First Impression Major Craft Fine Tail Stream Rod.

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12-13-2021, 06:46 PM
Alphahawk

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First Impression Major Craft Fine Tail Stream Rod.

Major Craft has always been known for giving great value for price paid. I have never been disappointed in a Major Craft product and this rod is no exception. It is the 5’ 1” Fine Tail Steam rod designed for using heavy minnows….a method that I am totally unfamiliar with but hope to learn as I also bought some Eden Heavy Minnows. First let’s get the lures out of the way. They look great and I intend to remove the trebles before using. I am going to cut them off instead of removing with split ring pliers. When I tell you the hooks are sharp they are scary sharp and I sure don’t need one of those buried in my hand. At 7 bucks a pop not bad compared to many other trout minnows out of Japan. Of course will have to see how they perform before making judgement. The rod is very rigid designed to really use strong jerks and twitches when fishing these minnows. Today I used a 5 gram spoon and caught 45 trout in a little less than 2 hours. Hook sets are very quick with this rod. The rod weight is 2.5 ounces and has 8 guides. The guide frames are Fuji stainless with Fuji Sic-s inserts. I was very surprised at just how sensitive this rod is. The reel seat is wood along with wood trim rings with a rubber butt cap. The blank up to about the first 18 inches from the reel seat is a forest green. The rest of the blank is matte gray. No micro guides on this rod. This rod is designed to land big trout in streams. I am sure it can handle that fine. The lure rating is 2-10 gram. Line rating is 3-8. It was an absolute pleasure to use this rod in the current. It is the shortest rod I own and it sure made for ease of use around the trees on the bank. I have a lot of very light trout spoons under 2 grams and not sure just how far this rod might cast those 1 gram spoons. I was very surprised how well it cast the 5 gram, cast it almost as far as the 6 foot TenRyu. This rod is not a TenRyu…….but in my opinion it is sure worth the price paid. I like it so much I am ordering another in UL power. I hope to get back tomorrow to use it some more and to try these minnows. Life is good and getting better!

Regards
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12-13-2021, 06:55 PM
DockShootinJack

That is a pretty rod. Sounds like it fishes well also
12-13-2021, 07:08 PM
gillchaser999

Nice looking rod .
I’ve have a few YoZuri minnows in that size size and shape .
I didn’t care for them for still water fishing but with their weight , I bet they’d work better in current .
12-13-2021, 07:27 PM
skeetbum

You’re always taking me to school Randy. Thanks again.

Great looking rod, but pretty is as pretty does. Sounds like it’s doing a fine job for you.
12-13-2021, 07:32 PM
BuckeyeCrappie

Great report!
12-13-2021, 07:42 PM
BobC

Great report as always and thanks for the ride along. Some fine looking trout there!
Bob
12-13-2021, 10:08 PM
deathb4disco

So many rods, so little time …. :)
12-14-2021, 05:34 PM
Alphahawk

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Quote:

Originally Posted by deathb4disco

So many rods, so little time …. :)

So true...and when you try to find what you are looking for it is zero balance everywhere. But this latest acquisition is working out well...did me good again today.

Regards
12-14-2021, 08:59 PM
VaCrappieMan

Any pics of the guides on the rod? Similar to the size of the Tenyru rod?
12-14-2021, 09:55 PM
Alphahawk

Quote:

Originally Posted by VaCrappieMan

Any pics of the guides on the rod? Similar to the size of the Tenyru rod?

I could take a pic but I don’t think you could tell too much by it. A little smaller than the guides on the TenRyu but not by much. I use a leader with the Infinity line. The knot goes though the guides nicely. I’m casting the 5 gram spoons a country mile with this rod. I think the rating on this rod is spot on. I think it will cast a 2 gram just fine but any lower I don’t think would work well.

Regards

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12-15-2021, 03:50 PM
StantheMan2567

Looks like you are putting the "Trout" back in Trout Magnet Man. Hey fish for what bites and have fun doing it. Nice little rod, I like sticking the fish with a stout rod and a good braid, makes for an enjoyable day. Nickajack fish are pouting I bet, need some lip therapy they do as well.
12-19-2021, 11:24 AM
Alphahawk

3 Attachment(s)

Thanks for the comments. This rod continues to be a ball to fish with. Have been trout fishing everyday for past 3 weeks. Am catching several dozen trout each visit. The rod allows me to cast in places the 6 footer would be awkward to use. All of my trout have come on spoons. I have tried the Eden heavy sinking minnow without a single hit. Not sure why that is…..I could be fishing it wrong. But the lure looks great and has a lot of vibration. I will continue to use it. I changed out the trebles with a single micro barb hook. I was thinking that this minnow will be a good choice to fish for the white bass below Nickajack…if I can pull myself away from the trout fishing….which will be hard to do. Looking forward to getting the the 4’ 10” glass UL. Here are a few pics of what I’m catching lately.

Regards

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12-19-2021, 12:03 PM
Hatchetjack

That is a gorgeous reel seat on that rod, Randy…..the trout look pretty good as well!
12-19-2021, 12:32 PM
BobC

Nice photos and report, Randy.
Bob