Millerod Drifter Pocket 581

The Drifter ‘Pocket’ is a rod based on one of Ian Miller’s favourite personal custom rod builds. This medium weight bass rod is used with medium-large sized Aussie bass lures and designed around delivering deadly casting accuracy!

Hence the rod name ‘Pocket’. This is a term Ian uses to describe small areas to target in order to trigger bass into attack mode. If you can’t get the lure into that target ‘pocket’ it’s unlikely you’ll get that strike.

Plenty of development time was given to fine-tuning this rod, which is probably best described by Ian himself;

“A few seasons ago I started to get more interested in bigger lures for my bass fishing, broadening my horizons and experimenting with approaches to hunt bigger fish.

I found some lures that were working well but I wasn’t happy with my tackle. These lures were a little heavier so it’s best to throw them on baitcast tackle for maximum control and accuracy. And I needed accuracy! It’s critical to land the lure in the exact spot to trigger the best attack response which will usually trick a big fish and get a decent hookset…

I knew I had such a rod somewhere that I’d already developed for my own personal fishing back in the day for spinnerbaits in tight water, so I unpacked my archive rods and there it was! I rigged it up, took it fishing and was overwhelmed with how well it went, the foundations of an excellent rod were there.

I fished that season out with the OG to pinpoint what might need improving, and then built myself a modern prototype. The next season I fished the whole season with that new prototype alongside a production sample to be doubly sure it was as good as can be. Now this season we’re good to go!”

The ‘Pocket 581’ is quite short at 5’8” and this is important to getting good manoeuvrability of the rod when fishing under, around, and in structure to get the lure into the target zone.

The tip has a measured amount of flex to allow for easy loading during the cast, providing a nice window of release to steer the lure onto the target.

The mid-section power is reached quickly and smoothly which assists in hooksets and also steering big fish away from cover immediately after the strike.

The handle of the ‘Pocket’ is quite short which positions the reel close the butt end of the rod, and apart from the easy manoeuvrability it also means that the rod handle won’t catch in long sleeves. Even so, the balance and sensitivity of this rod is simply amazing!

With that great feel that cork brings, the reel seat comes easily to the hand. The reel seat body fitting ergonomically in the palm, the smooth alloy trigger is comfortable during the casting stroke while the carbon locking hood gives a positive hold on the reel foot.

Blank construction is the new ‘Armour 40-5’. This all new blank technology is the ultimate in blank reinforcement – the optimal solution to create a more robust blank while maintaining the Millerods benchmarks of lightweight sensitivity!

Minima guides have been selected for this rod as they are the lightest guide available. A combination of double foot and single foot frames in a generous amount of 10 guides plus tip-top deliver super-smooth line flow both ways and give nice direct feedback yet are so light there is no negative impact on the rod balance and sensitivity. Minima guides also allow for a very small size to be used on the tip section yet the ID of the ring is not too restrictive to connecting knots.

The custom Millerods anti-tangle hook keeper finishes the guide train and allows for lures to be easily and safely stowed between casts.

Suitable for use with nylon lines, fluorocarbon lines and braid/leader combinations via the FG knot.

(Well used prototype in images, production stock may vary slightly in cosmetic).

5’8” 1pc

Medium-Fast action

Recommended line 3-6kg

Ideal lure range 10-20gm

Pac Bay Minima 10+1 guide train (smallest guide size #4)

Millerods Custom anti-tangle Hook Keeper

Complimentary custom Millerods rod sleeve