My review of the Abu Garcia Veritas PLX tournament edition casting rod

[CrashVector]

Finally got my hands on one despite it being backordered until dec. 29th.

 

Mine is a 7'6" fast/heavy.

 

In comparison to my 3rd gen veritas rod (white rod w black grips), the plx TE is a large step forward.

 

Most noticable is that despite being identical in specs, the TE is fully 1/3rd thinner than the older rod.

 

The TE has no finish, so essentially the rod IS the blank with minimal guide wraps.

 

Gen3 veritas is 30ton modulus graphite, the TE is 36ton.

 

The handle is carbon fiber, and very comfortable.

 

Guides are micros, titanium alloy with zirconium inserts.

 

Direct subjective comparison is that the TE is most definitely more sensitive, and feeling exactly what a bottom contact bait is doing is no problem even on soft mud.

 

Full price, including taxes here in LA was $187.23.  This rod punches above it's price point imo, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone.

[ironbjorn]

17 minutes ago, CrashVector said:

 

 

Guides are micros

[CrashVector]

3 minutes ago, ironbjorn said:

I prefer microguides.

[Diggy]

Fishing fluoro? 

[dodgeguy]

5 hours ago, CrashVector said:

I prefer microguides.

That makes 2

[CrashVector]

4 hours ago, Diggy said:

Fishing fluoro? 

20lb braid.

[ajschn06]

On 12/18/2021 at 9:47 AM, ironbjorn said:

 

 

I'm not sure I'd call them true "micro's" though, would you @CrashVector ?  They seem pretty standard to me.  The fazlight guides on my tatula seem much smaller/flimsier.  It's a fabulous rod, I got a 6'10" MH direct from Abu- the grip is super nice.  I paired it with a Revo STX and I can't wait for the ice to melt.

On 12/18/2021 at 3:24 PM, CrashVector said:

20lb braid.

You're fishing 20 pound braid on a Heavy power casting setup?

[Deleted account]

On 12/18/2021 at 10:50 AM, CrashVector said:

I prefer microguides.

Some folks like Big Macs...

[CrashVector]

2 hours ago, ajschn06 said:

 

 

I'm not sure I'd call them true "micro's" though, would you @CrashVector ?  They seem pretty standard to me.  The fazlight guides on my tatula seem much smaller/flimsier.  It's a fabulous rod, I got a 6'10" MH direct from Abu- the grip is super nice.  I paired it with a Revo STX and I can't wait for the ice to melt.

You're fishing 20 pound braid on a Heavy power casting setup?

 

Yes.  20lb braid.  If I use mono, it's 12-15lb.

[ajschn06]

2 hours ago, CrashVector said:

 

Yes.  20lb braid.  If I use mono, it's 12-15lb.

That’s wild, and you don’t run into any issues?  Throw frogs on that setup at all?

[CrashVector]

1 hour ago, ajschn06 said:

That’s wild, and you don’t run into any issues?  Throw frogs on that setup at all?

 

I'm confused.  What issues would I have?

 

And yes...I throw several frogs with it.  Frog fishing is my 2nd favorite way of bass fishing.

[OldManLure]

On 12/18/2021 at 10:27 AM, CrashVector said:

Finally got my hands on one despite it being backordered until dec. 29th.

 

Mine is a 7'6" fast/heavy.

 

In comparison to my 3rd gen veritas rod (white rod w black grips), the plx TE is a large step forward.

 

Most noticable is that despite being identical in specs, the TE is fully 1/3rd thinner than the older rod.

 

The TE has no finish, so essentially the rod IS the blank with minimal guide wraps.

 

Gen3 veritas is 30ton modulus graphite, the TE is 36ton.

 

The handle is carbon fiber, and very comfortable.

 

Guides are micros, titanium alloy with zirconium inserts.

 

Direct subjective comparison is that the TE is most definitely more sensitive, and feeling exactly what a bottom contact bait is doing is no problem even on soft mud.

 

Full price, including taxes here in LA was $187.23.  This rod punches above it's price point imo, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone.

I agree!  I received mine a week ago (a Christmas present).  It was becoming a struggle to wait until Christmas Day to ‘open’ it with temps here in high 50s - low 60s and water holding at mid 40s.  My daughter saw my anguish and feeling sorry for me told me to go ahead and take it out, so I went bank fishing this weekend.  An absolutely awesome rod.  And it is incredibly sensitive.  So sensitive I had to watch my language.

[CrashVector]

49 minutes ago, OldManLure said:

I agree!  I received mine a week ago (a Christmas present).  It was becoming a struggle to wait until Christmas Day to ‘open’ it with temps here in high 50s - low 60s and water holding at mid 40s.  My daughter saw my anguish and feeling sorry for me told me to go ahead and take it out, so I went bank fishing this weekend.  An absolutely awesome rod.  And it is incredibly sensitive.  So sensitive I had to watch my language.

 

Yep.  I've fished with $350 rods that aren't as good.

[HaydenS]

1 hour ago, CrashVector said:

 

I'm confused.  What issues would I have?

 

And yes...I throw several frogs with it.  Frog fishing is my 2nd favorite way of bass fishing.

He’s asking cause most of us throw frogs on 50-65 pound braid.  What brand are you using?

[OldManLure]

16 minutes ago, HaydenS said:

He’s asking cause most of us throw frogs on 50-65 pound braid.  What brand are you using?

Good lord, for what, gators?

[CrashVector]

2 hours ago, HaydenS said:

He’s asking cause most of us throw frogs on 50-65 pound braid.  What brand are you using?

You don't need 50-65lb braid unless you're shark fishing offshore.

 

I use suffix ProMix or hercules fade proof.

 

 

[Bluebasser86]

6 hours ago, OldManLure said:

Good lord, for what, gators?

Never hooked a halfway decent sized bass in heavy slop on a frog? I use 20lb braid for my treble hook topwaters, it wouldn't get it done in the stuff I frog fish though.

[CrashVector]

29 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Never hooked a halfway decent sized bass in heavy slop on a frog? I use 20lb braid for my treble hook topwaters, it wouldn't get it done in the stuff I frog fish though.

 

Unless branches are made of something different where you are, I've never needed more than 20lb braid...and I fish in swamps.

[Bluebasser86]

1 minute ago, CrashVector said:

 

Unless branches are made of something different where you are, I've never needed more than 20lb braid...and I fish in swamps.

Guessing you don't fish water willows? They'll eat that 20lb braid for lunch, especially if you mix in a sprinkling of zebra mussels.

[Spankey]

I hope you enjoy that rod. I’ve been very satisfied with the couple of Veritas “Winch” series rods I’ve been fishing with as of lately. I have an Ike Delay coming for Christmas, not sure which one, I threw a few models out there and I’ll fish with whatever comes. I’m thinking of going with an Abu fast or x-fast spin version sometime in near future. I have no kicks with the handful of Abu stuff I fish. I don’t trust much what I read in reviews. I’ll take my chance and see how it goes. Glad I’ve taken my chances. 

[ajschn06]

15 hours ago, CrashVector said:

 

I'm confused.  What issues would I have?

 

And yes...I throw several frogs with it.  Frog fishing is my 2nd favorite way of bass fishing.

 

20 pounds for braid seems extremely light for a casting setup, especially combined with a Heavy rod.  Also, that thin of braid can be difficult to handle on a baitcaster.  20 pound braid to me is finesse line.

[CrashVector]

1 hour ago, ajschn06 said:

 

20 pounds for braid seems extremely light for a casting setup, especially combined with a Heavy rod.  Also, that thin of braid can be difficult to handle on a baitcaster.  20 pound braid to me is finesse line.

 

I've used it for a long time with zero issues.

 

I catfish with 20lb mono....bass fish with 12lb mono.  20lb line is overkill for catching 5-10lb fish imo, and have never run across a situation where it was insufficient.

 

 

The braid on my finesse spinning reel is 15lb.

 

I do what works for me, and what works is 20lb braid direct to my lure with a relatively stiff rod with a fast action.

 

I never use leaders of any sort, so microguides are my preferred guides.

 

I catch a lot of fish, so it it ain't broke...

 

Everyone has their opinions on everything, including me.  I do what works,and have never had all these problems people say I should have with 20lb braid, etc.

 

[CrashVector]

8 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Guessing you don't fish water willows? They'll eat that 20lb braid for lunch, especially if you mix in a sprinkling of zebra mussels.

If you are fishing where your line is getting cut by zebra mussels, then using braid in those locations isn't the best option to begin with.

 

Using huge braid defeats the purpose of using lines that are supposed to be thinner for the lb/test imo.

 

If what you're doing is fun for you, then by all means keep doing it.

 

However, I do what works for me, and have never felt that I needed line that was 3x stronger than what I'm already using.

 

It's like the people saying you need specific rods for each different lure.  I have a bunch of casting rods...but they're all either mh/f or h/f.  I have what works best for how I fish.

[HaydenS]

On 12/20/2021 at 6:24 PM, OldManLure said:

Good lord, for what, gators?

 

18 hours ago, CrashVector said:

 

Unless branches are made of something different where you are, I've never needed more than 20lb braid...and I fish in swamps.

 Do you guys do any heavy flipping or punching or heavy slop frogging?  I’d be a little scared of using fair wand line in that stuff.  Guys in Florida punch with 80 pound braid.

I’ve caught countless fish on 65 pound braid.

My frog rod has 65 pound braid and my heavy flippin stick has 20 pound fluoro.  I would only use 20 pound braid on a spinning rod, or for an open water topwater rod.    

 

[OldManLure]

23 minutes ago, HaydenS said:

 

 Do you guys do any heavy flipping or punching or heavy slop frogging?  I’d be a little scared of using fair wand line in that stuff.  Guys in Florida punch with 80 pound braid.

I’ve caught countless fish on 65 pound braid.

My frog rod has 65 pound braid and my heavy flippin stick has 20 pound fluoro.  I would only use 20 pound braid on a spinning rod, or for an open water topwater rod.    

 

I don’t doubt you, and I’m sure there is no compelling reason to not use that size braid, but it just seems unnecessarily excessive.