MTI Bass 2-4oz

[lazy hooker]

Bought an MTI 3-4oz bass rod a couple of weeks ago

I've been looking around for some time for a new rod capable of casting 4ozs and under 12foot. I had discounted plenty of rods during my search and please remember these are only my opinions and i'm sure they are great but horses for courses and all that they weren't for me.

zziplex powertex - good rods but awkward to cast when your on the rocks (gower),
grey bze - have a 1-3oz already(not bze mind) and the 3-5oz was too long again for the rocks
diawa supercast - great rod felt it was a bit stiff though!

Bought the rod from keens lovely finish in gloss black...now what was that quote from henry ford. Both sections are equal length with a good fitting, no knocking etc and with the way its been done you will not get sand in scratching and sticking the rod.

Butt is nice and slim with the balance of the rod with an abu 6500 being just above the reel where you naturally hold the rod, can't see any problems holding the rod for a couple of hours.

coasters had to be used as the fuju twist grips that i normally use (one was either too big or the smaller still slipped). keens put rubber butt cap on after a pair of conoflex coasters but also found a spare but cap in a pocket of the rod bag!!

plenty of rings all have plenty of lacquer and well spaced, the tip is nice, not too soft not too tough. It is a fast taper rod so has loads of backbone

Couldn't contain myself and had to get out and try it before the bass arrive ...The weather was horrible that fine rain that soaks everything accompanied by 20-25mph westerly winds. went to Oxwich bay on the gower in the search of dabs, whiting etc from some sheltered rocks.

before fishing put a 4oz and had a couple of casts...wow although there was a strong left to right wind could easily get 100-120 yards and i'm not that bigger caster. Now as we know we don't use these rods at that range normally so on went hooks and bait and dropped 30-40 yardsout. rod sat nicely tip bent in and thanfully not too much movement from the wind.
Bite detections was superb dabs and whiting really pulled it around...not great for testing the rod but a couple of the dabs were over the pound and put a nice curve into the rod...can't wait to get bass bite on it ...one of those when the whole rod wraps around just before it flies off the rest!!

All in all i'm extremely happy with the rod and if your considering one then i would give you the thumbs up to this even though i was sceptical with the shakespeare association...don't know why, i've never really bought any of there gear before. I have been told though that shapespeare are just the distributer and have nothing to do with the production or developement.

roll on the crab molt now!!

john