BreakawayUSA.com

[Nickaway]

When designing a new rod I gives me a certain amount of comfort to test the rods to breaking point so we know the worst case before we start bragging about the best. I needed a big hitter for the HDX so I sent the new HDX to the Outer Banks NC for some fishing testing conducted by our good friend Joe Moore and then to Tommy Farmer, currently the best caster in the USA. Tommy tested the new HDX for us, providing us with data that is not available to most company’s when designing a rod that will cast 5 to 8oz Our design parameters were, a 13ft rod that was light yet affordable for the US fisherman and able to match the current high cost rods available to the US fisherman. Below is the test data for the HDX. Pretty impressive I think. Thanks Tommy for your hard work. Regards Nickaway


Round 1:

I picked up the HDX this afternoon from the post office. Straight to the field for testing.

Opponents - 12'3" Lamiglass 1502 RDT custom built heaver
12'6" Zziplex Straight 8 custom built heaver

First impression - After 10 min or so unwrapping (Joe Moore had this puppy SAFE... lol) I stuck it together. Lightweight for a full size heaver. Not featherweight light like the LDX but significantly lighter than the Straight 8 Zippy and very close in weight to the lamiglass 1502. Performing the ol tip shake, it felt stiffer in the tip and midsection than the lami or the zippy. The butt is significantly stiffer than the lami and a little softer than the zippy.

I only had about 90 min to play so it was straight to the 8 oz four sided pyramid sinker. Man, that's a load when you are used to 150 and 125 g tournament sinkers..lol.

Reel - each cast was performed with the same reel. A stock 6500 mag elite fishing reel slightly underspooled with 15 lb big game line. This reel is not tuned or balanced. It has been hanging on a rod in the garage since last fished in Oct. All casts with the mag setting on 4 and not touched during flight.

Cast - Hatteras style beach cast. High reel.

Conditions - 70 deg, light tailwind.

I threw 3 casts with each rod. A few short years ago the Hatteras cast was my go-to fishing cast. It feels almost convoluted now... lol

Results

Lamiglass 1502
1 - 455'
2 - 467'
3 - 470'

Zippy S8
1 - 467'
2 - 475'
3 - 482'

HDX
1 - 466'
2 - 477'
3 - 502'

The Zippy is like an old friend. I have fished this rod for years and it has been my favorite for a long cast followed by spiking. The lami has always been my favorite "point" rod. Lightweight, easy to load and a pleasure to fish for long periods of time.

It took a couple of casts to adjust to the HDX. It is a very solid feeling rod. Crisp is the word that comes to mind. Not as easy to load as the lamiglass but much more powerful. It loads different than the zippy which has a soft tip, a progressively powerful midsection and a stiff butt. You have to hit the zzippy hard to load it but it will fly when bent. The HDX seems to supply power from the entire blank. On the last cast it seemed to come together well and had the 6500 screaming and the sinker out past 500’.

So far I really like what I see.

Round two will be full power OTG casting.

Tommy

Round two,

The tough get going…..

Same rods, HDX, Zzippy S8 and the Lami 1502. Same reel as the “beach cast” test, a slightly underspooled 6500 mag elite fishing reel with an unbalanced spool in need of a good bearing service.

Weight – 6oz bank sinker.

Cast – Off The Ground, high reel.

Conditions – 75 deg with a quartering tailwind around 10 mph.

I started with the HDX. Once again it took a couple of casts to get tuned into the rod. By the third cast the 6500 was screaming for mercy.... lol. The zziplex proved why it is still one of my favorite rods. Consistent with all three casts within a 20’ circle. This rod loves to be hit hard. The lami was a little out of its league with a full power OTG cast. Respectable distance, but after cast #2 it went back on the truck.

Results,

HDX
1- 551’
2- 580’
3- 600’

Zziplex S8
1- 573”
2- 584’
3- 575’

Lamiglass
1- 518’
2- 525’

The HDX handles the Off Ground fishing cast with ease. It loads nicely, recovers quickly and has abundant power. The zzippy is in its element here as well, the harder you hit the rod the better it delivers. The soft tip makes it forgiving, while the midsection and butt provide the power. Very different feel, but both will get the job done.

After the 6oz OTG test I had a few minutes to kill so I broke out the 6500 tournament reel with Benfield sideplate. Same reel I used 2 weeks ago at the SCUSA SE Open tournament. Reel is loaded with .31 Sakuma line.

Cast – Full Power OTG. Reel in the low position.

Weight – 150 gram tournament sinker.


I had time for one shot, low reel OTG full power. Cast pulled left of center but not out of bounds left. This is probably because of the 13’ length verses the 14’2” plus reducer that I’m used to. Rod came around fast and seemed to like being hit hard.

Cast measured 679’…

Round 3 will see the HDX against the Zziplex Full Tournament. More OTG casting and then a round of pendulum casting.

This should be fun.

Tommy
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Tommy

Round 3

Swinging lead..

It was a very good casting day. 82 deg, with a nice 10-15 tailwind.

I planned to start out with a round of OTG but the thick grass made that impossible. 1st cast - snap-pow as the lead hung up in the grass.

On to the pendulum.

Started off with my go to tournament rod the zzippy primo FT. 14'2" rod casting off of the reducer. This is my baby and I'm "tuned in" with this rod.

3 casts with the 150 sinker.

1 - Snap-pow (again). added oil to bearings to slow things down a bit.
2- 751'
3 - 775'

Switched over to the HDX. Man this thing is light compared to the FT zzippy. Timing was off a bit, switching from the 14'2" + reducer to the 13' HDX caused the first cast to fly left, possibly out of bounds left. Second cast was straight as well as the third.

1 - 667'
2 - 690'
3 - 687'

On a full power 150 g pendulum cast the HDX butt seems to collapse a bit. Felt soft but the lead flew pretty good. The tip is lively and the tip recovery is quick.

After 3 150's I was ready to leave, but decided instead to change reels and give a 125 a try.

The HDX likes the 125 much better on a full pendulum cast. On the first cast timing was again off, line drive low and left. Second cast came around nicely and flew straight and high. If there had been time for more casts, I'm confident the numbers would have gone up a bit more.

1 - 680'
2 - 716'

I really didn't know what to expect with the full pendulum. The rod performed well and I believe it could be considered a true dual purpose rod for most fishermen/casters. A very good casting fishing rod that will also post good numbers on the field. For most fisherman it will perform just fine on the 150 and the 125.

I didn't cut it any slack, hit it hard and it's still in one piece.... lol

Hope for one more round of fishing casts vr the inferno and 1569.

Tommy
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Tommy

Round 4.

Battle of the heavyweight heavers.

I felt like a test driver for road and track putting Porsches and Ferrari’s and Vettes through the paces…. Now if I could just figure out a way to get paid to do this…lol

Thanks to Clyde I was able to put my hands on an Inferno and a 1569 Rainshadow. He surprised me though when he was taping guides on the new Fusion when I pulled up in the drive. This is Tommy Wheelers latest carbon fiber heaver.

The reel used for testing was one of Clyde’s fishing reels. A 6500 blue yonder spooled up with 14 lb Suffix (I think). No mags, just brake blocks and ceramic bearings.

Sinker – 8oz 4 sided pyramid

Conditions, about 70 degrees, tailwind blowing 7-8 mph. Very light rain when I arrived, but it ended within a few minutes.

I threw two casts with each rod using a Hatteras style beach cast. The form seems to be coming back with this old standby cast. Here are the results in the order cast.

Fusion
1 – 523’
2 – 532’
I like this rod. It is lightweight, very powerful and fairly easy to load. The butt is very thin, a size 22 reel seat fits. Works well for my small hands. The only drawback to me is the 9’tip.

HDX
1 – 519’
2 - 531’
I’ve thrown the HDX quite a bit in the past 9 days. It is the lightest of the group, easy to load and very powerful. It would be a pleasure to hold for extended periods “point fishing”. Two equal sections make it easy to transport.

Inferno
1 – 522
2 – 512
It felt to be the heaviest rod in the group. It is also the most powerful. A full power Hatters cast with 8oz just begins to tap the power here. This would be the stick for tossing 10+ oz on a fast running beach. It reminds me a bit of the 2p/1p breakaway. Would not be my 1st choice in this group to hold for hours “point fishing”. Also has a 9’tip.

1569
1 – 478
2 – 503
Very lightweight heaver. Easy to load and well balanced. Not quite as powerful as the other rods but I believe it would be a pleasure to fish. Two equal sections make transport easy.

It is amazing to me how much rod technology has improved in the past few years. My heavers are both 5-6 years old and the differences in weight and power vs these new rods are amazing.

I want one of each…lol

Nick,

I believe you have a winner in the HDX. The rod matches up nicely with the best heavers out there. Good job mate. I will get it packed up and sent back to you in the next day or so.

Tommy
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Tommy

[blackdrum]

How long till public availibility?

[Nickaway]

I should be abel to get a limited number within about six weeks. Regards Nickaway

[SurfRunner]

Just let me know! I might have the money to buy one today.
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Andrew J. Jones