Dark Matter John Skinner Surf Spinning Rods
The Dark Matter John Skinner Surf Spinning Surf Rod is what John wants in a surf rod! This requires a specific moderate action to make the lures work the way John wants them to. It is built on a terrific blank that is constructed of M3NANO carbon that is durable and performs well over time. They are outfitted with Fuji Alconite K Guides that are not only designed for braided fishing lines but are in the layout that John has found to be optimal for targeting stripers and other game fish from the beach. The graphite Fuji reel seat will accommodate all modern spinning reels and has a locking nut at the bottom so your reel doesn't come loose when you are up to your chest in water and fighting the fish of a lifetime! The fore and rear grips on these surf rods are X-Wrap which is extremely comfortable and does not break down like cork. Here's what John Skinner thinks of this surf rod:
"The origins of the 9’ 2’’ rod go back to the mid 90’s when I first handled John Scherr’s 9-foot “Montauk Eel Rod”. I knew it was a starting point for what I wanted. Over the next 25 years a high percentage of my surf fishing on ocean and sound beaches was done with variants of that rod. I tweaked the length and guide layout, and upgraded guides as better ones became available. Other than length, I had no control over the blank itself, until I had the opportunity to specify exactly what I wanted in this Dark Matter model. After adjustments were made to a series of prototypes, the rod is now exactly what I’ve been looking for! This moderate action 9-foot 2-inch rod has a lure sweet spot in the 1- to 3-ounce range, but I regularly use it for heavier plugs as well as live and rigged eels. It’s a superb pencil popper and bucktail rod, and provides effortless long-distance casts with plugs similar to Daiwa Salt Pros. The rod allows schoolie bass to give a good account of themselves, but the moderate action lets the angler take advantage of the power in the full length of the rod to easily whip bass in the 30- to 40-pound-plus range. I match mine to a 5000- or 6000-size reel spooled with 30-pound-test braid.
When fishing smaller bay waters with payloads in the 3/8- to 1 ¾-ounce range, I prefer an 8-foot rod. The 8-foot Dark Matter is a scaled down version of the 9’2’’ rod and is perfect with a 4000-size reeled spooled with 20-pound-test braid. While this rod is a lot of fun with schoolie stripers, it has the power required to whip a cow bass or teen bluefish when needed. It’s also a superb rod for False Albacore fishing and its light weight allows for many hours of casting with no fatigue.
When the surf is up and you need to punch heavier lures into a strong wind, the 10-foot Dark Matter is up to the task. This is also a great rod for casting large eels and provides the stopping power to control trophy stripers around boulders and other obstructions. Match this with a reel in the 6500-size range spooled with 30- or 40-pound-test braid and you’ll be able to handle any big striper or bluefish that comes your way.
This 70/30 split on these 2-piece rods allow them to fish like a 1-piece rods while providing a wider range of transport options."
The Dark Matter John Skinner Surf Spinning Surf Rod is available in three models. Choose from 8' and 9'2" in one-piece and two piece models. There is also a 10' one-piece model. These rods are perfect for throwing lures from the beach. The 8' is rated 3/8-2 ozs and the 9'2" is rated 1-3 but can easily handle up to 4 oz lures. The 10' model can handle 2-5 oz lures. The 70/30 split in the 2-piece models means you get all the action of a one-piece rod with the portability of a 2-piece. They are gray and black with a hint of purple. If you're a fan of John Skinner or if you just love surf fishing, add one of these rods to your arsenal. These surf rods are priced right!
Models: JSS802M-S, JSS801M-S, JSS9202M-S, JSS9201M-S, JSS1001M-S
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