My Powell Max Vs Pinnacle Perfecta Review

[Jiggen]

First off this is not my first post on this forum. Some how I lost my password and was not able to get it back. This has happened twice to me. Also I am not afiliated with either rod

One of the things that I have liked to do threw the years is buy different brands of rods and reels and make my own conclusions on what I prefer. I own Loomis, Powell, BPS. Falcon and Ocuma Rods. My rods range in price from $50 to over $300. As for bang for the buck it was my belief that Powell was hard to beat and it still is. Here is some data on the rods. Both rods are 7' heavy casting. Real seats are Fugi, but not the same. The guides are Fugi and are the same. Including the tip the Powell has 11 guides, one more then the Pinnacle. Because the front of the seats are at different points measured balance points will be from the back of the seat which are the same without the reel. The distance is 6 7/8" for the Powell and 9" for the Pinnacle. With a 7.7 once reel mounted the balance point from the actual front of the reel mount is 1 5/8 " on the Powell and 1 3/4" on the Pinnacle. So much for balance points without reels attached. In hand the Pinnacle feels lighter and in reality the Pinnacle weights 4.2 oz and the Powell weights 5.8 oz. Both rod feel sensitive, but I feel the Pinnacle has the definite edge, but as you know sensitivity is difficult to measure and is mostly judged by the angler. Both rods fish great, but the Pinnacle just seems to be effortless as the day goes on. I do prefer the reel seat better on my Powell and it is what I am used too and you do notice the difference at first. At this point in time I believe the Pinnacle Perfecta Rod gets the nod in looks and overall fish ability and I also feel it is as good as some of the much more expensive rods I own. No doubt Pinnacle has stepped it up over the so called reels and rods they used to produce. Jim

[The Rooster]

Pinnacle has been making reels for other companies for many years and made a few good ones in doing so. It's only recently that they began putting their own name on the really good ones too.

On the rod review, I'd be interested in knowing how each one feels during a fish fight. If it feels stressed, strong, or what?? Also, when casting, which one handles what weight of baits the best?? They might be rated the same in lure weight but sometimes one rod will perform better with weights in the upper end of its range while the other may do better with weights on the lower end.

[deep]

I have a Pinnacle Perfecta 7'8" MH cranking stick, and a Powell Max 7'3" M/XF spinning rod. Very happy with both. Comparing apples to oranges, but considering that each cost $170, I feel that the Powell is more of a rod for the money. I also like the looks of the Powell much better, but that is of course a personal preference. No complaint about the Pinnacle though. It's just that it feels like a good $170 rod, which is what it is. The Powell fishes like a much more expensive rod, not that I've fished too many of those (except a Dobyns Champion and a St Croix Legend Tournament).

EDIT: in case anyone's interested, this is the review I wrote about the Pinnacle about a year back.

[Jiggen]

Well I have. Almost one an half oz lighter for the same rod and the balance point is near the same. Not saying the Powell is not a great rod, but come on. Weight and sensitivity pretty much go together. Just my opinion.

Rooster the rods fish pretty similar, however the Pinnacle seems a little stiffer and loads up a little quicker. They will both handle 1 oz weights, but I prefer stiffer rods for punching and applications that warrant that kind of weight. I can't say enough good things about either rods. As of right now I own 5 Powell rods and just 1 Pinnacle, however those numbers are about to change. Again it still comes to personal preference. Jim

[northern basser]

I also like to experiment with different brands of rods/reels. Recently I picked up a Pinnacle Optimus xlt baitcaster. So far I'm pretty impressed with it. Maybe I'll have to try a rod now.

[Pinnacle1]

Thanks Jim & Deep for both of your reviews. I fished with a Phenix pro staffer yesterday and he was very impressed with the Perfecta's I brought out on the boat. Checkout our Pinnacle Fishing Facebook page we posted up some pics of our trip, no big mules but lots of fun yanking the ones we caught out of the thick kelp off Southern Californa. Don't be affraid to put the wood to them, the Perfecta's are strong as nails. I pulled a double/digit sheephead out of it's cave no problem at Catalina Island a few weeks back. It's the ugly fish with the huge black head & red/black body in our photo gallery.

Thanks again!

[KYntucky Warmouth]

I had the privilege of receiving a Percecta rod during the giveaway and purchased another this spring. I too felt as if Powell was the starting point of quality and value, I used to compare just about everything to them, until I got my pinnacle. I have the 6'6"MH with a Curado 50 that is probably the second best balanced and hardest fished rod I have. I have had no problem landing 4-7 lbers on it, never feels strained or underpowered. My review from the pinnacle forum is here.