evilcatfish wrote: ↑Tue Sep 21, 2021 9:12 am
Let us know what you think once the rod arrives! I experimented with a Steez A HLC and SV103XS on mine and the 103 is the winner. The Black Rose is such a versatile rod that I could probably sell 3-4 of my other setups and be fine with just it.
The sv103 won out, the rod is too light to stick the heavier Ryoga on it. The rod throws 3/40z total-weight swimjigs as well as it throws the ~2oz BoomBoom. It's impossible how light it is while having so much power. While the SRD has roughly the porpations of a "normal" bass rod, it feels super tip heavy and you are know you are holding the fishing equivalent of a sawed off shotgun. While the Black Rose is a good bit less powerful, it feels in hand like my FMJ or a 844c, the slightly longer handle being the only thing that hints at its power. In power I don't yet feel like it's much more than the Hyuga 72H, but the faster taper is instantly noticeable. I think it's going to be a great "twin" for that rod, the Hyuga mover over to days where I think trebles are going to be the main deal and the Black Rose for days where it's single hooks, but with both rods being able to cover the other side well enough. So far I have yet to get a single bite on the BoomBooms, but my experiences so far make me very optimistic that the BR will be up to setting that hook. The sensitivity is leagas ahead of the Hyuga to the point where I can use the BR on days where I would like to pick my FMJ, but think the cover/conditions/other presentations make me want to use braid rather the fluoro.
I hit a local pond the other day that still has a lot of shallow pads left. I started with the BoomBoom but they were not having it, but somehow a 1/2oz-4.5" swimjig was getting them. I caught like 6 bass between 1.5-2.5 pounds, a lot of them at the far end of the cast. Now these are not large bass, but even ~30y out I was able to yank the bass up and ski them in without even really feeling like I was leaning on the rod. It would load into the mid section and just stop and the bass would come shooting up. The largest bass of the day did hit right on splashdown and I really loaded into the hook set and ran her in. When I got here released I realized I had bent the my jig hook. Now, I am a big finesse guy and I have never even managed to bend a little thin hook on a bass before unless it was well into the 3-4lb range. I don't really do power-hooksets, but the BR is really sneaky powerful.
I am glad I took the plunge and want to thank everyone for their input.