Thread: JDM rods relating to Panfish

Originally Posted by Moses Nebo

Alphahawk, I'm a vertical-jigging crappie hound in Maine, and the vertical game up here is awesome! I fish from a float tube with sonar and use 4-6 lb. braid for its incredible sensitivity. I love short rods from 4' to 5', even my 4' medium-action ice rod. I don't own a JDM rod yet but am nibbling around them. Could you recommend one or two JDM rods up to 5'6" with sensitive (solid?) tips that I could try for crappie? I'd prefer to start my JDM life for less than $200 if that's possible given my criteria. Thank You.

Wow....tough call there...but there is one rod that will fit the criteria and the budget...at around $185 delivered. It is an Ajing rod and is a rigid rod...but it is an UL rod with solid tip. A Mebaru rod is better suited for crappie but they don’t make Mebaru rods that short and while you may can get an area trout rod that short I don’t think it will do what you are wanting to do. The N-One is a very sensitive rod with a Nano blank. The rod has all Fuji components.....stainless guide frames with Sic inserts.....a Fuji TVS reel sets.....it fits the bill perfectly for what you asked...a super sensitive rod....you could rip some lips with it. If that doesn’t fit the bill let me know and I will continue to look.....but rods that short....to do what you are wanting...just not that many in that length. Here is what Major Craft designed this rod to do....sounds like a perfect fit.


“Delicateness that can handle jig heads of 1 g under and quickness to hook into the upper jaw in an instant. Short model for super short range fighting.”

Regards

DIGITAKA! - Japan Fishing Tackle Store


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Alphahawk: Thank You, Thank You! I'm ordering one. Sending you warm regards from Maine, Moses Nebo

Originally Posted by Moses Nebo

Alphahawk: Thank You, Thank You! I'm ordering one. Sending you warm regards from Maine, Moses Nebo

Hope you enjoy it.....Major Craft gives one a lot of rod for the money. Would love to be a fly on the wall when you unpack it to see your expression if this is the first Ajing rod you have ever seen...LOL.

Regards


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Originally Posted by Alphahawk

Hope you enjoy it.....Major Craft gives one a lot of rod for the money. Would love to be a fly on the wall when you unpack it to see your expression if this is the first Ajing rod you have ever seen...LOL.

Regards


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i can second the n-one iv got the 69 aging it will surprise you how stiff it feels at 1st but the sensitivity is unbelievable. with mine i can differentiate between a light bite, wood, or rock. its that sensitive. it also has the tip to land large fish on extremly light line. i've gotten to where i hardly ever use anything but 2lb line.

The past several years I became aware of JDM fishing rods because I've been doing more ultralight fishing. I never bought a finished rod because I prefer to build my own. I haven't found blank components on Digitaka, Plat, JP Angler - only completed rods. I've heard of Yamaga blanks, but they seem to only sell finished rods.

I recently found a Japanese company called Richards that produce OEM blanks, as well as their own Suzuki brand label. Apparently they've made blanks for 60 years in Japan.
OEM production of various kinds of fishing rod, SUZUKI Blanks | Richards Inc.

Anyone ever heard, or used the Richards Suzuki rods? The members here are more knowledgeable about JDM products than me. I'm tempted to build an ultralight, panfish rod using one of their blanks.

I built myself an ultralight rod on a Rainshadow Revelation blank. It's very light and sensitive. It performs great.

Originally Posted by bish0p

The past several years I became aware of JDM fishing rods because I've been doing more ultralight fishing. I never bought a finished rod because I prefer to build my own. I haven't found blank components on Digitaka, Plat, JP Angler - only completed rods. I've heard of Yamaga blanks, but they seem to only sell finished rods.

I recently found a Japanese company called Richards that produce OEM blanks, as well as their own Suzuki brand label. Apparently they've made blanks for 60 years in Japan.
OEM production of various kinds of fishing rod, SUZUKI Blanks | Richards Inc.

Anyone ever heard, or used the Richards Suzuki rods? The members here are more knowledgeable about JDM products than me. I'm tempted to build an ultralight, panfish rod using one of their blanks.

I built myself an ultralight rod on a Rainshadow Revelation blank. It's very light and sensitive. It performs great.

You wont find any blanks from any of the rod manufactures in Japan. They make their own blanks and are very secretive about them and do not sell them in the after market. I have researched this throughly and have had several rod builders contact me to help them find a source of Japanese UL blanks.....up until now I have not found any. Here is the deal with JDM UL rods. You can acquire all the high end components....Fuji reel seats.....Fuji Torzite guides.....the thread. But you will not find the blanks and you will not be able to find any source that can sell you an Ajing...Mebaru....style blank. You can probably find blanks that closely match the action of Area and Stream trout rods. It’s not a question of can a rod builder build a rod like a Tict Ice Cube Rockin’ Drift.....of course a master rod builder can build it....he just cant get the main component. Many of the rods I own have a carbon content as high as 99.6 percent. Many Japanese rod companies publish graphite content I think as a source of pride.....that they can make a blank with that much graphite and get it to bend into a U shape when fighting a fish....it is quite remarkable.

Regards


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Originally Posted by Alphahawk

Many Japanese rod companies publish graphite content I think as a source of pride.....that they can make a blank with that much graphite and get it to bend into a U shape when fighting a fish....it is quite remarkable.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: they are wizards with graphite.

Originally Posted by Alphahawk

You wont find any blanks from any of the rod manufactures in Japan. They make their own blanks and are very secretive about them and do not sell them in the after market. I have researched this throughly and have had several rod builders contact me to help them find a source of Japanese UL blanks.....up until now I have not found any.

Regards


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Thanks for your reply Alphahawk. I know that every rod company does not roll their own blanks due to cost, equipment, etc. Richards is an OEM manufacturer, so they create blanks for other Japanese (and foreign?) rod makers. I'm taking notes on popular rod makers & models to get an idea of the type of blank I want to purchase. Thanks again.