Testing Times: Fox Diablo HG Shore Rod - 12/02/2010

The Diablo was designed by the Fox sea consultants mainly for fishing rough ground in the northeast of the country. It’s an ultra-powerful, high-modulus carbon blank in two equal sections that’s designed to cast weights of 4oz to 7oz and cope with fishing the heaviest of grounds. Although made for the northeast, it would handle conger or huss anywhere where there’s rough ground. But there’s more! As always when testing shore rods, I start by having a few casts with a plain lead to get the feel of the rod’s action. A few off-the-ground casts were followed by a couple of pendulum casts – I can assure you, it sends a lead way out of sight! The Diablo has a parabolic action and although very powerful it’s not poker stiff – it can be well bent using a powerful casting style.

The action is extremely well suited to ground casting and I reckon it would cast some big numbers on the field. Back to fishing, however, and the sliding reel seat allows you to fish with the reel up or down. It will support large reels such as a Slosh 30 or a 7000-sized reel that holds enough heavy line for fishing rough ground at range. It will also cast a 200g lead and a whole squid a good distance with an overhead cast – I would guess around 60 to 70 yards without busting a gut.Regarding bite detection, unfortunately I can’t comment because I never had a bite; not one that I could see anyway. However, this rod isn’t designed as a scratching tool, more for hauling fish out of kelp.

Apart from being made for the rough stuff, you can also use it when fishing in gale-force winds and rough seas when your usual rod and 150g lead can’t cope. The Diablo will still chuck a 190g or 200g weight with bait a long way in horrible conditions and haul your catch out, making it a great rod for catching tough fish in rough conditions.

INFORMATION

Blank Material: High-modulus carbon
Overall Length: 13ft 6in
Rings: Fuji
Whipping: Black
Reel Seat: Sliding
RRP: £299

ROGER'S RATING

Appearance: 9  
Fishing: 10
Fishing: 10  
Value for Money: 9  

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