More fun at VFW Lake.

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08-03-2020, 07:08 PM
Alphahawk

8 Attachment(s)

More fun at VFW Lake.

I’ve been fishing VFW Lake on a regular basis since 2004. I kept it up until 2015. I then moved and the drive turned into 1.5 hours one way where in 2004 it was a 39 mile drive. So being nostalgic and armed with a new XUL area trout rod I hit the road. On arrival the area I wanted to fish was occupied....so I waited them out. The lake is now heavily pressured in the spring and the fish quality has suffered. Years back 8-9 inch fish were the norm. Now the norm is closer to 7 inches and in heat of summer they can be hard to come buy. There is a transition area I was casting to.....water goes from 2 feet to 4 feet. Bluegill have always years past been on that spot. Today was like old times. In the 2 hours I fished that spot caught 40 Gills....6-7 inch fish. Certainly not the best bluegill but with the XUL it was a blast. Used a Sow Bug colored Trout Magnet on a Daiwa Gekkabijin 1 gram jig head...line was 2.3# test ester mono.....reel was Daiwa Presso Limited 1025. The next few days will be back at Nickajack chasing crappie and KY bass. Life is good!

Regards

Attachment 381577 Attachment 381578 Attachment 381579 Attachment 381580 Attachment 381581 Attachment 381582 Attachment 381583 Attachment 381584

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08-03-2020, 07:18 PM
tattoodrew84

Nice fish Randy

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08-03-2020, 09:30 PM
StantheMan2567

Aside from sensitivity, can you say from fishing a few different XUL rods and brands, is there a similarity in action when you get that level of UL. In other words, UL can certainly be quantified differently as there are ranges above and below that are common - L and and SUL - but with XUL I do not know of any rods classified any less....or XXUL. Just curious, trying to learn action versus bending across the different lines of rods in the JDM realm. Trout, native and area, rods seem to built different than Ajing and Mebaru which I am finally getting a handle on. Just curious....and always looking to learn.

Good catch fishing behind someone, the Gills just cannot stand that TM being slow twitched in their faces!

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08-03-2020, 10:39 PM
Fishfishwish

Reliving the good old days! Congratulations.
08-04-2020, 08:53 AM
Alphahawk

Quote:

Originally Posted by StantheMan2567

Aside from sensitivity, can you say from fishing a few different XUL rods and brands, is there a similarity in action when you get that level of UL. In other words, UL can certainly be quantified differently as there are ranges above and below that are common - L and and SUL - but with XUL I do not know of any rods classified any less....or XXUL. Just curious, trying to learn action versus bending across the different lines of rods in the JDM realm. Trout, native and area, rods seem to built different than Ajing and Mebaru which I am finally getting a handle on. Just curious....and always looking to learn.

Good catch fishing behind someone, the Gills just cannot stand that TM being slow twitched in their faces!

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There are a few XXUL rods out there. Daiwa Iprimi is one...but while it is a beautiful rod it is dead. I owned one that was UL and it had no sensitivity at all compared to these other rods we use...but then again at its price point and with only an 85 percent graphite content that is to be expected. The Palms Egeria XUL I have is softer but it is 64 in length....plus I have to use the Mebaru Night Game PE line to help with the sensitivity. While it is more sensitive than the Iprimi rods it in no way compares to the Banshee. Major Craft has alway been known to rate their rods slower than what other manufacturers do....a fast action Major Craft would be considered X Fast to the other manufacturers...at least this has come from all my research. Allsorts was the first one to bring that to my attention and I consider him to be the the man when it comes to info on the JDM rods. What I have learned from the purchasing of area trout rods is to get the sensitivity you have to go high end. Maybe Chris or RedEar Hoosier can speak about the TenRyu area rods...I would love to hear about them. I am not sure I would want an XXUL area trout rod no matter the brand....Chris can also speak to that as he has used one. If EMS ever gets back to going, and I can find a seller, I hope try the Graphiteleader Super Bellezza. I am very excited about the Banshee XUL. To have the action it does and to be uber sensitive is fantastic. While the other Banshee rods have given me a ton of fun with bluegill this is another level for the fun factor....and you do not have to give up sensitivity. For those of us who love to bluegill fish...and are into JDM rods....a quality XUL should be high on the list.

Regards
08-04-2020, 09:39 AM
trypman1

YES, life is good!
08-04-2020, 11:08 AM
z520tom

1 Attachment(s)

This is the definition of rod action for most US rod and blank manufacturers and custom rod builders. I might add that a rods action and it's power rating are not the same thing. Attachment 381636

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08-04-2020, 11:27 AM
Alphahawk

Quote:

Originally Posted by z520tom

This is the definition of rod action for most US rod and blank manufacturers and custom rod builders. I might add that a rods action and it's power rating are not the same thing. Attachment 381636

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Very much aware of that.....and I’m not discussing US market rods in this thread. When it comes to JDM Ajing....Mebaru....and area trout rods....that chart will not apply. Japanese UL rods in the categories I mentioned are much faster than US rods. One of those JDM rods mentioned rated fast would be considered xtra fast by US rod standards. If you’re going to discuss JDM UL rods you’re going to have to throw out comparing them to US rods. It just does not apply.

Regards

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08-04-2020, 05:30 PM
z520tom

Not comparing them to US rods. I'm comparing them to fishing rods. I've watched your videos and those of other people fishing JDM rods. However the Japanese manufactures call their rods actions is fine. By the definition of action that I showed it appears to me they are extra-fast. If I had one I would perform the objective test to determine this. If you have issues with objectively comparing rods wherever their made with standardized measuring methods so be it. An apple grown in the US and one grown in Japan is still an apple. The rod action definition I listed came from a very respected website that has contributors from all over the world. It has nothing whatsoever to do with a Japanese or a US product. If I ever get one at my house I have the set up to do it. Be very interesting to me. Enjoyed your comment. Looking forward to more!

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08-04-2020, 05:50 PM
BobC

Sounds like it was a real nice trip Randy. Thanks for the JDM info.
08-04-2020, 06:09 PM
Alphahawk

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobC

Sounds like it was a real nice trip Randy. Thanks for the JDM info.

Thanks Bob.....won't be long before the fall stack up of bluegill below the dam at Nickajack will be on. Really pumped to use this rod on them.

Regards
08-05-2020, 11:31 AM
SKs Crappie Catching Adventures

Nice catches and a consistent average size fish bite is better than a slow big fish bite.....Stay At'um
08-09-2020, 05:58 AM
Ketchn

give me action and bites , native bluegill that size are scrappers .
dont know about all the rod chatter but it looks like you ketched a mess of them to me :cheers2
08-09-2020, 07:45 AM
VaCrappieMan

Looks like a good time was had for sure! Did you get a chance to try out your new paddle tails?
08-14-2020, 01:53 AM
LVSpinfisher1

1 Attachment(s)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alphahawk

I’ve been fishing VFW Lake on a regular basis since 2004. I kept it up until 2015. I then moved and the drive turned into 1.5 hours one way where in 2004 it was a 39 mile drive. So being nostalgic and armed with a new XUL area trout rod I hit the road. On arrival the area I wanted to fish was occupied....so I waited them out. The lake is now heavily pressured in the spring and the fish quality has suffered. Years back 8-9 inch fish were the norm. Now the norm is closer to 7 inches and in heat of summer they can be hard to come buy. There is a transition area I was casting to.....water goes from 2 feet to 4 feet. Bluegill have always years past been on that spot. Today was like old times. In the 2 hours I fished that spot caught 40 Gills....6-7 inch fish. Certainly not the best bluegill but with the XUL it was a blast. Used a Sow Bug colored Trout Magnet on a Daiwa Gekkabijin 1 gram jig head...line was 2.3# test ester mono.....reel was Daiwa Presso Limited 1025. The next few days will be back at Nickajack chasing crappie and KY bass. Life is good!

Regards

Attachment 381577 Attachment 381578 Attachment 381579 Attachment 381580 Attachment 381581 Attachment 381582 Attachment 381583 Attachment 381584

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Attachment 382322 another testament to how much fun these XUL rods can be: Majorcraft Trapara 56xul.

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08-14-2020, 01:56 AM
LVSpinfisher1

1 Attachment(s)

I second to the fun factor of Extra ultralight rod! Attachment 382323

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