An interesting note about the Tuggin rod during a cast is that it has a crazy flexible tip section that loads and unloads in a very spring-like manner. This makes it very effective in side arm roll and traditional over the shoulder casts with the TUG, but Cal found it too soft at the 4 ounce lure weight for pitching. Why would Cal try to pitch a 4 ounce bait? Because the term "Glide Pitching" is on the stick. Also, making it difficult for this presentation style is the length of that rear handle. While shorter than a traditional stick built for big baits, it's still a bit long for pitching presentations.

The butt end is a nice, simple foam cap

However, used in a traditional manner, the stick is a wonderful casting machine and once you get in tune with the way that tip loads and unloads during a cast, it will have you doing a double take to re-check its length. The Tuggin does not cast like a short, 7'-3" stick and it's because of that tip section.

Zander absolutely loved the unique tip action of this rod because he naturally sidearm casts or one hand roll casts baits a nit more. He noted the tip delivers a secondary spring action when fished in this way, which aids in casting distance, but also makes this rod extremely lively feeling and fun to fish. 

As a departure from their traditional swimbait rod look, Leviathan has incorporated an accent right in the middle of the grip

There's also a certain generation of hollow bodied frog fishermen that seek out sticks stout in power, but with a soft, flexible tip. That soft tip makes it easy to skip and sling their frogs with a flick of the wrist into tight spots. The Tuggin's tip behaves in this manner only that back bone is beefier because it's built for baits weighing up to 4 ounces.

The Tuggin is also ideal for another Baitsanity bait, the Explorer Gill

While we wouldn't routinely skip and sling the TUG into tight spaces with this rod, there are any number of lighter big baits that we would including Baitsanity's own Explorer Gill. In fact, weighing right around two and a half ounces, the Explorer Gill is the ideal weight to sling on this stick because it's right in the middle of the Tuggin's lure rating.

Another mid sized glide that Zander enjoyed pitching around banks is the JDM Kassano

Sensitivity: Given the rod's taper and intended application (hard bodied big baits), it's difficult to expect much in terms of sensitivity here. You can certainly feel all you need through the rod while working subsurface glides, crankdowns, and topwater baits, so the Tuggin' is not lacking in this department. It's just not a stick we would choose for something like a pre-rigged, single hook, soft bodied big bait - but that has more to do with its taper than it does sensitivity.

For the Tuggin rod's intended action this stick offers more than enough sensitivity for fishing big baits like the TUG or walking rats. Strikes on these baits are often jarring and the tip on this rod instantly lets you know the second a blowup occurs.

Fig 1 : The chart above illustrates the deflection characteristics of our Baitsanity and Leviathan Rods TUGGIN/Glide Pitching Rod against the historical averages of similarly powered rods we've tested over the past twenty plus years

Power: What this stick has plenty of is power. That flexible tip section sets up into a backbone at a point in the rod's length that is on the fast side of moderate-fast. This results in solid performance while setting the hook and very good control during a battle. The rod is so smooth through the tip it almost feels like it is a hybrid glass and graphite blank. It's really an ideal action for treble hooked baits. Thanks to that smooth power curve, this another area where the Tuggin's performance belies its overall length. It just fishes like a stick that's closer 7'-6" or 7'-9" in length.

Checking out that tip. The Tuggin is definitely not your traditional swimbait rod

Design & Ergonomics: Thanks to a relatively short overall length, the Tuggin weighs in at a respectable seven point two ounces (7.2oz) but even better is its balance. We measured the stick's balance point at just six inches (6") up from the mid point of the reel seat. Leviathan always seems to do a good job with clean, balanced builds and the Tuggin is no exception. Beyond that, the Tuggin resembles a typical Leviathan swimbait rod build with that wrapped rubber grip over the foam full grip handle and a silver and black color theme. There is a decorative reveal in the middle of the handle repeated at the transition between the butt and grip material, but that's about it for excitement. This rod may not be flashiest but the build is clean and refined.

Guides are Fuji SS K-Series tangle free guides

The Tuggin rod's reel seat is a compressed carbon fiber design from an unspecified manufacturer and performed just fine. Even larger swimbait reels were secure at all times with no wiggles during all our battles. Cal remarked that he was happy the reel seat doesn't have that little window of mismatching graphite at the back like the Trinity had.

While the Tuggin rod is a collab with Leviathan the company is introducing their own line of signature Explorer rods. One of the biggest differences is that those rods are optimized for bank anglers and have much longer rear grips

Next Section: The Price of Entry for a Collab Custom Rod...