Info on JDM UL rods.

Ok....here it is. This video is quite long.....37 minutes. It took me 5 years to learn what I put out in this video.....well that is the condensed version anyway....LOL. This is for info only. I put this together for some folks who wanted info on JDM rods. There have been several from crappie.com who I have assisted in the selection and purchase process of JDM rods over the past couple of years. If this helps someone out I’m happy to help. LedHed is correct....all JDM rods are not expensive......the problem I had...and others that I know have had....if you ever fish with a high end rod it is hard to go back to the other ones. You can get a decent JDM rod for around 130 bucks. Hope you enjoy the info.

Regards

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2ZV...ature=youtu.be


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Very good informative video.

Finally had time to watch your video. Why do rods available here in the States not have that much graphite content? I assume most rods we can buy here are made overseas in production facilities. Custom rod makers cannot get the blanks? Your informative video just gives me more questions, but that is a good thing!


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Originally Posted by StantheMan2567

Finally had time to watch your video. Why do rods available here in the States not have that much graphite content? I assume most rods we can buy here are made overseas in production facilities. Custom rod makers cannot get the blanks? Your informative video just gives me more questions, but that is a good thing!


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Of course I’m only talking about UL rods. The Loomis NRX rods have an extremely high graphite content....bass rods.....that’s one of the reasons they average around 600 bucks a pop. Making a good blank is very expensive. It is easy.....and cheap....to make a rod with high graphite content that is extremely sensitive but if not made with the right amount of pressure...resin...and any other blends it will be brittle and break. I used to fish with a Shakespeare Agility UL rod several years back. It was advertised as IM 10 graphite......which told me it had a high graphite content although the HM ratings don’t mean a lot. But it was as light as a feather.....extremely sensitive.....only cost 29 bucks...but it broke very easily. I broke 3 of them before I quit using them....my son broke 2. They still make that rod but it does not have the high graphite content anymore. In my research I understand it is the heat and pressure...and the right amount of resin...or some composite blend...mixed in with the carbon and then it has to be pressed at the right pressure under extreme temperature to make it useable....meaning rigid and sensitive but not so stiff that it will break when you set the hook on a fish. Those high temp presses they use are extremely expensive. Custom rod builders here cannot get high end Japanese blanks......the Japanese are very secretive about their blanks. I’ve had several rod builders ask me if I knew where they could get them....they can’t. You can get some good blanks here. The Phenix blanks in their UL series.....Iron Feather blanks are around 200 bucks. Just a set of the Fuji Torzite titanium frame guides for a spinning rod cost a little over 100 bucks. Just not a big demand for high end UL rods in the states......which is surprising to me. Take a look at just about any other country and high end UL rods are the norm for fishing. There is a rod builder I use when I need a tip top replaced or for any other rod work. He is extremely talented. He was checking out some of my rods and was just blown away at the quality and the light weight. They just came out with an UL rod out of Japan that is 6’ 10” long and only weighs 1.9 ounces....and the diameter of the tip is .69 mm. That is unheard of. But I won’t be buying one....LOL. In the end I just like fishing with them and collecting them.

Regards


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Thanks for the time you invest in answering our many, sometimes redundant questions Alpha. I haven’t watched the video yet but I will when I can do so uninterrupted and focused as I’m sure it will answer many of my q and give me what I need to decide if one is right for me. You know more of this and have done more research than any of us, and I know everyone says thanks for sharing it with us. Keep your videos coming, we all enjoy them

Thanks Great post


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Thank you for the additional information. I bought a 7ft. St. Croix Panfish Series rod this season, by far the most expensive rod I own, but most definitely the most sensitive. I can actually feel a Bluegill strike when using a floater. This may not seem much but I have set the hook many times this year while NOT looking at my floater, I just felt the bite through the braid/rod and set the hook. If these rods you speak of are even more sensitive than the St Croix then I would definitely be impressed. I have not felt a G. Loomis Trout or Panfish rod, but have used their bass rods ( not mine) and did like the action and sensitivity. I am beginning to understand this UL rod thing, and really enjoy the learning journey.


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Originally Posted by skeetbum

Thanks for the time you invest in answering our many, sometimes redundant questions Alpha. I haven’t watched the video yet but I will when I can do so uninterrupted and focused as I’m sure it will answer many of my q and give me what I need to decide if one is right for me. You know more of this and have done more research than any of us, and I know everyone says thanks for sharing it with us. Keep your videos coming, we all enjoy them

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Thanks much for the kind words......much appreciated. Hoping I have shed some light on those that may want to go down that road.

Regards


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Originally Posted by StantheMan2567

Thank you for the additional information. I bought a 7ft. St. Croix Panfish Series rod this season, by far the most expensive rod I own, but most definitely the most sensitive. I can actually feel a Bluegill strike when using a floater. This may not seem much but I have set the hook many times this year while NOT looking at my floater, I just felt the bite through the braid/rod and set the hook. If these rods you speak of are even more sensitive than the St Croix then I would definitely be impressed. I have not felt a G. Loomis Trout or Panfish rod, but have used their bass rods ( not mine) and did like the action and sensitivity. I am beginning to understand this UL rod thing, and really enjoy the learning journey.


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Thanks for the comment. You know it’s funny, years ago.....really several decades ago......UL fishing was much bigger than now. I’m sure many of us pushing 70 remember Lamiglass.....Falcon......St Croix was in there also. There were other....at the time.....big names in the UL line of making rods also. But I’m thinking that was a time when all those rod makers were still in the USA and were individual companies instead part of some huge conglomerate.

Regards


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Originally Posted by jackie53

Thanks Great post


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Thanks much.

Regards


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Originally Posted by Alphahawk

You know it’s funny, years ago.....really several decades ago......UL fishing was much bigger than now.

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Yes, it was. The French were enamored with it. Many fly fishing luminaries like Lefty Kreh and Tom McNally pushed it in the USA. Somehow, though, UL's popularity faded. I can't help but think that tourney bass fishing with its pool cue rods and mini-winches for reels brainwashed a generation.

Great video Randy

A lot more finesse then what I'm doing...

Sonny, what JDM poles do you own?? I've been wanting to buy myself one for father's day but don't know...I was going to buy the pole Randy used in his Nickajack redear video...I think it's the 6'3 Majorcraft Banshee.

Are your poles similar?? Thanks, Troy

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Originally Posted by LedHed

Great video Randy

A lot more finesse then what I'm doing...

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Thanks.......I know you’re not a fan of area trout rods but I have a super ultra light Banshee coming....have no clue what it will be like but I’m gonna find out....LOL.

Regards


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Originally Posted by redearhoosier

Sonny, what JDM poles do you own?? I've been wanting to buy myself one for father's day but don't know...I was going to buy the pole Randy used in his Nickajack redear video...I think it's the 6'3 Majorcraft Banshee.

Are your poles similar?? Thanks, Troy

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Yeah Sonny just got some new rods......he can give you some ideas. I think I found a good one for you but I don’t think we can link here so I will send link in a pm and you can check it out.

Regards


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Originally Posted by deathb4disco

Yes, it was. The French were enamored with it. Many fly fishing luminaries like Lefty Kreh and Tom McNally pushed it in the USA. Somehow, though, UL's popularity faded. I can't help but think that tourney bass fishing with its pool cue rods and mini-winches for reels brainwashed a generation.

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I’m still trying to find out where Nick Thill got that .5# test line he used when he was fishing with some outdoor magazine writer here in the states doing a story on him.

Regards


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Originally Posted by Alphahawk

I’m still trying to find out where Nick Thill got that .5# test line he used when he was fishing with some outdoor magazine writer here in the states doing a story on him.

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If I remember correctly, that writer was Homer Circle. ;)

Mick had access to good stuff. My guess is that it was German line.

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Originally Posted by deathb4disco

If I remember correctly, that writer was Homer Circle. ;)

Mick had access to good stuff. My guess is that it was German line.

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Great memory.

Regards


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The only advice I can add is from the gear that I use. Randy has a far greater investment and has done way more investigation then me.
Troy, the JDM rods I'm fishing with use high carbon content, solid tip, and are designed for saltwater rock fishing. Randy fishes with Amati's & Stradivari's and I'm fishing with Fender's, LOL. You can make great music with any of them... My cost bracket is ~$80 to $200. I have some that are more expensive but are hardly used. The majority of my fishing is UL trolling in some vey ugly areas. I think you can't go wrong with a Major Craft anything. My 1st JDM was a Trappara trout rod. Highly recommended for entry level sul & xul rods.

Sounds like fishing with a feather Randy - ROFL. You should start your own web site.

Back in the day we used nylon upholstery thread, it broke ~.5lb. The UV would get it brittle quick.

Just watched the vid Randy, EXCELLENT enjoyed it immensely ! Would be GREAT, to see a follow up video of the reels and line you like to use.:ThumbsUp

Regards,
Marv

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Originally Posted by LedHed

The only advice I can add is from the gear that I use. Randy has a far greater investment and has done way more investigation then me.
Troy, the JDM rods I'm fishing with use high carbon content, solid tip, and are designed for saltwater rock fishing. Randy fishes with Amati's & Stradivari's and I'm fishing with Fender's, LOL. You can make great music with any of them... My cost bracket is ~$80 to $200. I have some that are more expensive but are hardly used. The majority of my fishing is UL trolling in some vey ugly areas. I think you can't go wrong with a Major Craft anything. My 1st JDM was a Trappara trout rod. Highly recommended for entry level sul & xul rods.

Sounds like fishing with a feather Randy - ROFL. You should start your own web site.

Back in the day we used nylon upholstery thread, it broke ~.5lb. The UV would get it brittle quick.

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I started out with same rod Sonny....then just kept going up. I was very impressed with the Trappara and Basspara.

Regards


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Originally Posted by pescador

Just watched the vid Randy, EXCELLENT enjoyed it immensely ! Would be GREAT, to see a follow up video of the reels and line you like to use.:ThumbsUp

Regards,
Marv

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Thanks Marv.....I’m working on that one.

Regards


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I love my Yamaga Blanks Blue Current 6'5". If I can stop buying fly rods, I might buy another. ;)

I just bought 2 Trappera 6'6 UL rods from DIRECTOUTFIT for 62% off original price. Entry level rods I guess, I'm excited.

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Originally Posted by redearhoosier

I just bought 2 Trappera 6'6 UL rods from DIRECTOUTFIT for 62% off original price. Entry level rods I guess, I'm excited.

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Congrats......those are nice rods. Just curious how you picked that website to order from? Do you know anyone who has ordered from it before?


Regards


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Randy,
I don't know of anyone who has ordered from there before and I'm a bit concerned. The deal on those rods was a smokin deal and I'm wondering if I didn't get taken somehow.

I was surfing JDM tackle on the Web and I typed in Trappera after reading the comments here and that website was one that came up. I'm hoping it's on the up and up!lol

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Originally Posted by redearhoosier

Randy,
I don't know of anyone who has ordered from there before and I'm a bit concerned. The deal on those rods was a smokin deal and I'm wondering if I didn't get taken somehow.

I was surfing JDM tackle on the Web and I typed in Trappera after reading the comments here and that website was one that came up. I'm hoping it's on the up and up!lol

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Well I certainly hope you get them. The site has high risk for fraud.....and I see they don’t take PayPal. Time will tell.

Regards


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I still have one of those Trapara rods and a Basspara also. That deal on the Trapara rods is too good to be true - I hope you get them. Even @ list price, it's a great rod.

I decided to cancel the card I used...it's just not worth it. That's some obscure site that I should've absolutely known better to use it.

I'm going to one of Randy's recommended sites!!

You'll probably be happier

Randy is a great resource when it comes to the JDM rods and reels. I am just getting started and I am wearing him out with questions. He is a gentleman and a scholar.

Really enjoyed the video and post,This is my type of fishing to the tee,Am a G loomis fan but had to order a JDM Got my order in,Like a kid waiting on Christmas.Enjoyed the video.We fish deep clear hard to fish for crappie lakes.This time of year light line finess fishing is key to catching these fish.

Thanks for the kind comments guys. Really glad you all enjoyed the video. Just trying to share info that has taken me years to obtain and make it a little easier for someone who wants to go down the JDM road. My super ultra light will be here by Wednesday anyway....never thought I would do an unboxing video but really am excited to get the rod.....I have no idea what to expect...I think Sonny has or has had a super ultra light.

Regards


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Originally Posted by Alphahawk

Thanks for the kind comments guys. Really glad you all enjoyed the video. Just trying to share info that has taken me years to obtain and make it a little easier for someone who wants to go down the JDM road. My super ultra light will be here by Wednesday anyway....never thought I would do an unboxing video but really am excited to get the rod.....I have no idea what to expect...I think Sonny has or has had a super ultra light.

Regards


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Not helping Brendas pocketbook Lol!Hope she dont read this Lol.