|
|
Posts: 106
| I am looking at buying another rod. mainly for throwing blades and crank baits. I have been looking at the S.W.A.T rod from Chaos tackle. Just wondering if any guys or gals on here have one or have used one. Just wondering If you like it or not. Is it worth buying one or should I look at something else. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 212
Location: Wisconsin | I have one and I really like it. Handle length is nice and has a fast action. I can pretty much throw everything with it. Throws mag dawgs and hardheads with ease. Seems to be built very well. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1283
| I dont have the Swat but do have the Shock and Awe. It has replaced my Big Dawg, and the Swat might just replace my Sling Blade. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 59
| achotrod - 2/21/2015 12:13 PM
I dont have the Swat but do have the Shock and Awe. It has replaced my Big Dawg, and the Swat might just replace my Sling Blade.
Have you found that the Shock and Awe throws the Pounders and Monster Medussas better than the Big Dawg? These baits seem a bit heavy for the BD. thanks! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1283
| Havent tried it yet on baits that big everything is frozen
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 397
| I have one and it has been a good rod so far. Great product for the price |
|
| |
|
Posts: 34
| I ran the 8'6" SWAT and the 9' Shock and Awe last year. EXTREMELY impressed! The SWAT launches Cowgirls better than any production rod I've ever thrown. And it takes a lot less effort to do it. Also when coming in boatside at higher speed with the big blades the rod does not load up like a lot of other rods so you can power thru the corners on an 8 and still make a nice big bend. Another nice thing I've noticed is that after a full year on it, it has shown no signs of getting 'softer' like a lot of rods do because of UV, use, etc.
The Shock and Awe makes throwing Pounders and Monsters a lot easier on your body. Handles the baits great and the little bit softer midsection on the rod loads up and really lets the baits fly with very little effort. It also helps when fighting a fish. Like a lot of rods for big swimbaits it has tons of power, but what really sets it apart is how it handles the baits and fighting the fish.
Like all production rods on the market, extending the handle makes all the difference in the world. The SWAT I kicked out to just shy of 20" and the Shock and Awe to about 22". Especially for throwing the big baits, this added length will save you a lot of pain at the end of the day. The Chaos Assault Sticks already have some of the longest rear grips on any production rod so it isn't a real big project to extend them just a little more. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 59
| Great info! thanks Brett |
|
| |
|
Posts: 999
| Brett what method do you use to extend the handles? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 34
| Best/most durable method is to find a piece of blank that will fit up inside the butt of the rod with the same taper and goes into the rod around 12" or so. Epoxy it in place and then ream out cork rings to fit over this extension material and epoxy them on and clamp them up so they are under pressure so they glue up tight. Then chuck it up on a lathe or grab some sandpaper and sand off the excess epoxy/shape the cork how you want it. If you want to finish it off, sand a cork plug to epoxy into the butt of the rod. If you glue a whole ring or put a butt cap (like a lot of companies do) onto the butt of the rod, you will eventually have problems. Usually because of the leverage/extra heavy weight of some of the lures, you will eventuallly have the cork ring either let loose or crumble. There are lots of places that will extend rods if you do not feel comfortable doing it yourself. Not a big investment but makes a world of difference! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | Brett Erickson - 2/26/2015 12:02 AM
Best/most durable method is to find a piece of blank that will fit up inside the butt of the rod with the same taper and goes into the rod around 12" or so. Epoxy it in place and then ream out cork rings to fit over this extension material and epoxy them on and clamp them up so they are under pressure so they glue up tight. Then chuck it up on a lathe or grab some sandpaper and sand off the excess epoxy/shape the cork how you want it. If you want to finish it off, sand a cork plug to epoxy into the butt of the rod. If you glue a whole ring or put a butt cap (like a lot of companies do) onto the butt of the rod, you will eventually have problems. Usually because of the leverage/extra heavy weight of some of the lures, you will eventuallly have the cork ring either let loose or crumble. There are lots of places that will extend rods if you do not feel comfortable doing it yourself. Not a big investment but makes a world of difference!
Old golf club shafts work great! You can find a lot on eBay. The old driver shafts work best as they have the larger OD. Also for a handle cork is nice but you can get long pieces of premade EVA handles on www.mudhole.com that will work too. depends on the look you want. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 34
| Golf clubs will work if they are the right diameter/taper. In fact, G-Loomis used to make shafts for golf clubs before Shimano bought them. Don't know if Shimano has kept that going or not. Matching the diameter/taper is by far the hardest part of extending a rod as there is no one-piece that will work on all rods so you have to keep trying (and keep buying different extension material!).
I would not recommend EVA foam for the end of a rear grip on a rod--especially one made for throwing really big stuff. In a pinch it will get you by but it gets slippery when it is wet and cold (amongst other problems). Cork or Syn-cork are definitely the best way to go. |
|
| |
