CB Rod Wars Part 1:
Mixing it up with Phenix’s X10 (continued)
Real
World Tests:
To test
the X10 I decided to crank it up on the Delta and a few local lakes. I fished
the X10 for a span of five months pairing it with a variety of different reels.
When it came to baits I fished the complete spectrum of crankbaits both lipped
and lipless lures with some weighing more than the rod’s specified maximum.
Casting a wide range of crankbaits on the Delta
Casting: Casting is one of the factors often overlooked when sizing
up crankbait rods, as cranks are one of the easier lures to cast. Still casting
accuracy and distance are just as important on these rods as other baits.
Positioning lures tight against structure definitely results in more strikes,
and it is important to have a crankbait rod that can handle a wide range of lure
weights as switching baits quickly is critical when searching for fish with
cranks.
The Phenix
X-10 now features a split grip design, when the rod was first introduced
last year it had the same blank but had a solid cork grip
The X10 is designed to
handle lures from ¼ -1oz. in
weight but I found I was
able to cast even mammoth
cranks up to 1 1/4oz. in
weight with little
difficulty. While handling
big baits is not a problem
casting lighter ones is
where this rod really
shines. Even baits right at
the 1/4oz. weight are easy
to whip out over 80 feet
with a simple overhand or
sidearm cast. The tip acts
like a catapult and flings
lures out at the end of your
casting motion.
With
just a 2lb fish on the line the Phenix rod loads up down to the mid section, the
transition from the fiberglass tip to the graphite blank is seamless
Retrieving: With even
the most subtle crankbait the tip of the X10 will arc at towards your lure
putting a constant amount of pressure on your line. The rod feels smooth and
confident except when there is an extreme deep diving crankbait in tow.
During tests I caught a number of bass on speed traps and lipless cranks, once
the fish hit the lure the rod tip would take over and no matter which direction
the fish ran the lip efficiently absorbed the shock and keep the fish pinned on.
Under the sun you can see the graphite weave of the main blank
I was curious how this rod
would perform for a variety of other lures and started with a jerkbait. I found
the X10 was too slow for fishing larger jerkbaits but decent for smaller ones.
For topwater the tip is also too forgiving and I either had to set too
aggressively or would miss strikes. I then moved onto a spinnerbait and found
the X10 surprisingly good. The graphite and carbon portion of the X10
allowed me to feel the blade vibration and the thumps against structure, and the
glass tip helped keep fish on, even those that didn’t slam the bait but rather
just subtly struck the bait. The X10’s tip also is excellent for slow rolling
big spinners and multi bladed baits.
Pretty minimal cork grips reduce overall weight but affect balance
When it comes to the
retrieve the X10 strikes
a reasonable balance of
sensitivity and a
forgiving tip action. The rod
feels light and
comfortable and yet
confident when fishing a
wide range of crankbaits,
and can handle
everything up to mid
sized deep divers with
ease, and can be used
for larger lipped cranks
if necessary.
A
fish caught on the original X-10, we like the look of the updated split grip
current version, though the original balanced out well with a wide range of
reels
Next Section: Power, Sensitivity and
Ergonomics
