Long Term Review of FCL Labo UCB-80 Extreme

[Duncan O'Connell]

http://www.fishhead.com.au/store/products/FCL-Labo-UCB%252d80-Extreme.html















Point Lookout GT

[Samuel Chieng]

Great looking rod. How's it cast those 200 Kongs? The rod able to take the load when casting? IYO, will it be able to handle bigger GTs up to the 50s, comfortably, like does it have enough grunt left to muscle in some bigger ones?

[Duncan O'Connell]

The rod is able to take the load of Kong 200s and 155 Masterd Bombs very well. The parabolic nature of the taper allows it to cast a pretty wide variety of weights effectively. Faster tapered rods tend to fold away in the tip more, leaving the angler feeling like the rod is overloaded when casting lures at the upper end of the rods ability.  Slower tapered or more parabolic rods like this FCL 80EXT load further and further into the butt with increasing weight on the cast so they don't get that over loaded feeling as much. 

I wouldn't be concerned about hooking up on a 50kg gt on this rod if I was in a reasonably clean location.  It is a PE8 rod so you would just use patience on a monster. If I was expecting big fish or I was in a rough spot, where I need brute force to drag the fish out then I'd probably choose to fish a heavier rod (usually for me the Seven Seas Big Pop Ultra)

Cheers
Duncan

[Andy Rowe]

Hi Duncan,

Thanks for the excellent review. Have to say i am overly impressed by the claimed rod weight, it must be the lightest PE8 GT rod on the market.

I note on your site you say the rod is PE8-10 is this based on the manufactureres rating?

I see there is a UCB-81 Extreme for stickbaits as well, is this a conventional butt-join or mid-join like the 80 version? If you have tried it out would you mind comparing the 2 rods

Thanks again for your informative posts.

Andy

[Duncan O'Connell]

Hi Andy

The 80EXT probably is the lightest (physical) weight GT rod I've used. The rod PE rating on the web is what we came up with. Tsurusaki san hasn't given it a specific line rating. I used PE8 and 10 Avani GT over the rod - simply because that's what my GT reels are spooled with. I certainly haven't pushed the PE10/130lb Avani to its limit on the rod though. I think it sits nicely as an 80-100lb stick.

The UCB81 Ext was designed at our request for a heavy stickbait/ medium popper rod. It has a faster taper at the tip for working the stickbaits and overall it is a more powerful rod - being rated for a 14kg deadlift. The 81Ext is has a conventional butt join as well.

I'll get some pictures organised of the two rods loaded tomorrow when I'm in the store. I used the 81EXT as a prototype and was very impressed, but I haven't had the chance to swing the production rod in anger as yet. Hopefully that will be recified in the next week.

Cheers

Duncan

[kelvinchew]

Hi Duncan

U reckon the 81EXT  will handle chuggers at all with the softer tip?

Looking to get a rod to handle chuggers to 150g and yet not too stiff for stickbaits. Have heard some good reviews on the 80EXT but somewhat not too keen on it being a mid joint rod.

Thanks in advance...

Kelvin

[Mark Harris]

Sounds like a very nice rod Duncan and thanks so much for such an exhaustive review.

The lightness really appeals.

[Travis Heaps]

Had Tom send me a ucb81 ext last week, nice looking stick. Only had a couple of dozen casts at the beach so far but seems the goods. Casts very well, stiff rod. Nice give in the tip to dance the sticks around, but appears to have plenty of grunt down low, agree with the heavy stickbait rod classification.  Kelvin-didnt have a true popper with me but had a patriot designs xtx with me, standing at water level i couldnt get it to pop until in around 15m from me. Will try and get down with some proper poppers this weekend. Will post up again if reminded or i remember once ive loaded it up on a fish or three. 

[kelvinchew]

Thanks Travis. I had the chance of playing around with it and found it to be exactly as u said, distance= not very effective in chugging due to the softer tip but still a wonderful rod.

Leaning more to the 80ext at the moment as an all rounder rod.

Pls do share what your new findings as i have have not made up my mind

Cheers

[Duncan O'Connell]

Hi Travis

Those XTXs don't pop much at the best of times, they're really more of a swimming/darting action lure. I think you'll find the 81 EXT fine for small to medium face poppers, but not so good on the big chuggers.

Cheers

Duncan

[Travis Heaps]

Yeah Duncan, first time id swum the xtx but figured as much. Could get it going in close but no hope at distance. Side note, loved the xtx action. Just looking at the rod tip i wouldnt think it would have any trouble with medium face poppers.  Weather coming good this weekend, hoping to give the new rod a good run so will post up again afterwards.

[Travis Heaps]

Hey crew - weekend just gone I got my first GT on the 81-extream you sent me recently.  First fish was a baby spaniard on the SSP-220S but this was the first fish to put a decent bend in, went 111cm fork length and 'm not sure if it was a huge hit or just because it happened right beside the boat but the strike was the best i've seen for ages.  Being my first decent rod i'm loving it, thanks.

[Duncan O'Connell]

Glad you like the rod Travis!
fingers crossed i get to put a bend in our 81-Extreme tomorrow.

Cheers
Tom

[Andy Rowe]

Travis / Tom looking forward to hearing some more reviews of this stick bait rod.

Andy

[Andy Rowe]

Men,

Any more reviews on the 80 and 81 versions of this rod up yet?

Duncan with 14kg drag on the 81 what is reccomended on the 80?

Do you consider the 81 a stronger rod? by virtue of the butt join or the blank or is it equal to the 80?

Will the 80 work stick baits or do you think too stiff?

And if anyone has used both what would be your pick if you had to choose one.

Thanks in advance for any replies, my birthday coming up soon and looking for an exotic present to myself

Cheers