Help on deciding first JDM rod for panfish

I'm always on the hunt for better or different fishing gear. I've recently, in the last couple years, gotten addicted to chasing panfish(primarily gills). There is just something about a gill, crappie, or perch putting up a fight on UL setup that I just don't get chasing bass.

I buy what I can afford but want to treat myself to something nicer. The 13 Fishing Defy Silvers are my primary rods. I have one setup for drop shotting that is a light powered rod and a setup for small jigs with plastics that is UL. I'm hoping to replace the jigging rod.

I've narrowed it down to a few rods, at least I think. I would like to be able to use 1/64 and 1/80 jigs with plastics. So the ones I've selected are based close to those lure weights and are hopefully sensitive enough. Here they are:
Shimano 19 Soare BB Ajing S64UL-S
Daiwa Iprimi 62XUL
Daiwa 20 Gekkabijin Ajing 510UL-S

I'm also considering something like a Major Craft Finetail Area rod. Either the 6' or 6'3" model. Also curious to know what you guys/gals think of the SUL or XUL. What would be the main difference(s) compared to a UL rod bought state side? I'm aware that I'm going to want to use different line with any of these rods and am looking at the Varivas products. I'd also eventually like to find a JDM shallow spool reel. Or maybe I can find a shallow spool for my Revros, for the time being. Would there be any distinct disadvantages to using something like an ester line on my Daiwa Revros LT2000?

Thanks in advance, tight lines!

The Iprimi is a fun rod...but is not sensitive at all. Ester line is extremely sensitive...more sensitive than braid even, as ester line is sensitive on slack line....one should use a shock leader with ester. But ester has some manageability problems...but I personally love the stuff....great casting distance also. The Daiwa and Shimano rods you list will have very good sensitivity and are very rigid rods. The Fine Tail FAX series of rods are some of the best bang for the buck rods made. Very sensitive...light...a ton of fun with panfish. You will not find a UL rod in the US market with the sensitivity of the Fine Tail FAX rods. I have owned a couple of them and they are great rods. If these are the rods you have it narrowed down to I vote the Fine Tail....now where to find it is another story.

Regards

JDM has some Fine Tail FAX rods....Major Craft Finetail – JDM TACKLE HEAVEN


Regards

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Originally Posted by Alphahawk

The Iprimi is a fun rod...but is not sensitive at all. Ester line is extremely sensitive...more sensitive than braid even, as ester line is sensitive on slack line....one should use a shock leader with ester. But ester has some manageability problems...but I personally love the stuff....great casting distance also. The Daiwa and Shimano rods you list will have very good sensitivity and are very rigid rods. The Fine Tail FAX series of rods are some of the best bang for the buck rods made. Very sensitive...light...a ton of fun with panfish. You will not find a UL rod in the US market with the sensitivity of the Fine Tail FAX rods. I have owned a couple of them and they are great rods. If these are the rods you have it narrowed down to I vote the Fine Tail....now where to find it is another story.

Regards

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JDMTackleHeaven has them in stock. Would you suggest an UL or SUL? I think I heard somewhere that JDM SUL is more like a USDM UL.

What kind of line issues do you experience? I get some issues with braid, but I think that has more to do with the wind than anything.

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Originally Posted by digitalvoid

JDMTackleHeaven has them in stock. Would you suggest an UL or SUL? I think I heard somewhere that JDM SUL is more like a USDM UL.

What kind of line issues do you experience? I get some issues with braid, but I think that has more to do with the wind than anything.

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I have the 6'3" Finetail area rod in the SUL and UL, you can't go wrong with either choice. The SUL provides a bit more fun on the small fish, but not by a wide margin. I bought the UL model because I figured I needed a bit more rod for the 13in shellcracker I catch. That said, I've landed many monster shellcracker on the SUL, along with channel catfish!

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Originally Posted by redearhoosier

I have the 6'3" Finetail area rod in the SUL and UL, you can't go wrong with either choice. The SUL provides a bit more fun on the small fish, but not by a wide margin. I bought the UL model because I figured I needed a bit more rod for the 13in shellcracker I catch. That said, I've landed many monster shellcracker on the SUL, along with channel catfish!

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How about sensitivity? I would assume the SUL is a little more sensitive. The lakes I fish have a little of everything. You can target panfish pretty easily but will of course get an occasional bass, less than that the occasional pike. Curious to know what reel and line you use as well.

I use 2lb SOS line on most of my reels. I have the SUL paired with a Luvias 1003 reel and the UL paired with an ABU Revo MGX Theta 1000s reel.

The sensitivity is superb on both outfits. The UL simply has a bit more power than the SUL. I don't think you can go wrong with either choice.

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Originally Posted by digitalvoid

How about sensitivity? I would assume the SUL is a little more sensitive. The lakes I fish have a little of everything. You can target panfish pretty easily but will of course get an occasional bass, less than that the occasional pike. Curious to know what reel and line you use as well.

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The FAX rods are at the top of the line in sensitivity....for the money, all else being equal, you will not find a rod more sensitive. I gave mine to my son....I wish I still had it. Check out this video of him catching a very nice largemouth. Look at the 0.21 mark in the video and check out the bed in that rod. Son Catches Big Largemouth on Fine Tail Area Stage 6' 3" Super UL...2# Test Line. - YouTube Also check out this video of him catching a beautiful trout on same rod..in current no less...at the 13:40 mark. TenRyu Rayz Spectra.....the Right Rod for the Day! - YouTube

Regards

I second Majorcraft Finetail FAX rods. This was the first JDM rod I bought. Since then I’ve added Daiwa Presso Air AGS, Matagi TWA 662 (blank), and Matagi TR63T XUL (blank). The Finetail is the least costly and can certainly hold its own ground. The sensitive among them… like Randy said in one of his videos, “it’s like splitting hair.”

Built the Matagi rods couple of weeks back and will be able to gauge their worth better in the coming weeks once things start to heat up.

I haven’t used any of the rods you have mentioned in your post, but I would certainly add the Finetail to it (either SUL or UL).


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Originally Posted by dannypeoples

I second Majorcraft Finetail FAX rods. This was the first JDM rod I bought. Since then I’ve added Daiwa Presso Air AGS, Matagi TWA 662 (blank), and Matagi TR63T XUL (blank). The Finetail is the least costly and can certainly hold its own ground. The sensitive among them… like Randy said in one of his videos, “it’s like splitting hair.”

Built the Matagi rods couple of weeks back and will be able to gauge their worth better in the coming weeks once things start to heat up.

I haven’t used any of the rods you have mentioned in your post, but I would certainly add the Finetail to it (either SUL or UL).


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I'm about 99% sure I will pick one up. But I'm sure I will look a little more into it yet. If sensitivity between the two is negligible, which one would you get? Not guaranteed to catch only catch panfish but will need a rod strong enough to handle a 2lb bass on occasion and on a very rare occasion a northern pike.