Looks like preorders just opened up for the Kokoro 400 and 320.
I got a chance to talk to Brent (the owner) at a trade show last spring and these rods came up. He was really excited to be able to work more with the Korean factory that made the Kokoro 360. I got to test out 360 at the time and was very impressed, easily comparable to my Oni rods.
I agree, I also tried out the 360 at a trade show and it casts really smoothly. Feels as nice as any of my Japanese rods, softer than a TB40 but seemed a bit stiffer than an oni rod, but very close to that action. I only played with it in the show though so I haven’t really given a good test.
I’ve preordered the 400, fingers crossed with the difficulties getting Japanese parts and rods right now. Dragon Tail is making some great stuff, I hope they get the support for everyone as they deserve.
Dragontail has come a long way. I bought my daughter one of their rods 7 years ago. It is a functional but not a quality tool. Hearing these details sounds like they turned the corner, which is great for them and us.
The Kokoro 320 has become my default choice for fishing local SoCal creeks. It’s light, sensitive, and just the right length for brushy-but-castable creeks. Locally, I choose a different rod for only special conditions: nymphing; very small fish, and the rare wide-open reaches.
My lack of typing skills are legendary.