2014 Shimano Crucial

[John G]

It's ***'s new high end rod. It won't be available for a while. It's top of the line in every aspect.

Thanks!

[odell015]

Hi everyone, I don't post a lot but frequent the forum reading topics. Just a FYI from my recent experience with the Shimano Crucial rods: I had purchased in February 2013 a 6'8 Crucial M/H Fast action 3/16-5/8....split grip "worm" specific. The rod broke this spring May 2014 during the spawn while casting a Chatterbait with a swim trailer on it, I was heartbroken.

 

Needless to say the rod was barely a year old and thus I sent this back to Shimano in early June. After not receiving anything for several weeks, I called them. They told me the new series was not due out until the early fall of 2014, and I would have to wait until then. They also told me they couldn't offer a 6'8 rod size anymore and would only have 6'6 or 7'0 rod sizes. Additionally, they told me the split grip would not be available to the public until November, which sucked for me because I liked that style.

 

I received my rod yesterday and my initial thoughts are these: The cork is supple, soft yet feels durable, and is a full grip. The rod they sent me is a 7'0 3/16-5/8 MH fast action. My old crucial was jet black which I loved, this is green until the first fugi eyelet and then it turns this carbon fiber black looking color, kind of weird but it grew on me.

 

I fished it from my kayak for 6 hours last night. I threw mostly 1/8 weights with soft plastics all night and had some success catching 16 bass total. The rod held up fine, the eyelits look a little smaller and "tougher" than those on my old crucial rod and the reel seat feels great in your hand with my Sahara 3000 reel. It is light, (compared to my St. Croix mojo bass 7FT MHF) but had enough backbone to get the job done. Small bites were more detectable than my St. Croix mojo bass.

 

To sum this up, if you are in need of the split grip, it looks like it wont come til Noveber, from what the customer service said. If you were in love with the jet black color of the Crucial, you might not like this Green/Grey combo, although I have to say it grew on me fast. Other than that its business as usual with shimano, appears to be an upgrade as it feels "tougher" than the past models, yet retains the same weight and feel.

 

I will try to provide pictures asap. I am assuming I am one of the first to have this rod as I have not seen it in stores? PM or email me with any more questions. Thanks everyone and happy fishing.

[dam0007]

TW has split grip models in stock casting not spinning it looks like.

Hi everyone, I don't post a lot but frequent the forum reading topics. Just a FYI from my recent experience with the Shimano Crucial rods: I had purchased in February 2013 a 6'8 Crucial M/H Fast action 3/16-5/8....split grip "worm" specific. The rod broke this spring May 2014 during the spawn while casting a Chatterbait with a swim trailer on it, I was heartbroken.

 

Needless to say the rod was barely a year old and thus I sent this back to Shimano in early June. After not receiving anything for several weeks, I called them. They told me the new series was not due out until the early fall of 2014, and I would have to wait until then. They also told me they couldn't offer a 6'8 rod size anymore and would only have 6'6 or 7'0 rod sizes. Additionally, they told me the split grip would not be available to the public until November, which sucked for me because I liked that style.

 

I received my rod yesterday and my initial thoughts are these: The cork is supple, soft yet feels durable, and is a full grip. The rod they sent me is a 7'0 3/16-5/8 MH fast action. My old crucial was jet black which I loved, this is green until the first fugi eyelet and then it turns this carbon fiber black looking color, kind of weird but it grew on me.

 

I fished it from my kayak for 6 hours last night. I threw mostly 1/8 weights with soft plastics all night and had some success catching 16 bass total. The rod held up fine, the eyelits look a little smaller and "tougher" than those on my old crucial rod and the reel seat feels great in your hand with my Sahara 3000 reel. It is light, (compared to my St. Croix mojo bass 7FT MHF) but had enough backbone to get the job done. Small bites were more detectable than my St. Croix mojo bass.

 

To sum this up, if you are in need of the split grip, it looks like it wont come til Noveber, from what the customer service said. If you were in love with the jet black color of the Crucial, you might not like this Green/Grey combo, although I have to say it grew on me fast. Other than that its business as usual with shimano, appears to be an upgrade as it feels "tougher" than the past models, yet retains the same weight and feel.

 

I will try to provide pictures asap. I am assuming I am one of the first to have this rod as I have not seen it in stores? PM or email me with any more questions. Thanks everyone and happy fishing.

[fishballer06]

Ordered the 6'10" MHF split grip casting rod yesterday, since TW was showing them in stock. I have a weekend trip next weekend. I'll report back with how it performs. 

[odell015]

I have over 30 hours on the new Crucial 7ft m/h/f since 7/25/14. The only problem I have had so far is when reeling in slack line at a rapid pace, the line gets caught on the bait holder just above the start of the cork grip. I took a little hockey tape and put it over that bait holder and it has done the trick. I haven't noticed a difference in sensitivity because of the tape.

 

Don't know why Shimano put the bait/hook holder there but it seems to be a nuisance.