It’s important to note that this video was never meant to compete against the JDM or upper premium rod market. My content is created for newer to intermediate tenkara anglers and my individual evolution into this amazing hobby. Those working on a budget will find great rods on this list but make not mistake, the list of rods in the premium category are much longer respectfully. A notable correction is that the Kokoro 360 is really a 6:4 but THE softest 6:4 I have ever fished. Did your rod make the top 6?
The Kokoro 360 has rapidly become my favorite rod. The effortless casting of dry/wet flies is sublime. Really well done Dragontail. Nice review Skiddy of your top rods!
Great video and very informative. I bought a Baby Rodzilla and absolutely love it. Have you ever tried a Zen Suzume before? That was my first small stream rod and I still use it in some of the small CO streams. Keep the great content coming!
Thank you for the support! I don’t have a lot of JDM experience, but I’m hoping to in the near future. My true passion though is native fish so I will use any rod that helps me get the job done and many of these have given me that experience :) I will have to make a list of JDM rods and see how I can get my hands on some! 😄
I love your enthusiasm and dedication to all the details about these rods! You gave some great insight and I think my next rod will be the Kokoro. I debating between that and the Ragnarok. I want a different 13' rod besides my Hydra.
I do need to fish those rods! I have some Tanuki rods in my possession thanks to Lady Tenkara Bum and Heritage Tenkara Project to demo but my main dilemma with JDM is budget. Every expensive rod I buy deducts from other channel expenses and also my almost equal addiction to western fly fishing. I just bought a new 6wt and that cost me a few hundred. I think it’s absolutely certain that at some point in the future, I will definitely be fishing premium JDM. It’s just a matter of how.
Great video… This is my first season fishing Tenkara, and I’ve been only using Tenkara. After doing the homework the Dragontail Muzuchi was my choice. I have absolutely love this rod, caught hundreds fish from 3 inches to 19 inches using every way to catch fish. Dry dropper, nymphs, bead head and Kebari flies. I absolutely have use all three length and have found them great. I also mainly use the second and third lengths more, and also agree with the stiffness feeling good. I do want to get the softer tips to try out. Spot on with this rod being perfect for those 9-13 inch fish. I’m ready to get a second rod for those smaller creeks & fish as well. Thanks for vids and keep ‘em coming!
Thank you so much for taking the time and commenting. It’s such a versatile rod. Probably the most versatile in the entire lineup. Tom and Brent really left a legacy with the Mizuchi! Ill be curious to hear what you end up picking for your second rod.
My Talon Mini video is a little outdated but I prefer the action of the Ukiyo to it. It’s lighter and the sensitivity is a little higher given the Ukiyo has no cork handle. BUT…..Talon Mini can catch larger fish and has the better backbone. My content is always explained in simple jargon so remember to check the detailed specs provided by great sources like Tenkara Angler and Teton Tenkara. In short. Both are great and I tend to pack the Talon Mini more with me as a backup but Ukiyo is a favorite little creek rod. Thanks for tuning in friend! 😇
Nice video, thanks for sharing. I have the Mizuchi and one thing that stands out with this rod is the non-swivel lillian. I thought it would give me troubles but I find it easier to fight larger fish compared to my other rods. The balance is really nice too for a zoom rod.
That’s a pretty good observation too. I don’t have a general preference on Lilian style but if I had a choice I would lean to the non swivel side. All these comments about the Mizuchi make me want to take mine out now 😂
Well, your are not helping my addiction tendencies at all. I am a total novice but he little I have fished a Tenkara rod I have truly enjoyed it. One thing I am curious about, one of my zoom rods cast very differently at the different lengths. Again, as a beginner, I was surprised I felt so much difference. Maybe as I fish these rods more I will learn to adjust. Just wondering if you have had a better feel at a particular length in the zoom rods you use. I do like the idea of the zoom rod. Streams can change character very quickly.
You, my friend are exactly what this video was intended for. Some of my more elite tenkara friends may disagree with this list, but my content was generally always created for newer to intermediate anglers and these rods are truly amazing for many. I’ll note that in general when it comes to zooming rods, the best action will always be the longest length. Also likely the slowest action of the three (or two). As the rods get shorter, the backbone kicks in slightly quicker thus making the action faster- or stiffer for lack of a better term. Fast action rods actually perform better in tight quarters because you don’t have to work the rod as aggressively in the hookset that would otherwise be negated by a twig, stick, or branch. This is why rods like the FoxFire don’t work for me. Too soft means too much hookset and many times we don’t get that luxury. So to your comment in theory, it would be best to work the longest length of the rod until you need to be shorter and only do so if you need to. I hope that kind of answered your question. I welcome any follow-up questions. My favorite lengths are 9-10.5’ for the general situation. Rods that don’t zoom have better sensitivity on small bites and rods without cork or foam handles increase sensitivity even more.
It’s important to note that this video was never meant to compete against the JDM or upper premium rod market. My content is created for newer to intermediate tenkara anglers and my individual evolution into this amazing hobby. Those working on a budget will find great rods on this list but make not mistake, the list of rods in the premium category are much longer respectfully.
A notable correction is that the Kokoro 360 is really a 6:4 but THE softest 6:4 I have ever fished. Did your rod make the top 6?
The Kokoro 360 has rapidly become my favorite rod. The effortless casting of dry/wet flies is sublime. Really well done Dragontail. Nice review Skiddy of your top rods!
Thank you so much for your valuable time to watch this! It’s truly a special rod and I think the future models will be even better!
Great video and very informative. I bought a Baby Rodzilla and absolutely love it. Have you ever tried a Zen Suzume before? That was my first small stream rod and I still use it in some of the small CO streams. Keep the great content coming!
Thank you for the support! I don’t have a lot of JDM experience, but I’m hoping to in the near future. My true passion though is native fish so I will use any rod that helps me get the job done and many of these have given me that experience :)
I will have to make a list of JDM rods and see how I can get my hands on some! 😄
I love your enthusiasm and dedication to all the details about these rods! You gave some great insight and I think my next rod will be the Kokoro. I debating between that and the Ragnarok. I want a different 13' rod besides my Hydra.
You won’t go wrong with Ragnarok. That 5th blank is hit or miss but aside it’s notably lighter than Hydra.
You gotta try the Oni rods. The Type-1 will have you falling in love with 400cm. And the Coco 290 is as good as you’ve heard.
I do need to fish those rods! I have some Tanuki rods in my possession thanks to Lady Tenkara Bum and Heritage Tenkara Project to demo but my main dilemma with JDM is budget.
Every expensive rod I buy deducts from other channel expenses and also my almost equal addiction to western fly fishing. I just bought a new 6wt and that cost me a few hundred.
I think it’s absolutely certain that at some point in the future, I will definitely be fishing premium JDM. It’s just a matter of how.
Great video… This is my first season fishing Tenkara, and I’ve been only using Tenkara. After doing the homework the Dragontail Muzuchi was my choice. I have absolutely love this rod, caught hundreds fish from 3 inches to 19 inches using every way to catch fish. Dry dropper, nymphs, bead head and Kebari flies. I absolutely have use all three length and have found them great. I also mainly use the second and third lengths more, and also agree with the stiffness feeling good. I do want to get the softer tips to try out. Spot on with this rod being perfect for those 9-13 inch fish. I’m ready to get a second rod for those smaller creeks & fish as well. Thanks for vids and keep ‘em coming!
Thank you so much for taking the time and commenting. It’s such a versatile rod. Probably the most versatile in the entire lineup. Tom and Brent really left a legacy with the Mizuchi!
Ill be curious to hear what you end up picking for your second rod.
Thank you for making the excellent video! I watched your review of the Dragontail Talon mini. How does the Talon compare to UKIYO?
My Talon Mini video is a little outdated but I prefer the action of the Ukiyo to it. It’s lighter and the sensitivity is a little higher given the Ukiyo has no cork handle. BUT…..Talon Mini can catch larger fish and has the better backbone. My content is always explained in simple jargon so remember to check the detailed specs provided by great sources like Tenkara Angler and Teton Tenkara.
In short. Both are great and I tend to pack the Talon Mini more with me as a backup but Ukiyo is a favorite little creek rod. Thanks for tuning in friend! 😇
@@skiddyfishing- Thank you!
Nice video, thanks for sharing. I have the Mizuchi and one thing that stands out with this rod is the non-swivel lillian. I thought it would give me troubles but I find it easier to fight larger fish compared to my other rods. The balance is really nice too for a zoom rod.
That’s a pretty good observation too. I don’t have a general preference on Lilian style but if I had a choice I would lean to the non swivel side. All these comments about the Mizuchi make me want to take mine out now 😂
Well, your are not helping my addiction tendencies at all. I am a total novice but he little I have fished a Tenkara rod I have truly enjoyed it. One thing I am curious about, one of my zoom rods cast very differently at the different lengths. Again, as a beginner, I was surprised I felt so much difference. Maybe as I fish these rods more I will learn to adjust. Just wondering if you have had a better feel at a particular length in the zoom rods you use. I do like the idea of the zoom rod. Streams can change character very quickly.
You, my friend are exactly what this video was intended for. Some of my more elite tenkara friends may disagree with this list, but my content was generally always created for newer to intermediate anglers and these rods are truly amazing for many.
I’ll note that in general when it comes to zooming rods, the best action will always be the longest length. Also likely the slowest action of the three (or two). As the rods get shorter, the backbone kicks in slightly quicker thus making the action faster- or stiffer for lack of a better term.
Fast action rods actually perform better in tight quarters because you don’t have to work the rod as aggressively in the hookset that would otherwise be negated by a twig, stick, or branch. This is why rods like the FoxFire don’t work for me. Too soft means too much hookset and many times we don’t get that luxury.
So to your comment in theory, it would be best to work the longest length of the rod until you need to be shorter and only do so if you need to.
I hope that kind of answered your question. I welcome any follow-up questions. My favorite lengths are 9-10.5’ for the general situation.
Rods that don’t zoom have better sensitivity on small bites and rods without cork or foam handles increase sensitivity even more.
The Mizuchi was my first also
Hard to not appreciate your first rod!
Bring that Therapy 33 I want to try it
Yessir!!! 🥹