gear guide : the load up |
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Denali www . denalirods . com |
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What We Tested :
Attax 7 ’ 0 Medium Fast , Casting
Kovert LT 7 ’ 6 ” Medium Heavy , Moderate , Casting
Myriad 7 ’ Medium , Moderate , Spinning
You may not have heard of Denali , but these guys are churning out some high quality rods that you shouldn ’ t ignore . Quality and value is the name of the game , and these rods deliver on both fronts offering tournament-grade gear in a price range that won ’ t require a second mortgage . We were impressed with the fit and finish of these rods , and the blanks have been designed to be incredibly versatile . While each of the rods we tested is available in a variety of technique-specific actions , we found that none of them were one-trick ponies , which is a big deal for most anglers who may have a hard time justifying a rod purchase for just one specific use .
Our standout was the AttaX series casting rod . Our test unit was a 7 ’ 0 medium action rod , which is one of the best all-around rods we ’ ve seen in a long time . This rod looks amazing and feels even better in your hands , thanks in part to the split reel seat and rubberized Winn grip . Equally at home throwing tube jigs around rock piles for smallmouth bass as it is throwing topwater baits for explosive bites , we were pleased at how sensitive and responsive this rod is . The tip is light enough to throw lighter baits a good distance , but it has enough backbone to fight feisty bass back to the boat with confidence . We also found the AttaX surprisingly good as a walleye rod when throwing craw imitators for big ‘ eyes in the shallows in late spring . All summer long this became one of those rods we just couldn ’ t put down .
The Denali Kovert LT lineup is comprised of a variety of actions , all aimed at offering a lightweight , high-performance rod that is as sensitive as they come . Our test model was a 7 ’ 6 ” cranking rod . From the very first cast we were incredibly impressed . With very little effort this rod would throw a square bill crankbait an absolute mile , which allowed us to easily get those baits down to the desired depth and into the strike zone . Sensitivity was there in spades , allowing us to feel every rock , stick and weed that our bait bounced off of and into . For those walleye anglers who like running deep crankbaits , this rod is for you !
Our final test from Denali was the Myriad series spinning rod . The Myriad series is aimed at dedicated walleye anglers , with a full lineup of techniquespecific blank designs . We spent a lot of time jigging walleyes on deep summer haunts and found this rod to be superb at picking up on light bites on hot days when the fish got docile and lethargic . The Myriad seems to strike a near perfect balance between power and finesse , meaning not only can you detect more bites , but fighting bigger fish is a breeze .
Whether you ’ re a hardcore tournament competitor or a recreational angler , whether you go crazy over bass or walleye or catfish , Denali has a rod designed specifically for you at a price point that makes sense . Next time you ’ re in the market for a new rod , keep Denali in the mix .
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Attax |
Kovert LT |
Myriad |
9.3 |
8.2 |
9.3 |
8.8 |
9.0 |
8.8 |
8.9 |
8.7 |
9 |
8.7 |
9.1 |
8.6 |