Penn Waveblaster EVO 20/30 - 08/05/2009

The Waveblaster Evo 20/30 is a 7ft 8in rod and comprises a long tip and short butt. Primarily designed for downtide fishing, it’s constructed from high-modulus carbon to produce a slim, powerful rod with a progressive, ‘tippy’ action. This action will be ideal whether you’re anchored inshore, downtiding for cod or rays with mono, or way offshore, drifting wrecks with braid. The build quality is superb with the blank finished in blue with gold graphics on the butt. The tip section is fitted with nine Fuji SiC intermediate guides, plus a tip guide that’s secured with black whipping tipped with gold. The butt sports a robust Penn screw-up reel seat that will hold a reel very securely, a Duplon foregrip and a gimbal under the rubber butt cap. The rod is also supplied in a rigid carry tube for protection during transportation.
There are two other models in the range: the lighter 12/20 that’ll give great sport with bream and flatties, and the heavier 30/50 for seriously big fish or heavy sinkers or pirks.

For the test I coupled the rod with an ABU Ambassadeur Classic mag reel loaded with 20lb mono straight through. No casting would be necessary; a short lob off the back of the boat to get ‘the angle of the dangle’ would keep the bait hard on the bottom. The end rig was a simple running leger comprising a 3ft trace, with a size 3/0 Pennel hook loaded with lug and squid and 8oz of lead. This was lobbed about 30 yards off the stern and the rod was put down to await a bite, but, as usual, as soon as I settled down with a cuppa… the rod tip went over. This turned out to be a plump codling of around 2lb, which was quickly unhooked and returned. However, while I wouldn’t describe the tip as soft, it certainly showed the bite from a hungry codling!

Several more codling followed, with the best fish nudging the 4lb mark; this fish put a nice bend in the rod but there’s plenty more power in it to handle much bigger fish. Having had a good play with the Evo for a few hours, I’m sure it’ll fit the bill as an all-rounder with no problems. The bite indication was good and it had plenty of lifting power for controlling a decent fish.

INFORMATION
FACTS AT A GLANCE
Blank material: High-modulus carbon
Overall length: 7ft 8in
Sections: Two
Rings: Nine, plus tip
Whipping: Blue tipped with gold
Reel seat: Penn screw-up
RRP: £175.50

ROGER’S RATINGS
Appearance 10
Casting 9
Fishing 10
Value for money 9

Contact Pure Fishing (UK) Ltd on 01527 510570
Website: www.eu.purefishing.com