The 'New' Generation Of Longbow
This month, Daiwa, the luxury Scottish rod builders, unleash a completely new generation of rod from the much-loved Longbow sub-brand and it goes by the name of Longbow X45 M.
New’: it’s the word being bandied around a lot by the CARPology Review Team as they stand beside a huge inland sea thrashing what can only be described as one of Daiwa’s best-looking rod creations. New is the keyword that CARPology’s Iain Mitchell keeps reading out as he runs through the spec of what Daiwa are calling their “best Longbow model to date”.
On paper, it is the most powerful, most spec-ed up, mid-to-top-end Daiwa rod ever, and in the hands, when you make a cast, those stats are perfectly reflected. New X45 bias carbon tech? Yep. Supplemented with new HVF nanoplus (read that as ‘more muscle, less fat’)? Of course. Built on the proven Magnum Taper profile. Obviously. Near skeletal TDG guides to reduce the downforce and speed up recovery? 100%. And have the ability to cast to the moon but play a carp with the equivalent finesse of a 2.5lb floater rod? Abso-bloody-lutely.
The first cast is met with the obligatory “holy crap!” We apologise for the blasphemy but it’s well-founded. To combine power with such a forgiving, throughout action blank is rare, really rare, but we shouldn’t have been surprised. The backbone of this rod is built on the proven Magnum Taper profile, which has always offered high-power-down-below, with a highly responsive tip action—something which was pioneered by the original (and legendary) Infinity’s.
So Daiwa has taken this tried and proven profile and then used their latest and improved edition of X45 bias carbon tech that delivers even better power conversion and accuracy thanks to a higher torsion resistance. This carbon is then supplemented with High Volume Fibre (HVF) with intelligent reinforcing resins, so you get more strength (muscle) but in a thinner blank (less fat). On paper, and in the hand, they sound and feel sensational, and as longtime Marketing Manager Stephen Mccaveny put it to us: “There have been other series of Longbows before, but there is too much ‘new’ in their design and performance to say they are just the ‘next version’ of anything. They represent a massive leap forward in performance.”
The proof of that statement is clearly shown in their model lineup, which includes a groundbreaking 4lb TC model. Such a test curve would normally be reserved for a marker or spod rod, however, the outstanding casting power is so remarkably well-balanced with a responsive and forgiving tip action means Daiwa have managed to produce an actual fishing rod with a 4lb TC! Our Scottish friends have moved the goalposts many times over the decades, and it looks like they’re rewriting the rod-building rulebook once again.
Working in harmony with the blank are the near-skeletal TDG guides which along with making the rod much lighter, also help make it super responsive. More cosmetic loveliness comes from the Seaguide reel seat and Japanese shrink grip, resulting in an understated handle assembly.
Simply put, whilst the original Longbows are stunning (our editor loves his 2.75lb models), this new X45 M range offers a vast improvement. In fact, as Stephen himself said, it’s incomparable, and we have to agree.
