coming up!

I appreciate the comment, and the patronage of my tackle shop!

dont transport them hanging off the bed of your truck

what a way with words : )

thank you sir, i do appreciate that, your comments is not for nothing!

i have NO power!

thank you sir - i really appreciate that, and i appreciate that you took a minute to type it, as not many people do

Good info!

thank you

this rod can do ANYTTHING! From dropshot to float fishing to twitching to ANYTHING

If you are happy, u have the right equipment. But i still recomment trying some of the rods and reels from my recommendations. U can actually beat that with less money

Thanks Tony. Ur a joy to have aboard.

I already did such video, it is called Rod Action...

Thank you sir, i appreciate that!

now u not alone

thanks D!

thank you sir - i really appreciate that!

Let me tell you, other than the price, i have nothing bad to say about the LEP rod! Don't feel bad about that purchase! Even the action is great - there ain't no tip wobble in that rod, and the guides are top shelf! Price is the only reason i don't recommend it. But i sold 5 or 6 of my JDM rods, i even sold the Corto that everyone was raving about, but i haven't sold my LEP, and don't plan on selling it, because i love they way it feels and love how universal it is and that i am not afraid it will snap from flipping a bluegill..

There is one dude who can tolerate bulgarian accent!

Which model did u get and what did u have before that was a noodle?

i remember i paid $3000 for my first computer and it was crap.. Technology has made things much cheaper despite government printing money like insane

cheers! : )

thank you sir! See u around!

unbeatable combo under $100!

your combo is literally unbeatable for $100

@@ifishcatfishhi sir. I took your recommendations but I am a little confused by amazon. Could you tell me what number of sections were you talking about when you referred to the first 3 rods? Daiwa presso, Okuma Sst and Shimano. 4? 2?

@@jeanvaljean1475 Don't reply to other people's comments to ask your own question. It's rude. I reply to all questions regardless. Presso is 2 piece, Okuma SST is 1 piece, Shimanos are always 2 pieces

thank you sir!

been sayin...

Nothing wrong with the 7'1, especially if from the bank!! Will easily beat anything in USA, including Legend Elite Panfish..

these are employees of the US distributor of Daiwa. If you talk to real daiwa employees from Japan, they all know that.. But the US distributors of these japanese companies just don't care to learn anything..

Nice rod but seems very bassy...

always fix float if u can! Only when u can't reach the fish go slip.. But will do a ton of videos on this when i get my floats..

@@ifishcatfish Cant wait for the floats, the jig heads have been amazing!! TY!!!!

@@Matthew_Dubroq i'm trying. The factory served me another surprise 2 weeks ago but i think we solved it. When the water warms up and they come shallow, we should be in good shape

Kastking sells chinese rods... nobody in USA knows about them. It is very hard to tell if it is a deal. It can say 30% off but be made of same blank and guides as the shakespeare micro. And it often is

@@ifishcatfish I've had good luck with a couple of their reels. The rod has Fuji guides. You might be about the blank. Idk ...it says 24 ton graphite . Maybe it will be decent. It's supposed to be here Thursday. That's pushing almost 2 weeks. I'm sure it won't be too bad for about $50. Some were cheaper and some came 1 piece . Others came with 2 different tips. I'm gullible about trying cheap things. So far I've been lucky with Kastking.

nothing wrong with that

that is a great rod, buy with no concern. General labels are wrong so often that they are not very helpful. I don't know any model of the Soare XR lineup that is too stiff, and you know i HATE stiff rods. If i tell you they are not stiff, they are not : ). If anything, all of the other rods have solid tips and are too SOFT (the tip), not too stiff. There are some other ajing rods that are stiff though.. there is no standard... but the XR tubular is great

thanks buddy.. For float fishing u are not gona find a better rod than the Presso. Even for swimbaits its not worth it. Only for twitching jigs the difference is kind of obvious.. but most people fish the jigs under a float, or they swim them.

so nice to hear feedback like that. And i keep my shakespeare too - i like watching this rod.. different things have different value... One can have nothing but respect to a $20 rod that can do everything

Absolutely! I even took time to seal the cork.

I guess 7' is not that bad after all

@@darkojovanoski3742 the 7’ is pretty good

@@darkojovanoski3742 The 7’ will not disappoint. Find myself reaching for it more than I thought I would.

thank yhou for dropping a comment

Okuma Celilo is kind of durable and strong, and u can transport in a truck.. but it has a very fat blank, full glass, very fat alconite guides, and as far as sensitivity goes, this is probably the worst rod in all of United States. Too fat and wobbly. It may still be worth the money if u fish for channel cats or something where u put it in a rod holder, cost its very strong, but this is not a rod for sensitivity or jigging of any kind

@@ifishcatfishHello, I have tho 6’6” Celilo UL and would agree that it is not sensitive. Have you tried casting micro jigs (1/32 oz) with the light version of the Shakespeare Micro? You make very informative videos. Thanks!

@@kb93063 my videos recommend only the Light power models

@@ifishcatfish Yes, I noticed that. Where I live the light version of the Shakespeare Micro is not generally available at this time. I found one online and ordered it, but the lower end of the lure rating is 1/16 oz and the micro tubes I have been using are about 1/32 oz. For $20, I’ll try it. The version of the Crappie Max rod that you suggested with the fast tip is also a little hard to find. The BPS ai went to had several versions of the Crappie Max, but none with the faster action. Maybe your videos are driving sales.😄

thank you sir!

@@ifishcatfish btw I wish the japanese manufacturers have more youtube videos so theres more information out there how their rods perform. Its hard to research the rods that most of the time for me it feels like a gamble I would like the rod action.

Major craft are good but they don't have anywhere NEAR as good a build quality as Yamaga Blue Current, even the cheaper Blue Current 3 is made in Japan and has better build than any Major craft or even Daiwa in the price range, although high end Daiwa get really good too, but for the price of the BC3 (25,000 yen!) nothing touches it imo.

@@cozab5487 u r awfully picky.. I have never seen anything wrong with quality of MajorCraft, on my own rod or anyone elses. They just don't go for most expensive blanks.. but in the mid-price range they offer so much choice and they are all at least a decent buy. I have a $100 majorcraft that i keep to this day and feels great, sharp as a razor, just not as sensitive as high end stuff.

@@ifishcatfish I actually think Majorcraft are the best value rods in the world 😂, ESPECIALLY in the Saltwater game, nothing offers what they do for the price not just performance wise but also blank, specifically the 5G range that covers anything from Ajing to Shorejigging, believe it or not they use the exact same blank material (Toray T1100G W Nanoresin) as the $500-$800 JDM rods 😂, same Fuji components, same everything, just less attention to detail in construction and less "perfected" actions if that makes sense? But exactly the same blank resin and parts as a $500+ rod... Just under those tho especially if taking Freshwater I really think the Blue currents are perfection, even the cheaper Blue and Silver model (BC3) is absolutely perfect, Majorcraft are very good but like any rod epoxy is often inaccurate guides often not centred paint not always perfect etc, not just Majorcraft but Daiwa and Shimano for this price too, but all Yamagas are made in Japan so it isn't a suprise. I wouldn't say picky as everything I describe is still very minor and perfectly acceptable for the price range, I'm more so very observant 😂.

i do this with some other things.. i find someone that looks trustworthy and just get what he recommends instead of watching 1000 videos : ) I do that with electronics and automotive stuff

the rods are too heavy. They sell 300 dollar rods with cheap guides..

thanks buddy. Hopefully its better than 2023. Last year was a roller coaster

@ifishcatfish I thought it was just me lol yeah hopefully so. Wishing you and yours the best man. Money is a little funny these days but hopefully soon I'll be able to put another order in for more bg jigheads. Love the new products 👌🏾

i see some pictures with that rod are showin on social media... some folks for sure got it..

thanks buddy! U need at least one of these before they go away or before the YEN gets expensive again. Nothing else will cast the 1 gram BG-1 like this rod!

NOPE they become overpriced for US (and European) anglers buying Local shops. The currency exchange rate can Not be blamed (as said in this video) 🤔😁

yep! Been delinquent on this. Better late than never : )

U know it!! 😂

that makes sense...

thanks buddy!

i have a review of these rods. Its a bass rod with tiny solid tip. Very soft tip and very stiff blank. I dont recommend for ultralight fishing. Its for bass anglers who want to do a little UL fishing but still want to hold a bass rod.

the 6'0 has a thinner blank and is kind of wobbly. I recommend the 6'6 to 8'0, and i recommend these rods for float fishing mostly. Otherwise look at the sensilite and okuma sst

@@ifishcatfish thanks for your reply. I also have another option: Abu Garcia Carabus Nano 0.3 - 2.5 grams. What do you think about this rod?

@@erhn123 i have a full review of this rod, if u search..

@@ifishcatfish Yes I know and I already watched them. But your version is Carabus Extreme and I'm asking about Carabus Nano. :)

Yes, please use my swimbait recommendation for spinners and spoons. The SensiliteA and the Okuma SST are very high quality rods for this price! And of course the Presso, if u can find it.

probably some label confusion.. its not even close.. If you have two pressos, u definitely need one of these, and it has very different feel and performance. Basically Presso + this rod cover everything u need

I have 3 of these rods and they are still great even today. But kind of old. But still good value. The best fenwick rod.

Im glad you think so. I feel more confident that I made a good choice.

never seen those rods, but they seem heavy. I don't recomend using braid for ultralight fishing..

Then I would get a long version of the Yamaga Blanks TZ Nano. Good for everything

i dont think Germany makes fishing tackle any more... those days are gone. But if they have a nice rod, give me a link. I am not gona go chase ghosts..

Never heard of that rod.. I dont think it is made for japanese market or i would have seen it.

@@ifishcatfishit only shows stock on a few jdm rod websites. Do you have rod recommendations for my particular scenario? Possibly a Daiwa Presso AIR AGS 61L?

@@AirsoftPresident these are not JDM websites, they are asian but not JDM. Their sales are mostly to south and southeast asia. Actually i would recommend the Yamaga Blanks for that, if you can afford it. And if u can find it as i was told that model sold out everywhere after my video. The Presso Air AGS series is more finesse and not quite powerful enough for your application. U can go on their website and pick another model from same rod with similar curve. They show you the curve. DOn't buy extra fast actions

I recommend the 6'6 Daiwa Presso u saw in this video. I also recommend the 7'0 Okuma SST. Both of these are good for spinners up to 2.5 grams. For 3 gram spinners and higher I strongly recommend the new Shimano Sensilite

@@ifishcatfish thank you very much!! Is there a reel you recommend? Or at least a size reel that you could recommend?

maybe shimano Sahara. I have a Reel Buying Guide, if u search for it. It came out just after this video

they are great for twitching because bass rods have very sharp tips... but can u really play a bluegill with the 6'6 ML Adrena?

By the way, i still use ur majorcraft rod for dropshot... such sharp tip.. even though it feels a little 'bassy' and not much flex in the handle.. but for dropshot i don't want my tip to bend when i hop...

Actually the ML is better for Blue gill since they are a harder fighting fish vs Crappies. Yes, that rod is very special and haven’t been able to locate another one that is that way. I do have the 1 piece version of it but crazy enough, they feel different.

@@NinjasGoFishing 1 piece and 2 piece always feel different. I don't think its the same blank cut in half. I can tell u 5 or 6 rods and the 1 and 2 piece always feels very different.. One day i can sell u the rod back.. to be honest with you, for me a bigger problem is packing the thing in tube and shipping and all that... thats so much work.. And I do use it for dropshot and the rod looks very nice.. I think this is like $180 rod today.

@@ifishcatfish I’ll just drive down and pick it up and do some fishing with you lol

Everywhere in this video intalk about ‘twitching’ it means i am casting it wothout a float. I have recommendations for float and for twitching in each price segment. Pick something in ur budget.

Did u check the label in your order? These rods are very beautiful and some have sic guides. Hard to tell about the blank and i wish they had weight. I think they are OK value for United States market but still dont compare to japanese rods of that price, like the ones in this video. Take belezza ux or corto ux for example..

@@ifishcatfish yes sir! & Thanks for your input! I'm new to the JDM fishing side. I just placed an order for my first JDM rod that fits my style, yay! Do you have any recommendations for a high end JDM rod 6'6 or longer with a moderate action? I would like one for jigging from the bank. Or would they just be too wobbly? The trout I catch are avg 2-4lbs w/ some trophies around 10lbs

I dont have experience with many long rods. Soare XR tunular 7’6 would be my forst choice, and then yamaga blanks has Many midels. Yes, u will Not fond moderate action that long, not in japan. But i dont need it to be moderste if power is UL. It will still bend

I think i understand what you are describing, even though, yes, i've never done that. I think this is how Realistic Fishing is fishing for trout, no? Kind of.. I have fished in person with him 6 times already. I fish expensive jigs and have extreme phobia of draggin on the bottom in current, current which keeps your jig locked and u can't wiggle it out like in slack water. U described how u fish, but you didn't describe what you want to have for that kind of fishing. What kind of rod do would be perfect for that, in terms of length, action, recovery, power... all of that jazz..

@@ifishcatfish Well...to be honest I'm not as good at describing rod properties as you are, and I've been doing that style of fishing so long that it's something I "feel" at this point....but I'll try. To sum up, maybe medium-fast action with fast recovery and a tubular tip, generally 5-6 feet, no microguides, bonus points if the reel seat allows me to stick my pointer finger on the blank for increased feel. When I'm sight fishing clear water, I want to be able to load the rod with just a quick flick of my wrist. I generally use rods that are 6' to 5' so that I can make accurate flick or "circle" casts in tight spaces with the rod tip down. Longer and/or slower rods need more swinging space for the lure to properly load the blank, and casting distance is less of a factor in most small streams. It should be a true UL that pairs well with 1/32oz jigs, because I find that's generally the best weight for drifting in most small stream situations. Also wading a rocky stream and fishing on the bottom means my line inevitably encounters a lot more abrasive material than it does when I twitch in lakes and ponds (especially from a boat). It makes using 2lb line impractical most of the time, because even the most abrasion resistant lines are still going to have such a low diameter that it doesn't take much to badly compromise them. Because of that, I don't like the teeny guides that are so "in" right now. I generally use 4lb fluorocarbon in rocky streams, and I can really feel that hinderance in casting distance. I haven't noticed any appreciable increase in accuracy from those little guides either, though I will admit that the lower weight makes the blank feel better. As far as reels, I want a low gear ratio and a smooth retrieve with decent drag and a weight that balances the rod well. I try to get it where I can balance the combo with one finger on the rod right by the spool of the reel. Total weight of the combo is less important to me than the balance being at the fulcrum point by my hand, so that I have the best possible control. The low gear ratio keeps me from being tempted to move the jig too quickly. This is a really finesse approach. Aquatic insects and small crustaceans aren't amazing swimmers in open water, and fish in these creeks can be picky if they're spooked at all. It's easy to overdo your presentation. The drag isn't very important until you hook into a bigger smallmouth, which does happen from time to time. I've landed several 4lb fish on ultralight tackle, but nowadays I actually try NOT to hook into them because by the time you get them in they're half-dead and may not survive even after you get them to recover. (I'm working on finding tungsten jigs with #6 & smaller hooks that let me target those fish on purpose with the same small profile lures but on heavier and safer tackle.) Also reels with solid housing and as little plastic as possible tend to carry vibrations better, so sometimes they can help with sensitivity.

@@innovativeatavist159 that was .. A LOT .. But if u can spend $70, Fenwick (which you like) has a 5'6 model in the HMX lineup, which is one of my favorites, if not for length. Great blank and very expensive guides with zirconium ceramic, very thin and beautiful gunsmoke frames. Large enough diameter for 4-6 lb line. If u can spend that money you will like it. Yes, you can touch the blank too. The 6'0 model is also amazing but the action is different, almost perfectly parabolic, which i prefer for swimbaits where u don't shake the tip all the time. You still twitch, even though the jig is on the bottom. You can even find the 5'6 in Bass Pro and try it, if you are lucky..

I think what you may be describing are JDM rods for native trout (stream fishing). These are usually 4' to 5', have that slower action, and are purpose built to flick cast at all angles. I've never used one personally because I don't have streams to fish around me but I have dug into it because it sounded interesting.

@@ReelFilmVideos actually not quite. I prefer rods with a FASTER action than i_fish does, by far. I can't stand slow or wobbly at all. What I also don't like though is solid tip rods that are sticks until you get to the last few inches that are just noodly. Extra fast is almost as useless to me as slow.

Yes! But you will need line with diameter no more than 0.14mm for stuff that light

@ifishcatfish I've been using the SPRO Finesse Braid 6lb. It's .1mm with 4lb Berkley Vanish for a leader. Thanks for the information on the video. Always good to get budget options for ppl just getting into it. Plus, the higher quality stuff for when ppl are ready to take the next step. Look forward to watching more videos!

I hate soft tip with backbone. None of the rods I recommend have soft tip with backbone. All rods recommended in this video have a uniform blank bend. I think you need the ultralight version of some bass rod. Bass rods have that kind of blanks

@@ifishcatfish I was thinking the Soare XR is close to that because it is fast tip, thanks for the feedback👍

Bass has way more options than Ultralight fishing, and its impossible to test everything. I have reviewed a few rods that subscribers sent me that ended up being too heavy for ultralight fishing but amazing for bass. One is the daiwa Gekkabijin i recently reviewed. It is on sale everywhere. The other is shimano Expride. That one is not on sale.I have a review of that rod on my channel and its an excellent bass rod. But this is just what i have tried, and there is an ocean of options for bass

i can't afford to buy all rods out there, and sea bass is outside of my domain... i do mainly ultralight fishing..

There is. It is cslled rod action. All solid tips are extra fast action and i hate extra fast action. I have teo videos on that actually.

rods recommendations are same as in this video, but for reel use the new Fuego or the Nasci, because those are salt resistant. U still have to wash them though, people think that if they buy a salt resistant reel and they dont have to do ntohing..

i reacommend smaller sizes legalis

@@ifishcatfish what size do you recommend?

@@traviswhitworth6506 2000 or 1000.

@@ifishcatfish okay, I have a legalis 2000. I don't think it's the 2023 model you recommend. It's the blue model.

@@ifishcatfish I also just ordered a legalis 23 size 1000 for the second rod.

No, the 4 piece is completely different product, stiff as a broom, power is Medium, appropriate only for bass fishing

yes, ive seen them. They are very expensive but there is nothing expensive in the description. Their direct competition would be Belezza UX and CortoUX and entire Majorcraft lineup that will weight probably 40-50 grams less per rod, per same price... They are very pretty thought, i will give them that. If you want to support those brands, i see nothing wrong with that..

@@ifishcatfish thanks! major craft and Daiwa is much more bang for the buck, especially with current FX. Only asked you since it’s the one US brand that people have compared to JDM.

interesting.. i don't do that type of fishing at all.. you would need a parabolic bend rod that is kind of rigid. None of these rods are rigid enough impact sharp motion for jerkbaits. The rods i use are all pretty soft

@@ifishcatfish I see, thank you! Do you have any examples or thoughts of such UL Rods which might handle the job nicely?

@@BlastaCola the oresso air ags 6’1 ML would be good as long as ur jerkbaits are not too big

nothing wrong with that..

@@jameshuynh1120 i have a video comparing all models. Search my channel for AGS

@@ifishcatfish awesome, thanks Victor!

Then Soare XR is amazing, but also the Yamaga blanks comes in sizes over 7 foot. You need two different rods for that though, a rod that throws good 1 gram jigs will be worthless for 5 gram, and if its good for 5 gram will be way too much for 1 gram. Thats way too much of a range for one rod..

They redid it. One of the actions is wobbly, the other is nice. But even the nice action is now $120. This is a rod with steel guides.. going for 120. When i recommended it it was $80. All of that said, if u don't mind overpaying a little, it is a pretty rod and nice for jigging/twitching, assuming u don't get the wobbly action.

Very Nice! I think you were hunting hard for value, as both the rod and the reel have had discounts lately and I am sure you found them.. : ) Probably got a $450 setup for S300, if i have to guess : )

I have a 5'6 Fenwick HMX UL which is even today amazing rod with amazing guides. I think its discontinued but some stores might still have some. Otherwise the other models don't come that short in good actions. Now, if u talk about high end rods, its wide open there : )

@ifishcatfish Great! Thank you for the reply. Keep up the great content. In the meantime, I'll keep an eye out for the Fenny. Cheers!

Picked up the HMX and paired it with the Japanese Legalis LT 1000. Looks to be a nice little set-up that doesn't crush your wallet. Thanks for the advice buds !

@@MrPdccru its a great rod even today! Better guides than any St Croix under 200$

I made two very controversial videos about rod ACTION. Watch them both. The reason i hate solid tip is because i hate Extra Fast action, and all solid tips are always XF action. I am not gona start explaining all that in a comment here.. i didn't even fit it in one video. I am not aware of application where xtra fast action is good..

@@ifishcatfish ahhh that makes sense! Solid tip is XF. I understand why that's no good based on those videos. Roger that! Thanks as always Victor

All of the swimbait recommendations in this video would work. Pick one in your budget and that u like the colors of. Also one that u can find. The daiwa presso is what everyone gors for but its hard to find

if u want to do everything with one rod, you need something big and strong. The 5'10 is a twitch specialist, and the power is XUL. XUL is no good for 2 gram jigs or higher.. Definitely too short for float. I recommend the 5'10 AGS just for twitching. Otherwise go with the Yamaga Blanks which can do everything.

@@ifishcatfish thanks lastly would the yamaga blanks be capable of casting 1g jigs with distance or would it suffer anything below 2g. The rod blank you reviewed said ~5g

@@yoloboie9479 yamaga blanks sweet spot is 2-3 grams. It will cast one gram too but thats a little light. It will cast 5 grams but thats a little heavy. But u want one rod to do everything snd this is your best bet. I would get the presso ags for the small jigs and would get a $60 presso for float that would be longer.

It feels like a bass rod. Very stiff. I recommend the basspro twitch rods that i described jn this video. Even the shakespeare micro is more fun for me

It has very wide sweet spot due to the action. I usually fish this rod with around 2 grams, but it will cast lighter jigs no problem. But i have perfect SUL and XUL rods for my 1 gram jigs, and due to the power being UL, it is better suited for 2 gram jigs. It is not normal for UL to be able to cast 1 gram jigs, that is XUL or SUL territory. I would say the perfect weight for this rod is 2 to 3 grams, but will cast 1.5 gram to 4 with no problems at all. It will even cast 1 gram if u need, and even 5 gram if u need occasionally. U don't need to think too much, if u can find this rod just buy it (it already sold out after the video)

Something like a 3 gram jig with 3" Keitech swimbait..

7'6 is way too long for jigging, it will always be wobbly unless u buy something for $300. In that range your best bet is the Crappie Max rod i showed in this video. Its a little shorter, but its actually the right size for jigging

unfortunately i can't help with that...

the top section doesn't completely cover the bottom. This is not particular to Yamaga Blanks but all Japanese rods. Because it is conical, it is safer if u leave 1 cm extra. That way after 5 years of wear, u can just slide it 2 mm lower.

I have to tell you.. in United States, if the rod is not on my list, i don't recommend it, even if i havent tried it. I have a pretty good awareness of whats here. But in Japan there is a frikkin ocean of rods. I guarantee the ones i recommend are good, but there is many more that i haven't testes that are also good. If you tolerate risk, you can try them. Maybe even ship to me for a few weeks for review - maybe i will add it to the list. Right now i am testing a Daiwa Gekkabijin sent by subscriber.

I just purchased the crappie Maxx pro 6ft medium light. He wasn’t joking this thing is absolute money for twitching a BG-1. It’s better than my TFO, and TCB rods. HIGHLY recommend

😅​@@ifishcatfish

none of these japanese rods have warranty. If u break it u r pretty much screwed as they don't sell only tips..🤕

@@ifishcatfish oh, ok. thank you!