Testing MC Fine Tail Banshee 5’ 9” XUL rod.

Finally got to see how the new Banshee handled medium size bluegill. It is a keeper for sure. It’s just as sensitive as the other 2 Banshee models I have. It is undoubtedly the most fun rod of the bunch with medium size bluegill. As a matter of fact I could be happy all day catching fish this size on this rod. The rod handles 1/2 gram and one gram jig heads great. Even using the half gram jig head you still can tell at all times what the jig is doing. This is the beauty of a high end JDM XUL area trout rod.....soft action but great sensitivity. I hooked into a couple of small largemouth and found out what I pretty much knew after fighting in the first bluegill.......don’t want to be using this rod at my place where the crappie and Spotted bass stack up together. Just not enough rod length here to handle a 17 inch Spot with the 2.3# test ester line. But of course I did not buy this rod for that. This is strictly a bluegill and stocker trout rod all the way. Really looking forward to using this rod in a couple of months when the bluegill stack up in the dead lock. Of course it will shine during the spawn also. Stan there are a couple of pics.....as best I could get.....of the bending curve with the fish you see in the pics. Caught these fish out of VFW Lake. That place is down in a bowl and it was stifling hot there. Been a long time since I’ve hit VFW....had the whole lake to myself. Used Daiwa Gekkabijin jig head in 1/2 and 1 gram with #8 hook and a Sow Bug colored Trout Magnet. Caught about a dozen fish.....sucked down a few bottles of iced tea and headed home. Life is good!

Regards

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Glad to see you are back out fishing this week!

That rod looks good paired with the Presso and the Orange Ester. The couple shots of the bending look to be very smooth and parabolic in nature, especially if the load is under 5-7in Gills. Fish that size are valiant fighters, and to see the rod in that load tells me the fun factor is indeed there. 5.9 should be a good length to use while on the bank, especially if tree limbs are near or overhead. 6.3 is the shortest horse in my stable, took it to a local trout creek this spring after a stocking run and realized the need for a short stick, and could have used the 5.9 or even 5.5. We don’t need all these rods to catch the fish we seek, but it sure is fun trying and using the different rods out there. Thanks for the shots, will be looking forward to a video with the new rod. If that lake is closer than your 81 mile drive to Nickajack then I would be for sure sore lipping those rascals!

Thanks for the review, AHawk. That one photo shows the bend really well. With the right equipment those medium size guys put up quite a spirited fight. Congrats on the new rod.
Bob

Good report Randy. Sounds like a super fun rod for most of the fish I catch. Small ones that is.


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Thats awesome Randy!


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Looks like a fun trip and money well spent on the rod!