MC Volkey / Core, tested and almost christened
Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 9:58 am
Went out for a couple of hours to test my MC Volkey and upgraded Core 51Mg7. It was the first outing for the combo, my first use of mono on a baitcaster and my first visit to a new water, a 2 acre lake reported to hold good perch.
First off, the rod and reel feel absolutely perfectly balanced in the hand. I started out with a 7g Vibrax spinner to get used to how things feel on the cast, it's easier to work down from the higher lure weights. One word summed it up, smooooth. I received a pair of 5cm Sliders from Harris today, so they were next to get wet. Again they cast like a dream. Slowly I worked my way through various soft plastics, spinners and cranks, getting used to how each cast. Eventually I was throwing a 2g Snap Bean, something I've not been able to do in the past. Distance wise, the upgrades and the use of mono have increased things markedly over the stock reel with braid. I continued to play around with end float and brake settings until I felt comfortable, for heavier lures 1 brake and pretty free on the end float worked a treat, for lighter stuff 2 brakes and slightly tighter on the end float was the order of the day. Only had one nasty backlash when I went from a Slider to a 1" curly tail on a 1.5g jig head and forgot to change my settings . That one needed cutting out.
The rod really is a peach and gives a lot of feedback to the hand. Even using mono I was able to feel knocks across the bottom with soft plastics and the vibrations of cranks and spinners. It is however, as I expected it would be, underrated on casting weights, all of my Japanese rods have been. I tried lures topping out at 13g with no problems whatsoever. I wouldn't go higher though. Bottom end, with some more practice I reckon 1g would be about right
During my testing I had just a single take, one a soft plastic earthworm on a 2g football jig. At first it felt like pulling some weed, but with the odd lunge and knock. Long story short, the hook pulled as I was trying to slide it across the net. A lovely looking mid double(ish) mirror carp would have made a nice piccy . The rod was well bent, but not unduly strained. It took it all in it's stride.
For those interested in such things the kit was as follows:
Major Craft Volkey VKC 65 UL/BFS (1 piece) .
Shimano Core 51 Mg7 with Yumeya Mg UL spool and Boca Ceramic Metal Shield Abec7 bearings .
Orvis Super Strong 3X (8.5lb) mono, with Orvis Mirage 5X (5lb) leader.
Anyone looking for a budget UL baitcast rod should look no further. Shimreels is my vendor of choice. http://stores.ebay.com/shimreels-tackle
First off, the rod and reel feel absolutely perfectly balanced in the hand. I started out with a 7g Vibrax spinner to get used to how things feel on the cast, it's easier to work down from the higher lure weights. One word summed it up, smooooth. I received a pair of 5cm Sliders from Harris today, so they were next to get wet. Again they cast like a dream. Slowly I worked my way through various soft plastics, spinners and cranks, getting used to how each cast. Eventually I was throwing a 2g Snap Bean, something I've not been able to do in the past. Distance wise, the upgrades and the use of mono have increased things markedly over the stock reel with braid. I continued to play around with end float and brake settings until I felt comfortable, for heavier lures 1 brake and pretty free on the end float worked a treat, for lighter stuff 2 brakes and slightly tighter on the end float was the order of the day. Only had one nasty backlash when I went from a Slider to a 1" curly tail on a 1.5g jig head and forgot to change my settings . That one needed cutting out.
The rod really is a peach and gives a lot of feedback to the hand. Even using mono I was able to feel knocks across the bottom with soft plastics and the vibrations of cranks and spinners. It is however, as I expected it would be, underrated on casting weights, all of my Japanese rods have been. I tried lures topping out at 13g with no problems whatsoever. I wouldn't go higher though. Bottom end, with some more practice I reckon 1g would be about right
During my testing I had just a single take, one a soft plastic earthworm on a 2g football jig. At first it felt like pulling some weed, but with the odd lunge and knock. Long story short, the hook pulled as I was trying to slide it across the net. A lovely looking mid double(ish) mirror carp would have made a nice piccy . The rod was well bent, but not unduly strained. It took it all in it's stride.
For those interested in such things the kit was as follows:
Major Craft Volkey VKC 65 UL/BFS (1 piece) .
Shimano Core 51 Mg7 with Yumeya Mg UL spool and Boca Ceramic Metal Shield Abec7 bearings .
Orvis Super Strong 3X (8.5lb) mono, with Orvis Mirage 5X (5lb) leader.
Anyone looking for a budget UL baitcast rod should look no further. Shimreels is my vendor of choice. http://stores.ebay.com/shimreels-tackle