“Clarus didn’t just get a fresh coat of paint, said Robby Gant, Shimano American’s rod product development manager. “From the designs to the fittings, we call it a rejuvenation to a rod series that has been extremely popular with anglers – we had the ideas and the ability to make them even better.”

• CLARUS BASS RODS

One of the big changes with Clarus will really please bass anglers, notes Gant. “No matter how and where you fish for bass, there are 27 rods in technique-specific lengths and actions to handle any waters where bass swim.”

For instance, there are nine worm-and-jig casting rods. Here is where anglers will find a 6-foot-8-inch CSC-68MB that handles 6- to 12-pound test mono or from 10- 30-pound test PowerPro. It’s a perfect match for one of the new Chronarch reels and perfect for wacky worms, shakey-heads or soft-plastic stickbaits.
The bruiser in the series is the CSC-72HB, a heavy, fast-action rod that will throw a Carolina rig and an ounce-and-a-half weight a Southern mile.

Then there are two ‘flip-pitch-punch’ rods – the 7-foot-7-inch CSC-X77MHB and 7-foot-11 inch CSC-X711HB - made for pitching into junk or punching through grass mats. Gant suggests these rods also serve to fish big swimbaits, or they can slow-roll big football jigs along deep-water rock piles. Match them with 30- to 65-pound PowerPro, and you have a rod that can handle the heavier tasks.

As on all Clarus rods, the guides are Fuji aluminum oxide and perfect for either braid or monofilament lines.

Tournament anglers like to power fish, using lures - such as spinnerbaits - that cover water quickly and catch whatever bass are in a biting mood. The Clarus series has three rods designed specifically to throw those. There are two 6-foot-10-inch spinnerbait models that are both medium heavy power - the fast action CSC-SB610MHB, while the CSC-SBX610MHB has an extra-fast action and is better with heavier line and lures. The third spinnerbait rod, the CSC-SBX72MHB, is longer, heavier and will handle the chores of slow-rolling big spinnerbaits for hawgs.

The line of heavy rods doesn’t mean that there is nothing here for anglers who like lighter rods, especially those who cast crankbaits. The Clarus series has four rods that are medium or medium-heavy in power, and all medium-fast in action. They range from a 6-foot-8-inch medium-power rod - the CSC-C68MB - to a 7-foot-6-inch medium-heavy, medium-fast rod that will handle those big, deep-diving baits - the CSC-C76MHB.

For bass anglers who prefer spinning rods, there’s a total of seven Clarus models in 6-foot, 6-foot-8-inch, 7-foot-2 and 7-6 lengths for worm fishing, and two drop shot rods – the 6-8 CSS-DX68MB and 7-foot-2 CSS-DX72MB. They are perfect for using PowerPro braid down to 5-pound test.

• CLARUS INSHORE RODS

Inshore anglers are addressed with the new Clarus rods, with seven spinning models with design features for fishing situations in the shallow salt.

“We provide longer rear grips – either 9-inches or 10 – on the Clarus inshore rods, to contribute keeping the reel away from your body and out of the water,” Gant said, “and all have cork front and rear grips – it’s the grip material of choice for inshore saltwater fishing rods.”

Rods include the 7-foot-2-inch rods in light, medium-light, medium and medium-heavy power, a 7-foot-4 medium power, and two 7-6 rods in medium and medium-heavy. Gant notes there are powers, actions and length for it all – on the flats for bonefish, sneaking up on snook in the mangroves, or shuffling your feet off the Panhandle for redfish and sea trout.

• CLARUS TROUT SPINNING RODS

With trout fishing primarily in mind with these Clarus spinning rods, Gant points out that they’ll see a good amount of use going after panfish, small bass and kokonee. The seven ultra-light and light power one-piece rods have custom-shaped grade A cork handles, comfortable reel seats and Fuji aluminum oxide guides.

Rod available range from the 5-foot CSS-50ULB super light mono or 3-pound test PowerPro Microline, two 5-foot-6-inch – ultra light and light power, two 6-footer in ultra light and light power, and a light power 6-foot-6 and 7-footer.

“If you’re all about light line fishing, we have you covered in the Clarus series,” said Gant. “Any of them will match up well with our 500 size spinning reels, my recommendation being the Symetre 500.”

• CLARUS TRAVEL RODS

Making it easier for destination fishing – or just keeping an outfit in your car or truck for when the opportunity arises, there’s 14 two-piece Clarus rods – sharing many features of other Clarus rods including IM-8 blanks.

For bass anglers – and sure to be used for other fishing situations, Shimano offers nine rods all with custom reel seats and cork grips – including a rear split grip on CSC-C610MH2B bass casting rod. The eight fast-action bass spinning rods range from the 6-foot CSS-60ML2B for use with 5-pound test PowerPro, the 6-foot-6 CSS-66M2B for 3/-16 to 5/8-ounce lure, and the 7-foot medium-heavy power CSS-70MH2B.

For ultra-light action, there are five travel spinning rods with cork grips – a 5-foot-6-inch, a 6-6, a 7-footer and two 7-foot-6-inch rods. You can use line at light as 2-pound test mono or 3-pound test PowerPro Microline.

• CLARUS SALMON/STEELHEAD ROD

Shimano went all out in providing salmon and steelhead actions in the new Clarus series. There’s 27 rods in total – casting and spinning – and technique specific models including two center-pin rods.

“It’s our most extensive foray into the salmon and steelhead fisheries – with rods for Pacific Northwest applications along with rivers and tributaries flowing into the Great Lakes,” said Gant. “We can assure you – you’ll find the right power, action and length for your specific fishing technique.

Finishing up the Clarus series are three casting rods for Brazilian anglers and the emerging sportfishing community throughout the region. “At Shimano American, we’re playing a larger role in both marketing and developing specific tackle for Latin and South America,” explains Gant. “These are our first rods specific to this new purpose – shorter casting rods preferred by Brazilian anglers to target peacock bass throughout the extensive waterways in their country.”

All the Clarus rods feature a limited, lifetime warranty.

For more information on the new Clarus rod series – a massive 94 model line-up – visit the Shimano web site at http://fish.shimano.com - or call Shimano’s tech service support line at 877/577-0600.
###