About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the fishing rod, which I purchased with my own money in June of 2022.

My take

The Daiwa Procyon Spinning Rod is a great introductory spinning rod at an introductory price, allowing specific rod powers and action that one usually needs to spend double the price. Most entry-level rods are shorter and do not have this fast action at the rod's tip.

About the rod I own

• Model: Procyon PCYN771LXS
• Rod Length: 7’7”
• Rod Power: Light
• Rod Action: Extra-fast
• Rod Pieces: 1 piece
• Rod Material: Graphite

About me

• Preferred fishing style(s): Flipping, power fishing
• Experience: 15 years of conventional fishing

Test conditions

• When I bought this: June 2022
• Reel Paired with Rod: Revros LT
• Line Paired Rod: 10lb Daiwa J-Braid
• Days tested: 40
• Waters I’ve used it on: Freshwater, Lake McConaughy, Skyview Lake, and Merritt Reservoir, NE
• Species targeted with rod: Bass, Walleye

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was searching for a very specific length, power, and action rod. I was looking for a quality rod without breaking the bank. I wanted a longer-than-average rod with light power but a very fast and responsive tip section.

Why I chose this gear

I chose this gear because this rod was within the parameters of my rod search. It allowed me to throw lightweight hair jigs, ned rigs, and finesse jigs that I wanted to with this rod. I considered other higher-priced rods, like the Daiwa XT rod series and the Tatula series, but I decided on the Procyon to see the quality I could get at a budget price.

What I love about it

• Application: The best representation of this rod’s performance was at a club tournament in Nebraska at one of the few smallmouth lakes we have in the state. I threw finesse baits off of main lake points for pre-spawning smallmouth. It’s an excellent rod for light ned rigs, light swimbaits, and hair jigs.
• Performance:
  • Ease of casting: Allows for very easy casting for lightweight baits with above-average casting distance.
  • Power: This rod is a light power with a line rating of 1-6ib. The light power helps throw very small hooks and keep those pinned.
  • Action: Extra-fast. It allows for a better hook-up percentage.
• Feel: Being a light power rod, I feel like I am unable to drive even small hooks. But the sensitivity added with the light power is very good.
• Length: This longer-than-normal length allows me to cast baits further and cover more water.
• Sensitivity: Quality Fuji guides and solid graphite allow for added sensitivity. These components help increase sensitivity and detect some of the smallest bites.
• Grip: Nice small diameter, compressed cork grips. The grip allows my hands to connect to the rod blank and increases sensitivity.
• Build: Handcrafted in Thailand.
• Aesthetics: I enjoy the cork look with the green color from the Procyon line.
• Warranty: The Procyon is backed by Daiwa’s limited warranty.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Quality: They used entry-level components to cut back on costs. The parts were what I expected for the price. They are well-known Fuji components but less durable than the Tatula series.
• Durability: The rod tip broke recently from the head of the ned rig bait hitting the rod's tip. It was a short break, and after re-gluing the rod, it performed well. Also, the rod paint and glue are holding up well from the nicks.
• Versatility: Not recommended to throw baits bigger than 3/8oz due to the rod's light power.

Favorite moment with this gear

My favorite moment with this rod was a time I was fishing in a local club tournament at a smallmouth lake in Nebraska. I was throwing a light hair jig and bombing it 30-40 yards, allowing me to cover a lot of water. With this rod, I could cover a lot of water with very small bait. I was able to fight even some of the biggest smallmouth while they jumped on a small hook with the help of that limber rod power.

Value for the money vs. other options

Other options I looked at were the new Daiwa XT rod series and the Tatula series. I decided to go with the budget option to test the quality at a lower price point. The higher-priced options were probably a bit more sensitive, but I wanted to test this price range since I get asked about this rod a lot by customers.

Final verdict

This rod performed very well for the price point. I could use this rod for any light bait application for bass, walleye, crappie, and trout. I was very impressed with this rod model's specific specifications and performance at a budget price range.