I’ve been using the Pinnacle Perfecta DHC7 rod paired with a Pinnacle Primmus reel for a few weeks now. I’ve been pleased with previous gear from Pinnacle, so I was anxious to get my hands on this combo. The following are my findings after fishing with this setup.
The tournament class rods offer technique-specific rods, and since I wanted a rod for light lures and finesse fishing, I chose the 6’ 10” DHC7 6101CAMHCB. It’s a medium-heavy rod with a moderate taper. Pinnacle says it is for small crankbaits, but I thought it would work well for light tubes and jigs. I wasn’t disappointed.
I carefully inspected the rod and noted the quality craftsmanship. It utilizes an EVA split grip for reduced weight and feel, plus your grip doesn’t become slick when the handles get wet. The rod has a comfortable fit and feel combined with the ultra-low-profile Fuji ACS seat.
I love the Fuji Titanium-SIC Tangle-Free K-Guides. Pinnacle made a great choice here. The guides facilitate smooth line flow during casts and retrieve. The guides also keep the weight of this rod low which makes it a breeze to use.
The Pinnacle Primmus Xi HS hand-tuned casting reel, weighing in at only 5.8-ounces, balances perfectly with the rod, not only in weight but also in looks. The red anodized metal on the reel perfectly matches the rod's red trim. The carbon fiber side plates and Duralumin alloy components keep the reel light without sacrificing strength.
The 6-pin centrifugal cast control is new to me. I am much more familiar with magnetic casting controls. There’s a subtle “whirring” sound when the pins engage during the cast, but it’s hardly noticeable. I noticed it only because I’m used to magnetic brakes. However, I quickly found pins are superior when using lighter baits. The reel comes with all the pins turned off. I recommend turning on four pins in an “X” pattern and adjusting from there. I found two pins were the ideal setup for me.
Another tip to note is not filling the spool up as much as you would on other reels. If you overfill the reel, a support bar underneath the thumb bar may interfere with your line.
I used the rod and reel to pitch 3” tubes and grubs on 1/8th-ounce jigheads into a heavy brush. I also pitched onto bass beds – over, and over, and over, and….. You get the point. Suffice to say, I did a lot of pitching with lightweight lures – something that has always been difficult for me, but not anymore. I could pitch with these lures quickly as I could with heavier baits on stout rods. It’s a vast improvement. I’m now a massive fan of 6-pin centrifugal brakes.
I also found the swept carbon fiber handle on the reel to be quite comfortable. The EVA grips aren’t huge like they are on competitive reels, so they’re a perfect fit for my hands.
Overall, I’m pleased with the combo and impressed with the quality and performance of the gear Pinnacle is putting on the market these days. They’ve put a lot of thought and effort into the rod and reel design. It certainly shows.
The combo can be had for about $550, which initially sounds expensive. However, I can hardly tell the difference compared to some of my other combos costing more than $700. The Pinnacle Perfecta 7 and Primmus reels perform well above their price point. The rod and reel are definitely at the top of my list.
