First Impression Two things I noticed from the get-go were how light the rod felt and the absence of any cork or foam grip around the handle( except for the small eVa foam butt cap). The 7- foot, 3-inch rod weighs only 3.9 ounces, yet is well balanced and slim for a heavypower, extra-fast-action stick that’ s rated for baits as heavy 1 ounce and lines as stout as 20-pound test.

The thin blank tapers to a fatter diameter where it meets with the handle section, and the two parts are

forged together into one using a patented design known as iGrip.

The blank is topped with 10 premium Fuji TORZITe titanium-frame guides and accented by classy silver pinstriping that blends nicely with the gunmetal finish.

In Action

The summit 731H has a stout, extra-fast tip that transfers to a stiff backbone. I put it to use with a variety of baits and techniques in water as skinny as 2 feet and as deep as 28 feet, and it performed well across the board.

Up shallow, I used the rod for throwing swim jigs, bladed jigs, spinnerbaits and 5- to 6-inch paddle-tail swimbaits around pad stubble and scattered grass. I cast Texas rigs and jigs on spawning flats and pitched them around bushes, docks and other scattered shore cover. The rod delivered solid hooksets at

the end of long casts and plenty of power to get fish under control and coming toward the boat quickly.

While some anglers might prefer a little lighter tip when casting accuracy around targets is important, the extra-fast action and overall design of the blank allowed me to“ stay in contact” with bottom composition, bait action and subtle bites. The sensitivity is outstanding. I spent a lot of time using the rod away from the bank, mostly around stumps and hard bottoms in combination with a Texas and carolina rig. I can’ t say for sure there wasn’ t a peck, bump or any other vibration down the line that got by unnoticed, but there weren’ t many.

Final Thoughts

I was a little apprehensive at first about the slick handle on a heavy-action rod, mainly because I had never fished with a stiff rod

that didn’ t have some sort of cushion at the contact point where the fat part of my palm meets with the handle. another of my early concerns was potential slippage due to water, sweat or sunscreen. The worries waned after I used it for a few fishing trips and was able to develop a feel for something different than what I was used to. If the handle bothers you, a couple of wraps with Winn Rod Overwrap tape should alleviate the problem.

Overall, the rod’ s light weight made it a real pleasure to fish with all day using multiple techniques, and the sensitivity made it easy to detect any change in bottom composition and subtle strikes. The slim blank provides plenty of leverage and power for tangling with big fish around heavy cover. Just remember: It’ s not a rod that will double as a chin-up bar when you get home.