If you’re serious about fishing hard minnows for bass, this rod makes a lot of sense. I know I say it a lot, but I am having one of these 100%. Am I going to use it for surface lures? Yep. Am I going to use it with softies? Yep. 

The SP 710M "Expert Minnow" has been designed specifically around hard lures like the Tide Minnow, Vision Oneten and similar 100–140mm suspending jerk baits. It’s not just capable of fishing them — it’s built for them.

The first thing I noticed is the action. It’s got that lovely semi-parabolic curve that Tenryu do so well, but a tad faster/stiffer than the standard 73M for instance. Under load it bends progressively, keeping trebles pinned and massively reducing hook pulls - especially when fish start shaking their heads in that confused water. It’s forgiving without ever feeling soft or vague. When you hook up, it just feels right.

At 7’10” it gives you the casting range you need to really search/cover an area properly. You can punch a 12–20g minnow a long way, cover water efficiently and stay in touch with the lure. It’s an ideal length for open beaches, reefs and mixed ground where distance matters.

Don’t mistake that smooth action for a lack of backbone though. The reinforced guide and Nishinji wrapping at the base of the blank add a serious power reserve. When you need to turn a fish or lift it clear of rough ground, it’s there.

Rated 7–28g, it sits nicely in the range of 99% of our hard (and soft lures) we use. The action is designed for hard lures, but in my opinion it's between the more progressive  Injection models and the quicker Akuru ~ so not quite as parabolic as the Injection, but less stiff/steely as the Akuru. In real-world terms, that means I am going to use it as an "all rounder" for my hard lures and soft lures, including lighter straight retrieved weedless softies.

Length: 240cm (7ft 10in)

Casting Weight: 7-28g

Rod Weight: 136g

Action: Medium Fast