Zeck Buddy

The Buddy from Zeck was born from the idea of developing a fishing rod that meets the same quality standards as their other rods, but at a lower price. Since they didn’t want to skimp on features, the Sea-Guide guides, the Fuji reel seat and end cap, as well as the handle, thread, finish, and other components are exactly the same as on the Pro-Cat. To reduce costs while maintaining the same quality, the company decided to develop a modern blank with a high glass fiber content. This is a significantly more affordable raw material, yet it still offers great value for any beginner, young angler, or other fisherman looking for an affordable option. After an extended testing phase, Zeck found that the Buddy is perfectly adequate and serves its purpose for anyone who doesn’t need a distance rod for long-range casting. With a casting weight of 300 grams, its action is similar to that of the Short and Soft, though it leans slightly more toward a parabolic curve. Even large fish can be fought with ease, while smaller specimens are a lot of fun to catch. The Buddy weighs just 10 grams more than the 3.00-meter-long Pro-Cat, which further underscores that the blank has nothing in common with older generations of fiberglass blanks. In addition to being shock-resistant, it also handles casting errors with ease.

With the Buddy Long, the Buddy has gained a “long” sibling that is ideal for casting rigs from the bank. Furthermore, it’s also excellent for casting over long distances—up to 200 meters—and getting the line out of the water. The 2.90-meter-long Buddy is an absolute bestseller at Zeck, and according to the company, it rarely—if ever—breaks. They even cautiously describe the Buddy Long as “indestructible,” even though that is, of course, a dangerous and all too often misused term in fishing. The fact that this rod is so robust is mainly due to the modern glass blank, which is extremely resistant to transport damage or angle errors during the fight. The action is actually really fun. The rod performs excellently even with smaller fish, without being overburdened by larger specimens. On the contrary, under almost any load, the blank helps you quickly tire the fish during the fight. The only limitation with this 2.90-meter catfish rod is the restricted casting distance when setting up the line. You’re limited to a maximum of 150 meters if you want to get the line out of the water. That’s why there’s the Buddy Long. With it, you can cast over 200 meters without the rod standing in a semicircle in the rod rest. The leaders also get through better at longer distances. Another advantage of the 3.20-meter-long Buddy is that its stiffer backbone allows you to apply even more pressure to the fish in extreme situations.

Due to the guides and the action of the fiberglass blank, these rods are only suitable for use with a fixed spool reel or Zech’s own HR 20. They are also securely packaged and delivered in a high-quality rod case.

Product features:

• Casting weight: 300 g
• Section: Two-piece
• Material: Fiberglass
• Guide ring: 30 mm
• Reel seat: Fuji DPS H/#24
• Handle material: EVA Camou
• End cap diameter: 39 mm
• End cap material: Fuji hard rubber
• Fishing method: Bottom fishing