Had mine 6 months and love it. Only problem I have had is with the number 4 that came in the pole, mostly my fault but it was v weak and has cracked along the seam line when I have broken down. The joker card will replace it, but as I have plenty of other number 4s I will wait until 11 months in case I have any more breakages.
As for top kits, I would go for mostly match kits if you can. I know Andy Pell (tractorboy on here) uses match kits without the number one for elastics up to double 8. The UK power kits that come in the package are essentially a match kit without the number one, though slightly lower grade carbon I think. The big fish kits are great too, can’t notice much of a weight penalty and really strong. They’re just not quite as stiff.
If you fish canals for silvers, the best tops are the comp tops that you’d have to buy seperately. I have a good few from my last sensas pole, and they are stiffer and better grade carbon than the match tops. They are only rated to a number 8 elastic though, so I wouldn’t use them for commercials. I use them with elastics of 2-5 for purely silver fish. Though they never complain with a bonus bream or perch.
On a whole though, I love my 774. It’s light, stiff, strong and does everything I ever want of it. The other thing I love, is the short 6/7. My god what a useful section. Most of my fishing is on drains, and it’s great to be able to have effectively a half extension to use from 6-11.5m before the half butt kicks in.
TF_Ommadawn.
