Shimano is, and has been for a long time, an industry leader in the development and construction of high-end bass fishing gear. Some of their products, like the Curado casting reel, for example, have reset expectations for what fishing gear can do. And Shimano's new Poison Adrena rod has raised the bar once again in the casting category.
I’ve been fishing with the Poison Adrena for going on three months now. This second-generation model was released last summer at ICAST 2024 and has been well-received by anglers. It was also one of the top performers in our baitcasting rod test, finishing as the runner-up for the best overall award. Here's a closer look at the new Poison Adrena and how it performs on the water.
Specs
Rod Type: Casting
Pieces: 1
Rod Length: 7-foot
Rod Power: Medium-heavy
Rod Action: Fast
Line Rating: 10-20 pound
Price: $380
Other Notable Features
High-modulus Carbon Blank
Spiral X Core Technology
SiC Guides from Fuji
Reel Seat made with Ci4+
Full Carbon Monocoque Grip
First Look
When I pulled the Poison Adrena from the rod tube, the first thing I noticed was the lightweight feel. At the same time, the rod felt sturdy and solid in hand. One feature that contributes to both of these sensations is the Full Carbon Monocoque Grip. The grip has the appearance and feel of a split grip, but in reality, it is one piece of carbon monocoque that is contoured to create the feel of a split grip. This material is lightweight, rigid, and sensitive. Shimano also used a coating that gives the grip a slightly soft, almost velvety feel.
The overall feel of the rod was excellent. With a fairly standard-size set of guides and a textured feel to the finish of the blank, this rod screamed no nonsense and high quality right out of the gate. The Ci4+ reel seat is also finished off with the same soft-touch material as the grip. From the metallic lock ring above the reel seat to the skeletal butt section of the handle to the rigidity of the whole rod, the Posion Adrena felt like a finely tuned machine before I ever even put a reel on it. Once I did put a reel on it, things only got better.
On the Water Performance
I tested the Poison Adrena with a couple different Shimano reels. I started off pairing it with a Bantam and 15-pound Seaguar Invizx Fluorocarbon. While I did catch a few fish on that setup by swimming a jig and casting a few other baits, I didn’t feel like I was really able to fully test the rod’s capabilities with the light line. So, I swapped the Bantam out for a Chronarch with 40-pound Sufix 832 braid and went to work.
On one trip in particular, I tied a buzzbait on the Poison Adrena/Chronarch combo and started combing the bank for bass chasing bream and shad. I caught a fish or two pretty quickly and lost a decent one, but nothing to write home about. Then, I had a big one come up and follow my buzzbait multiple times. I finally was able to catch that fish—a 6-pounder—on a wacky rig. The rod handled that fish easily and offered good control and power during the fight.
What I really liked about the Poison Adrena that I tested (a 7-foot medium-heavy/fast) is that it makes for a fantastic all-around rod. The tip is probably a hair stiffer and faster than most rods that are rated medium-heavy/fast. But this still has plenty of tip to make little roll casts, skips, and side arm casts accurately. And there’s plenty of backbone too for setting the hook and pulling bass in. I would be comfortable fishing anything from a Texas rig to a frog to a spinnerbait on this one.
I did get a good bite on the buzzbait during testing, boating a fish around between 3 and 1/2 pounds out of a shady spot. The rod loaded up nicely as the fish sucked the bait under and then made short work of the fight, hauling the bass in and flipping it over the gunwale of the boat.
Though I didn’t really drag a jig or anything like that with the Poison Adrena, I can tell you it’s one of the more sensitive casting rods I’ve ever had in my hands. The Carbon Monocoque Grip makes it feel like you’re just holding the blank itself. With quality components from top to bottom and technologies like Spiral X Core and Ci4+ incorporated into this rod, you can start to get an idea as to why it’s as light, sensitive, and capable as it is. The price tag is the only downside; at $380, this rod isn’t cheap. But with seven options ranging from a 6-foot, 10-inch medium/regular to a 7-foot, 6-inch heavy/fast, you’ll likely find a new favorite in the Poison Adrena no matter how you fish.
