The 10ft #7 in Fulling Mill's Gold XT range featured in our Survey and I liked that, so I was keen to try this rod. The light triangular rod tube and canvas bag give a good first impression. Line up the dots to put the sections in place and the positive impression continues.

The grip in my hand is slender, the blank is slim, Fulling Mill have opted for fairly small rings and the whole thing feels light and poised, and the impression is one of precision and delicacy. Thread a familiar line through those rings and this feels like the rod is waking up as I cast the first few yards of line.

The action seems moderately fast, typical of contemporary rods. I can load this easily and feel the rod responding, bending as I move it, which suggests this is not overly stiff. (When we talk about how ‘powerful’ a rod is, we really mean its stiffness.) Casting with just a few yards of fly line outside the tip I can make loops, can load and unload the rod smoothly, and pop a fly on a target accurately.

Work more line out and the whole rod seems to be working, I can feel the lower sections bending. Loops are smooth and the fly is going to pretty much where I tell it. I have time to make mends after the rod unloads and before the line lands, that sense of precision comes to mind again, as this is light and crisp, and I can move it and stop it easily so my mends are exact. When I let the loop straighten I can float the fly down on my target, with bushier flies I can open my stroke, punch a little harder, and drive the leader over.

Work yet more line out, and make long, smooth strokes, matched with hauls to increase line-speed. As the haul really takes effect it feels like less rod and more haul. My loops seem nicely shaped, tight points back and front, I feel the line pulling. Go too far, false-cast too much, and I begin to lose control. Pull some line back, back to that 'sweet spot' where it seems like I'm getting more out of the rod than I put in; not actually possible, of course, but that’s how it feels. Shoots a line well and easily capable of throwing a full line.

So, it really depends what I want or expect from a #5 rod. If I want a distance rod, that's a 5-weight distance rod, I'd probably try the next rod up in this range so I can 'carry' more line. If I want a rod for fishing, a #5 that casts a #5 line well at the distances I expect to fish, then for me this works a treat! Normally, it takes a little time to adjust to an unfamiliar rod, getting a feel for the length and speed of stroke needed as the length of line varies. It took very little adjustment, if any, to get in tune with the Gold XT. The action and stiffness of this rod suit me to a tee.

A rod which I'd happily fish for trout or grayling, that sense of delicacy and control would incline me to use the Gold XT more on rivers than stillwaters – no real surprises there.