New toys arrived today!
The tackleshop I'd ordered a few bits and pieces from finally got their shipment of Hots rods in on Friday and my order was dispatched on Saturday the 5th Nov, arriving at my doorstep 9 o'clock this morning! Not bad for O/S to Perth.
Couldn't wait to check out the new rod I'd ordered, having never seen -or used- one before. Everything was well packaged, I haven't spotted any damage on anything yet. *phew*
Hots One Pitch Slider SOS-56XH
'Apparently' this rod is similar to the Hots Wei World 52XH, but less prone to snapping if high sticked (i.e. a more forgiving blank). It is 5.6 feet in length, rated for PE6-10 max jig weight 420gm. One of the first things I noticed about this rod was the length of the handle, I was a expecting a long-ish handle but it still a bit longer than I had expected from my impression in photos. I measured roughly 78 cm from butt to the end of the fore-grip.
The rod is fairly plane and simple, no fancy bindings or weaves here! Grey fibre weave and black binding for the guides with some silver highlights. Nothing special. I'm not sure what guides are on the rod, and I can't even see what components it uses on www.hots.co.jp.
Rod feels very light, weighs 'nothing' compared to the 20000SW stella. The stella btw was bought locally, prices were surprisingly competitive compared with overseas, was happy to spend a bit more and get it locally. Now all it needs is a 'ultra light carbon knob'.
Spooled the reel up with PE8 jigman, used one of the line stickers that came with the stella to lock the braid down and prevent slippage. Was a real bitch getting the backing off the sticker though! in the end the silver side of the sticker ended sticking down against the spool -not sure if this was right!
Also bought a line spool holder so that I wouldn't have to bother the wife. It seems to do the job well, you can adjust the tension via the red knob. Worked best with the rod tip pointed at the device so that the line came off straight down the guide onto the reel -very happy with the purchase. The handle on the side allows you to wind/strip line off the reel back onto a spool if required.
The line came in 100m joined spools, I ordered 7, thinking I'd fit 350m on, but in reality 300m would have been enough, I got 330m on but would have been happy with 300.
Now all I need to do is find some time off work and go fishing! (Easier said than done).
Cheers,
Eric
Tigh82
Posts: 225
Date Joined: 04/05/06
Very nice
Looks like a very nice little set up there Eric, now to stretch it out!
chrisp
Posts: 1217
Date Joined: 24/05/08
Nice..
Very interested in the hots.Not being able to try before you buy makes me a little nervous though. Given their reputation i doubt you will be dissapointed.
Also,got a few spare spots on a sambo charter on sunday if you feel like testing it out mate.Out of freo $150bucks.
Tigh , you need to stop playing golf and come fishing mate!!
Ectopic
Posts: 208
Date Joined: 19/10/09
Thanks for the offer chrisp,
Thanks for the offer chrisp, but unfortunately can't make it this sunday
Dammit!!!!
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Brody
Posts: 1021
Date Joined: 06/02/07
Those line winders are very
Those line winders are very handy, have been using one as a substitute for the electric winder, and gets the job done.
Nice gear too, haha.
jay_burgess
Posts: 4648
Date Joined: 18/08/05
Love it! Can't beat the
Love it!
Can't beat the infatuation you get with new bling.
Have fun with your new outfit, hots gear is great.
Colin Hay
Posts: 10407
Date Joined: 23/10/07
Santa came early at your place
The line spooler looks verfy intersting and the bling looks great.
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Tigh82
Posts: 225
Date Joined: 04/05/06
sorry
Yeah sorry Chris, would have been there for sure but flying out that day mate. You will just have to man up and and catch a few for me!
DazSamFishing
Posts: 1518
Date Joined: 19/08/09
Great outfit you have there.
Great outfit you have there. Bet you can't wait to test it out!
Ectopic
Posts: 208
Date Joined: 19/10/09
Ripplefisher 5620
This rod arrived on Xmas eve.
Looking forward to testing it out. (still haven't even had a chance to try the Hots rod out yet!). On first impressions it's alot more purple than I expected, had trouble finding pics on the net, thought it was a fairly dark purple, but I didn't realize it changes to a fairly light silver-purple at the tip... oh well.
Compared with the One Pitch Slider, the 5620 is also 5'6" PE8 and about 100g heavier at 350g compared with 250g. It has a thicker blank and the foregrip is about 10cm further back, which to me feels a bit more comfortable to hold.
The Ripplefisher has less 'bling', e.g. no metal rings where the blank joins the grips, tip isn't titanium. Can't wait to see how these sticks feel on the water! Tuesday hopefully....
http://db.tt/DXvNMYOU