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 .