Headed down the Rabbit hole

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10-17-2022, 04:52 PM
gillchaser999

Headed down the Rabbit hole

I ordered a 5’6” Daiwa Gekkabijin Ajing Rod last week, which I’m still waiting on .
While waiting , I ordered a 5’ Daiwa Trout X AT N XUL , which I got today .
It’s a super nice rod IMO , for an entry level rod .
While waiting for that one , I’d been looking at a Major Craft Trout Finetail.
I decided to bite the bullet and order a Major Craft .
I order the Finetail FSX-502UL . I wanted the XUL but didn’t see it offered at the dealer I bought from . I think this one will serve me well for the type of fishing I do .
Can’t wait to get them all and give them a proper sliming.
10-17-2022, 06:03 PM
DockShootinJack

Look forward to hearing your impressions of them
10-17-2022, 07:01 PM
RVG Fishing

Enjoy the new equipment !
10-17-2022, 07:32 PM
gillchaser999

I cancelled the Major Craft for now .
I need to try out the others first .
10-17-2022, 07:34 PM
Alphahawk

I have 3 of the FSX series rods. I use them for trout fishing. Caught a lot of trout on them in past 6 weeks. They give me fun with the smaller fish yet are made to handle that big boy in current.

Regards
10-17-2022, 07:55 PM
gillchaser999

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alphahawk

I have 3 of the FSX series rods. I use them for trout fishing. Caught a lot of trout on them in past 6 weeks. They give me fun with the smaller fish yet are made to handle that big boy in current.

Regards

Thanks Randy
I really wanted a super Ultralight.
Most of my fishing is for small fish to micros sometimes .
I’ll give the Daiwas a try and do some more looking
10-17-2022, 08:10 PM
Alphahawk

Quote:

Originally Posted by gillchaser999

Thanks Randy
I really wanted a super Ultralight.
Most of my fishing is for small fish to micros sometimes .
Iâ€™ll give the Daiwas a try and do some more looking

You know I don’t know when all this supply chain mess will be over with. It’s still hard to source gear. I love my SUL rods but fishing this river out here I have to be careful. The big browns are starting to group up for the fall spawn and have been told to expect a lot of trout in the 3-5 pound range. Those FSX rods will do nicely for that though. The cast before I caught that nice brown yesterday a beautiful bluegill chased my spoon a ways in this gin clear water. First bluegill I’ve seen here…sure had great colors.

Regards

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10-18-2022, 08:30 PM
skeetbum

I get scared when I think about starting down that hole. I’m not that strong.
10-18-2022, 09:19 PM
gillchaser999

Quote:

Originally Posted by skeetbum

I get scared when I think about starting down that hole. I’m not that strong.

Right now , I’m staying with the entry level stuff . <$100 .
I couldn’t find anything domestic that fit what I needed .
The XUL stuff makes catching the little ones even more fun .
10-18-2022, 11:42 PM
LVSpinfisher1

2 Attachment(s)

Gillchaser, the rabbit hole had been a very positive journey for me. Don’t be afraid to explore, cause it needed be expensive! If you don’t mind me recommending another personal favorite: Abu Mass beat 3rd generation XUL as well. It’s within your $100 range. You can’t get more UL than point 8 of a pound line rating. Tight line!
Attachment 439407 Attachment 439408

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10-19-2022, 06:21 PM
gillchaser999

My 5’6” Daiwa Gekkabijin Ajing Rod arrived this evening.
Interesting rod . Very lightweight.
Solid tip , looks to be an xtra-fast action . First 10” or so super flexible then it seems to stiffened a little through the first third of the rod .
Should zip out light jigs and should be pretty sensitive for jigging and swimming lightweight jigs .
Sounds good .
Supposed to have our first freezing temps tonight .
I’ll have to fish in some fairly cool temps in the morning as I’m obligated from noon on , the rest of the day .
If I don’t get a chance tomorrow, I’ll be out there on Friday getting it’s first fish slime on it .
10-19-2022, 06:24 PM
gillchaser999

Quote:

Originally Posted by LVSpinfisher1

Gillchaser, the rabbit hole had been a very positive journey for me. Don’t be afraid to explore, cause it needed be expensive! If you don’t mind me recommending another personal favorite: Abu Mass beat 3rd generation XUL as well. It’s within your $100 range. You can’t get more UL than point 8 of a pound line rating. Tight line!
Attachment 439407 Attachment 439408

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I looked up the Abu Mass and it seems to be only available in 6’ or longer .
I do have some 6’ and longer rods , but prefer under 5’6” .
Who know if I find a good deal on one , I may order one just to try it out .
10-19-2022, 08:47 PM
Alphahawk

2 Attachment(s)

Quote:

Originally Posted by gillchaser999

My 5â€™6â€ Daiwa Gekkabijin Ajing Rod arrived this evening.
Interesting rod . Very lightweight.
Solid tip , looks to be an xtra-fast action . First 10â€ or so super flexible then it seems to stiffened a little through the first third of the rod .
Should zip out light jigs and should be pretty sensitive for jigging and swimming lightweight jigs .
Sounds good .
Supposed to have our first freezing temps tonight .
Iâ€™ll have to fish in some fairly cool temps in the morning as Iâ€™m obligated from noon on , the rest of the day .
If I donâ€™t get a chance tomorrow, Iâ€™ll be out there on Friday getting itâ€™s first fish slime on it .

About 10 years back one of my first rods I ordered was a 7 foot Daiwa Gekkabijin Ajing rod. When I unpacked it I thought what am I going to do with this thing. The most rigid UL rod I had ever seen…..including to this day. I had it strung up with SOS 2# test….which breaks at 3.75 pounds. I took it down to the Pig Pen off the bank below Pickwick Dam. On back to back casts I had a 21 inch Smallie and then a 26 inch carp. I had that rod doubled into a U. I thought it would surely break…..but it did not. They make a good rod.

RegardsAttachment 439488 Attachment 439489

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10-19-2022, 09:22 PM
gillchaser999

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alphahawk

About 10 years back one of my first rods I ordered was a 7 foot Daiwa Gekkabijin Ajing rod. When I unpacked it I thought what am I going to do with this thing. The most rigid UL rod I had ever seen…..including to this day. I had it strung up with SOS 2# test….which breaks at 3.75 pounds. I took it down to the Pig Pen off the bank below Pickwick Dam. On back to back casts I had a 21 inch Smallie and then a 26 inch carp. I had that rod doubled into a U. I thought it would surely break…..but it did not. They make a good rod.

RegardsAttachment 439488 Attachment 439489

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Not one for I would use jigging for small green sunfish, but should be great for for swimming jigs for larger fish . Especially if I run into a few bass .
10-20-2022, 07:51 AM
Alphahawk

Quote:

Originally Posted by gillchaser999

Not one for I would use jigging for small green sunfish, but should be great for for swimming jigs for larger fish . Especially if I run into a few bass .

Not sure how much you have read about Ajing rods. I was flabbergasted to find out years ago that these rods are used to catch small fish….horse mackerel. One needs a sensitive rod to detect the bite and a very fast action to get a hook set. My understanding is the Japanese love to eat them and love the challenge these small fish give them to catch.

Regards

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10-20-2022, 08:07 AM
gillchaser999

The fish I’ve seen in the pictures are about 6-9” long . Look like a small mackerel. The green sunfish I’m catching are for the most part, less than half that size . With a 6-7” one occasionally caught .
It’s similar to ice fishing, except I’m jigging around the rocks . The greenie darts out from under the rocks and back quickly, so this maybe the perfect rod .
I’ll give a report on Monday if the water level at the lake is still high enough to cover the rip rap .
10-20-2022, 12:46 PM
BobC

Nice looking setup!
Bob
10-20-2022, 06:46 PM
gillchaser999

Two more Daiwa Trout rods showed up today . The 4’6” XUL and a 5’6” XUL .
All I can saw is wow !
Paired both with a size 500 Piscifun Carbon X , that weigh 5.1oz . Spooled with 3# P-Line Flouroclear .
All four will be traveling to the Monday meetup this coming Monday .
Hope to have them all slimed by then . :)
10-20-2022, 07:01 PM
Takeum

Pictures,, pictures. Yea!
10-21-2022, 01:44 PM
gillchaser999

1 Attachment(s)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Takeum

Pictures,, pictures. Yea!

As requested, the top one is the 5’6” Daiwa 21 Trout X AT 56XUL/N , the bottom one is the 4’6” Daiwa 21 Trout X AT 46XUL/N .
Both paired with Piscifun Carbon X 500 reels .
From what I understand the 5’6” and 6’ have spit grips , all of the shorter ones have the red medal grip .
Both seem to be plenty sensitive.
I give the casting ability edge to the 5’6” , but only around five feet extra distance . Accuracy seems a little better with the longer rod , mainly because don’t have to cast as hard with the longer rod.
Both were bargains IMO .
10-21-2022, 01:51 PM
gillchaser999

3 Attachment(s)

I took my two new Daiwa rods sliming this morning.
First to my green sunfish hole , but the water has gotten so low , almost all of the rocks were high and dry .
Made walking along the shore difficult too .
Manage to catch one small warmouth on the 4’6” rod .
Then i packed up and drove to the creek .
Water was low there too , but I did manage to catch a couple of shellcrackers, one on each rod , and a couple of small gills on the longer rod .
Lot of casts to catch four fish .
But it was a beautiful morning.
10-21-2022, 03:55 PM
moonrunner

No comments on those new sticks? Nice fish.
10-21-2022, 05:48 PM
gillchaser999

Quote:

Originally Posted by moonrunner

No comments on those new sticks? Nice fish.

I posted a picture of both and talked about them in the post just before the one with fish .
They performed great , just needed more fish to test them on . :) .
I liked the longer one just a little more than the short one , and being just 4’6” , I wasn’t surprised.
But the short one is a fun stick and would be a great stream rod .
That first shellcracker was fun on the short rod , bent full length and with at least three nice drag pulling runs .
10-22-2022, 06:27 AM
BobC

Well, you truly have fallen down the rabbit hole now! Congrats on a good “sliming”!
Bob
10-22-2022, 12:44 PM
gillchaser999

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobC

Well, you truly have fallen down the rabbit hole now! Congrats on a good “sliming”!
Bob

I think I found the bottom of the rabbit hole Bob , and think I’m finished buying , for now .
These will keep me busy during late fall and winter season.
Spent less than some do on one rod .
10-22-2022, 01:15 PM
LVSpinfisher1

Quote:

Originally Posted by gillchaser999

I think I found the bottom of the rabbit hole Bob , and think I’m finished buying , for now .
These will keep me busy during late fall and winter season.
Spent less than some do on one rod .

I’m done with JDM rods as well, for now, especially the Light game variety. However in order to fish outside of the [emoji266] desert, Gillchaser, I’m picking up couple UL telescopic out of Japan lately for those opportunities arise around the holidays visiting families.

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