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I'm looking for info about UL or XUL travel rods.
I recently bought an Abu garcia Diplomat X 66UL Spinning Rod
Its listed as UL, however it seems to be more of a Light at best, compared to the JDM UL rods I have. It also weighs right around 100g, for the money it's a decent rod, I'd just like a travel rod that makes a 5 in blue gill feel like bigger fish.
Any one have any experience with the Presso ST specifically looking at the 60ul-4 6ft 4 piece
DAIWA : Presso ST - Web site
I don’t know much about the rods you’re asking about. I like the looks of the two piece and have heard of disappointment with some of the 4 and more piece rods. Just saying to do some homework and be sure.
I am not in the market for a travel rod. But if I was I would for sure get it out of Japan. As I’m sure you know travel rods are in a big demand there. Lot of folks use them, unlike here where only few use these type rods. Here is one I’ve had my eye on and yes I know it is extreme but if I had the extra dollars I would have already gotten it. Just thought I would show this to folks as to just what a price range of travel rods they have.
PLAT/varivas graphite works trd 411fs wrx hyper trout twitcher spinning free shipping/rod-Fishing Tackle Store-en
Regards
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Pretty rod , but a little out of my price range . This is more my rangeQuote:
Originally Posted by Alphahawk
Amazon.com
Out of mine too really. I have been looking at the Varivas 2 piece rods for a long time though. When I found one I liked and tried to buy it, it was always sold out and then no longer in production. I follow their rods pretty close but can’t seem to get one. Sure is nice to drool though?Quote:
Originally Posted by gillchaser999
Regards
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Getting paralysis by analysis looking at different rods. Leading contenders right now are below.
I believe the first two are native or stream rods.
Major Craft Trekking and Traveler FTX-46/50UL $160
New FinetailTREKKING & TRAVELER series | Major Craft Web
Daiwa Silver Creek Stream Twitcher 51UL-4 $270
DAIWA : Silver Creek Stream Twitcher - Web site
I believe the Presso ST is more of an Area trout rod. $205
Diawa Presso ST. In the Presso ST I'm leaning towards the 53XUL-4, I forsee catching mostly small sunfish, but still considering the 60UL-4
DAIWA : Presso ST - Web site
Most of the rods I have are Area trout rods, and I like them. Considering more of a Stream rod to mix it up some. Plus I may do some river/stream trout fishing when not at home.
I've considered the Major Craft Benkei BIS-644UL. $110 to $125. It's marketed as a BFS rod, which make me a little Leary if it is really UL rated.
BENKEI PACK ROD | Major Craft Web
I just don't know if a stream rod would still be fun for smaller sunfish/bluegill. All opinions and ideas welcome and appreciated.
Made a decision, ordered the Daiwa Presso ST 53XUL-4 travel rod from Ebay today. Ended up being a little cheaper than JDM tackle when shipping was added.
After all the looking I've done I was wanting to try a Stream model rod also. I was looking for the Major Craft Major Craft Trekking and Traveler FTX-46/50UL JDM tackle was the only place I found it in stock for $160, One of my searches lead me to Amazon today, the link ended up being the Glass series of the rod, not ready to try a glass rod yet. I did come across the 2-piece version of the Finetail stream rod FSX-462UL for $111.
Whatched several videos on Alphahawks youtube channel about his stream rods and placed the order. If I like it enough, then I'll look for the travel rod.
The rod is listed as below if anyone else is interested at that price. It says various but only the 4.6ft is there.
Major Craft FINETAIL X Mountain Stream Model Spinning Various
That’s a nice looking rod .Quote:
Originally Posted by zekepa
I look forward to your review .
I have a couple of 4’6” UL rods . I need to get them out and get use to using them .
I like 5’ rods but today I went from using a 6’3” rod to a five footer and it took a few casts to get familiar with it . Feels odd after casting a longer rod .
Good choice. Took me a long time to come on board with a stream rod. But I’m glad I have them now. They just do a better job of handling fish in current. I love Area trout rods but they just don’t do well in current. I’ll be fishing the Little Red a lot on no flow and will have plenty of time to use the area rods. Heard the MC Trekking rod is good.
Regards
Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com
I broke a leader on a 6’6” rod I was using 2 weeks ago and picked up the only rod that already had a jig like the one broken off already tied, but it was 5’. Took me a little while to adjust. I haven’t used a 4’6” in lots of years. Hope it’s the right one for you and have fun with it.
Bout the only time I use anything in the 5’ range is when I’m fishing mountain trout streams. I just have gotten so used to the 6’6” rod length or so. That’s a cool looking rod and if I were to ever get a travel rod it would likely be in the 5’ range so I could toss it in a backpack and hike to some remote high elevation streams to target brook trout. Keep us updated on your thoughts about your new travel rod.
The rod arrived today. Daiwa Presso ST 53XUL-4. I fished the rod in my pond a little bit in between rain showers. Ended up catching around a dozen fish. First cast gave me a 6 inch yellow perch, a couple more cast and it started raining. After supper it stopped raining, I went back for about a half hour. Caught blue gill/sunfish, I hooked an apx 10 in LMB but it came off on a jump a couple feet from the bank.
Pretty sure this rod is exactly what I was looking for in a travel rod, it has good sensitivity, and is light weight. The only disappointment so far is the travel case it came with. It's just light weight nylon pouch with no padding, it doesn't even separate slots for the different sections.Attachment 466921
I use a travel rod as my everyday rod. Just makes my gear easier to transport to any local fishing spots, and to take on vacation.
I grew up fishing glass, so I got Graywolf 544 UL spinning rod. It's 5'4" (I only bank fish lakes, ponds and rivers, so I never know how much bank cover there will be), 2-6 grams, Uni E glass. It's 4 piece and packs into an 18 inch aluminum rod tube.
Graywolf 544 UL Spinning rod | graywolf-fly-rods
About the case, I’m no seamstress but I have sewn a few flannel wrappers to go in travel tubes for fly rods. Pretty easy and they work real good. I have found a couple of metal rod tubes at yard sales and flea markets, and schedule 20 PVC (sprinkler stuff) also works in a pinch.
Congrats, Z! Nice looking rod and a true Xul at that taking max 3lb test. Adventures await...lol. Cheers!Quote:
Originally Posted by zekepa
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I like the specs and looks of that rod. Thanks for sharing.
Do I see another rod in your future?Quote:
Originally Posted by gillchaser999
If I were to run across one at a good deal .
I just picked up another 5’6” St Croix Triumph that was delivered today.
Ive enjoyed fishing the two piece 5’6”’St Croix rods . They are as close to a JDM XUL Ive found .
They toss light lures well .
I'm not sure how much Gill would like the XUL Presso, Both this one the ST and the Presso AGS have a SLOW parabolic action. It seems his SC rods are Fast action rods.
I think slow action is what kind of threw me off on the AGS playing with it at my pond, all of my other JDM rods have faster actions. It wasn't till I spent most of the day fishing with the Presso AGS that I realized it was a nicer rod than I thought at first. i_fish (Victor) on you tube has a couple of videos on the Presso AGS, where you can see just how slow and parabolic the action of the XUL AGS rod is. I did some comparing of the ST and the AGS actions the day I got it while it was raining, the actions are almost identical.
I own a 5’6” Daiwa Iprimi XXUL and a 4 piece travel , 6’ Iprimi XUL .Quote:
Originally Posted by zekepa
With both of these I’ve had to “learn them” to be able to fish them .
When I take these out , I need to leave my others at home . They fish better with baits 1g-2g . Something I can lob cast .
The 5’6” St Croix two piece ultralight rods , whether it’s the Triumph, the Premier, and or an Avid , all three have the feel the same and have the same action .
They are different from a 5 foot SC UL or a 6 foot UL SC . The entire top piece bends parabolic . It’s the closest to a JDM XUL I’ve found .
They are the best casters I own for casting tiny lures .
Yes I am a fan of St Croix rods . Just because they say fast on them doesn’t necessarily translate over to how the rod fishes .
Interesting, I haven't really looked at SC rods. I looked at a Triumph travel rod at sportsman warehouse but it wasn't an ultra light, think it may have been a ML. I have drill this weekend so when I get to Basspro/Cabelas I'll have a look at the SC in the UL if they have them in stock. Not really in the market, more curiosity than anything.
I own a couple of the SC UL travel rods . The only section that’s Ul is the tip .Quote:
Originally Posted by zekepa
Rest is maybe light .
I’ve caught a ton of fish on my Travel SC UL . One stays in my vehicle all the time . Makes a good dependable backup rod .
I’ve never understood why a company that noted for their sectional flyrods , never built a nice four piece UL Rod .
I think there’s a market for one .