WYCHWOOD CONSTRUCTION
The
Pandemonium is built using our favourite family of high modulus radical
transverse weave carbon cloths. The weaving process used for the Pandemonium
significantly increases the contact area between the strands of carbon,
giving greater tensile and impact strength than the unwoven cloth. This is a
fully woven blank. Take a close look around the handle fittings and the
over-fit spigot. Notice any change in the construction? No, that is because
we haven't skimped on build quality by using a wrap that stops in those
critical, yet hidden points of the blank.BLANK
Built on custom-made mandrels, the Pandemonium is like no other carp rod
available. The action is considerably stiffer than the MAXIMISER,
particularly in the butt section, yet the diameter tapers from only 14mm to
9.85mm. Despite the slim blank, the butt section has been designed along
tournament casting rod principles to have minimal flex - essential with off
the ground casting styles
The over-fit joint flows smoothly into the lower tip section, which mirrors
the stiffness of the butt section. Action really begins to kick in 130cm (4
feet) from the tip, giving a semi-fast tapered action to the rod as a whole.
Despite the fast action, the tip is still surprisingly responsive,
minimising the chance of hook pulls even when playing fish under the rod
tip.
GUIDES
Like the Wychwood MAXIMISER, the Pandemonium benefits from the use of double
leg SLIM rings throughout. These silicon rings have significantly narrower
profiles than standard SiC rings and so weigh much less, and do not affect
the balance or the action of the blank. The Pandemonium is fitted with five
rings, plus tip in the following configuration: 12t, 12, 16, 20, 30, 40.
FITTINGS
The Pandemonium is fitted with polished stainless steel collars and an
abbreviated ergonomic medium density Duplon handle. The size 20 reel seat is
of hybrid alloy carbon construction for minimum weight
Like other Wychwood rods, the Pandemonium has functional touches like the
black whipped 6" and 12" depth markers above the handle. No bells and
whistles, just pure performance.
ON THE BANK
Despite not having the heavy dead feel of many long distance casting tools,
the Pandemonium's light weight (total weight 387 grams) belies the hidden
power in the blank. Longest cast so far has been just under 200 metres with
a shock-leader and 0.28mm main line. More impressive though was the 170m
cast achieved using a prototype rod by Jason Cann with a shock-leader and
0.35mm main line!
There may be pure tournament rods that will put a lead out further than the
Pandemonium, but are they really a pleasure to fish with? We think not. The
Pandemonium can put a lead out a very long way, and is still an absolute joy
to play fish on. During field testing, even with casts up to 200m, the full
potential of this rod has yet to be realised. But one thing is certain
-there are few rods in this category that are more fun to fish with.
