The XT Bass is built on a slim-profile carbon blank and is designed to cast weights of 2oz to 4oz to cope with most UK bass locations and conditions. It’s equipped with Fuji guides and reel seat. The size and spacing of the guides means it can be used with fixed-spool or multiplier reels for casting bait or lures.
The rod is 11ft 6in long in two equal sections joining with a spigot, and has a white glazed tip to help detect bites. The action is a medium-fast taper with enough stiffness in the butt to lob a whole crab or squid plenty far enough to tempt bass. The length, weight and action make it ideal for both surf and estuary fishing or casting large lures.
For the live test I matched the rod with a Penn Sargus fixed-spool reel loaded with 10lb mono and a Penn 515 Mag 2 loaded with 15lb mono. I made a few casts with 2oz, 3oz and 4oz plain leads to get a feel for the rod’s action and found that it works best with something in the middle.
The outfit felt well balanced with both reels and the rod is light enough to hold for long periods if you’re wading in the surf.
A long weekend in Pembrokeshire gave me a huge choice of marks and I decided to fish a surf beach at West Dale. A gentle surf was rolling into the beach that looked ideal for a few schoolies and flounder. A smooth overhead lob easily sent the gear around 40 metres out and when laid in the rest the tip curved nicely, absorbed the pull of the waves and showed delicate bites. My rigs alternated between a simple single-hook clip down and a two-hook flapper baited with rag, both anchored with a 3oz grip lead.
I found that the reel seat is well positioned to make casting and reeling in comfortable, so it shouldn’t be too much of a stretch for young anglers to handle. I tried varying distances with both rigs and baits but bites were hard to find. A couple of sharp taps on the tip got my attention but despite holding the rod to feel for the bite, it didn’t develop. Although I was fishing the tide two hours up and an hour down without a fish, I did get a good feel for the rod. The length and action are ideal for bassing or estuary and light surf fishing at an excellent price. It’s worth checking out at your local tackle shop!
INFORMATION
Blank material: Carbon
Overall length: 11ft 6in
Rings: Fuji
Whippings: Black
Reel seat: Fuji fixed screw-up
RRP: £75.99
TSF RATINGS
Appearance: ★★★★★★★★★★
Casting: ★★★★★★★★★★
Fishing: ★★★★★★★★★★
Value for money: ★★★★★★★★★★
Contact: Pure Fishing (UK) Ltd on 01527 405410
Website: www.uk.purefishing.com
