Field Test of the M-Series Rod - BY "Me" (Soupy_1us)

[Soupy_1us]

Rating this rod : the Acadia M-Series (RMC-661-M 1 Pc 6'6" action M ( 8 to 17 lb ) Lure weight 1/4 to 5/8 oz... For me is going to be easy....
I used a couple different type reels on this rod.
Starting with an Unkown Brand Name "Bait Casting" that I use all the time for Light tackle bait fishing.
The rod itself is very nice as far as the blank goes... Good strength, durability and very good looking in appearance and well made.
I also found that the handle (grip) is very weak and can be broken of at the butt button very easily .
I used this rod over this past weekend for a variety of types of fishing.... From bass fishing with a spincasting reel ( Abu Garcia /wtih 10 lb line on it to catfishing with the bait casting reel that I have had for years (brand name is unknown because the pain has been wore of of it) with 12 lb line on it.
Sorry to say that the biggest fish I brought in this weekend on your rod was just about one pound.. (I'll try harder next time)...
Still, I was very please with the action on the rod itself....
Rating this M-Series Rod as it is now ...On a 1 to 10 bases (10 being the best) I would rate it at a 4 the way it's built now.
For me the handle (grip) is about 3 to 4 inches to long and very "cheap" made .. My opinion the rod should go thru the handle completely..

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p115/Soupy_1us/RodTest019-1.jpg
The rod seat was good , held both the reels I tried out ..It did not work lose or seem to even try to...
I do like the number of guides or "eyes" on this rod.....

The main question is.... Would I buy this rod for my style of fishing..... My answer would be....The way it's built now..... No ! Wouldn't waste my money.

How's that Tim.... You won't have to 'splain nuttin to nobody now... !!!




( Now , for the Untold Story, PM me and I'll send you a copy of Soupy's Story that didn't make it to the board)

[Soupy_1us]

How's that Tim.... You won't have to 'splain nuttin to nobody now... !!!

( Now , for the Untold Story, PM me and I'll send you a copy of Soupy's Story that didn't make it to the board)

That was in my last message just to be havin' a little fun with you buddy.... But, seems like that didn't come out the way I wanted it too....
I 've tried to post The Rest of the Story twice this AM but it keeps tellin' me that I'm NOT SIGNED IN..????? Reckon it's 'cause the story is too long or I'm just too slow gettin' it on here.
So the best way I know how to do it is to post it in two parts.

Part one...
Always heard that "A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words".... Welp folks, I'm gonna give you both....
I finally made it out to the cabin where I keep my huntin' and fishin' stuff ('cause maw won't let me keep it in the house...she says it makes the house smell funny..???)
I took a bunch of pictures as I was thinkin' about what I was gonna say about this here rod I got in the mail from them good folks at Acadia Sports....
I was told to be honest and to tell it like I saw it.......Well, I don't think them folks at Acadia Sports are gonna re-print what I'm gonna tell 'em about this rod I got...
To start with y'all know that I'm a catfisherman and the only time I would really use a rod such as the one they sent me (Acadia M-Series, Rod RMC-661-M , One PC,6'6",Action M (8-17 lb) , Lure wt.1/4to 5/8 oz) would be for bait fish or just to run over to the neighbor's pond to play around with some Bluegill or something, when I ain't got nuttin' else to do...This rod just ain't something I would spend a months wages on for my catfishin'...Now, don't go gettin' your shorts in a wad... I said my type of fishin'....
Most of the rods I use are rated for 50 to 100 lbs line weight and most of the time that's what I use....Now when it comes to bait fishin' , I do use the lighter stuff , such as this rod I got in the mail from Acadia Sports..
I'm gonna try to s'plain myself a little more on this rod....
I took some pictures as I went along...
Here is my cabin, and some art work my oldest brother done for me before he past....here where I park my (or maw's) Rhino...and now you see where that rod has been standin' every since I got it in the mail a week ago.....( been so busy ya know).
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p115/Soupy_1us/RodTest001.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p115/Soupy_1us/RodTest003.jpg


http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p115/Soupy_1us/RodTest006.jpg


http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p115/Soupy_1us/RodTest007.jpg



The only real way I could be honest about their rod would be for me to compare it to some of the rods I use for my hard days of fishin'..
First thing I did was to open that "hard paper tube" it came in... And You know how us Hill-billies is... I found the packin' paper in that tube, the one the rod come in, and it was a news paper.....So I started readin' ( just happened to be the sports section).

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p115/Soupy_1us/RodTest012.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p115/Soupy_1us/Reels2001.jpg

[Soupy_1us]

The first test I run was the ole strength and durability of the rod tip..............That's when I accidentally stuck it in the ceiling fan I have on the front porch and it a runnin'... Past that test with flyin' colors...

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p115/Soupy_1us/RodTest013.jpg

Next test was to check out the grip and the feel of the handle ...Did find the weak spot them other guys was talkin' about but.....I didn't break my handle off ....yet. Also too, did find that this handle or grip was a little too long for what I'm use too...Seems to be a waste of good cork there...( and that's where the rod ends, inside of the handle... I think it (rod) needs to run all the way thru to the butt end but, that's just my thinkin' might not break off so easy...
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p115/Soupy_1us/RodTest015.jpg
.

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p115/Soupy_1us/RodTest019.jpg
As you can see... in my pictures, I did compare Acadia's rod to a couple of some good 'uns I had .. ( Far Right- Shakespear Ugly Stik, Cal 1100, 6 footer Med. Action 8 to 20 lb line... MADE IN CHINA.......and ( middle) the DAIWA TRIFORCE ( High Performance) Model TF601 MRB Med. weight, 1/4 to 3/4 oz lure (or weight) Line weight 6 to 17 lbs ....... MADE IN CHINA....... and then there is the ACADIA M- Series , MADE IN ?????????????.....BIG DIFFERENCE between them all..

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p115/Soupy_1us/RodTest020.jpg
(note: Ugly Stick does make a bass fishin' and pan fish fishin' rod)
Now folks , I don't know just 'xactly what these people are wantin' me to say about their rod.....I can say, at this point... THE ROD (itself) is TUFF, Looks good.... got all the guides (eyes) on it a man could ask for ( eyes could be beefed up a little, just my opinion).... The handle (or grip) is a little long for me and the reels I'd be usin' on it..(ABU GARCIA Spin Casting reels with 8 to 10 lb line)
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p115/Soupy_1us/GArciaReels.jpg

I guess ifin' I've got to be HONEST and TO TELL IT LIKE IT IS, ... If I was at Wal-Mart or some big sportin' center like that and seen these three rods hangin' up and "ALL AT THE SAME PRICE" I wouldn't waste my time or money on this ACADIA SERIES-M ROD "as it is".
The best thing about this rod , that I found , WAS THE PACKAGE IT CAME IN !
Now.......Ifin' y'all want me to, I'll put a reel on this rod and go try it out.. (ABU GARCIA SPINCAST LIGHT WEIGHT or my Small Shake spear BAit Caster I have... Reckon since it's a bait casting rod , I should put a bait casting reel on it to make it reasonable...)

3:44 PM 6/9/2008
Part three:
Did take it out for a spin....( get it, Rod, Spin, Spin Rod ) ( never mind) ...I know this rod was or is for Bait casting or something but, I really didn' see it that way...
This rod didn't like this Unknown brand of bait casting reel I tried .( reason for it being "unknown" is cause the paint is wore off the side of the reel 'cause I've used it so much)
It set good in the "reel seat" fit real good there, stayed tight too...But, just had a lot of trouble casting my sinker and bait or just the lures I tried out....Don't know if it was because the rod was a little too stff for that or I was just havin' a bad day...
I did try my Abu Garcia spin casting reel on it too... Now that one works pretty dang good... Matter of fact, I still got it on there now...Been doing a little bass fishing and some cat fishing with it...Didn't catch much this weekend on it but, the ones I did catch gave some good fights and the "rod" itself seems to like a good fight... Held up right nice like. Now if the good folks at Acadia Sports could just get a handle put on it... it would make some new beginner a nice fishin' pole.

To sum up my little story...
At no time did I say or mean to say that I wanted to use this rod for Pan fishin' and then go right to catchin' a 40 lb Blue cats on it all in one settin' BUT, that don't sound like a bad idea....
I didn't mean to Hurt anybody's feelin's by what I've said about this rod... I was just tryin' to be as Honest as I could.....
If this was done wrong.... Them boys at Acadia Sports can send me one of them re-call stickers and I'll see ifin' I can get one of them UPS or FEDEX trucks that come by my house every now and then to stop and pick her up. I can't use it (The Rod) as it is... I'm 'fraid I'll break it.

[Timotha7]

That was in my last message just to be havin' a little fun with you buddy.... But, seems like that didn't come out the way I wanted it too....

Your msg was good Soups, I had a bad day an reacted to your kiddin in a bad way, sometimes happens with me (just ask beenie :icon_biggrin: )

I took my response down this is review area and your review is top notch like an I know that Lee will appreciate it, know I like reading it

This cycle is about finding all the possible problems that they can, and having comparisons with other rods is a big part of that

Told ya before, will tell ya again, I appreciate you Soups

I appreciate all members on this forum, just a wonderful place to be

(PS I Moved this over to M Series testing when I posted it :icon_biggrin: )

[Soupy_1us]

Shouldn't have taken your post down....

Now my post don't make any sense?????

Anyhow, Here's a follow up on the rod that I've been tryin' to destroy.....:
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p115/Soupy_1us/Impressed003.jpg


http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p115/Soupy_1us/Impressed002.jpg
I went after that 40 lb Blue today just to see if I could break the rod itself.......
As you can see in the picture I didn't catch it.... I did, in fact, catch a couple two or three nice channel cats...This one in the pic is about four lbs...Had some more that went two and three lbs....(all on the Acadia M Series Rod).
That dang rod that Acadia sent me held up real nice... Almost screwed up my little spin cast reel I was usin'... I won't have any problems tryin' hold a five or six pounder with this rod.... (done proved that...I caught a 7 lb drum ( White Perch for you city folk) on it this AM but, I don't like showin' them things off on here).... Rod worked great but, you gonna have to put me some kind of handle on it.....Maybe carve me one out of a broom handle or something.

By the way.... I still ain't broke the end off the handle yet..

[DaveIN]

Great series of posts Soupy!

Whens the fish fry?

[Soupy_1us]

Thank you for them kind words Dave..... Makes me feel good to see that somebody on here is readin' what I'm writin' :icon_biggrin:...
The fish fry will be as soon as we can get Tim to cook the fish .....:icon_cool:

[DaveIN]

Well if this ole boy wasn't just about flooded out in West Central Indiana I would be almost up for a road trip! LOL

I like an ole boy who pulls no punches.............

[Timotha7]

Your post makes good sense Soups, great follow-up post an some nice looking frying
material sitting on the tail gate, you get em to me and I'll cook them for you, or better
yet, get Schoe to chunk em up for that fryer of his

Those light weight graphite rods will suprise a person with what they can handle

An I think Lee has already got all over the factory bout the handles, the blanks were supposed to go all the way through them from the get go

I like it that there are bunch of fishermen that got some serious on water experience
that are testing these rods, means that the end result is something a person can trust

Tim

[DaveIN]

Got my surprize in the mail. I have gotten as far as opening the box and admiring it.

We had a decent flood here this weekend. Came within inches of the house:
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YwANDoYeRumzAADy8yA8ThRsIUIDPs0!6N4bwtDeyDC8BtMV2 CgXXZZQ9GMPn9yuMFZ6cInv1py2!wZKdX*keyaCJq0CeH0zr1S vTv1Lw6NqMzdQsaXR5WGnak64dO78FKOS5RYiHx1BCHsyoaajf g/P?dc=4675676703319257401

As you can see, I had my get away vehicle at the ready! Basement got flooded but got most of the stuff out. Today, still pumping out but should be done by the time I get home tonight.

Our church was destroyed with 4 feet of water inside:
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0WQBiD2MbwcO0niizZFOB74DCSkHFlMFRibxPvXr5lXcm1SMjq !jWuSDq*1pe6oaU3eYzS0NboO2j*nL2JwjxeiKFc1qPA3iSDxu f6k2eASR0Q21XjHeMaNDFBdQ9gYgKNgrcaMzDoKQ/P?dc=4675676703448456381

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0WQCcHF0b4sG0niizZFOB77S4tAhIPAyOouffPuQBly5hqn2YN aKbIjqLUwpiT4pRG0jSR*vVPLNoK6ZN!tSJ1MGWeX6IeXJiu0W qGOz8mfh!HVfcyCrbpuYtwiX26VUkQJA9Ud*5kOo/P?dc=4675676703451590116

This just the sanctuary. Offices, classrooms, fellowship hall are all in the same boat. (No Pun Intended)

I have been there yesterday and today fielding telephone calls, media traffic, E-Mail (Hence why I am here)

Then men just about have 3/4 of the stuff out. Should be ready to start rebuilding/modeling tomorrow. I am taking Thursday and Saturday off to go fishing and test my new toy. I will be starting a thread about Thursaday. Sorry for the delay but..................

[DaveIN]

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0WQCcHF0b4sG0niizZFOB77S4tAhIPAyOouffPuQBly5hqn2YN aKbIjqLUwpiT4pRG0jSR*vVPLNoK6ZN!tSJ1MGWeX6IeXJiu0W qGOz8mfh!HVfcyCrbpuYtwiX26VUkQJA9Ud*5kOo/P?dc=4675676703451590116

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0WQCMGGMbwcO0niizZFOB74DCSkHFlMFRibxPvXr5lXcm1SMjq !jWuSDq*1pe6oaU3eYzS0NboO2j*nL2JwjxeiKFc1qPA3iSDxu f6k2eASR0Q21XjHeMaNDFBdQ9gYgKNgrcaMzDoKQ/P?dc=4675676703448456381

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YwCcHYYeRumzAADy8yA8ThRsIUIDPs0!6N4bwtDeyDC8BtMV2 CgXXZZQ9GMPn9yuMFZ6cInv1py2!wZKdX*keyaCJq0CeH0zr1S vTv1Lw6NqMzdQsaXR5WGnak64dO78FKOS5RYiHx1BCHsyoaajf g/P?dc=4675676703319257401

Well I thought I learned how to post pictures.

Did this work?

[DaveIN]

I give up!

[DaveIN]

One last time:

House=

http://www.whereifish.com/thepond/picture.php?albumid=6&pictureid=26

Church

http://www.whereifish.com/thepond/picture.php?albumid=6&pictureid=25[/URL]


http://www.whereifish.com/thepond/picture.php?albumid=6&pictureid=24[URL="http://www.whereifish.com/thepond/picture.php?albumid=6&pictureid=26"] (http://www.whereifish.com/thepond/picture.php?albumid=6&pictureid=25)

[Soupy_1us]

Man for a minute there I thought I was havin' flash backs to the 60's .. All that postin' your were doing and I wasn't seein' nuttin'... Now I see what you were talkin' about.... Water.... And now it's comin' down my way..... Boy, O boy...You guys up North just don't want me fishin' this year, do ya.......:confused0024:

[Soupy_1us]

Your post makes good sense Soups, great follow-up post an some nice looking frying
material sitting on the tail gate, you get em to me and I'll cook them for you, or better
yet, get Schoe to chunk em up for that fryer of his

Those light weight graphite rods will suprise a person with what they can handle

An I think Lee has already got all over the factory bout the handles, the blanks were supposed to go all the way through them from the get go

I like it that there are bunch of fishermen that got some serious on water experience
that are testing these rods, means that the end result is something a person can trust

Tim


Now, just for the sport of it.... Tomorrow I'm going after a mess of channels......But, first I'm going to swap reels on that Acadia M Series Rod again.... Gonna try to fit a Garcia 4000 on her with some 30lb.....And go for some big 'uns.... Just to see what she will hold...
Like I said earlier, That "Rod" likes a good fight but, the handle needs a little more spinach or something.
Hell, who knows... I might start likin' it. :confused0024:

[Timotha7]

LOL I think you might be really suprised by what that blank can handle Soups

My biggest catfish (26 range flathead) came as accident, on a jig, and I got him in with med graphite rod, (hurt the quantum spinning reel I had on it though )

Looking forward to hearing your report

[Soupy_1us]

No !....I ain't caught no 40lber on that rod yet.... Hell, I was lucky to catch bait....Been two days now ain't caught a thing but, a headache....GArcia 5000 looks good on it though.....
Reckon I'll wait and see what the water is gonna do the next couple of days... Right now it's droppin' 4 feet per day.

[acadiasports]

Soupy-

Thanks for all the feedback on the rod. Excellent!!!

Be a fool of me to think our rods are perfect for everybody. They are not. Sounds like the kind of fishin' you do is beyond what we offer. The Ugly Sticks are great rods for that...

I asked for honest feedback and I got it. Can't be happier about that. Even though the rod was not really what you would use, you spent a lot of time trying it and giving feeback. I appreciate your time.

Looks like I found a great person to test when we expand the line into the heavier duty stuff...

Knock 'em dead.

Thanks
Lee Richards
Acadia Sports

[cattracker16]

Great post there soupy. i enjoy the straight forward thinkin ya have and have never thought any bad of you or your posts. i cannot wait to see some of them bigger cats i know your going to get on that rod.

[Soupy_1us]

Thank y'all for them kind words....
Today ,I give it my last day of testin' this here Acadia M-Series ( RMC-661-M).. I have used spincastin' reels on it and I have used bait castin' reels and now I've used just plain o river castin' reels on it... http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p115/Soupy_1us/Lasttest003-1.jpg
Kinda goes to show ya what this rod may have to go thru after those fine folks at Acadia Sports sells one of 'em.. They never know who or what is gonna use their rods.. And you know yourself that somebody is gonna try it out on something that ain't s'pose to use it for and when they break it they gonna b.i.t.c.h about those people at Acadia Sports sellin' junk stuff.... Well, I'm gonna tell ya like it is.....The rod is tuff enuff !
I used it for just about everything I could, even tried to stop a ceiling fan with the tip of it.
Folks,I finally done it.... I broke the butt button off this here Acadia M Series Rod they had me testin'..http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p115/Soupy_1us/Lasttest007.jpg Weren't really my faught ,dang ole catfish kinda caught me off guard.. http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p115/Soupy_1us/Lasttest006.jpgAnd I made a discovery after doing that, the rod blank does go all the way thru the handle but, just not quite far enuff to catch that butt button.
So bein' the trooper that I am, I looked around in my takle box for my "Fishin' Rod First Aid Kit".. Found it ! My P-142 MESHA aproved Electrical Tape... Put a few wraps on 'er and just kept on fishin'..http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p115/Soupy_1us/Lasttest008.jpg
Finish the day out with seventeen nice fiddlers from about 1 1/2 pounds up to about three pounds....
These here pictures show you that she did fish with the big boys....

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p115/Soupy_1us/Lasttest003.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p115/Soupy_1us/Lasttest005.jpg

I will finish up by sayin' Yep this rod good enuff for me to use for my bait fishin' .....taped up handle and all... Really,, I kinda like it for my bait fishing. It likes a fight and I can put my rigs just about any place I want them to go.

[Timotha7]

Great report Soups!
Like that Tape job, gives the rod that little bit of personality that makes it fit in with
the big boys
Tim

[Soupy_1us]

Most of you city folk use Duct Tape (or duck tape). Where I'm from it's PM Tape... Ifin' you ever get around anybody that has worked in a coal mines just ask them if they know what PM tape is....If he don't know , he ain't been around the mines long.
Around these parts it's Haybailin' wire, coat hangers ( the old metal style) and PM tape... Makes anythng run...

[Soupy_1us]

By the way... I never thought to ask...... You guys at Acadia want this rod back?
I ain't broke it or nuttin' ('cept for the cork part)

[dipper69_2000]

hey great post soupy. kinda remind me of my lady friends dad lol.....and i understood everything ya was saying. again great post very intertaining