Thread: JDM rods relating to Panfish

Originally Posted by redearhoosier

How rigid is your model? The hard thing about buying JDM rods, you can not go pick it up in some local store and feel it in your hands. That is very frustrating as far as I'm concerned. So I really, really appreciate Randy's input and other folk's input.

Well you are right. But once you get a couple of the different type rods you will get the hang of it. Allsorts guided me along the way for several purchases. Had I not had his help no telling what I would have bought. He is the most knowledgeable I know about JDM UL rods of all types. You now have a high rod in the TenRyu.....and I know you have others just not sure what all you have. But you have gone high end now.......and while you may be able to go back down to lower end it will be tough. I had always wanted an EverGreen but after hearing what Allsorts had to say about EverGreen UL rods after he purchased his first Graphiteleader I will probably never buy an EverGreen. One consideration you may want to look at is buying a TenRyu Lunakia from Chris. It is truly a cross between an ajing and a mebaru rod. Not too rigid...not too soft. It has impeccable build quality and is extremely sensitive. I don't fish mine as much as I would like...I have far too many rods....but it a fantastic rod. I would have already acquired another rod since I'm laid up but I so desperately want the Super Bellezza....but it costing 500 bucks is causing me to pucker a little...but I am sure I will get over it.....LOL.

Regards

Originally Posted by redearhoosier

How rigid is your model?

When I first picked it up, I thought it was fairly stiff for a UL rod. However, it "fishes" softer than it "flexes", if that makes any sense.

I've landed everything on it from small gills up to catfish around 4#.

You beat me on this rod. I tried to buy it but was too late. Congratulations on the purchase and I hope you like it.

The Blue Current 71 TZ Nano Jighead Special is a really nice rod. It has more backbone than the Major Craft TripleCross and is more sensitive. But when a load is put on it, it really becomes pretty limber (if that makes sense). I’m headed to the creek right now but when I get back, I can try to recreate some of Randy’s bending curves with the two models in question so that you can see the difference.


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Thank you D10. That is probably a little more rigid than I like, particularly if it's stouter than the Triple Cross. I've got the 7'3 UL Triple Cross and it has some serious backbone, IMO.

The St. Croix Premier 6ft UL rod that I own is a fun rod to fish with. I hooked several 12in shellcrackers on it this spring and honestly, I didn't know if I was going to even land them! It has too much noodle in it to be honest, but I still love the fight on it. If I could find a Japanese rod similar, but a touch stouter than the Premier, I would potentially buy it. Interestingly, the Premier is labeled a fast action, I'm not sure about that. It would seem to be a medium-fast action to me.

Originally Posted by redearhoosier

Thank you D10. That is probably a little more rigid than I like, particularly if it's stouter than the Triple Cross. I've got the 7'3 UL Triple Cross and it has some serious backbone, IMO.

The St. Croix Premier 6ft UL rod that I own is a fun rod to fish with. I hooked several 12in shellcrackers on it this spring and honestly, I didn't know if I was going to even land them! It has too much noodle in it to be honest, but I still love the fight on it. If I could find a Japanese rod similar, but a touch stouter than the Premier, I would potentially buy it. Interestingly, the Premier is labeled a fast action, I'm not sure about that. It would seem to be a medium-fast action to me.

Remember JDM rods are faster across the board. A fast action JDM UL rod would be considered xtra fast by US rod standards.

Regards

This wasn’t the highest quality demonstration but it gives you an idea of the bending curves of the following rods: Tict Ice Cube Rockin Finesse 69, Major Craft Triple Cross 68, Yamaga Blanks Blue Current TZ Nano JHS 71, and Leland Lures TSS 66. I don’t know if there are some standardized methods or not (I’m sure Randy could straighten us out) but I used a make shift rod holder at ~45 degree angle and I used a 5 oz weight (150g = 5.3 oz). I was very suprised to see that the Major Craft has a little more back bone than the Blue Current. Their bending curves were very similar but they feel very different. I’m sure it has something to do with the blanks and components used. The Blue Current is more sensitive than the Major Craft for sure. Both cast 0.5g jigs pretty good but really shine when the weight approaches 1.0g (1/32 oz) or a little more. The Tict definitely had the most flex to it but man is it sensitive. I think it is the most sensitive rod I have. The TSS rod is about half way between the Blue Current and Tict. It is also a pretty sensitive rod but it does weigh more than the others. I have already thought of some ways to improve this analysis. If I can get a second run at it, it would look a little better. I know that I probably didn’t use the proper terminology. If someone schools me a little on the topic, I would appreciate it. I hope this helps in deciding on the Blue Current.



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Originally Posted by D10

This wasn’t the highest quality demonstration but it gives you an idea of the bending curves of the following rods: Tict Ice Cube Rockin Finesse 69, Major Craft Triple Cross 68, Yamaga Blanks Blue Current TZ Nano JHS 71, and Leland Lures TSS 66. I don’t know if there are some standardized methods or not (I’m sure Randy could straighten us out) but I used a make shift rod holder at ~45 degree angle and I used a 5 oz weight (150g = 5.3 oz). I was very suprised to see that the Major Craft has a little more back bone than the Blue Current. Their bending curves were very similar but they feel very different. I’m sure it has something to do with the blanks and components used. The Blue Current is more sensitive than the Major Craft for sure. Both cast 0.5g jigs pretty good but really shine when the weight approaches 1.0g (1/32 oz) or a little more. The Tict definitely had the most flex to it but man is it sensitive. I think it is the most sensitive rod I have. The TSS rod is about half way between the Blue Current and Tict. It is also a pretty sensitive rod but it does weigh more than the others. I have already thought of some ways to improve this analysis. If I can get a second run at it, it would look a little better. I know that I probably didn’t use the proper terminology. If someone schools me a little on the topic, I would appreciate it. I hope this helps in deciding on the Blue Current.



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Outstanding write up. There is really no standard weight to use when doing bending curves.....just don’t want to stress out the rod and break one. Posts like this help someone to figure out rigidity of the rod......how fast a tip the rod has. Had you had an area trout rod it would been below the TSS rod. Interesting analysis on the sensitivity. I agree with your assessment. What I have found in the high end Ajing....Mebaru......and the high graphite content area trout rods.....they all are extremely sensitive. But it seems to me that sensitivity comes across in different ways. Each rod has a unique “feel” when a fish hits. Since acquiring the Graphiteleader rods, and the TenRyu Lunakia I had initially thought unless the rod was actually “Made in Japan” I wouldn’t buy any more that were not. After much thought I have changed my thinking on that. It is because of the Tict Rods. They are extremely sensitive rods and while their fit and finish is not up to the Graphiteleader rods they are certainly at the top of the list for fishability and fun factor. My curiosity is still peaked by the Abu Garcia Eradicator Real Finesse hybrid light game rods....especially the Slow Taper Special models. Just for information purposes the TSS rod will be made and sold by B’n’M in 2020. It will be virtually same rod but it will not have the Microwave Guides on it. It will be marketed as Leland’s TCB rod...meaning Trout-Crappie-Bluegill.

Regards


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