As featured in my previous post, I have recently acquired a new rod. With my Firstcast now being semi-retired after 4 years of hard graft, I wasn’t going to let it go quietly. This a review of a rod that has not just been used over a matter of weeks, instead it has been the core of my Lerfing from the moment I had it. This may be more appreciation than critique, but I’m sure by the end you will understand why…

The Firstcast range is entry level Majorcraft, being reasonably priced – anywhere between £70-120, depending on where you find it. You can find ultralight 5g rated versions up to the heavier Seabass ratings. I actually won mine in a competition, little did I know how essential it would prove to be in my fishing. I doubt there are many rods in the UK that have caught such a range of species as my Firstcast – from roach, rudd, carp and pike to painted gobies, mackerel, trigger fish and bass – all on lures.

So what has made this rod so integral to my fishing? It’s clear to me that the answer would be it’s versatility. The 7 gram model is 7 feet 6 inches, tubular with a fast action. The length is perfect for working around structure at close quarters while also being able to fling out metals at a decent distance. This works for my fishing as it can be quite mixed, one minute I’m dropshotting down a harbour wall, the next I’m flicking out a jig to tempt a garfish or mackerel. With a rod that can handle the variety, it has made my angling more efficient, keeping tackle down to the minimum required. Carrying only one rod and a small shoulder bag of tackle is one of my favourite elements of light rock fishing.

The main reason the Firstcast is so versatile is due to it’s sensitivity, for a tubular rod it’s so responsive to tiny bites. The vibrato attacks of a sand goby feed so finely into the blank, leaving you in no doubt of what is going on. I do a lot of fishing at night and, as I have said before in previous posts, the feedback you recieve through your hand as a fish is taking, even in pitch black, is a helpful feature.

Being sensitive doesn’t mean you aren’t strong though and this couldn’t be more true in the Majorcraft’s case. Casting 7 gram metals is easy and when you hook a fish that needs taming, the rod is up to the task. As the blank has backbone all the way through, it gives you confidence to bully fish if needed (up to a point of course).

The action is as described – fast. For all round fishing this is perfect, being crisp enough for metals but still supple enough to not bounce fish off with any regularity. For years I found it perfect but having played with more and more very expensive and tarty fishing rods, I have found myself wishing it was a little faster. That wish is only due to my taste evolving over time and no insult to the build of the rod.

Looks wise this is a classy, understated design – all black beside a few gold flourishes. The guides are Fuji (of course) and the reel seat is modern and comfortable, using a black foam material. The eyes are small and fairly hard wearing, I have only needed to replace an eye once, due to a few too many bumps into boulders. Being a 7 gram tubular model it is slim but not overly delicate, I have truly abused this rod with some feisty fish, scrapes and accidents, it has never let me down.

After owning a rod for four years you can be sure to know it’s drawbacks and limitations and there is at least one with the Firstcast. There is a gold ‘cap’ that is fitted to the base of the reel seat, it serves no purpose, it’s purely for looks. On my rod the cap came loose a while ago, revealing the glue marks and sliding down to the butt of the rod occasionally. It is not a major issue at all and I could have glued it back but it does show the Firstcast is the base model, lacking the plusher fittings of the high end versions. Another thing I have also noticed, compared to expensive Tailwalk and other Majorcraft’s is the thickness and weight of the rod. Other rods of a similar casting weight are lighter and thinner, due to much more expensive materials. Again we cannot fault Majorcraft here, but I’m scraping the bottom of barrel to find something to critique with this rod, that’s how much I love it.

I have had some real highlights using the Majorcraft. There have been times where I have shoved it into rocky crevices for true mini-species like clingfish and rockling; there have been epic fights with trigger fish, gilthead bream and flounder. I have won species hunt competitions and enjoyed arm aching evenings catching mackerel, bass and scad. There have been surperb sessions in freshwater too, using tiny lures for silverfish and carp, while also battling pike and perch on the canals. A rod can be an inanimate object, just a tool to get the job done; and a rod can also be an extension of yourself, with a character and history of it’s own. Am I getting carried away? Of course, yet I am sure there are a few anglers out there who know the feeling.

In conclusion I would recommend this rod to anyone who has a bit of money starting out, or an angler wishing to upgrade from say, one of the cheaper HTO offerings. I have paired mine faithfully with a trusty Daiwa Ninja 1500 size, a union that has worked idyllically for myself all this time. It’s an all rounder LRF rod that is understated in it’s looks, tough as nails and versatile, what’s there not to love? As I retire this rod to the cupboard, it goes with an appreciation of fine workmanship by Majorcraft and great memories from me. Now to see how the Apia Grandage Lite 74 compares…

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog, all the shares, likes on my Facebook page and Instagram, really help grow my audience. Your support is really appreciated. Please check out the following links:
Majorcraft UK’s Facebook page and fan group
Simon Kingdom at Osborne & Cragg – Plymouth based tackle shop with a great selection of Majorcraft rods plus so much more.
The Art Of Fishing website – Wadebridge based tackle shop with the tartiest selection of rods you could ask for.
My page on Facebook
My page on Instagram
Richard Salter aka Devon Lerfer – on YouTube and on Facebook.
Dom & Andy’s unmissable  lure fishing book
Adam Kirby’s brilliant lure fishing blog
Neil Sutherland at Aquazid Studio – LRF based T shirt designs and more