The "New" Virtus Blue Diamond Series by Phenix Rods

Total Score: 7.92 - GOOD

Introduction: Mergers and acquisitions are the way of life in the corporate world. Brands come and go, and some become part of larger conglomerates. The fishing world is no different. Recently, a rod building brand in Arkansas known for rolling their own blanks and building their own rods in Harrison, Arkansas was the target of a major player in the bass fishing world, GSM. GSM Outdoors has acquired many notable brands over the last few years including Yamamoto Baits, Bagley, Big Bite Baits, Roboworms, Dobyns Rods, Phenix Rods and more.

Phenix Rods, through parent company GSM, now has access to their own blank rolling company with the acquisition of Mid-America Rod Company

Most of these brands, thus far anyway, have remained intact. However, that Arkansas rod building brand, Mid-America Rod Company, has been rolled under Phenix Rods and after months of testing and a little retooling, the first fruits of this new venture are beginning to hit tackle stores. Today, we share our first look into this new collaboration with our review on Phenix Rods's new Virtus Blue Diamond line and their 7'-6" HM Glide.

Impressions: The first thing that struck me with this rod is there's no secret code model number. Literally, on the rod is printed "7'-6" Hvy Mod - Glide Power 7" along with the lure and line weight recommendations. Virtus, as the former signature brand of Mid-America Rod Company, still had an active website as of this writing and looking through it, I saw this is how they referred to all their rods. I'm sure it's just a matter of time before GSM or Phenix corrects this oversight and works up some model numbers for these rods. It just makes it easier to catalog, order, talk about, etc.. First thing I'm going to do for this stick is work up its own secret code so I don't have to type out its specification each time I call it out. So, for the purposes of this article, the Phenix Rods Virtus Blue Diamond 7'-6" Heavy Moderate Glide will be referred to as the VBD76HMG.

Introducing Virtus by Phenix and the Blue Diamond 7'-6" Hvy Mod Glide, a stick I will be referring to as the VDB76HMG

The VBD76HMG is built on a blank rolled with thirty ton graphite from Toray. It is assembled with a split rear grip that measures thirteen and a half inches (13.5") from the back end of the reel seat to the butt, and wrapped with Fuji, stainless steel framed guides with Alconite inserts. For this rod specifically, all the guides are double footed and span from size 10 at the stripper to 7 running guides and a 6 or 7 tip top. Sizes were derived by mic'ing the outside of the ring inserts and I got 6.5 at the tip top, so I don't know if that means it's a size 6 or 7 and I don't think Fuji makes a 6.5. Why guide sizes are not determined by the size of the actual opening, I do not know or understand. Anyway, the point here is the guides are definitely normal sized and not micro or even semi-micro.

The VDB76HMG features a split rear grip design with cork