Came looking for recommendations on new rods and found out I already have what I need. I’ve broken the tip of my shakespeare microlite so many times but I kept the receipt from years ago and Walmart gives me a new one every time
Victor, It is amazing just how well thought out and informative your videos are. I did locate the 7 foot version of the Shakespeare Micro Series and I ordered it after figuring out that the light version was being incorrectly advertised as UL. The rod was shipped from Arizona and arrived at my doorstep in California in a plastic bag, without any padding, broken in two places. I can see that compared to the Celilo UL it is thin and has much faster action. I imagine that it would not have any issues casting lures a little below its rating. You nailed every point relating to the Micro Series.
Another ultra informative session from the master! You are what passionate fisherman need in this day and age, an honest opinion. Always appreciate your content and hope the rest of the world gets your message as I do. Keep the content coming sir and wishing you a prosperous 2024.
I have gotten into ultralight over the past couple years, I started out with cheap ugly stiks that got the job done and never failed me. I then bought the st croix avid panfish UL, and it is very lightweight and sensitive. I pair it with the Shimano Sedona 1000 and use 6lb Pline copolymer and I have a lot of fun with it for crappie and panfish and also plenty of bass. I perfer the action of st croix because they have enough backbone to boatflip fish but a soft tip to play out the fight, especially on smallmouth.
If you are happy, u have the right equipment. But i still recomment trying some of the rods and reels from my recommendations. U can actually beat that with less money
I stayed up past my bedtime watching this last night from start to finish! Lol As always, great informative video. Picking up the Panfish Elite this weekend from your previous recommendations & can't wait to add it, although I agree it is expensive in today's market like you said. Don't think it will compare to the few JDM gear I have, but it is still a beautiful rod that will pair with the Cardiff. Good thing I was able to move some bass gear to fund this purchase! Aiming to pick up the 6'6 Presso when my local store comes in stock and I want to add the AGS soon before I can never get it again for the current price. I normally never take another opinions into consideration, but you are extremely informative and unbiased. Side note: Got your jigs in the other day, and they are SHARP and very high quality. Got a few rigged and cannot wait to use them this spring. Keep killing it Vic!
Let me tell you, other than the price, i have nothing bad to say about the LEP rod! Don't feel bad about that purchase! Even the action is great - there ain't no tip wobble in that rod, and the guides are top shelf! Price is the only reason i don't recommend it. But i sold 5 or 6 of my JDM rods, i even sold the Corto that everyone was raving about, but i haven't sold my LEP, and don't plan on selling it, because i love they way it feels and love how universal it is and that i am not afraid it will snap from flipping a bluegill..
Man, I'm in love with the Yamaga Bluecurrent 67 tz nano. Such a great recommendation! I got the 8'5" version now as well.. Haven't fished it yet, but I can tell I'm gonna love it. It's almost identical to the 67, just scaled up a bit, a beefier blank, but the weight is still ridiculously low for the length. You are absolutely right about never selling these rods, too.
+1 for the 67tz nano, I've had one for a while now and love it. It even handles 5/6lb bonefish well as well as many other inshore fish I've used it for inshore in Hawai'i
@ifishcatfish I thought it was just me lol yeah hopefully so. Wishing you and yours the best man. Money is a little funny these days but hopefully soon I'll be able to put another order in for more bg jigheads. Love the new products 👌🏾
@@ifishcatfishhi sir. I took your recommendations but I am a little confused by amazon. Could you tell me what number of sections were you talking about when you referred to the first 3 rods? Daiwa presso, Okuma Sst and Shimano. 4? 2?
@@jeanvaljean1475 Don't reply to other people's comments to ask your own question. It's rude. I reply to all questions regardless. Presso is 2 piece, Okuma SST is 1 piece, Shimanos are always 2 pieces
Always look forward to your buyers guide. Great explanations on each rod. Started UL fishing 2yrs ago, I’ve been a bass guy for a while. Got the 7’ Shakespeare micro to start, based on your review. I do all my UL fishing with this rod float/twitch/swims. Love the performance,durability, and PRICE! Great recommendation, my budget Thanks You!
so nice to hear feedback like that. And i keep my shakespeare too - i like watching this rod.. different things have different value... One can have nothing but respect to a $20 rod that can do everything
Just received the Yamaga from North One Japan and finally an ultralight that’s not a noodle. My new rod for stock trout. Can’t wait to take it out this spring
We have the same loveseat. 😂 I had been thinking about splurging on a nicer ultralight rod, but after buying 2 of the Presso rods (thanks to you) was curious if the jump in enjoyment between a Presso and a $300 rod would be worth it. I decided to instead spend the money on multiple Presso rods in different lengths. After hearing your thoughts on the St Croix here… glad I decided not to pull the trigger on one of those rods. I’m a hillbilly who wouldn’t know how to appreciate a high end rod, anyway.😊 Always enjoy your yearly recommendation videos, Victor! Hope you and your family have a great 2024.
thanks buddy.. For float fishing u are not gona find a better rod than the Presso. Even for swimbaits its not worth it. Only for twitching jigs the difference is kind of obvious.. but most people fish the jigs under a float, or they swim them.
Hey Victor excellent review. Even the higher priced rods are exceptional value. In the late 1800's Hardy fly rods came with 3 tips. Now you can buy 3 outfits with better rods for less than what you paid for one rod in 1899$. We live in a great time.
The video we have all been waiting for! There are so many jdm rods i would like to try, i have yet to own one, only try my friends. AE has some impressive rods, i got a 51 gram rod for 70, it is solid tipped though, but is really nice for the price. Completley agree, i feel the U.S manufacturers, even from shimano and diawa are incompetant, even the chinese add important details regarding measurements. I reached out to diawa for their kage series and they replied telling me they have NEVER measured the tip diameter or butt diameter, and they didnt know what models where solid vs tubular
these are employees of the US distributor of Daiwa. If you talk to real daiwa employees from Japan, they all know that.. But the US distributors of these japanese companies just don't care to learn anything..
My favourite ultra light rods were these Shimano Pro Series (BIS-56ULC2). Can't find them anymore, the Daiwa Presso look exactly like it....guess I need to go find one :) Can feel the flex in the rod all the way to tip of the handle, balance was exceptional. You're right about Fenwicks, I have one but the old Shimanos always get taken out instead.
When I got back into fishing about 8 years ago. I was on a camping trip in mountains in south-east Tennessee. I realized I needed a new fishing setup. I knew I needed something light for trout fishing. I got a 5'6" Shakespeare Micro Series rod and a Crappie Maxx reel. I'm not sure how i combined Bass Pro and Walmart together. It worked great especially for someone not knowing anything. Soon after that I bought a couple of Ugly Stik Lite Pros . They were made for Walmart. Two of them for under $50 on clearance. You can't find them anymore. They have the same feel as the Shakespeare Micro , but much better built. I still use them and a Fenwick Eagle medium fast. It was a 6.6 . The hatch got a couple of inches. I put a new tip on and I believe it's better now 😅. Anyways , I'm rambling too much. I recently ordered a rod because it seemed like a good deal. I believe they're making another version of it. It's price is marked down quite a bit. It was around $50 and they have every size and action you could want. It's a Kastking Perigee 2 ultralight 6' medium fast. I was wondering if you know anything about this rod. I've bought a few Kastking reels , but never rods. It's supposed to be very well made and light.
Kastking sells chinese rods... nobody in USA knows about them. It is very hard to tell if it is a deal. It can say 30% off but be made of same blank and guides as the shakespeare micro. And it often is
@@ifishcatfish I've had good luck with a couple of their reels. The rod has Fuji guides. You might be about the blank. Idk ...it says 24 ton graphite . Maybe it will be decent. It's supposed to be here Thursday. That's pushing almost 2 weeks. I'm sure it won't be too bad for about $50. Some were cheaper and some came 1 piece . Others came with 2 different tips. I'm gullible about trying cheap things. So far I've been lucky with Kastking.
Just days ago i ordered my first JDM rod. The Yamaga Blue Current 71TZ nano. I prefer longer blanks and have been fishing a 7'4" ultralight that I built. The 67TZ was out of stock at Digitaka and after this video i assume it will be out of stock for a long time.
I'm so glad back in the day I was open minded to watch your videos about Japanese rods since ever since I used one. I never bothered to switch back to American rods Its funny btw the people I know from the Jetties used to look down on my Japanese rods thinking they are inferior. Till I made them try it and lo behold they end up switching You just get so much from the rod blank quality, to the guides and rod finish compared to American brands that are way over priced. I can confirm as well that Major craft rods are good. Ive bought the triple cross kurodai 78m rod and I was amazed how well it performed. Its the same with the Tailwalk Boatgamer 73m and the Yamaga Blanks Blue Current III. Jdm Shimano and Daiwa rods are very good as well so I understood why you bought the Daiwa Presso Limited. The way the rod bends and how silky the line goes thru AGS guides is just something else
@@ifishcatfish btw I wish the japanese manufacturers have more youtube videos so theres more information out there how their rods perform. Its hard to research the rods that most of the time for me it feels like a gamble I would like the rod action.
Major craft are good but they don't have anywhere NEAR as good a build quality as Yamaga Blue Current, even the cheaper Blue Current 3 is made in Japan and has better build than any Major craft or even Daiwa in the price range, although high end Daiwa get really good too, but for the price of the BC3 (25,000 yen!) nothing touches it imo.
@@cozab5487 u r awfully picky.. I have never seen anything wrong with quality of MajorCraft, on my own rod or anyone elses. They just don't go for most expensive blanks.. but in the mid-price range they offer so much choice and they are all at least a decent buy. I have a $100 majorcraft that i keep to this day and feels great, sharp as a razor, just not as sensitive as high end stuff.
@@ifishcatfish I actually think Majorcraft are the best value rods in the world 😂, ESPECIALLY in the Saltwater game, nothing offers what they do for the price not just performance wise but also blank, specifically the 5G range that covers anything from Ajing to Shorejigging, believe it or not they use the exact same blank material (Toray T1100G W Nanoresin) as the $500-$800 JDM rods 😂, same Fuji components, same everything, just less attention to detail in construction and less "perfected" actions if that makes sense? But exactly the same blank resin and parts as a $500+ rod... Just under those tho especially if taking Freshwater I really think the Blue currents are perfection, even the cheaper Blue and Silver model (BC3) is absolutely perfect, Majorcraft are very good but like any rod epoxy is often inaccurate guides often not centred paint not always perfect etc, not just Majorcraft but Daiwa and Shimano for this price too, but all Yamagas are made in Japan so it isn't a suprise. I wouldn't say picky as everything I describe is still very minor and perfectly acceptable for the price range, I'm more so very observant 😂.
Vă salut! Urmăresc cu interes toate videourile dumneavoastră. Apreciez calitatea informațiilor furnizate de dumneavoastră și din acest motiv,, îndrăznesc să vă propun un tutorial care să aibă tema " tubular vs solid tips rods". Ar fi util să ne prezentați obiectiv principalele avantaje și dezavantaje legate de aceste lansete și eventual câteva recomandări. Vă mulțumesc și vă dores mult succes!
Victor, another awesome vid for us new fishermen!! Would love to see you do a vid on when to slip float vs fix float. Im still learning and have no clue!!
@@Matthew_Dubroq i'm trying. The factory served me another surprise 2 weeks ago but i think we solved it. When the water warms up and they come shallow, we should be in good shape
I have always been budget minded in all my gear mainly because if I were to snap one I wont be that upset then lets say a rod 2x or more in cost. I am not a pro so I dont really need an expensive rod... not saying that they are bad or not worth it I just know Darwin is strong in this house 😀 I have been using this Daiwa t1500 UL rod for as long as I can remember. I do need to change the reel out from the Shakespear Sigma Whisker Titan, I get a few wind knots if my hand is not on the lever.
Shimano bought G-Loomis they used to be the best America fishing rod with a lifetime warranty, and there fly rods were the best you could get.I am still fishing with three 30+ year old G-Loomis rods. The only problem with G-Loomis is Shimano bought them and they don't back the warranty like Gary Loomis did, they used to replace a broken rod no questions asked. When I bought them over 30 years ago they were 150 -250 which was a lot of money at the time, but they were worth it because of the warranty, and I'm still fishing with my original GL3 and iMX's which are still great rods, but I won't be buying any new Shimano owned G-Loomis rods now about 550-1000 dollars and a lifetime warranty that is now only conditional for factory defects. If they went back to an unconditional warranty like they used to have I would buy them, but that's not going to happen.
Thanks Victor -- your reviews are always helpful! I will check out the Soare 7'6 tubular tip per your advice. On the Japanese website it does say it is for "Ajiing," inshore ocean fishing for horse mackerel using jigs. The Ajing rods are typically stiffer than trout rods. The Aji have quite soft mouths so it's best not to set the hook with much force.
that is a great rod, buy with no concern. General labels are wrong so often that they are not very helpful. I don't know any model of the Soare XR lineup that is too stiff, and you know i HATE stiff rods. If i tell you they are not stiff, they are not : ). If anything, all of the other rods have solid tips and are too SOFT (the tip), not too stiff. There are some other ajing rods that are stiff though.. there is no standard... but the XR tubular is great
I've been using a 5'6 UL Okuma Celilo paired with a 2000 series Ceymar reel. The whole set up was less than $80. For the price, $30, the Celilo has great handling and sensitivity, I've pulled in everything from 3 inch bluegill to 20+ inch chain pickerel and rainbow trout. Definitely want to check out those higher end Japanese rods you recommended at the end once I have the budget for it, they seem real nice.
Okuma Celilo is kind of durable and strong, and u can transport in a truck.. but it has a very fat blank, full glass, very fat alconite guides, and as far as sensitivity goes, this is probably the worst rod in all of United States. Too fat and wobbly. It may still be worth the money if u fish for channel cats or something where u put it in a rod holder, cost its very strong, but this is not a rod for sensitivity or jigging of any kind
@@ifishcatfishHello, I have tho 6’6” Celilo UL and would agree that it is not sensitive. Have you tried casting micro jigs (1/32 oz) with the light version of the Shakespeare Micro? You make very informative videos. Thanks!
@@ifishcatfish Yes, I noticed that. Where I live the light version of the Shakespeare Micro is not generally available at this time. I found one online and ordered it, but the lower end of the lure rating is 1/16 oz and the micro tubes I have been using are about 1/32 oz. For $20, I’ll try it. The version of the Crappie Max rod that you suggested with the fast tip is also a little hard to find. The BPS ai went to had several versions of the Crappie Max, but none with the faster action. Maybe your videos are driving sales.😄
I like your channel, subscribing 👍 man, now that I'm further in I can tell you and I would get along. I'm a new fishermen but I tend to go to much greater depths than others with gear and wanting to KNOW I'm using the best (performance and price balanced). I'll let you keep tabs on UL products for me in the fishing world... at least that's what I'll tell myself for now. Been fishing under one year still.
i do this with some other things.. i find someone that looks trustworthy and just get what he recommends instead of watching 1000 videos : ) I do that with electronics and automotive stuff
Awesome video as always Victor! I'll have to put the presso air ags on my list before they all sell out. Totally agree that at least in the ultralight world, most "high-end" US rods are just grossly overpriced. Cheers!
thanks buddy! U need at least one of these before they go away or before the YEN gets expensive again. Nothing else will cast the 1 gram BG-1 like this rod!
With St. Croix and G.Loomis you essentially buy their "warranty" upfront. It is integrated into the price of the rod. If you take care of your gear and don't break rods you paid for a warranty you might not ever use. If the Legend Elite was $250 with a 1 year warranty, I would be more interested.
I have been fishing with the crappie Max for close to 4 years now. It's literally been a hidden secret. And before that I would fish the microlite series. And that was a hidden secret for years. But now everyone knows about that rod. Not a lot of people know about the crappie maxx
Have you ever tried Sportex rods? I bought one for seatrout and now I have one for ultralight and pike fishing too! Super light, sensitive and durable. Premium rods made in germany.
i dont think Germany makes fishing tackle any more... those days are gone. But if they have a nice rod, give me a link. I am not gona go chase ghosts..
Great channel! I appreciate the in-depth overview of all your videos. Thoughts on a smaller 5- 5"6 UL trout rod ? Love fishing the narrow creeks up here in Norcal.
I have a 5'6 Fenwick HMX UL which is even today amazing rod with amazing guides. I think its discontinued but some stores might still have some. Otherwise the other models don't come that short in good actions. Now, if u talk about high end rods, its wide open there : )
Picked up the HMX and paired it with the Japanese Legalis LT 1000. Looks to be a nice little set-up that doesn't crush your wallet. Thanks for the advice buds !
Thanks for the great review, I am really thinking about the Soare 7’6” out here on the west coast it is all about twitching mini jigs for planted trout up to 10lbs if lucky from shore - soft tip with back bone a prerequisite - let me know 🎣👊👍
I hate soft tip with backbone. None of the rods I recommend have soft tip with backbone. All rods recommended in this video have a uniform blank bend. I think you need the ultralight version of some bass rod. Bass rods have that kind of blanks
Thank you for your reviews. I'm going to pick up a couple of the crappie pro maxes tomorrow, as I just broke two tips of my Shakespeare micro and tfo panfish rods today. 😢. I'm going to pair them up with a daiwa 2500 legalis.
Dobyns Sierra Trout and UL Panfish rods are phenomenal too and under $200.00.. I have a two piece 7ft model and have nothing but good to say about its quality, sensitivity and components. American made as well in Texas check em out Victor ;)
i have a review of these rods. Its a bass rod with tiny solid tip. Very soft tip and very stiff blank. I dont recommend for ultralight fishing. Its for bass anglers who want to do a little UL fishing but still want to hold a bass rod.
My Fenwick 6’6” ML F, HMX just came in today. I paid $50 for it and it is a really good looking rod. But I really am tempted to look into the Bass Pro Crappie Max.
Hello Viktor, I purchased a new seabass rod recently, it's a German make. "Sportex, Black Arrow 8'. 40g. It is a beautiful rod to use all day (light). It is also amazing to play a 5-6 lb bass. I would like to hear your view on it.
Ill have to give the medium light 6' Crappie Maxx Pro a test drive soon. Hard to believe the medium light is a true ulralight but I'll take your word for it as usual 👍
probably some label confusion.. its not even close.. If you have two pressos, u definitely need one of these, and it has very different feel and performance. Basically Presso + this rod cover everything u need
I appreciate how thorough and specific you are! Great job introducing me to JDM rods! I really want one now! Do you have any experience with the Daiwa Purelist 62L-V? I'm looking for a 2-4gram jig w/plastic (occasional bottom contact) spinning rod. I'm fishing from the shore in small rivers for 15-25 inch trout.
@@ifishcatfishit only shows stock on a few jdm rod websites. Do you have rod recommendations for my particular scenario? Possibly a Daiwa Presso AIR AGS 61L?
@@AirsoftPresident these are not JDM websites, they are asian but not JDM. Their sales are mostly to south and southeast asia. Actually i would recommend the Yamaga Blanks for that, if you can afford it. And if u can find it as i was told that model sold out everywhere after my video. The Presso Air AGS series is more finesse and not quite powerful enough for your application. U can go on their website and pick another model from same rod with similar curve. They show you the curve. DOn't buy extra fast actions
Got me a brand new president xl. Rod time baby 😂 edit: if mans has me goin back to walmart for a shakeshere micro im gonna laugh. 😂 Double edit:well hmm lookin for smthn at 5'6 but definitly learnin abit bout how this stuff works
There's a big kind of ultralight fishing that isn't being represented here, simply because you don't personally do much of it- Bottom Bouncing/Drifting! In a lot of streams and smaller rivers, slowly presenting a nymph or crayfish imitation by jigging it on the bottom at the approximate speed of the current is a killer technique for everything from brown trout to crappie (though most frequently redeye and various Lepomis species). It produces nearly year round, depending on the conditions, and it's an excellent way to fill up a life list or just add variety and excitement to your life. For those situations, sensitivity is paramount, and unlike twitching a jig mid-water column in a walk-the-dog motion, you do not slacken the line as you manipulate your jig and you do not continue a repetitive motion. Often you are sight casting to likely cover, or along current seems. You need to be able to swing something in on a taught line and then feel obstructions and bottom material well enough to wiggle your jig on the bottom without even moving it. For those situations, I find that "twitching" rods just do not cut it for me. 8 rod purchases deep and I'm still looking for a replacement for my old Falcon HD-S from before they switched production to China and gutted their lineup. The TFO 5'6" panfish model is the closest blank I've found, but the guides on it are crap and grooved on me in less than 2 years. It's currently sitting as a stripped blank waiting to be rebuilt.
I think i understand what you are describing, even though, yes, i've never done that. I think this is how Realistic Fishing is fishing for trout, no? Kind of.. I have fished in person with him 6 times already. I fish expensive jigs and have extreme phobia of draggin on the bottom in current, current which keeps your jig locked and u can't wiggle it out like in slack water. U described how u fish, but you didn't describe what you want to have for that kind of fishing. What kind of rod do would be perfect for that, in terms of length, action, recovery, power... all of that jazz..
@@ifishcatfish Well...to be honest I'm not as good at describing rod properties as you are, and I've been doing that style of fishing so long that it's something I "feel" at this point....but I'll try. To sum up, maybe medium-fast action with fast recovery and a tubular tip, generally 5-6 feet, no microguides, bonus points if the reel seat allows me to stick my pointer finger on the blank for increased feel. When I'm sight fishing clear water, I want to be able to load the rod with just a quick flick of my wrist. I generally use rods that are 6' to 5' so that I can make accurate flick or "circle" casts in tight spaces with the rod tip down. Longer and/or slower rods need more swinging space for the lure to properly load the blank, and casting distance is less of a factor in most small streams. It should be a true UL that pairs well with 1/32oz jigs, because I find that's generally the best weight for drifting in most small stream situations. Also wading a rocky stream and fishing on the bottom means my line inevitably encounters a lot more abrasive material than it does when I twitch in lakes and ponds (especially from a boat). It makes using 2lb line impractical most of the time, because even the most abrasion resistant lines are still going to have such a low diameter that it doesn't take much to badly compromise them. Because of that, I don't like the teeny guides that are so "in" right now. I generally use 4lb fluorocarbon in rocky streams, and I can really feel that hinderance in casting distance. I haven't noticed any appreciable increase in accuracy from those little guides either, though I will admit that the lower weight makes the blank feel better. As far as reels, I want a low gear ratio and a smooth retrieve with decent drag and a weight that balances the rod well. I try to get it where I can balance the combo with one finger on the rod right by the spool of the reel. Total weight of the combo is less important to me than the balance being at the fulcrum point by my hand, so that I have the best possible control. The low gear ratio keeps me from being tempted to move the jig too quickly. This is a really finesse approach. Aquatic insects and small crustaceans aren't amazing swimmers in open water, and fish in these creeks can be picky if they're spooked at all. It's easy to overdo your presentation. The drag isn't very important until you hook into a bigger smallmouth, which does happen from time to time. I've landed several 4lb fish on ultralight tackle, but nowadays I actually try NOT to hook into them because by the time you get them in they're half-dead and may not survive even after you get them to recover. (I'm working on finding tungsten jigs with #6 & smaller hooks that let me target those fish on purpose with the same small profile lures but on heavier and safer tackle.) Also reels with solid housing and as little plastic as possible tend to carry vibrations better, so sometimes they can help with sensitivity.
@@innovativeatavist159 that was .. A LOT .. But if u can spend $70, Fenwick (which you like) has a 5'6 model in the HMX lineup, which is one of my favorites, if not for length. Great blank and very expensive guides with zirconium ceramic, very thin and beautiful gunsmoke frames. Large enough diameter for 4-6 lb line. If u can spend that money you will like it. Yes, you can touch the blank too. The 6'0 model is also amazing but the action is different, almost perfectly parabolic, which i prefer for swimbaits where u don't shake the tip all the time. You still twitch, even though the jig is on the bottom. You can even find the 5'6 in Bass Pro and try it, if you are lucky..
I think what you may be describing are JDM rods for native trout (stream fishing). These are usually 4' to 5', have that slower action, and are purpose built to flick cast at all angles. I've never used one personally because I don't have streams to fish around me but I have dug into it because it sounded interesting.
@@ReelFilmVideos actually not quite. I prefer rods with a FASTER action than i_fish does, by far. I can't stand slow or wobbly at all. What I also don't like though is solid tip rods that are sticks until you get to the last few inches that are just noodly. Extra fast is almost as useless to me as slow.
So you suggest your swimbait rods for someone who throws a lot of spoons and spinners for trout as well or the twitch suggestions instead? Referring to budget options. I throw bobber setups (mostly water Bibber/adjust a bubble) as well to do bobber style fly fishing
Yes, please use my swimbait recommendation for spinners and spoons. The SensiliteA and the Okuma SST are very high quality rods for this price! And of course the Presso, if u can find it.
While I agree with most of these recommendations Vic. I really think you’re underestimating the Shimano Poison Adrena lineup. By far my favorite rod at the moment is the 6’7” ML for twitching, especially from a boat. I also picked up the 6’10” UL version for shore fishing, for swim and float. I’m super interested in the Soare XR Lineup, may pick one up soon.
By the way, i still use ur majorcraft rod for dropshot... such sharp tip.. even though it feels a little 'bassy' and not much flex in the handle.. but for dropshot i don't want my tip to bend when i hop...
Actually the ML is better for Blue gill since they are a harder fighting fish vs Crappies. Yes, that rod is very special and haven’t been able to locate another one that is that way. I do have the 1 piece version of it but crazy enough, they feel different.
@@NinjasGoFishing 1 piece and 2 piece always feel different. I don't think its the same blank cut in half. I can tell u 5 or 6 rods and the 1 and 2 piece always feels very different.. One day i can sell u the rod back.. to be honest with you, for me a bigger problem is packing the thing in tube and shipping and all that... thats so much work.. And I do use it for dropshot and the rod looks very nice.. I think this is like $180 rod today.
That was me on that Abu Garcia rod it wasn’t for me either I sold my I was afraid of breaking it I like to but the BLUE current III and the phenix rod and moonshine rod
Great information. I've been looking for a high end rod to pair with my Daiwa presso 1000. I fish for trout from the shore and throw jigs, spoons, dropshot, and crankbaits that weigh 1-5 grams. I was looking at the presso air ags but i need a rod that is at least 7'6.
Then Soare XR is amazing, but also the Yamaga blanks comes in sizes over 7 foot. You need two different rods for that though, a rod that throws good 1 gram jigs will be worthless for 5 gram, and if its good for 5 gram will be way too much for 1 gram. Thats way too much of a range for one rod..
Wouldn’t happen to be able to suggest a nice bass finesse rod would you? Wished the bass community had someone like you. They’re heavily plagued by brand sponsorships.😂
Bass has way more options than Ultralight fishing, and its impossible to test everything. I have reviewed a few rods that subscribers sent me that ended up being too heavy for ultralight fishing but amazing for bass. One is the daiwa Gekkabijin i recently reviewed. It is on sale everywhere. The other is shimano Expride. That one is not on sale.I have a review of that rod on my channel and its an excellent bass rod. But this is just what i have tried, and there is an ocean of options for bass
yes, ive seen them. They are very expensive but there is nothing expensive in the description. Their direct competition would be Belezza UX and CortoUX and entire Majorcraft lineup that will weight probably 40-50 grams less per rod, per same price... They are very pretty thought, i will give them that. If you want to support those brands, i see nothing wrong with that..
@@ifishcatfish thanks! major craft and Daiwa is much more bang for the buck, especially with current FX. Only asked you since it’s the one US brand that people have compared to JDM.
Did u check the label in your order? These rods are very beautiful and some have sic guides. Hard to tell about the blank and i wish they had weight. I think they are OK value for United States market but still dont compare to japanese rods of that price, like the ones in this video. Take belezza ux or corto ux for example..
@@ifishcatfish yes sir! & Thanks for your input! I'm new to the JDM fishing side. I just placed an order for my first JDM rod that fits my style, yay! Do you have any recommendations for a high end JDM rod 6'6 or longer with a moderate action? I would like one for jigging from the bank. Or would they just be too wobbly? The trout I catch are avg 2-4lbs w/ some trophies around 10lbs
I dont have experience with many long rods. Soare XR tunular 7’6 would be my forst choice, and then yamaga blanks has Many midels. Yes, u will Not fond moderate action that long, not in japan. But i dont need it to be moderste if power is UL. It will still bend
What budget rod would you recommend for 1/32-1/4 spinners and drifting flies in creeks. I’m looking to get into ultralight fishing for trout and panfish and this would really help! I also really loved your video!
I recommend the 6'6 Daiwa Presso u saw in this video. I also recommend the 7'0 Okuma SST. Both of these are good for spinners up to 2.5 grams. For 3 gram spinners and higher I strongly recommend the new Shimano Sensilite
Any 2nd place runner ups for a all purpose rod in the 100-300 range for bank ultralight anglers? The shamino Soare XR-T 7’6? Seems to be impossible to find and looking for a good all around rod for ultralight swim baits, spinners, and jigs from the bank. I’ve found I don’t have much tolerance for float fishing unless it’s a water bobber/bombarda fly/lure retrieve style rig. As such not too concerned about float performance but also prefer 7 - 7”6 rods
Everywhere in this video intalk about ‘twitching’ it means i am casting it wothout a float. I have recommendations for float and for twitching in each price segment. Pick something in ur budget.
Hey Man. Thanks for this great video. I just want to ask, I can’t find the version of Daiwa Presso which you show in video. So that, I’m planning to buy Daiwa Presso PSO 602UL-AF model. I’m planning to fish little perchs and some other little fishes at lake. I will use silicone fishes and worms mostly. Do you recommend this model? And also do you know the difference of this model and the model which you using?
the 6'0 has a thinner blank and is kind of wobbly. I recommend the 6'6 to 8'0, and i recommend these rods for float fishing mostly. Otherwise look at the sensilite and okuma sst
Great work and lovely guide! I am a little confused about small jerkbaits/minnows/wobblers. Which rod would you recommend for such applications? Would it be rods that you recommend for swimbait or twitching? :) Keep up the great work! Edit: I am planning to use Duo spearhead Ryuki 45s
interesting.. i don't do that type of fishing at all.. you would need a parabolic bend rod that is kind of rigid. None of these rods are rigid enough impact sharp motion for jerkbaits. The rods i use are all pretty soft
Wow, the negative way you described the St. Croix action is exactly how I like my ultra lights. I loathe slow actions. I want little to no flex until the tip.
well, at least i said WHY I don't like them. If you watch that section again, i said that if they 'fix' their actions, i will recommend some of them again because they are very thin and light and pretty. If you like those actions, then you are in good shape. A big pricey but look so nice and so light!
I should have been more clear. I don't even have any of their rods. I just like the action you described. My go to brush pile rod is the Daiwa Procyon 7'9"and my #1 jig casting is a Dobyns. @@ifishcatfish
I can't seem to find the Shakespeare micro in the 6'6 light version. They do have a 7 foot and a 5 foot 6 version for sale, what would be a better alternative? I'm mainly going to use it for micro plastics. Currently using a crappie maxx with caster but I'm looking for a spinning reel set up. Thank you
Love the vids, what are your opinions on Tenryu rays spectra (rzs61ll) Thinking about pairing it with a shimano vanquish Also, is there a JDM braid you recommend?
What would you recommend for UL bass fishing? Still the presso, found your videos and want to get in on the UL scene more and more. I’m looking to fish everything from a 1/32 oz bait to a 3/16
this question is asking for mutually exclusive things. All of these rods are Ultralight. But you seem to want something stronger, for bass. But do u understand that if the blank is stronger, it will NOT be Ultralight? If you really want a little more power, get Light, instead of Ultralight. I have caught thousands of bass with the rods on this list. I have at least 5 videos this year, with 20 bass in a single video, with something from this list. I am not saying these are good bass rods! These are Ultralight rods! There is nothing wrong with wanting something stronger, but you need to look for Light power then
I’ve probably watched this video over 20 times. Every time I see a rod that looks promising I always come back to this video and end up not buying it cause it’s not in this video haha I know this video is only 3 months old, but would you still recommend these rods? And are there any rods you have tested since this video that you would recommend in the budget/mid range?
I have to tell you.. in United States, if the rod is not on my list, i don't recommend it, even if i havent tried it. I have a pretty good awareness of whats here. But in Japan there is a frikkin ocean of rods. I guarantee the ones i recommend are good, but there is many more that i haven't testes that are also good. If you tolerate risk, you can try them. Maybe even ship to me for a few weeks for review - maybe i will add it to the list. Right now i am testing a Daiwa Gekkabijin sent by subscriber.
I just purchased the crappie Maxx pro 6ft medium light. He wasn’t joking this thing is absolute money for twitching a BG-1. It’s better than my TFO, and TCB rods. HIGHLY recommend
Very Nice! I think you were hunting hard for value, as both the rod and the reel have had discounts lately and I am sure you found them.. : ) Probably got a $450 setup for S300, if i have to guess : )
Victor i love your videos they are alot of help! Was looking into the Temple Fork Outfitters trout-panfish 2 rod and wondered if you have ever tried one or your opinion on it?
I used to recommend that rod when it was $80. Now its $120 but a blank that is not not too sensitive and guides that are plain steel. It's a pretty rod and works fine but is very overpriced. U can have same performance if u pick some of the recommendations in this video for half the price
Hey Victor, new to the channel and loving it. Just getting into ultralight fishing. Can you fish 1/64oz and 1/32 oz jigs with the Crappie Max Pro medium light rod?
@ifishcatfish I've been using the SPRO Finesse Braid 6lb. It's .1mm with 4lb Berkley Vanish for a leader. Thanks for the information on the video. Always good to get budget options for ppl just getting into it. Plus, the higher quality stuff for when ppl are ready to take the next step. Look forward to watching more videos!
What do you recommend for casting smaller mepps spinners and panther martins in small to medium sized trout creeks/rivers. Brook trout, browns and rainbow are the target. Budget and mid level rods. Than you for the help.
All of the swimbait recommendations in this video would work. Pick one in your budget and that u like the colors of. Also one that u can find. The daiwa presso is what everyone gors for but its hard to find
![2023 Ultralight Gear Recap [Rods, Reels, & Line]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/GaKQ3RcG1gk/mqdefault.jpg)
Love these buying guides Victor, its music to my ears. I know youre a busy man,but please do a reel guide for 2024. Happy new year from Romania!
coming up!
I always watch/ listen while I am at work , and I received 4 more packs of bg-1 yesterday. Makes me a happy boy
I appreciate the comment, and the patronage of my tackle shop!
I just watched the entire thing, Victor! I have no idea how I missed this one. Very good information. It's almost time for an update! 😁
too soon .. next year..
@@ifishcatfish I love your long buying guides. It ended to soon for me!
The geek of ultralight,yet again victor a true masterpiece with information anyone would be silly not to listen to thoroughly👌👌👌👌
what a way with words : )
Came looking for recommendations on new rods and found out I already have what I need. I’ve broken the tip of my shakespeare microlite so many times but I kept the receipt from years ago and Walmart gives me a new one every time
dont transport them hanging off the bed of your truck
Viktor your channel is my favorite. I could watch equipment videos everyday 🤣
thank you sir, i do appreciate that, your comments is not for nothing!
Another great commentary from the Jedi Master of ultralight fishing.
i have NO power!
I love watching & listening to your honest reviews. Keep up the Great work & will be waiting for your next video release.
thank you sir - i really appreciate that, and i appreciate that you took a minute to type it, as not many people do
I did not expect such strong opinions, I love it and I fully agree.
thank you
Nice review Victor. Always a pleasure watching your informative videos.
thanks D!
Victor, It is amazing just how well thought out and informative your videos are. I did locate the 7 foot version of the Shakespeare Micro Series and I ordered it after figuring out that the light version was being incorrectly advertised as UL. The rod was shipped from Arizona and arrived at my doorstep in California in a plastic bag, without any padding, broken in two places. I can see that compared to the Celilo UL it is thin and has much faster action. I imagine that it would not have any issues casting lures a little below its rating. You nailed every point relating to the Micro Series.
Another ultra informative session from the master! You are what passionate fisherman need in this day and age, an honest opinion. Always appreciate your content and hope the rest of the world gets your message as I do. Keep the content coming sir and wishing you a prosperous 2024.
Thanks Tony. Ur a joy to have aboard.
Love your honesty. Good stuff! Subscribed.
thank you sir! See u around!
I have gotten into ultralight over the past couple years, I started out with cheap ugly stiks that got the job done and never failed me. I then bought the st croix avid panfish UL, and it is very lightweight and sensitive. I pair it with the Shimano Sedona 1000 and use 6lb Pline copolymer and I have a lot of fun with it for crappie and panfish and also plenty of bass. I perfer the action of st croix because they have enough backbone to boatflip fish but a soft tip to play out the fight, especially on smallmouth.
If you are happy, u have the right equipment. But i still recomment trying some of the rods and reels from my recommendations. U can actually beat that with less money
Listening to you is MY taste Victor. You da man. Thank you!
There is one dude who can tolerate bulgarian accent!
Came across your channel with excellent reviews and super helpful. Great content. Thank you
thank you sir!
finally someone else who shares my opinion that the "soft tip but with backbone" is complete marketing bs
now u not alone
Thanks for the information Vic! Seeing your other videos fighting the small fish makes me want to start fishing UL! 😂
I stayed up past my bedtime watching this last night from start to finish! Lol
As always, great informative video. Picking up the Panfish Elite this weekend from your previous recommendations & can't wait to add it, although I agree it is expensive in today's market like you said. Don't think it will compare to the few JDM gear I have, but it is still a beautiful rod that will pair with the Cardiff. Good thing I was able to move some bass gear to fund this purchase!
Aiming to pick up the 6'6 Presso when my local store comes in stock and I want to add the AGS soon before I can never get it again for the current price. I normally never take another opinions into consideration, but you are extremely informative and unbiased.
Side note: Got your jigs in the other day, and they are SHARP and very high quality. Got a few rigged and cannot wait to use them this spring. Keep killing it Vic!
Let me tell you, other than the price, i have nothing bad to say about the LEP rod! Don't feel bad about that purchase! Even the action is great - there ain't no tip wobble in that rod, and the guides are top shelf! Price is the only reason i don't recommend it. But i sold 5 or 6 of my JDM rods, i even sold the Corto that everyone was raving about, but i haven't sold my LEP, and don't plan on selling it, because i love they way it feels and love how universal it is and that i am not afraid it will snap from flipping a bluegill..
Man, I'm in love with the Yamaga Bluecurrent 67 tz nano. Such a great recommendation! I got the 8'5" version now as well.. Haven't fished it yet, but I can tell I'm gonna love it. It's almost identical to the 67, just scaled up a bit, a beefier blank, but the weight is still ridiculously low for the length. You are absolutely right about never selling these rods, too.
this rod can do ANYTTHING! From dropshot to float fishing to twitching to ANYTHING
+1 for the 67tz nano, I've had one for a while now and love it. It even handles 5/6lb bonefish well as well as many other inshore fish I've used it for inshore in Hawai'i
Good info!
this channel should have many more subscribers and is very - very underrated. My respect for your reviews! p.S; i watched(and listen) the entire film
thank you sir - i really appreciate that!
"you need younger guys to design your rods" 😂😂😂 fantastic, I love your videos
cheers! : )
Thanks for the detailed rod info Vic.
thank yhou for dropping a comment
Been waiting for this video! Thanks!
yep! Been delinquent on this. Better late than never : )
My kind of topic. Now back to the video. Happy new year Vic🎉
thanks buddy. Hopefully its better than 2023. Last year was a roller coaster
@ifishcatfish I thought it was just me lol yeah hopefully so. Wishing you and yours the best man. Money is a little funny these days but hopefully soon I'll be able to put another order in for more bg jigheads. Love the new products 👌🏾
Man I'm glad you found the Crappie Maxx Pro. I ordered the 6' and had a chance to try it out this morning. Very impressive for a budget twitching rod
your combo is literally unbeatable for $100
@@ifishcatfishhi sir. I took your recommendations but I am a little confused by amazon. Could you tell me what number of sections were you talking about when you referred to the first 3 rods? Daiwa presso, Okuma Sst and Shimano. 4? 2?
@@jeanvaljean1475 Don't reply to other people's comments to ask your own question. It's rude. I reply to all questions regardless. Presso is 2 piece, Okuma SST is 1 piece, Shimanos are always 2 pieces
Thank you Victor. You have great knowledge
To share
Always look forward to your buyers guide. Great explanations on each rod. Started UL fishing 2yrs ago, I’ve been a bass guy for a while. Got the 7’ Shakespeare micro to start, based on your review. I do all my UL fishing with this rod float/twitch/swims. Love the performance,durability, and PRICE! Great recommendation, my budget Thanks You!
so nice to hear feedback like that. And i keep my shakespeare too - i like watching this rod.. different things have different value... One can have nothing but respect to a $20 rod that can do everything
Absolutely! I even took time to seal the cork.
I guess 7' is not that bad after all
@@darkojovanoski3742 the 7’ is pretty good
@@darkojovanoski3742 The 7’ will not disappoint. Find myself reaching for it more than I thought I would.
Just received the Yamaga from North One Japan and finally an ultralight that’s not a noodle. My new rod for stock trout. Can’t wait to take it out this spring
Which model did u get and what did u have before that was a noodle?
We have the same loveseat. 😂 I had been thinking about splurging on a nicer ultralight rod, but after buying 2 of the Presso rods (thanks to you) was curious if the jump in enjoyment between a Presso and a $300 rod would be worth it. I decided to instead spend the money on multiple Presso rods in different lengths. After hearing your thoughts on the St Croix here… glad I decided not to pull the trigger on one of those rods. I’m a hillbilly who wouldn’t know how to appreciate a high end rod, anyway.😊 Always enjoy your yearly recommendation videos, Victor! Hope you and your family have a great 2024.
thanks buddy.. For float fishing u are not gona find a better rod than the Presso. Even for swimbaits its not worth it. Only for twitching jigs the difference is kind of obvious.. but most people fish the jigs under a float, or they swim them.
thanks for another great video.
thanks buddy!
Hey Victor excellent review. Even the higher priced rods are exceptional value. In the late 1800's Hardy fly rods came with 3 tips. Now you can buy 3 outfits with better rods for less than what you paid for one rod in 1899$. We live in a great time.
i remember i paid $3000 for my first computer and it was crap.. Technology has made things much cheaper despite government printing money like insane
The video we have all been waiting for! There are so many jdm rods i would like to try, i have yet to own one, only try my friends. AE has some impressive rods, i got a 51 gram rod for 70, it is solid tipped though, but is really nice for the price.
Completley agree, i feel the U.S manufacturers, even from shimano and diawa are incompetant, even the chinese add important details regarding measurements. I reached out to diawa for their kage series and they replied telling me they have NEVER measured the tip diameter or butt diameter, and they didnt know what models where solid vs tubular
these are employees of the US distributor of Daiwa. If you talk to real daiwa employees from Japan, they all know that.. But the US distributors of these japanese companies just don't care to learn anything..
My favourite ultra light rods were these Shimano Pro Series (BIS-56ULC2). Can't find them anymore, the Daiwa Presso look exactly like it....guess I need to go find one :)
Can feel the flex in the rod all the way to tip of the handle, balance was exceptional. You're right about Fenwicks, I have one but the old Shimanos always get taken out instead.
my Shimano Glorious 2510UL is a killer for crappie/perch and trout.
Nice rod but seems very bassy...
Ehhh after re-watching this video I think I'll try the Crappie Max Pro before getting the Kuying Teton for twitching...thanks as always Victor!
When I got back into fishing about 8 years ago. I was on a camping trip in mountains in south-east Tennessee. I realized I needed a new fishing setup. I knew I needed something light for trout fishing. I got a 5'6" Shakespeare Micro Series rod and a Crappie Maxx reel. I'm not sure how i combined Bass Pro and Walmart together. It worked great especially for someone not knowing anything. Soon after that I bought a couple of Ugly Stik Lite Pros . They were made for Walmart. Two of them for under $50 on clearance. You can't find them anymore. They have the same feel as the Shakespeare Micro , but much better built. I still use them and a Fenwick Eagle medium fast. It was a 6.6 . The hatch got a couple of inches. I put a new tip on and I believe it's better now 😅. Anyways , I'm rambling too much.
I recently ordered a rod because it seemed like a good deal. I believe they're making another version of it. It's price is marked down quite a bit. It was around $50 and they have every size and action you could want. It's a Kastking Perigee 2 ultralight 6' medium fast. I was wondering if you know anything about this rod. I've bought a few Kastking reels , but never rods. It's supposed to be very well made and light.
Kastking sells chinese rods... nobody in USA knows about them. It is very hard to tell if it is a deal. It can say 30% off but be made of same blank and guides as the shakespeare micro. And it often is
@@ifishcatfish I've had good luck with a couple of their reels. The rod has Fuji guides. You might be about the blank. Idk ...it says 24 ton graphite . Maybe it will be decent. It's supposed to be here Thursday. That's pushing almost 2 weeks. I'm sure it won't be too bad for about $50. Some were cheaper and some came 1 piece . Others came with 2 different tips. I'm gullible about trying cheap things. So far I've been lucky with Kastking.
I am from Ukraine, and listening to you is not a problem! From Start to finish!
I also recommend Shimano soare ci4+ 706 ul-t 2017
Thank you sir, i appreciate that!
Just ordered the 6' Crappie Max Pro to pair with my incoming Sahara. Bring on Spring!!
unbeatable combo under $100!
Just days ago i ordered my first JDM rod. The Yamaga Blue Current 71TZ nano. I prefer longer blanks and have been fishing a 7'4" ultralight that I built.
The 67TZ was out of stock at Digitaka and after this video i assume it will be out of stock for a long time.
Nothing wrong with the 7'1, especially if from the bank!! Will easily beat anything in USA, including Legend Elite Panfish..
I'm so glad back in the day I was open minded to watch your videos about Japanese rods since ever since I used one. I never bothered to switch back to American rods
Its funny btw the people I know from the Jetties used to look down on my Japanese rods thinking they are inferior. Till I made them try it and lo behold they end up switching
You just get so much from the rod blank quality, to the guides and rod finish compared to American brands that are way over priced.
I can confirm as well that Major craft rods are good. Ive bought the triple cross kurodai 78m rod and I was amazed how well it performed. Its the same with the Tailwalk Boatgamer 73m and the Yamaga Blanks Blue Current III.
Jdm Shimano and Daiwa rods are very good as well so I understood why you bought the Daiwa Presso Limited. The way the rod bends and how silky the line goes thru AGS guides is just something else
thank you sir!
@@ifishcatfish btw I wish the japanese manufacturers have more youtube videos so theres more information out there how their rods perform.
Its hard to research the rods that most of the time for me it feels like a gamble I would like the rod action.
Major craft are good but they don't have anywhere NEAR as good a build quality as Yamaga Blue Current, even the cheaper Blue Current 3 is made in Japan and has better build than any Major craft or even Daiwa in the price range, although high end Daiwa get really good too, but for the price of the BC3 (25,000 yen!) nothing touches it imo.
@@cozab5487 u r awfully picky.. I have never seen anything wrong with quality of MajorCraft, on my own rod or anyone elses. They just don't go for most expensive blanks.. but in the mid-price range they offer so much choice and they are all at least a decent buy. I have a $100 majorcraft that i keep to this day and feels great, sharp as a razor, just not as sensitive as high end stuff.
@@ifishcatfish I actually think Majorcraft are the best value rods in the world 😂, ESPECIALLY in the Saltwater game, nothing offers what they do for the price not just performance wise but also blank, specifically the 5G range that covers anything from Ajing to Shorejigging, believe it or not they use the exact same blank material (Toray T1100G W Nanoresin) as the $500-$800 JDM rods 😂, same Fuji components, same everything, just less attention to detail in construction and less "perfected" actions if that makes sense? But exactly the same blank resin and parts as a $500+ rod...
Just under those tho especially if taking Freshwater I really think the Blue currents are perfection, even the cheaper Blue and Silver model (BC3) is absolutely perfect, Majorcraft are very good but like any rod epoxy is often inaccurate guides often not centred paint not always perfect etc, not just Majorcraft but Daiwa and Shimano for this price too, but all Yamagas are made in Japan so it isn't a suprise. I wouldn't say picky as everything I describe is still very minor and perfectly acceptable for the price range, I'm more so very observant 😂.
Vă salut! Urmăresc cu interes toate videourile dumneavoastră. Apreciez calitatea informațiilor furnizate de dumneavoastră și din acest motiv,, îndrăznesc să vă propun un tutorial care să aibă tema " tubular vs solid tips rods". Ar fi util să ne prezentați obiectiv principalele avantaje și dezavantaje legate de aceste lansete și eventual câteva recomandări. Vă mulțumesc și vă dores mult succes!
I already did such video, it is called Rod Action...
Victor, another awesome vid for us new fishermen!! Would love to see you do a vid on when to slip float vs fix float. Im still learning and have no clue!!
always fix float if u can! Only when u can't reach the fish go slip.. But will do a ton of videos on this when i get my floats..
@@ifishcatfish Cant wait for the floats, the jig heads have been amazing!! TY!!!!
@@Matthew_Dubroq i'm trying. The factory served me another surprise 2 weeks ago but i think we solved it. When the water warms up and they come shallow, we should be in good shape
I have always been budget minded in all my gear mainly because if I were to snap one I wont be that upset then lets say a rod 2x or more in cost. I am not a pro so I dont really need an expensive rod... not saying that they are bad or not worth it I just know Darwin is strong in this house 😀
I have been using this Daiwa t1500 UL rod for as long as I can remember. I do need to change the reel out from the Shakespear Sigma Whisker Titan, I get a few wind knots if my hand is not on the lever.
nothing wrong with that
Wonderful. Thank you.
Shimano bought G-Loomis they used to be the best America fishing rod with a lifetime warranty, and there fly rods were the best you could get.I am still fishing with three 30+ year old G-Loomis rods. The only problem with G-Loomis is Shimano bought them and they don't back the warranty like Gary Loomis did, they used to replace a broken rod no questions asked. When I bought them over 30 years ago they were 150 -250 which was a lot of money at the time, but they were worth it because of the warranty, and I'm still fishing with my original GL3 and iMX's which are still great rods, but I won't be buying any new Shimano owned G-Loomis rods now about 550-1000 dollars and a lifetime warranty that is now only conditional for factory defects. If they went back to an unconditional warranty like they used to have I would buy them, but that's not going to happen.
the rods are too heavy. They sell 300 dollar rods with cheap guides..
100 percent right on the yamaga. I love it and have it paired with a vanquish. I wish I got a lower gear ratio vanquish tho, it's way too damn fast
been sayin...
Thanks Victor -- your reviews are always helpful! I will check out the Soare 7'6 tubular tip per your advice. On the Japanese website it does say it is for "Ajiing," inshore ocean fishing for horse mackerel using jigs. The Ajing rods are typically stiffer than trout rods. The Aji have quite soft mouths so it's best not to set the hook with much force.
that is a great rod, buy with no concern. General labels are wrong so often that they are not very helpful. I don't know any model of the Soare XR lineup that is too stiff, and you know i HATE stiff rods. If i tell you they are not stiff, they are not : ). If anything, all of the other rods have solid tips and are too SOFT (the tip), not too stiff. There are some other ajing rods that are stiff though.. there is no standard... but the XR tubular is great
I've been using a 5'6 UL Okuma Celilo paired with a 2000 series Ceymar reel. The whole set up was less than $80. For the price, $30, the Celilo has great handling and sensitivity, I've pulled in everything from 3 inch bluegill to 20+ inch chain pickerel and rainbow trout. Definitely want to check out those higher end Japanese rods you recommended at the end once I have the budget for it, they seem real nice.
Okuma Celilo is kind of durable and strong, and u can transport in a truck.. but it has a very fat blank, full glass, very fat alconite guides, and as far as sensitivity goes, this is probably the worst rod in all of United States. Too fat and wobbly. It may still be worth the money if u fish for channel cats or something where u put it in a rod holder, cost its very strong, but this is not a rod for sensitivity or jigging of any kind
@@ifishcatfishHello, I have tho 6’6” Celilo UL and would agree that it is not sensitive. Have you tried casting micro jigs (1/32 oz) with the light version of the Shakespeare Micro? You make very informative videos. Thanks!
@@kb93063 my videos recommend only the Light power models
@@ifishcatfish Yes, I noticed that. Where I live the light version of the Shakespeare Micro is not generally available at this time. I found one online and ordered it, but the lower end of the lure rating is 1/16 oz and the micro tubes I have been using are about 1/32 oz.
For $20, I’ll try it. The version of the Crappie Max rod that you suggested with the fast tip is also a little hard to find. The BPS ai went to had several versions of the Crappie Max, but none with the faster action. Maybe your videos are driving sales.😄
Daiwa presso, im gettinf rod. Going to pair up with either daiwa mq kage , lluvias 2000
I like your channel, subscribing 👍 man, now that I'm further in I can tell you and I would get along. I'm a new fishermen but I tend to go to much greater depths than others with gear and wanting to KNOW I'm using the best (performance and price balanced). I'll let you keep tabs on UL products for me in the fishing world... at least that's what I'll tell myself for now. Been fishing under one year still.
i do this with some other things.. i find someone that looks trustworthy and just get what he recommends instead of watching 1000 videos : ) I do that with electronics and automotive stuff
Awesome video as always Victor!
I'll have to put the presso air ags on my list before they all sell out.
Totally agree that at least in the ultralight world, most "high-end" US rods are just grossly overpriced.
Cheers!
thanks buddy! U need at least one of these before they go away or before the YEN gets expensive again. Nothing else will cast the 1 gram BG-1 like this rod!
NOPE they become overpriced for US (and European) anglers buying Local shops.
The currency exchange rate can Not be blamed (as said in this video) 🤔😁
Ive tied fly blanks into ultralight. Fun fun
Thank you
Thank you Victor for sacrificing your bank account to make these guides
U know it!! 😂
With St. Croix and G.Loomis you essentially buy their "warranty" upfront. It is integrated into the price of the rod. If you take care of your gear and don't break rods you paid for a warranty you might not ever use. If the Legend Elite was $250 with a 1 year warranty, I would be more interested.
that makes sense...
I have been fishing with the crappie Max for close to 4 years now. It's literally been a hidden secret. And before that I would fish the microlite series. And that was a hidden secret for years. But now everyone knows about that rod. Not a lot of people know about the crappie maxx
i see some pictures with that rod are showin on social media... some folks for sure got it..
Have you ever tried Sportex rods? I bought one for seatrout and now I have one for ultralight and pike fishing too! Super light, sensitive and durable. Premium rods made in germany.
i dont think Germany makes fishing tackle any more... those days are gone. But if they have a nice rod, give me a link. I am not gona go chase ghosts..
Great channel! I appreciate the in-depth overview of all your videos. Thoughts on a smaller 5- 5"6 UL trout rod ? Love fishing the narrow creeks up here in Norcal.
I have a 5'6 Fenwick HMX UL which is even today amazing rod with amazing guides. I think its discontinued but some stores might still have some. Otherwise the other models don't come that short in good actions. Now, if u talk about high end rods, its wide open there : )
@ifishcatfish Great! Thank you for the reply. Keep up the great content. In the meantime, I'll keep an eye out for the Fenny. Cheers!
Picked up the HMX and paired it with the Japanese Legalis LT 1000. Looks to be a nice little set-up that doesn't crush your wallet. Thanks for the advice buds !
@@MrPdccru its a great rod even today! Better guides than any St Croix under 200$
Thanks for the great review, I am really thinking about the Soare 7’6” out here on the west coast it is all about twitching mini jigs for planted trout up to 10lbs if lucky from shore - soft tip with back bone a prerequisite - let me know 🎣👊👍
I hate soft tip with backbone. None of the rods I recommend have soft tip with backbone. All rods recommended in this video have a uniform blank bend. I think you need the ultralight version of some bass rod. Bass rods have that kind of blanks
@@ifishcatfish I was thinking the Soare XR is close to that because it is fast tip, thanks for the feedback👍
Start of recommendations - 4:35
Thank you for your reviews. I'm going to pick up a couple of the crappie pro maxes tomorrow, as I just broke two tips of my Shakespeare micro and tfo panfish rods today. 😢.
I'm going to pair them up with a daiwa 2500 legalis.
i reacommend smaller sizes legalis
@@ifishcatfish what size do you recommend?
@@traviswhitworth6506 2000 or 1000.
@@ifishcatfish okay, I have a legalis 2000. I don't think it's the 2023 model you recommend. It's the blue model.
@@ifishcatfish I also just ordered a legalis 23 size 1000 for the second rod.
Dobyns Sierra Trout and UL Panfish rods are phenomenal too and under $200.00.. I have a two piece 7ft model and have nothing but good to say about its quality, sensitivity and components. American made as well in Texas check em out Victor ;)
i have a review of these rods. Its a bass rod with tiny solid tip. Very soft tip and very stiff blank. I dont recommend for ultralight fishing. Its for bass anglers who want to do a little UL fishing but still want to hold a bass rod.
My Fenwick 6’6” ML F, HMX just came in today. I paid $50 for it and it is a really good looking rod. But I really am tempted to look into the Bass Pro Crappie Max.
I have 3 of these rods and they are still great even today. But kind of old. But still good value. The best fenwick rod.
Im glad you think so. I feel more confident that I made a good choice.
Hello Viktor, I purchased a new seabass rod recently, it's a German make. "Sportex, Black Arrow 8'. 40g. It is a beautiful rod to use all day (light). It is also amazing to play a 5-6 lb bass. I would like to hear your view on it.
i can't afford to buy all rods out there, and sea bass is outside of my domain... i do mainly ultralight fishing..
Ill have to give the medium light 6' Crappie Maxx Pro a test drive soon. Hard to believe the medium light is a true ulralight but I'll take your word for it as usual 👍
probably some label confusion.. its not even close.. If you have two pressos, u definitely need one of these, and it has very different feel and performance. Basically Presso + this rod cover everything u need
I appreciate how thorough and specific you are! Great job introducing me to JDM rods! I really want one now! Do you have any experience with the Daiwa Purelist 62L-V?
I'm looking for a 2-4gram jig w/plastic (occasional bottom contact) spinning rod. I'm fishing from the shore in small rivers for 15-25 inch trout.
Never heard of that rod.. I dont think it is made for japanese market or i would have seen it.
@@ifishcatfishit only shows stock on a few jdm rod websites.
Do you have rod recommendations for my particular scenario? Possibly a Daiwa Presso AIR AGS 61L?
@@AirsoftPresident these are not JDM websites, they are asian but not JDM. Their sales are mostly to south and southeast asia. Actually i would recommend the Yamaga Blanks for that, if you can afford it. And if u can find it as i was told that model sold out everywhere after my video. The Presso Air AGS series is more finesse and not quite powerful enough for your application. U can go on their website and pick another model from same rod with similar curve. They show you the curve. DOn't buy extra fast actions
Got me a brand new president xl.
Rod time baby 😂 edit: if mans has me goin back to walmart for a shakeshere micro im gonna laugh. 😂
Double edit:well hmm lookin for smthn at 5'6 but definitly learnin abit bout how this stuff works
There's a big kind of ultralight fishing that isn't being represented here, simply because you don't personally do much of it- Bottom Bouncing/Drifting! In a lot of streams and smaller rivers, slowly presenting a nymph or crayfish imitation by jigging it on the bottom at the approximate speed of the current is a killer technique for everything from brown trout to crappie (though most frequently redeye and various Lepomis species). It produces nearly year round, depending on the conditions, and it's an excellent way to fill up a life list or just add variety and excitement to your life. For those situations, sensitivity is paramount, and unlike twitching a jig mid-water column in a walk-the-dog motion, you do not slacken the line as you manipulate your jig and you do not continue a repetitive motion. Often you are sight casting to likely cover, or along current seems. You need to be able to swing something in on a taught line and then feel obstructions and bottom material well enough to wiggle your jig on the bottom without even moving it.
For those situations, I find that "twitching" rods just do not cut it for me. 8 rod purchases deep and I'm still looking for a replacement for my old Falcon HD-S from before they switched production to China and gutted their lineup. The TFO 5'6" panfish model is the closest blank I've found, but the guides on it are crap and grooved on me in less than 2 years. It's currently sitting as a stripped blank waiting to be rebuilt.
I think i understand what you are describing, even though, yes, i've never done that. I think this is how Realistic Fishing is fishing for trout, no? Kind of.. I have fished in person with him 6 times already. I fish expensive jigs and have extreme phobia of draggin on the bottom in current, current which keeps your jig locked and u can't wiggle it out like in slack water.
U described how u fish, but you didn't describe what you want to have for that kind of fishing. What kind of rod do would be perfect for that, in terms of length, action, recovery, power... all of that jazz..
@@ifishcatfish Well...to be honest I'm not as good at describing rod properties as you are, and I've been doing that style of fishing so long that it's something I "feel" at this point....but I'll try.
To sum up, maybe medium-fast action with fast recovery and a tubular tip, generally 5-6 feet, no microguides, bonus points if the reel seat allows me to stick my pointer finger on the blank for increased feel.
When I'm sight fishing clear water, I want to be able to load the rod with just a quick flick of my wrist. I generally use rods that are 6' to 5' so that I can make accurate flick or "circle" casts in tight spaces with the rod tip down. Longer and/or slower rods need more swinging space for the lure to properly load the blank, and casting distance is less of a factor in most small streams.
It should be a true UL that pairs well with 1/32oz jigs, because I find that's generally the best weight for drifting in most small stream situations.
Also wading a rocky stream and fishing on the bottom means my line inevitably encounters a lot more abrasive material than it does when I twitch in lakes and ponds (especially from a boat). It makes using 2lb line impractical most of the time, because even the most abrasion resistant lines are still going to have such a low diameter that it doesn't take much to badly compromise them.
Because of that, I don't like the teeny guides that are so "in" right now. I generally use 4lb fluorocarbon in rocky streams, and I can really feel that hinderance in casting distance. I haven't noticed any appreciable increase in accuracy from those little guides either, though I will admit that the lower weight makes the blank feel better.
As far as reels, I want a low gear ratio and a smooth retrieve with decent drag and a weight that balances the rod well. I try to get it where I can balance the combo with one finger on the rod right by the spool of the reel. Total weight of the combo is less important to me than the balance being at the fulcrum point by my hand, so that I have the best possible control. The low gear ratio keeps me from being tempted to move the jig too quickly. This is a really finesse approach. Aquatic insects and small crustaceans aren't amazing swimmers in open water, and fish in these creeks can be picky if they're spooked at all. It's easy to overdo your presentation.
The drag isn't very important until you hook into a bigger smallmouth, which does happen from time to time. I've landed several 4lb fish on ultralight tackle, but nowadays I actually try NOT to hook into them because by the time you get them in they're half-dead and may not survive even after you get them to recover. (I'm working on finding tungsten jigs with #6 & smaller hooks that let me target those fish on purpose with the same small profile lures but on heavier and safer tackle.)
Also reels with solid housing and as little plastic as possible tend to carry vibrations better, so sometimes they can help with sensitivity.
@@innovativeatavist159 that was .. A LOT .. But if u can spend $70, Fenwick (which you like) has a 5'6 model in the HMX lineup, which is one of my favorites, if not for length. Great blank and very expensive guides with zirconium ceramic, very thin and beautiful gunsmoke frames. Large enough diameter for 4-6 lb line. If u can spend that money you will like it. Yes, you can touch the blank too. The 6'0 model is also amazing but the action is different, almost perfectly parabolic, which i prefer for swimbaits where u don't shake the tip all the time. You still twitch, even though the jig is on the bottom. You can even find the 5'6 in Bass Pro and try it, if you are lucky..
I think what you may be describing are JDM rods for native trout (stream fishing). These are usually 4' to 5', have that slower action, and are purpose built to flick cast at all angles. I've never used one personally because I don't have streams to fish around me but I have dug into it because it sounded interesting.
@@ReelFilmVideos actually not quite. I prefer rods with a FASTER action than i_fish does, by far. I can't stand slow or wobbly at all. What I also don't like though is solid tip rods that are sticks until you get to the last few inches that are just noodly. Extra fast is almost as useless to me as slow.
So you suggest your swimbait rods for someone who throws a lot of spoons and spinners for trout as well or the twitch suggestions instead? Referring to budget options. I throw bobber setups (mostly water Bibber/adjust a bubble) as well to do bobber style fly fishing
Yes, please use my swimbait recommendation for spinners and spoons. The SensiliteA and the Okuma SST are very high quality rods for this price! And of course the Presso, if u can find it.
While I agree with most of these recommendations Vic. I really think you’re underestimating the Shimano Poison Adrena lineup. By far my favorite rod at the moment is the 6’7” ML for twitching, especially from a boat. I also picked up the 6’10” UL version for shore fishing, for swim and float.
I’m super interested in the Soare XR Lineup, may pick one up soon.
they are great for twitching because bass rods have very sharp tips... but can u really play a bluegill with the 6'6 ML Adrena?
By the way, i still use ur majorcraft rod for dropshot... such sharp tip.. even though it feels a little 'bassy' and not much flex in the handle.. but for dropshot i don't want my tip to bend when i hop...
Actually the ML is better for Blue gill since they are a harder fighting fish vs Crappies.
Yes, that rod is very special and haven’t been able to locate another one that is that way. I do have the 1 piece version of it but crazy enough, they feel different.
@@NinjasGoFishing 1 piece and 2 piece always feel different. I don't think its the same blank cut in half. I can tell u 5 or 6 rods and the 1 and 2 piece always feels very different.. One day i can sell u the rod back.. to be honest with you, for me a bigger problem is packing the thing in tube and shipping and all that... thats so much work.. And I do use it for dropshot and the rod looks very nice.. I think this is like $180 rod today.
@@ifishcatfish I’ll just drive down and pick it up and do some fishing with you lol
What’s the reason you don’t recommend solid tips? Is there a video where you go into detail about that
There is. It is cslled rod action. All solid tips are extra fast action and i hate extra fast action. I have teo videos on that actually.
That was me on that Abu Garcia rod it wasn’t for me either I sold my I was afraid of breaking it I like to but the BLUE current III and the phenix rod and moonshine rod
nothing wrong with that..
Great information. I've been looking for a high end rod to pair with my Daiwa presso 1000. I fish for trout from the shore and throw jigs, spoons, dropshot, and crankbaits that weigh 1-5 grams. I was looking at the presso air ags but i need a rod that is at least 7'6.
Then Soare XR is amazing, but also the Yamaga blanks comes in sizes over 7 foot. You need two different rods for that though, a rod that throws good 1 gram jigs will be worthless for 5 gram, and if its good for 5 gram will be way too much for 1 gram. Thats way too much of a range for one rod..
Wouldn’t happen to be able to suggest a nice bass finesse rod would you?
Wished the bass community had someone like you. They’re heavily plagued by brand sponsorships.😂
Bass has way more options than Ultralight fishing, and its impossible to test everything. I have reviewed a few rods that subscribers sent me that ended up being too heavy for ultralight fishing but amazing for bass. One is the daiwa Gekkabijin i recently reviewed. It is on sale everywhere. The other is shimano Expride. That one is not on sale.I have a review of that rod on my channel and its an excellent bass rod. But this is just what i have tried, and there is an ocean of options for bass
Great content, as always, Victor! Curious if you had any experience/opinions on Phenix rods. Very popular here on the west coast.
yes, ive seen them. They are very expensive but there is nothing expensive in the description. Their direct competition would be Belezza UX and CortoUX and entire Majorcraft lineup that will weight probably 40-50 grams less per rod, per same price...
They are very pretty thought, i will give them that. If you want to support those brands, i see nothing wrong with that..
@@ifishcatfish thanks! major craft and Daiwa is much more bang for the buck, especially with current FX. Only asked you since it’s the one US brand that people have compared to JDM.
🤠 howdy! What type of lures would you throw with an old fashioned glass fibre telescopic rod, 3-15g, 5’6” slow action?
Something like a 3 gram jig with 3" Keitech swimbait..
Hello! Big fan! I'm curious about your opinion on Phenix Mirage, Elixir, and Dragonfly rods. Any takes?
Did u check the label in your order?
These rods are very beautiful and some have sic guides. Hard to tell about the blank and i wish they had weight. I think they are OK value for United States market but still dont compare to japanese rods of that price, like the ones in this video. Take belezza ux or corto ux for example..
@@ifishcatfish yes sir! & Thanks for your input! I'm new to the JDM fishing side. I just placed an order for my first JDM rod that fits my style, yay!
Do you have any recommendations for a high end JDM rod 6'6 or longer with a moderate action? I would like one for jigging from the bank. Or would they just be too wobbly? The trout I catch are avg 2-4lbs w/ some trophies around 10lbs
I dont have experience with many long rods. Soare XR tunular 7’6 would be my forst choice, and then yamaga blanks has
Many midels. Yes, u will
Not fond moderate action that long, not in japan. But i dont need it to be moderste if power is UL. It will still bend
What budget rod would you recommend for 1/32-1/4 spinners and drifting flies in creeks. I’m looking to get into ultralight fishing for trout and panfish and this would really help!
I also really loved your video!
I recommend the 6'6 Daiwa Presso u saw in this video. I also recommend the 7'0 Okuma SST. Both of these are good for spinners up to 2.5 grams.
For 3 gram spinners and higher I strongly recommend the new Shimano Sensilite
@@ifishcatfish thank you very much!!
Is there a reel you recommend? Or at least a size reel that you could recommend?
maybe shimano Sahara. I have a Reel Buying Guide, if u search for it. It came out just after this video
Thnx Guy!
thank you too!
Tfo trout panfish 2 is my top go to in ultra light!
When did u buy it? I heard the new models feel dofferent..
@ifishcatfish couple months ago, never used the original model so cant compare
Any 2nd place runner ups for a all purpose rod in the 100-300 range for bank ultralight anglers? The shamino Soare XR-T 7’6? Seems to be impossible to find and looking for a good all around rod for ultralight swim baits, spinners, and jigs from the bank. I’ve found I don’t have much tolerance for float fishing unless it’s a water bobber/bombarda fly/lure retrieve style rig. As such not too concerned about float performance but also prefer 7 - 7”6 rods
Then I would get a long version of the Yamaga Blanks TZ Nano. Good for everything
Victor great video
Thank you but which rod and length rod for casting trout magnet with and without a float
Thank you
Everywhere in this video intalk about ‘twitching’ it means i am casting it wothout a float. I have recommendations for float and for twitching in each price segment. Pick something in ur budget.
I like your hat
I need some art with the ststue of libert for the wall..
Hey Man. Thanks for this great video.
I just want to ask, I can’t find the version of Daiwa Presso which you show in video. So that, I’m planning to buy Daiwa Presso PSO 602UL-AF model. I’m planning to fish little perchs and some other little fishes at lake. I will use silicone fishes and worms mostly.
Do you recommend this model?
And also do you know the difference of this model and the model which you using?
the 6'0 has a thinner blank and is kind of wobbly. I recommend the 6'6 to 8'0, and i recommend these rods for float fishing mostly. Otherwise look at the sensilite and okuma sst
@@ifishcatfish thanks for your reply. I also have another option: Abu Garcia Carabus Nano 0.3 - 2.5 grams.
What do you think about this rod?
@@erhn123 i have a full review of this rod, if u search..
@@ifishcatfish Yes I know and I already watched them. But your version is Carabus Extreme and I'm asking about Carabus Nano. :)
thanks for making this! will there be a 2024 reel buying guide?
Yes, soon
Great work and lovely guide!
I am a little confused about small jerkbaits/minnows/wobblers. Which rod would you recommend for such applications? Would it be rods that you recommend for swimbait or twitching? :)
Keep up the great work!
Edit: I am planning to use Duo spearhead Ryuki 45s
interesting.. i don't do that type of fishing at all.. you would need a parabolic bend rod that is kind of rigid. None of these rods are rigid enough impact sharp motion for jerkbaits. The rods i use are all pretty soft
@@ifishcatfish I see, thank you!
Do you have any examples or thoughts of such UL Rods which might handle the job nicely?
@@BlastaCola the oresso air ags 6’1 ML would be good as long as ur jerkbaits are not too big
Have you fished any of the Abu Garcia salty stage prototype rods? Pretty light and sensitive rods in the middle-end market.
Those were solid tip, no? I don't like solid tip..
@@ifishcatfish Yeah they’re mostly solid tip except for the ”Mebaru” line-up but those are 7ft+ ajing rods.
Have you used the 4 piece Presso rods? I was curious how they compare to the 2 piece and how they may differ.
No, the 4 piece is completely different product, stiff as a broom, power is Medium, appropriate only for bass fishing
Check Polish brand Mikado rod Sensor-x , its cheap and grade ul rod.
Maybe for my european viewers... Nobody from US will buy a Polish rod and ship to United States. Cheaper to just buy Japanese
Wow, the negative way you described the St. Croix action is exactly how I like my ultra lights. I loathe slow actions. I want little to no flex until the tip.
well, at least i said WHY I don't like them. If you watch that section again, i said that if they 'fix' their actions, i will recommend some of them again because they are very thin and light and pretty. If you like those actions, then you are in good shape. A big pricey but look so nice and so light!
I should have been more clear. I don't even have any of their rods. I just like the action you described. My go to brush pile rod is the Daiwa Procyon 7'9"and my #1 jig casting is a Dobyns. @@ifishcatfish
I can't seem to find the Shakespeare micro in the 6'6 light version. They do have a 7 foot and a 5 foot 6 version for sale, what would be a better alternative?
I'm mainly going to use it for micro plastics. Currently using a crappie maxx with caster but I'm looking for a spinning reel set up. Thank you
7'0 L
Love the vids, what are your opinions on Tenryu rays spectra (rzs61ll)
Thinking about pairing it with a shimano vanquish
Also, is there a JDM braid you recommend?
never seen those rods, but they seem heavy. I don't recomend using braid for ultralight fishing..
What would you recommend for UL bass fishing? Still the presso, found your videos and want to get in on the UL scene more and more. I’m looking to fish everything from a 1/32 oz bait to a 3/16
this question is asking for mutually exclusive things. All of these rods are Ultralight. But you seem to want something stronger, for bass. But do u understand that if the blank is stronger, it will NOT be Ultralight? If you really want a little more power, get Light, instead of Ultralight. I have caught thousands of bass with the rods on this list. I have at least 5 videos this year, with 20 bass in a single video, with something from this list. I am not saying these are good bass rods! These are Ultralight rods! There is nothing wrong with wanting something stronger, but you need to look for Light power then
@@ifishcatfish makes sense!
I’ve probably watched this video over 20 times. Every time I see a rod that looks promising I always come back to this video and end up not buying it cause it’s not in this video haha I know this video is only 3 months old, but would you still recommend these rods? And are there any rods you have tested since this video that you would recommend in the budget/mid range?
I have to tell you.. in United States, if the rod is not on my list, i don't recommend it, even if i havent tried it. I have a pretty good awareness of whats here.
But in Japan there is a frikkin ocean of rods. I guarantee the ones i recommend are good, but there is many more that i haven't testes that are also good. If you tolerate risk, you can try them. Maybe even ship to me for a few weeks for review - maybe i will add it to the list. Right now i am testing a Daiwa Gekkabijin sent by subscriber.
I just purchased the crappie Maxx pro 6ft medium light. He wasn’t joking this thing is absolute money for twitching a BG-1. It’s better than my TFO, and TCB rods. HIGHLY recommend
😅@@ifishcatfish
I've got a 6'3" BlueCurrent 3 Yamaga Blanks rod. It is paired with the Daiwa Ballistic 1000. What do you think of that rod/setup??
Very Nice! I think you were hunting hard for value, as both the rod and the reel have had discounts lately and I am sure you found them.. : ) Probably got a $450 setup for S300, if i have to guess : )
Victor i love your videos they are alot of help! Was looking into the Temple Fork Outfitters trout-panfish 2 rod and wondered if you have ever tried one or your opinion on it?
I used to recommend that rod when it was $80. Now its $120 but a blank that is not not too sensitive and guides that are plain steel. It's a pretty rod and works fine but is very overpriced. U can have same performance if u pick some of the recommendations in this video for half the price
@ifishcatfish thank you so much for the feedback I really appreciate it
Hey Victor, new to the channel and loving it. Just getting into ultralight fishing. Can you fish 1/64oz and 1/32 oz jigs with the Crappie Max Pro medium light rod?
Yes! But you will need line with diameter no more than 0.14mm for stuff that light
@ifishcatfish I've been using the SPRO Finesse Braid 6lb. It's .1mm with 4lb Berkley Vanish for a leader. Thanks for the information on the video. Always good to get budget options for ppl just getting into it. Plus, the higher quality stuff for when ppl are ready to take the next step. Look forward to watching more videos!
What do you recommend for casting smaller mepps spinners and panther martins in small to medium sized trout creeks/rivers. Brook trout, browns and rainbow are the target. Budget and mid level rods. Than you for the help.
All of the swimbait recommendations in this video would work. Pick one in your budget and that u like the colors of. Also one that u can find. The daiwa presso is what everyone gors for but its hard to find