As I mentioned above, I am considering a smaller rod (than my current Daiwa Keiryu rod) for fishing the Gunpowder Falls River (a tailwater river in Maryland with some native trout as well as stocked trout) and its tributaries, as well as similar rivers and streams in the Maryland-Virginia area.
I am torn between the Wasabi 36, the Oni Type III, and the Nissin Air Stage Fujiryu 5:5 (probably in a 360cm length). Does anyone have thoughts, or can perhaps steer me in the right direction?
Iād also consider the tenkarabum traveler 39 (zoom rod). Gunpowder is big enough to use a 390cm rod most anywhere, but there are plenty of smaller streams (particularly the small streams in Shenandoah Natāl Park) where even a 360 cm rod is going to be tough to fish.
Thatās a good point Mike. Iāve started thinking about the Tenkarabum Traveler 27 for the small streams, and just using my Daiwa for the main rivers, either at the 38 or 43 setting.
The type 3 is very much a 5:5 and 340 length. Fantastic rod but entirely different than the wasabi. The wasabi is stiffer yet feels lighter at hand. Really you canāt go wrong with any of those rods just remember they are apples and oranges in comparison. What is the typical size fish you expect to catch?
As hard as it is to say I think at this point of my tenkara journey the Wasabi is me favorite rod. With the Oni 1 neck and neck.
@Sparrow , Iām considering the Wasabi 360 as a replacement for my Try 360 and I just noticed you own a Try 360, how do they compare ?
I have and fished both. Both are very good rods, but the Wasabi is a higher level of quality. The Try 360 is a more mid flex rod (even though itās categorized as a 6:4) . The Wasabi 360 is more tip flex (a true 7:3). The Try 360 has a Rod Flex Index of 3.6. The Wasabiās RFI is 4.5, so itās a āfasterā rod.
Thanks @tvdavisid I had religiously read your reviews. Your site is a tremendous ressource to choose rods when you canāt try them.
I donāt have much experience with rods but I had a 20 pennies/5.5/6:4 before and I didnāt like how stiff it was. I prefer feeling the rod load when I cast, flexing even with smaller fish. I like a softer, gentle contact with fish if that makes sense. The Try 360 does that well but it can be difficult to handle fish above 11 inches in tight quarters, which has happened quite a bit lately, so Iām looking at getting myself a slightly stiffer 6:4 (And preferably a light and premium one). The Wasabi was a contender but if you say itās a proper 7:3 and feels faster than 4.5 then it could be too fast. I fish the same kind of streams as you do and some larger high gradient, bouldery type ones. 3.5 line most of the time and flies with the smallest available beadhead, 2.3 mm.
(And also,Iāve had the thought come to mind a few times : in case youād like turn your CCS/RFI spreadsheet into a google docs, which could be handier to browse and edit, Iād gladly help).
Tom describes it perfectly. Generally I prefer full flex rods but in the case of the wasabi it is an absolute wonderful casting rod, with excellent sensitivity. The build quality is unmatched out of the rods I own. The try 360 is a good rod, just not in the same league.
Here is a sortable and searchable format provided by Mike Agneta of Tenkara Angler. Does it seem easier to use?
Also, what you said, ābut it can be difficult to handle fish above 11 inches in tight quartersā is a real quandary with rods. I too enjoy a rod that flexes and loads easily, but those rods have a harder time controlling larger fish in tight quarters or fast water (at least for me). Since most of my water is higher gradient and I fish a lot of tighter/brushy creeks, I feel more comfortable with a rod that is a little āfasterā, as I have better control over larger trout. Itās the compromise that I have had to come to with my waters. If I fished mostly meadow streams then Iād go with a rod having an RFI of 3.3-3.9. As it is, I feel most comfortable with a rod having an RFI of around 5 when Iām fishing higher gardient/faster streams. This very issue makes the question, āwhat is your favorite rodā more of an insight into what kind of waters the angler fishes than on what brand the angler prefers.
That helps, thanks
Thanks for articulating that idea, itās nice to go beyond the āiām a slow/mid/fast rod guyā. Iām going to let those thoughts sink in and see if I get a Wasabi (or perhaps a Daiwa Master L LL36). Will keep you guys posted.
In addition to the chart Tom linked to on Tenkara Angler, it does exist as a Google doc as wellā¦ Thatās what drives the embedded chart in the website. (I think the settings are correct for sharing):
Received the Wasabi 36 last week and managed to go fishing with it on the same day. Warm weather, deep in a gorge, clear water and a dozen of fish, just how I like it. The rod ticks the boxes I expected : super light, sensitive, accurate casting and more control over the fish than my Try 360. I might write my detailed impressions further down the road, but in the meantime, a couple of photos.
@Olivier, Iād love to hear more of your thoughts when you get the time. I contacted them just over a month ago and they said they werenāt shipping to the U.S. at the time. I am glad to hear they are shipping again. Did they use Japan Post or DHL or something else?
Has anyone here tried the 320 version?
Ok, Iāll fish it a bit more and will let you know. They shipped the rod via EMS and it took 10 days to arrive here in France.
Ah, France. That might make a difference. I will have to contact them to see if they can ship to the U.S. yet.
Does anyone have the Wasabi 40? Iām wondering how it compares with other rods. My TenkaraBum 40 is the rod Iāve fished with more than any other and I persistently go back to it. Iām thinking Iād really like the Anglo in that same length. Iām guessing it may perform similarly to the 36.
I have one. Itās a wonderful rod, but itās more tip heavy than the TB40. It is also more tip flex than the TB40. These are just subjective observations. I havenāt formally measured the RFI or rotational moment.
Heard from them today. They still canāt ship anything to the U.Sā¦ They offered to set aside a rod for me but I hesitate not knowing if it will be a month or a year. I wish I could convince them to ship via DHL. I have received several items from Japan in the last couple of months delivered by them.
