EG IRSC 71MH Super stallion aurora

Wowzers, that's a beautiful combo.  Can't wait for more on the water review with lots of tight line results.

Outstanding, waiting on mine…not so patiently…taper close to the TKIC? 

just and amazing setup you have there.. what a treat that you got it for the holidays.

I believe that rod is the limited edition special order only correct? 

Thanks fellas.

@rise: taper seems true to the OG, but can’t say for sure until I pull some fish out the water. It’s been dink city for me the last couple of weeks, but that’s changing fast. A little warm front just came through too, which will wake up some early birds to the shallows in the next couple days I’m sure. 

@goldrod Yes; I put an order in for this one several months ago when evergreen put out a call. I imagine that some may appear at retailers, but I was pretty sure at that time that I wanted an example. 

@polkfish1 can't wait to hear more. Please post some catch pics ASAP. 👍

Any updates, @polkfish? I won’t be able to get on the water for a minute, so I’m living vicariously through you until then, in regards to this stick….

@rise 

It’s been a while since I have been able to post. I’ve been exceptionally busy and all free time has been dedicated to fishing.

This rod has been in my line up since it came in. I am now quite confident that this rod should not leave anyone disappointed. It’s well balanced and floats in my hands, so I think it feels even lighter than the 4.6 oz or so that it weighs. It’s very attractive and has felt and proven exceptionally sturdy. This rod is exceptionally sensitive and in about a 1-2 oz sweet spot, casting is machine like in terms of accuracy and predictability. In my hands it fishes like a heavy power in the Gloomis rating system with fast action. It has massive power reserves in the bat, and can easily handle the largest FL bass that I can find. The taper is progressive so when hooking into a monster it will deflect deeper into the blank as is typical of higher end JDM rods. I’ve fished the rod with all sort of presentations with both moving baits and bottom contact jig and worm presentations. It’s a versatile rod and could handle most bass applications within the 3/8-3 oz wait range including larger baits. I chucked a TK around with it and it felt great. But, after a month or so of goofing around with it, I found that I liked it for bottom contact the best. The taper and sensitivity makes it an ideal jig and worm rod the way I fish. I have a number of moving bait rods in my lineup currently that I just love for those applications and this one could not bump any of those for that purpose. I’m not sure if this rod measures up to the original TKLC, but maybe its not a completely fair comparison. It seems like there’s just more great rods these days and it might be a little more difficult to stand out.

No need to apologize. I’ve had mine for a minute and haven’t even thought about taking it out until I’m done with the Gravius Aurora mods. I think your assessment is spot on. And for me…It’s tough to surpass the performance of the TKIC and TKLC series. The TKLC just has that cult classic “it factor” that stands alone in my book. This one seems ever so slightly slower than the TKIC, in my hands, which will move it into the techniques you’ve mentioned. The TKIC is often called upon for close range pitching duties, but I don’t feel the Ltd will take its place. Thanks so much for following up with some great details…hoping all is well over there. 🤙🏼

One last thing I forgot to mention about this rod. The double footed semi-micro guides all the way up to the tippy top inspire tons of confidence when chucking bigger baits at the upper recommended limit and they easily let any knot through. Look nice on the blank too in that it does not look like you're going after bass with a shark rod.

@polkfish1 well said. I should have mine out next week and will be tossing a monster on it first, to see where it can go from there before tapping out. Have you landed anything on it yet and what have you been tossing on yours?

Oh yeah. I have to get one or two 1

hour sessions in per day at minimum or my heads not right, so I’ve caught some fish on it. If I recall, I have caught at least a couple of what I’d consider good fish on it too. It’s everything you would expect. Sensitive af, powerful, yet eases into the blank when fighting a good one. I’m a junk fisherman that wants to catch fish when I go out, so I have not tested a bunch of different things on it like the tackle tour guys might. But I did toss around two popular big baits in that vain. I just went out and tossed a TK reel quick just to see

how that looked and it was natural. I also tossed a citizen for a few sessions and actually caught a couple mediums that way, but no monsters. Handled it well also, but my preference is to have at least a 7’4” stick or longer for those applications. I had no trouble launching them where they needed to go, however. Most of its work has come on the bottom with jig and worm type baits. But I also tossed jackhammer with it and even a big crank. Gary Loomis might balk at my approach that ignores technique specificity. But really as a junk fisherman, if I had to, I could probably take care of everything I needed to with this one rod.

I’m with you and the TKIC is a rod that will do it all as well. The Aurora feels a hair softer/slower in taper though. On a side note: I’m anxious to try out the Fragment Phenomenon 741MH (won’t be here til June)and the Limited Concept Destruction I picked up recently as well. Should be fun options.

Ha! You and I are on the same wavelength brother. Or perhaps it’s your influence on me. I also preordered the Phenomenon in 741. I ordered the 3 oz upper limit blank in one piece version breaking at the handle. Mine is supposed to be ready some time in June. I also pre-ordered the new MD DC to strap into it. I rarely get rod and reel combos at once, but this one seemed like a perfect marriage. We’ll have to compare notes in June

@polkfish1 outstanding, brother…same with the 3oz upper. Good stuff.