Thread: I Went Against The General Census

Everyone is hooping and hollering about Bonehead rods but I went with an ESP. It's been #1 on my rod list for two years. Bonehead is 3rd on my list behind an Outlaw rod. I'll get there eventually, lol. Anyhoo, I was in the market for a cast and drag rod. I had been using my 4.5" Pro Angler Tackle rod for this which served me well but I was needing a little longer of a rod. It was between the 6' or 6.5' ESP Power Light. I went with the 6' because of the short/stumpy handle which I am found of. Snagged one for $55 which I thought was a steal. It has Tennessee style reel seats which I am uncertain of at this time. Simply because I have never had a rod with them. Time will tell. It looks to be a very well crafted rod. Has smaller eyelets towards the tip of the rod compared to others that I'm not use to. Almost micro size. Towards the back of the rod they are normal size. All eyelets are aluminum except the every back one which appears to be ceramic. Going to put it to work this weekend and will let you know the results. Enough of the talk, time for some pics.

What ever swings them in the boat! Look forward to seeing it at camp.

I concur!

Fished with the rod Sunday. Too bad I couldn't get a little more action than what was happening. Rod is good for flinging jigs. Forget about dipping trees. You can but it becomes a nightmare with the micro guides on the tip. More line falls off the reel when you open the bail is open than what will go through the guides. I kept having to close the bail and feed the line through the guides. Will be a strict casting reel. Rod felt good though. I'm not plugging into the Vibration Amplification Technology they are pushing. I could tell no difference with the bites than with my Pro Angler Tackle rod. The bites that I did get were hitting the jig hard. Maybe it is more for a very light bite. Rod might be great for a slip cork for fishing deep since it has that micro guide on the tip. I always have problems with the bead either getting stuck or going through the guide on a regular spinning rod. Hopefully I get more action this weekend.

we want to see what the rod is swinging into the boat, not just the rod. those micro eyes are going to be death on you when the water wants to start to freeze!

Micro Eyes are not good for a spinning Rod and Reel application. Reason being a spinning reels line comes off in loops as it comes off the spool. The micro eyes are so small it doesn't allow for the line to flow smoothly through the eyes and had lots of restriction. As far as vertical you will need to use a heavier jig to take the line through the smaller eyes with more ease. Micro eyes are made for a casting reel application......and like TC said good luck in colder weather it's going to be a nightmare......Ranger

Haha I've only had the rod out for 3 hours this last Sunday and fishing wasn't nowhere near as good the previous two Sundays. Info on that is detailed in the T-Bird thread.

The rod only has micro eyes toward the tip of the rod. If I would have known the rod had these eyes I would not have purchased it. I would have never imagined a crappie/panfish rod would have them. Oh well I guess.

Dr Nip I do have a rod with micro eyes on it but it's a 10' rod made for vertical not casting and it works fine with 8 small eyes on it. In fact I likenit quite well cause the eyes are so small and with several rods laying on the deck you are not stepping on them and bending them all out of shape. I wasn't in any means talking bad about your new rod and hopefully I can lay my hands on it at the camp if I get a chance to get away. Hope to see you there.......Ranger

By no means did I think you were talking bad. Just not found of the micro eyes. Maybe I just need to get use to them. Of course I bought the rod for casting and dragging and it works well at that. Need to leave the dipping to my Pro Angler.

Pro Anglers work great!