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Enthusiast Review


CB Rod Wars Part #4 : Evergreen International's Super Nova
 

Date: 4/28/09
Tackle type: Rod
Manufacturer: Evergreen International
Reviewer: Cal






Total Score: 7.33
- GOOD

 

Introduction: After all these years reviewing product from overseas, including several products from this particular manufacturer, it’s hard to imagine we’ve overlooked their cranking sticks. Arguably, Japan’s number one rod manufacturer for tournament professionals, it was a no brainer to include Evergreen International in the Enthusiast section of our 2009 Crankbait Rod Wars. Up for the challenge is the TCSC-70MG Super Nova, a 7’-0” glass cranking stick.
 

Evergreen International TCSC-70MG Super Nova Specifications

Material Fiberglass
Length 7'-0"
Length from Back of Reel Seat to Base 10 inches
Line Wt. 10 - 20lbs
Lure Wt. 1/4 - 1 ounce
Pieces One
Guides 8 + tip (Fuji Ti/SiC)
Power Rating Medium
Taper Moderate
Rod Weight 5.8 oz
Manufacturing Country Japan
MSRP 42K JPY


Impressions: The Super Nova falls within Evergreen International’s Tactics line of fishing rods which by all accounts is the workhorse lineup of this brand and yet the Super Nova still has with it, a rather hefty price tag of roughly $450 (depending on the exchange rate) before shipping from Japan. For those, including myself, who enjoy the intricately detailed sticks from overseas, the Super Nova is not one of them, but then we expected that from Evergreen, a company that is more about simple, clean lines than excessive decoration.

 


Introducing Evergreen International's TCSC-70MG Super Nova

In hand, the Super Nova is an exceptionally well balanced stick which belies its rather average weight of five point eight ounces. It is slightly heavier, but much better balanced than the Megabass Shiryu.


Fig. 1 : This RoD Deflection Chart shows the deflection characteristics of Evergreen International's Super Nova (yellow curve) versus the overall average in each category of our Crankbait Rod Wars.

Real World Tests: For initial tests, I matched the Super Nova up with one of my favorite low speed reels, a TDZ 103ML Type R+ spooled with fourteen pound Sunline Shooter FC. Then Zander and I took off to Lake Camanche in Northern California for some early season fishing for spotted bass on crankbaits.


The TCSC-70MG sits within Evergreen's Tactics line of bass rods.

 

Casting: The SuperNova's light tip lends itself well to casting baits on the lower end of its rated range. Baits like Rapala's Shad Rap SR7, SR8, and Luhr Jensen's eigth ounce sized Speed Trap work very well on this stick.

 


The Super Nova's ratings.

Baits at the upper end of this range from about five eighths (5/8ths) of an ounce and more tend to overload this stick. Case in point? While testing this rod on our very first outing, I tied on a Bill Norman DD22 to see how this rod would handle a deep diving crank.


The Super Nova matches up rather nicely with Daiwa Japan's 2004 TDZ Type R+

On about my fourth cast with this bait, I wound up, let her rip and *bang* - the bait came crashing back into the tip of the rod on the forward cast and broke the rod. Casualty number one of our Crankbait Rod Wars and on a non-warranted JDM stick at that! 

 
The Super Nova features a painted, non-exposed blank reel seat.

The break occurred somewhere between the tip top and the next guide down so not too much was lost off the top of the rod. A visit to my local tackle shop, in this case, Hi's Tackle Box in South San Francisco, and roughly $5 later and we were back in business. 

 
Victim #1 of our Crankbait Rod Wars the Super Nova broke on this cast of a Bill Norman DD22 as the bait crashed into the rod during the cast.

Sensitivity: The SuperNova is a glass stick and has decent sensitivity considering this fact. Sensitivity is easily enhanced when fished with braid or fluorocarbon, so if you, as do I, appreciate the suppleness of a glass blank when throwing moving baits, simply switch to braid or fluorocarbon for your line and you can make up for a lot of loss in sensitivity.


Moments before the ill fated break.

 

Having said all that even when fishing the SuperNova with my Revo SX spooled with 13lb Sunline Defier nylon monofilament and a Lucky Craft BDS3 tied to the end of the line, I could feel the bait vibrating through the water on the retrieve very easily and was able to tell when the bait was fouled by weeds or coming through the water clean.

 
Re-tipped and back in action, a yellow cat caught at Clear Lake, CA. on a shallow crank!

Next Section: Power, Features, and Ratings

 

   

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