An excellent rod choice for those looking for "better than basic" but who don't want to spend a premium price for a good rod. The folks at Echo have been diligently refining their euro-specific rods for years and that's highly evident in the Shadow X. The Shadow has low swing weight, quick recovery speed, and minimal tip bounce. It's a bit slower/softer in action than the comparably priced Cortland MKII. The thought that was put into the componentry is obvious, from the down locking reel seat and adjustable weights to the shape of the handle to the single foot guides, no detail has been missed with the Shadow X. - Single-foot guides - Matte finish blank - Reduced distance between initial stripping guide and handle for minimal line sag - Anodized aluminum down locking reel seat with adjustable weights for perfect rod balance - Rubberized cork fighting butt - Comes with a graphite rod tube and rod sock Here's what Echo has to say: We worked with veteran Euro Nymph guru Pete Erickson, World Fly Fishing Championship medalist Norm Maktima, and expert angler Mariusz Wrobewski to create a rod that is dialed-in to perform at the sport’s highest levels. By using the most advanced high modulus graphite available to us, we were able to achieve the lightest rod we have ever produced. When you need to feel every nuance happening under the water, having the lightest, most sensitive rod you possibly can is the difference between 1st and 10th place. Simply put: This is the most challenging project we have ever completed in our life as a rod company. Neither us nor our experts in the field would be satisfied without a rod that balanced a level of sensitivity not before thought possible while keeping its ability to achieve effective hook set.
