Testing Booth: 13 Fishing rods

13 Fishing rods relaunched just in time for Xmas

For those of you that follow the Fishing Monthly YouTube channel or kept up with social media during this year’s AFTA Tackle Trade show, Rapala Australia relaunched new ranges of the very popular 13 Fishing rods.

There will be a QR code somewhere within this Testing Booth for the launch video from our channel where Mick Horn and Matthew Osley take Steve Morgan through this latest iteration of the 13 Fishing rods. I must admit I was one of the people that tuned in when this launch was livestreamed and, after watching it, I was keen to see them for myself.

After seeing them in person, it confirmed that this latest offering from 13 Fishing (with an Aussie twist) will be popular with Australian anglers. What was also exciting, was that I got to try out a few models!

THE NEW RANGES

There are five new ranges of 13 Fishing rods for anglers to choose from (plus a travel and surf rod range). You can check them out on Rapala Australia’s new website www.rapala.com.au.

Starting with the entry level DEFY Black range (SRRP $129.00), then the FATE Black (SRRP $169.00), the FATE V3 (SRRP $199.00), the OMEN Black (SRRP $289.00) and then the top of the range MUSE Black (SRRP $349.00). They all have spin model options, and the FATE, OMEN and MUSE ranges also offer baitcast models.

THE AUSSIE TWIST

I was curious about why Rapala had relaunched the range, as previous releases of 13 Fishing rods have been very popular amongst Australian anglers. Their answer was that they wanted the range to be Australian focussed.

As they are the new distributer of 13 Fishing, Rapala’s priority was to sift through the models available in each range and see what suited our target species and types of fishing in Australia. They also wanted to ensure that the components are what Australian anglers wanted to use on their fishing rods – Fuji guides in their various styles (depending on the price point of the rod). Fuji guides are components we all trust and all of the ranges mentioned have Fuji guides on them.

Before the relaunch, they also took the time to give anglers, like Mick Horn and other pros from the Rapala team, the opportunity to try out the rods. After 18 months to two years of testing, the team ensured tapers, blank construction and small things like hook keepers were in place. So whether you purchased an entry level model or a top of the range rod, you will be happy with your purchase and come back for more. Initial feedback since the launch of the ranges shows that this time taken was well spent, as anglers are voting with their wallets, and sales of the rods since their release have been excellent.

GRAPHITE VS COMPOSITE RODS

In this Testing Booth I wanted to look at the DEFY Black range and how this entry level graphite rod could be a great option for anglers looking to transition into fishing with lures or even to move from a composite rod to a graphite rod for their bait fishing. One of the three DEFY Black outfits the author tested. The ultra light set up proved itself time and time again.

The combination of the UL outfit with a slightly heavier leader was the undoing of this solid 62cm flathead. 8-14lb, 4-7kg) models. These rods cover many of your estuary, river, impoundment, lake and light inshore fishing applications.

Before I delve into how I have used these rods, I wanted to quickly touch on why graphite rods can improve your fishing and why lure anglers use them.

Much of it relates back to how you set your outfit up, with the ultimate result being that the angler will feel everything that is going on at the end of their line. It is the combination of a graphite rod, braided fishing line, fluorocarbon leaders and the use of quality components on the rod (guides, reel seat and grips) that offers the sensitivity, or what you can feel through the outfit, while fishing. You can feel everything that is happening at the end of your fishing line. It is a far cry from the monofilament line, composite rod outfits I used as a kid. You could hardly

The DEFY Black range has seven models in it (all spin), with all except one being 7’ (definitely a rod length we Aussies have taken to). They vary from ultra light to heavy models (2-6lb to 14-25lb) and are all two piece.

As far as components go, each rod has split high density EVA grips, feature Evolve Seamless reel seats and have Fuji Concept O guides.

The rods I tested are the DEFBS70UL2 (7’ Ultra light, 2-6lb, 1-3kg), the DEFBS70L2 (7’ Light, 3-8lb, 2-4kg) and the DEFBS70ML2 (7’ Medium light,

The light outfit was great for casting 5cm lipless crankbaits, like the Rapala V Blade. Although the 6’ model in the range would be better suited to the kayak fishing. The result of casting a 1/8oz jighead and plastic along a mangrove-lined bank of the Logan River - a 55cm flathead.

feel what your lure was doing let alone realise that it had been fouled by weed, tangled or if you had a small bite from a fish. The right combination results in your lures being fished effectively, you feeling even the smallest of bites (especially while bait fishing), while being able to cast further (line diameters of braid are much thinner than mono line) with lighter weights. A lot more positives than negatives if you ask me.

On top of that, the physical weight of a graphite set up is much lighter (and more powerful), making casting for longer

ROD TAPERS AND FISHING

I wanted to quickly touch on rod tapers and how they can help or hinder your fishing. Essentially, the taper of any fishing rod is its working curve, or from where in the blank the rods power is delivered. Most graphite rods range from a medium to a fast taper (with medium/fast in between), meaning that in the case of a fast taper rod (which the majority of the DEFY Black range is), the bottom two thirds of the rod provides the power to fight a fish and the top third is the shock absorber to avoid line

The 7’ ultra light model in the DEFY Black range would be a great rod to buy for anyone looking to try their hand at bream fishing with soft plastics for the first time. A big change to the latest release of 13 Fishing rod ranges is the use of Fuji guides. Concept O guides in the DEFY Black range and, something the author really liked, a hook keeper is on the rods.

breakage while fighting fish ,and the flex to cast baits and all the different types of lures you may use. When it comes to casting, a faster taper rod is considered to be better for casting control and accuracy.

So, when you hear people say they are fishing with a noodle stick, this will be a slow taper rod that bends from the reel seat all the way to the tip of the fishing rod. Minimum control for the angler when

periods of time a pleasure.

I set the above outfits up as follows. The Ultra light outfit is matched with a 1000 sized reel spooled with 4lb braid with 4-8lb leader attached – my target species using this ranged from whiting, garfish, bream and flathead through to trout, silver and golden perch. I matched

Scan the QR code to watch the 13Fishing Australia 2022 New Rod Launch

a 2000 sized reel, 6lb braid with 8-15lb leader looking to target flathead, snapper, mulloway, bass and golden perch on the light rod, while I matched the same size reel (although a 3000 would also work) and braid (again you could use stronger if required), but upped the leader to use on the same species with heavier lures or jigheads on the medium light rod. This nearly 40cm bass wasn’t what the author was expecting to catch when he threw the light outfit into his kayak.

Casting small hardbody lures with the light outfit was no problem at all. casting or fighting a fish, with maximum shock absorption to avoid line breakage.

A big part of the transition from a composite rod to a graphite rod is the taper, the additional control and power it offers you is a huge plus. Some care however, does need to be taken. Composite rods are popular for a reason, mainly because they can be almost indestructible. They will absorb the bumps and bruises without breaking better than a graphite rod will, including overextending the working curve of the fishing rod or high sticking. High sticking would be the biggest cause of graphite rod breakage, followed rod bruising (where the rod has been hit on something causing a weak spot). This is not a reason to not go and buy a graphite rod (the positives far outweigh this), it just means take a little care when the rod isn’t being used and, when you are fighting a fish, avoid high sticking.

IN THE FIELD

Firstly, I would have liked to have had a little more time to use the DEFY Black rods before reviewing, in particular the med/ light rod. But as I say to many people, “Magazine deadlines wait for nobody!”, so I will focus on the ultralight (UL) and light (L) outfits. My main target species have been bream, flathead and Australian bass using soft plastics and hardbody lures.

As mentioned, the UL rod was set up for light line fishing and to cast small (lighter) lures and jigheads (1/24oz-1/6oz) with a bream focus in mind. The light rod was a slightly heavier focus (1/8oz-3/8oz) to target the abundance of flathead that have been on offer recently here in SE Queensland.

Fishing with these rods provided some interesting insights for me. First and foremost, each rod dealt with its task with no problems at all. In fact, the UL rod ended up being hard to get out of my hands as the locations I fished ended up having shallower water than I usually fish, so I used the lighter lures combined with slightly heavier leaders to catch some very nice bream and flathead. Although listed as having a parabolic action (taper), I actually feel that it is more medium/ fast, which gives better control when casting in and around structure; a bit more ‘come to me’ power when you are fighting a fish, which translates when you are setting hooks as well.

The light outfit did get a run too, with a couple of nice flathead testing it out. I did take it out chasing a few bass from my kayak. At 7’ it was a bit long for this (the 6’ option would be better suited), but apart from that, it was great to cast small hardbody lures and lipless crankbaits around. A bigger than expected bass certainly tested its stopping power as it dived for the nearby lily pads. I look forward to a few more outings with this outfit.

CONCLUSION

The hardest part about this testing booth for me has been tempering my expectations and remembering that the DEFY Black range is an entry level price point, as the quality of the build and components suggests otherwise.

Having said that, there is a softening of the tapers and slightly less feel than higher price point rods (hence 5 ranges of new 13 Fishing rods now available), so they are catering for anglers transitioning into graphite rods.

Would I use them on a regular basis? Yes. Are they a great entry into the world of graphite rods? Definitely. Am I looking forward to trying some of the other ranges? 100%.

You can check them out at your quality tackle outlet or online at www.rapala.com. au.