Illex Pepper X5 B 215 ML Magic Wand

The Magic Wand of the Pepper Range

The Illex Pepper X5 B 215 ML Magic Wand is the updated version, now with 5 cm more length and roughly 5% more power. It's a baitcasting rod built for finesse fishing with soft plastics and hard lures targeting perch, zander and largemouth bass, and it delivers an exceptionally high level of enjoyment at the water. True to its name, it is the magic wand of the Pepper range - and its performance lives up to that billing entirely. An ultralight, fast and responsive blank allows for precise, sensitive presentation of small to medium-sized lures. Every animation is transferred with pinpoint accuracy, and even the subtlest contact comes through cleanly. This rod comes supplied in a robust Cordura tube.

What It's Designed For

Illex has put together a recommended list of hard lures from their own range that pair particularly well with the Pepper X5 B 215 ML Magic Wand. You can naturally use this as a guide for lures from other manufacturers too.

• Topwater: Water Moccasin 75 and Bonnie 85, plus comparable stickbaits up to 10 g
• Minnows: Squirrel 61, Squirrel DD 67 and Squirrel DD 79, plus comparable twitchbaits up to 11 g
• Cranks: the Chubby series and comparable crankbaits up to 10 g
• Spinnerbaits: Crusher JR 10 g and comparable spinnerbaits up to 10 g
• Bladed Jigs: Crazy Crusher Jr and comparable chatterbaits up to 10 g

It's not just hard lures, though - soft plastics work equally well on this rod, particularly on finesse rigs such as drop shot, Ned rig and Neko rig, as well as light Texas rigs.

The X5 Blank and Fuji Torzite Rings

The Illex Pepper X5 B 215 ML Magic Wand is built around a high-quality X5 blank constructed from prepreg carbon sheets arranged at 3 different angles to one another. This reduces weight while simultaneously increasing the rod's responsiveness - lighter and faster, which translates into a great deal of fun on the water. Fitted to the blank are outstanding Fuji Torzite Titanium K guides. These contribute to the rod's low overall weight and support the excellent sensitivity of the blank. At the same time, their inserts are extremely gentle on line and allow for very long casts. As an added benefit, they also help prevent line tangles - particularly useful when fishing with fine braid.

Specifications at a Glance:

Key Facts:

• Baitcasting rod
• Length: 215.5 cm
• Casting weight: 3.5 - 21 g
• Action: Extra Fast
• X5 carbon blank
• Fuji Torzite Titanium K guides
• Split grip
• Supplied in a Cordura protective tube