Charter skipper Dave Roberts casts his expert eye over a new uptiding rod
PENN PREVAIL II UPTIDE 303 70-300g
RRP: £134.99
With uptide fishing taking up a large percentage of my charter business here in the Bristol Channel, I was keen to see how this new model from the Penn stable performed.
Billed as a modern uptide rod, providing a combination of strength and performance, its wide casting weight range of 70-300g (21/2-10oz) certainly covers almost everything an inshore angler could ask for. I tested the rod on a fairly shallow sandbank in search of rays. The two-piece rod consists of a long tip and short butt. Coupled with a small Penn Fathom multiplier reel, the 100 per cent graphite blank was soon bending under the pressure of some good sized blonde rays. It’s soft tip action, coupled with a powerful butt section, soon showed us the reason for the wide weight casting range.
New features
The innovative and tough Penn Dura guides are smartly whipped, which now seems a formality with new rods from the company. The 10 durable guides are of one-piece construction with no ceramic lining to crack or damage, which means that if you accidentally stand on one, you could bend it back into shape with a pair of pliers and carry on fishing.
Another new feature is the WINN-grip. Situated just above the screw-up graphite reel seat, it feels soft but gives a very comfortable hold if your hands are slippery or wet.
![](https://www.seaangler.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/The-WINN-foregrip-gives-great-comfort..jpg)
The WINN foregrip gives great comfort.
As we fished into the dusk, we found the white glazed tip helped with bite detection as the light faded. Though just a small feature, this glazing really stands out when fished alongside a rod with a black fore section.
At the end of our trial day, the Prevail II had landed several good sized fish without fault. Although recommended price of £134.99 seems a little high these days with many competitors launching such rods for less, I believe this is a quality product. Always shop around, you could be pleasantly surprised.
SPECIFICATIONS
PENN PREVAIL II LE UPTIDE 303 70-300g (21/2-10oz)
LENGTH: 10ft (3.00m)
SECTIONS: Two
GUIDES: 10
BLANK: 100 per cent graphite
TIP: Glazed
REEL SEAT: Graphite screw winch
WEIGHT: 520g
RRP: £134.99
For more information or to locate your nearest stockist, visit: www.penn-fishing.co.uk