Zziplex Primo Match by Bootster

Around a year and a half ago I was using an Angling Direct Perception, a rod I purchased when getting back into sea fishing after a 10yr break. It was OK for a rod that cost about £60, but I had used a Zippi 2500 when I was a kid and wanted something altogether...nicer.

The Anglia Sportcast Zipplex weekend gave me the chance to try out a number of rods to see what suited me best. I went there with the intention of getting a proper 'pole' and was soon put in my place by one member of ASC who called me a skinny runt that would never handle one (in the nicest possible terms of course). Trying several rods, including an M4 and a ZTI I kind of understood what he meant, I simply didn't have the strength to deal with them so I had a play with the Primo Match.

It's one of the softer Zziplex rods on the market, with a glass tip blending into carbon. Diameter at the butt is about as slim as any I've seen (must get out a tape measure) but it has plenty of power for those that can 'wind them up'. Certain people put 150gm over 220m on the day I was there.

Although the rod has loads of power down the butt, the main selling point is the tip. It will dance around if a pout farts near the bait at 150m, schoolies at 20m have the potential to cause a heart attack! I recently took it into a tackle shop where it was commented, it was more like a carp rod tip than a beach caster. That said it will stand up to big surf and a decent tide. I've used it off of Kessingland and 'the wall' with no problems, although if it's really lumpy and the tide is ripping through it does start to show.

Looks wise it's the same with any Zippi, get it built as you want it, the blank itself is fairly plain but you
can get the whippings and finish of your choice.

I've had the original Primo Match for 18months now and put it in temporary retirement as I have two 13'6" ones (the original was 14'). The 13'6" ones seem to be very slightly stiffer in the tip but you only notice this when they are side by side on the rest.

All round a fantastic rod for around here, pricey yes, but they hold value well and I could probably get most of my money back on ebay. I've probably used it 50 times so a couple of quid an outing seems like a bargain to me!

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	Zziplex Primo Match
	Price ranges from £275 to £300	March 2008