The PhenixHybrid PHD700X4H is rated, 80-200, I got 2 rods I built out fishing 12 day trips for cows. Waiting to see some reports, I'm sure they won't disappoint.
I have pulled on the 4x. It's a beast and super light If that's what you are looking for its a great choice. I used the 3x at hurricane this November with great results Loved the fact that it is light as a feather
What do you guys know about the phenix 700 4xh for 130lb string on cows? Any help is appreciated
I had Monte from M & M rods wrap one up for my June heat. It did a superb job on a 298.7 fish mated with a Accurate 50T loaded with 130# spectra to 150# fluro. I purchased PaBay Titanium Turbo guides from acid rod.com and installed a roller tip top. Very light but very responsive, worked the fish up quick. Bends like the 770XXXH. My view is do not high stick the rod, especially in the end game...
We did an interesting pull test on the Super Seeker 2 X 4, Super Seeker 6463XXXXH, Super Seeker 3 X 5, Calstar 770XXH, Calstar 770XXXH, Blackhole Cow Special 3rd generation and the new Phoenix 4X with some really interesting results. All the rods have approached the catching of big fish with what I felt are very different approaches.
Interestingly enough the Phoenix was as stiff as the 3 X 5 but with a bit different bend pattern and certainly a lighter and smaller diameter blank.
As Bill noted the Phoenix seems like a great stick but may be a bit more fragile than all the other rods noted. It may also be too stiff for many folks but I liked it a bunch. High sticking or accidentally bending in the wrong direction could result in breakage but we will see as the stick gets more time on the water. Hopefully, we will find that opinion is not correct but I would not bet on it.
My favorite cow stick is still the Super Seeker 6463 XXXXH as I just really like the bend pattern. Those loyal to Calstar, fishing cows, may really like the 770XXXH which I recommend over the 770XXH as I just like stiffer.
I will be testing the new Blackhole Cow special 3rd generation on my trip next month to see how it holds up and plan on fishing higher drags than usual.
Interestingly enough I am hearing from more and more folks, fishing the rail on ultra long range trips, they wish they had gone a bit stiffer on their rods. Once these folks developed their rail rod techniques they were just a bit under gunned on the bigger fish. These folks all felt they could have lessened the time on the fish with a stiffer stick and the rail.
The problem for most folks, as I see it, is trying to bend the stiffer rods in the shops, without benefit of a rail, are feeling the heavier duty rods are "Too Stiff" but for West Coast Rail Rodding I just believe you cannot judge the rod by pulling on it the old fashioned way. I have heard and read some folks are afraid they cannot bend the 3 X 5 but, again, they are not bending it on a rail with 25-35 pounds of drag. Of course the other concern is pulled hooks but I am just not convinced that is entirely a result of a stiff rod.
On other thing to note: for those in not as good a cardiovascular shape as others it could be very beneficial to try and finish a big tuna faster since you know you may run out of gas. Of course getting into better shape is always better than not but it is a little late for that sort of thing once on the boat. Though I do not recommend going to extreme drag settings I do think for these folks starting out with a reasonable drag setting and then pushing the lever forward to a bit higher drag than usual as soon as the fish settles in. As always the choices are angler specific so this is just my opinion for me. It really is fun testing out all the new products.
Just out of curiosity, when would you high stick a rail rod? I do remember this youtube video a ciouple of years a go of this guy stuffed in the stern corner, sitting on his rod with his fish going one way and the fisherman blowing up his Super Seeker CTSF63XXXH in 2 pieces.
When would you high stick a rail rod?
And I have to disagree, the Phenix 700X4H is closer to the 2X4 and no where near as stiff as the 3X5.
Just out of curiosity, when would you high stick a rail rod? I do remember this youtube video a ciouple of years a go of this guy stuffed in the stern corner, sitting on his rod with his fish going one way and the fisherman blowing up his Super Seeker CTSF63XXXH in 2 pieces.
When would you high stick a rail rod?
And I have to disagree, the Phenix 700X4H is closer to the 2X4 and no where near as stiff as the 3X5.
Usually when you need that last lift near a gaff. That is where both hands are on the grip, pulling back on the rod for the crew to get a shot.
The Phoenix blank we got was ultra stiff but may have been a prototype. I will double check the designation from Phoenix. It may have only had XXXX or XXXXH on it so I assumed it was the 700. This particular blank was uber stiff. The Blackhole and the 2 X 4 were the softest of the bunch by far.
It can happen where you go high. 
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