A modern-day classic
There are times when you want to hoof a lead out, fish under your feet and just sit back and drool at their beauty. It would seem Rod Hutchinson’s 2015 Dream Maker model will do all of these
The Rod Hutchinson ‘Dream Maker’ label is special and this new model is the real deal.
The Rod Hutchinson name is now led by ex. Dynamite Baits mastermind, Pete Chandler, along with previous Fox/ACE director Max Cottis who is heading up the product development wing, and it’s under Max’s guidance that the new Dream Maker looks every bit like a modern-day classic: no bells and whistles, no silly graphics – just a minimalist finish, but it’s been done exceptionally well!
“We wanted to further the Dream Maker ethos of perfect playing curves underpinned with the latest materials and technologies to deliver maximum recovery speed; which basically means maximum casting potential,” boldly states Max. “Each Dream Maker blank is built with Japanese 40T 1K low resin woven carbon cloths for a lighter, faster, more responsive blank.”
Said blank’s woven charcoal 1K finish is certainly attractive; the soft-sheen finish is certainly becoming of a blank of this calibre. And in the hand, the rod is both light, beautifully balanced and it feels ‘alive’; the transmission of data down its spine is second-to-none.
The range of test curves echo the action of the rod perfect. The lightest model, the 2.75lb, is perfect for small water fishing (up to about 120yds!) whist the heavyweight 3.5lb XT option offers the steepest taper, making it perfect for inland seas and tournament casting whilst still never forgetting it’s ‘a fishing rod’. And such is the attention to detail when it comes to the ‘feel’ of these rods, Max has even managed to get the fittings to enhance the subtleties involved in the rod’s make-up.
“Because of advanced materials utilised in its construction, the blank is light enough without having to lose weight and strength by using single-leg rings,” says Max, “So 3 leg rings, which are both strong and deliver peak performance and incredible durability thanks to their Zirconium Oxide centres are used throughout.”
Over the past decade, the previous Dream Maker design team seemed to lose its magic touch. Fortunately, the new model looks cracking from all angles. It’s classy but clean and right at the centre of it is the handle choice: a top-end Fuji Gunsmoke DPS-18 winch fitting (which is finished by a slim duplon collar), selected because it’s more durable in finish than other anodised options and the guys at Rod Hutchinson still believe it to be the most comfortable on the market. Plus, the genuine Fuji fittings are proven not to crack or warp and stick over time.
Down the bottom, the butt grip, as a shrink/duplon hybrid, delivers a positive, vice-like grip. And along with the black whippings used throughout, the laser-etched butt cap crowns the ensemble. The 2015 Dream Maker says everything by keeping quiet and understated, but was that how it would perform?
The first, most noticeable action that comes from having a cast with the 12ft 3.5lb model is Max wasn’t talking bollocks when it came to the action. It’s light in the hand yet its recovery makes for effortless casts, plus the action builds swiftly and loads well into the cast. We trialled the rod with a Tournament 5000T which was loaded with 16lb Deceptive and it performed exceptionally well.
Of course we tried our utmost to break it. Trashing out overhead casts, ridiculous pendulum casts – you name it, we tried it, but ultimately we failed to achieve anything but long, straight, easy casts.
Sometimes, when it all comes together, there’s real magic. The Dream Maker of 2015 is just such a rod. It’s good to have you back, Rod, so now more of the same with the rest of the range please.
“GIMME”: From £269.90; rodhutchinson.co.uk
