Post by scanny on Nov 3, 2010 20:15:43 GMT
I was fortunate, along with several other forum members, to get to try the New 14' Shooting Head MacKenzie Dtx this week. I had previously tried the new 15' with Scott, so it was useful to compare both.
Here are a few thoughts on it after using the original 14' for a year now.
The original 14' has been my rod of choice this season through Spring to the back end, from S4/5 shooting heads up to 70' floaters. It excels with speylines, in particular the Carron Jetstream's and Proline. After some initial changes to style and lines it is casting excellently, be it using a top hand bias or coming down the handle a little and using the fulcrum technique, as most of the members who tried it last week with the Proline on will testify to.
I used shooting heads all spring and it casts from 36-42grams without an issue, on the heavier end it slows the action a little, i was inclined to use these when in wind and on my weak side up.
I am delighted with it so trying the new model tweaked for use with shooting heads interesting and a lot of fun.
The new model has a thicker handle, more accustomed to those found on the Le Cie or Stinger. Whilst im partial to a slimmer handle found on the original, the new shape does feel comfortable, especially the lower grip.
The blank is faster and as with the New 15' model, it immediately feels easier to apply the rods power with a short stroke, owing to a little more tip in the action. The original 14' was good with a 9/10 Afs, but this was even better. It feels as strong as the original, so lining up or down from the 39 grams weight shouldn't be an issue.
Onto carron lines, and the fun casting. The 9/10 single colour Jetstream went very well on the original, and lately have now been using the Proline with very positive and enjoyable results, pulled in 5ft from the colour change with a 10ft tip on it.
With the 9/10 Twin Colour-at 52 grams its 2 grams heavier than the Pro Line however with less rearward bias- it initially didn't feel as comfortable as my set up. After a few minutes jump rolling, and speeding my forward cast up a little, it began to cast well, very well. After a few minutes it was casting as well as the original casts and with the same crisp and tight leading loops.
Set up wise the following work on both the original and Shooting Head model:
9/10 Afs
9/10 SA heads
9/10 Single and Twin Carron 65's
A very positive first impression, and from the time i had casting with it the rod casts shooting heads with greater ease yet still casts a carron very well.
Whats santa's sleigh going to be full of?
just waiting on the rods arriving. There should be a few prototype shooting heads and a few of the new lines that Andrew Toft has designed, they are superb
:'(for two rods and reels too ;D ;D 