Last year I was at Clam Outdoors world headquarters in Rogers, MN. I was talking with Clam's Engineering Project Manager John LaHood about some future projects when he showed me the new rods that Clam was set to introduce for the spring of 2017, the Jason Mitchell Elite Series spinning and casting rods. Our conversation immediately shifted to these new rods. It took my holding one for about three seconds to know that these were the rods I would be using and putting in my clients' hands, and I wanted to know more about them.
I'll preface the rest by saying that I don't endorse products that I don't believe in and use myself. While I am a member of the Clam Outdoors pro staff, my contract does not require that I use their open water rods, and there has never been any pressure whatsoever from Clam to do so. I fish for a very diverse range of species, using many different techniques, which requires a wide array of rod styles, lengths, and actions. I have had deals with rod manufacturers in the past and I found myself feeling pigeon-holed, often in conflict, because there are few companies that make all of the rod types I require, and those that do price themselves out of the running. While I can't use the JM rods for all of the fishing I do, I have been using these rods for most of it all summer.
As a professional fishing guide, one feature I seek for my clients is the ability to use high-end fishing gear. Many times, for various reasons, the gear we use is much nicer than anything my clients would purchase for themselves. I have watched one too many $300 rods fall to the bottom in 50' or more of water after a client drops one overboard. At some point it becomes cost prohibitive to use the most expensive rods. That said, all of these past rod deals with "high-end" builders and manufacturers has given me the opportunity to use some very expensive rods. When I pick up a rod for the first time I have substantial experience to compare it to.
The new Jason Mitchell Elite Series rods from Clam Outdoors are a Toray Carbon Fiber blank. Toray carbon fiber rods are some of the best on the market. They are strong and extremely sensitive. I mostly fish the 6' medium fast action and the 7' medium fast action spinning rods. These rods are so sensitive I can feel things such as when a fish brushes against my line versus biting my lure, or if I'm fishing with a sinker I can differentiate between when it hits a rock and a piece of wood. I have only ever been able to do this with the most expensive rods I've used.
The rods feature Fuji New "O" Concept guides with deep-pressed technology, making them stronger than traditional guides. The good news for saltwater anglers is that these rods feature stainless steel guide frames. What the what?!?! That's right, stainless steel guide frames, meaning more resistance to rust. I have lost count at how many times I have used other rods in saltwater one day, wasn't able to rinse them for whatever reason, only to find rust already accumulating around the guide inserts the next day. Some of the rods I have owned rusted even though they were rinsed after each use. To test the benefits of the stainless guide frames, one of the JM rods that I have been using in saltwater all summer has never been rinsed, and
the guides are still rust free.
Since spring 2017, I have caught winter flounder, walleye, smallmouth bass, crappie, and pike on these rods. I have also caught striped bass to 30" in 5 MPH tidal river current on them. There are six different spinning rods and five different casting rods to choose from. If that's not enough for you, Clam has added a
lifetime warranty to these rods. At $140 you won't find a better value. I personally find these rods to be the best value on the market. They perform like some of the $300 rods I have used at less than half that cost. You won't see my boat or kayaks on the water without some of these rods on board.
Click here to learn more about the new Jason Mitchell Elite Series rods and get yours today.
Tim Moore is a professional (licensed) fishing guide from New Hampshire. He owns and operates Tim Moore Outdoors. Visit www.TimMooreOutdoors.com for more information.
