By Warren Keelan
I admit, the first time I laid eyes on one if these guideless sticks, I was a little sceptical – and who wouldn’t be? Traditional rods are fitted with a set of guides for your line to run through, so it was a little strange to see a rod without them, looking a little bare or even incomplete. With an overwhelming curiosity I had to test one of these guys out and my ‘testing ground’ was a tight local stream not far from my home, bustling with the trademark sounds of hungry bass.
Land based bass fishing usually means dealing with low light, overhanging branches and adverse casting locations – this is where the Interline comes into its own. The Daiwa TMZ-I 662ULFS excels in these conditions and is the perfect choice for tight casting. Its SVF (Super High Volume Fibre) graphite construction means this rod is extremely light and versatile, and coupled with the water repelling Hyper Dry technology to reduce line drag, makes for an ideal light spin stick for every condition.
‘Threading’ line through this rod was easier than originally expected as it comes with its own line-feeding device, to which you simply loop your line and push through the centre until it appears out of the tip. In some ways this is already easier than feeding line through a traditional rod, especially braid on a windy day! My mind was struggling with the guideless concept, but after the first cast I immediately realised what all the hype was about – no guides, no tangles, no worries.
Since that first cast, I have thrown this rod hundreds of times, not only at bass, but with surface lures in search of big bream – and I am yet to be disappointed! The 6’6″ version of the interline series, matched with either a 2000 sized Daiwa Caldia or Luvius spin reel, has become my new favourite light sportfish weapon.
Waz Keelan is a self taught web developer and runs his own business – Shellfish Creations, building many websites in the industry for clients including Boab Boat Hire and Daiwa’s own sponsored angler Alistair McGlashan. It was at this point where he decided to step it up a notch by delving into the world of fishing photography and journalism, and is now a regular contributor to many of this country’s leading fishing magazines including Modern Fishing, Freshwater Fishing, Sportfishing Australia and Fishing Monthly. |
