure rating up to half an ounce - still lighter than the K2, but within acceptable tolerances.

 


This suicidal spotted bass came up for a quick product photo.

 

So it seems Phenix has readjusted their ratings and they are, in fact, somewhat consistent between rod series (Maxim, M1, Ultra MBX do not have numbers to designate their power, just letters). Additionally, Phenix has added the "ML", "MH", and "H" designations to the end of the K2's model numbers on their website so now you have a better sense of the rod's intended power (the TX-713C is listed as TX-C713ML on their website).

 


The real fun is using this rod as a bait finesse stick (BFS).

 

Just when you think you know a rod company they go and do something consistent and sensible. The K2 series' price point will scare off a lot of buyers, but that's usually the case with flagship products. What is intriguing with this stick, aside from the sensitivity performance of the blank, is Phenix's use of name brand, Fuji components. Considering this rod has Torzite guides, its price is actually right in line, and in some cases much lower, than other manufacturer's offerings on rods built with the same components. My only remaining complaint is with the K2 series in general - there are only four rod models from which to choose. It'd be nice to have a few more skews.

 

Looking for a Phenix TX-713C K2? Try TackleWarehouse

 

 

   

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