New rods from Majorcraft (with video)

The Japanese company is not stopping in introducing new rods. They design new rods at an incredible pace.
Anyway there are two new series coming soon : SkyRoad and X-Ride.

The text was translated by Google. It might not make much sense.

 

They are both offered as Seabass, Boat Seabass, Eging and Wind (saber fish) models. The different models are there in details on the website. At first glance the specs are similar to the Crostage Series. As for the design the first photos are promising.

The prices are not that bad. The SkyRoad is a notch above the Crostage series (15000YEN) while the X-Ride is more expensive  (25000YEN)

The X-Ride mounts the new Fuji KR guides and K guides in Titanium. Top Class.

Check the website and stay tuned for more.

Review: YGK G-soul X3

Here is an interesting PE line. YGK is a very famous and respected Japanese brand of PE line. I actually consider them to be at the top together with Varivas.

 I was eager to try the brand but given the high prices of the latest 4 and 8 strand models I have always took a step back and didn't have the courage to spend all that cash on a PE line.
I was, however, lucky enough to find about the lowest and cheapest model of the YGK brand: the G-Soul X3.

On paper it is supposed to be something not worth buying: only "3" strands Dyneema braid sold at a very cheap price (1200-1500YEN). I started doing some researches and read positive opinions about it, enough to convince to give it a try.

During that period I had just purchased the Shimano ELF reel 2000s for some LRF action and I was looking for a 0.4 PE to fill the spool. After a couple of google searches I found the PE online and ordered it.

How it is? Well, the first impression I got was very good. Before even pooling it I have touched and analyzed the braid closely and the smoothness surprised me a lot. I almost couldn't tell the difference between this 3 strand and a regular 8 strand like the Shimano PP 8 Slick. I was, in other words, very baffled by the first impression it gave to me. I read about the special YGK coating that give superb finish and smoothness.
The braid was a 0.4PE which is very thin but somehow the smoothness gives an extra feel of "thinness" and strength. I think YGK did a great job with tightening the strands.

Finally last week I have  used it and I can give my first "on the field" impressions about it.

Castability: The braid casts great. Period. It is thin and it never created me any problem during my casts. I was able to shoot lures at great distances. No bird nests so far.

Line Retrieving: Here is the only spot where this line loses some points. The PE just twists a lot. It is supposed to be round (and feels like it) but during the retrieve I couldn't help but notice that the line got twisted. As for the reel, the Elf managed the line without problem. See photo

Line is smooth and well laid on the spool. I think the merit goes to both the
line and the reel.

Noise: It is smooth but I think not as smooth like a 8 strand (obvious I guess). I could hear some guide noise during the retrieve. Nothing major or annoying for me.

Feel: The line felt good after every cast. No worry for bird nests.

Durability: Very early to tell. The color is still vivid and I don't see any fray or damage after at least 50 - 60 casts. I need some more time for this.

Overall: Definitely a great buy. Accessing the quality of YGK with only 15-20 dollars for a 100 mt spool. It is a 3 strand and in a period were 8 strand rules the market seems like a bad choice but you will be impressed.  Quality/price ratio is unbeatable.  I would go with this braid in other PE diameters too.
The line twist is the only downside of this product but it didn't bother me much.
Last bonus is the spool. A patented design that allows an easy spool filling. Ingenious stuff.

Give it a try!

Looks and feels good on the spool. No problem handling this thin braid with
the Shimano Elf.

Source: YGK
Where to buy: Japan Tackle  , Samurai Tackle

Maria Softbait

Check the action of these new sofbaits made by Maria Japan.

Congratulations DUO!

Just realized that DUO has reached 5000 fans on its facebook page. I think it is a great achievement for a company that is trying to expand to the world market taking one step at a time. I remember when it all started with a few likes and some photo posts on their page. now after many months and many new likes I can see a page with many contributions from around the world, lots of photos, reviews, reports and news focusing on the latest products.

I wish them more even more success and hope to see the 10.000 mark reached soon.

I am on twitter!

I decided to open a twitter account too. From now on you can follow me at https://twitter.com/RCfishingBlog . I will update both the blog and the twitter account. Expect some more stuff like links and news on the twitter side. It is easy to share and post something on the way. I hope you will like it :)

Lure Report: DUO Toto 42, Bivi, Storm Flutter Stick 4cm

As I wrote on my previous post, my fishing trip was a disappointment in terms of catches. The good part was the testing of new lures and equipment. My first part of this review series will be focusing on some ultralight lures that I tested in the Egean waters.

DUO Tetra Works Bivi

This is a micro vibration lure that has really surprised me. I have to admit that I am not a frequent user of these kind of lures so I don't have much experience.  I wanted to try the lure for some bream and garfish fishing and to see the cast-retrieve action.

Cast:  This little lure is 40mm long and weights only 3.8 g. but it casts like a bullet. With my 7.4ft 0.6-8g rod and 0.4 PE I was able to reach 25-30 meters with ease.

Action: It is a vibration lure so it does vibrate and rattle. The lure is tiny and the vibration surely would attract fish. In my case I got a couple of chases from garfishes in the last meters of the retrieve but no attack. I think it is a versatile lure for breams for when the water are moving and foam is produced.

As usual, the details and the quality of the paint is superb. Need to be tested again in some white water and faster current.

 DUO Tetra Works Toto 42

A great micro minnow from the Tetra Works series. This is a regular minnow that can be used in all conditions and a great variety of small sized predators.

Cast: It is 42mm for 2.8. The presence of a lip and a 1g. difference is noticable in the casting. It doesn't get as far as the Bivi but I was able to constantly hit 20 meters with ease.

Action: It is a sinking minnow that has a tight rolling action. I enjoyed twitching it and changing retrieve speed. I think with fishes like garfishes is better to get a fast retrieve and use is slower in white waters for bream and other predators.  The rolling is irresistible and a couple of garfishes have actually assaulted the lure with no hook ups.

It is a minnow that I enjoyed a lot. More than the Bivi but mostly because I enjoy fishing with small minnows and I feel more comfortable in giving some action with rod twitches. It might have some great potential with mackerel inside port areas as well.


Storm Flutter Stick 40mm

Storm Flutter Stick 40mm

This lure was a great surprise. I like fishing with lipless minnows but this was the first time casting a micro model. I consider lipless minnows very fun to fish with given the fact that you can manipulate and animate the retrieve as you prefer.

Cast: 5 grams per 40mm are very good numbers. no surprise that this little lure casts like a bullet and surpasses the Toto42 and the Bivi, although the difference with the latter is really minimal.

Action: A lipless that needs to the animated with the rod. I enjoyed retrieving it fast with short but quick rod twitches. The small lure shines under the surface and has a very tempting action. Almost a WTD subwater. The twitches causes the lure to roll and give a nice reflection. Looked a lot like a injured small bait trying to survive in the water. I got two garfishes and several hits on it. I think it performed very good and I will use it again, maybe skipping it in order to fool some bluefish. Definitely an interesting lure.  I tried a very slow retrieve and the flutter stick responded with a steady wide wobbling. Very good indeed.

The second part will be about a PE braid that impressed me a lot. The YGK G-soul X-3

Back from the Trip!

Well, I am back. I feel a little depressed right now. As usual, hours spent on the water with no significant catches. I had blog follower emailing me wishing luck for my trip but I am going to disappoint them.
Sorry for not being able to tell you a nice fishing catch story "again". However I had the chance to play with some new tackle and lures.  These 3 days have allowed me to test my new equipment and I will spend the rest of the week updating the blog with some reviews.
What did I test?  Here is a short preview:

Tackle:
Custom St. Croix Rod
Nissin Atlas LG LRF rod
0.4 PE  YGK X3 Soul Line
Elf 2000S reel
LSD Designs Tackle Hip Bag

Lures:
Seaspin Mommotti 180
Tide Minnow 90F
Bay Rauf Manic 115
Tetra Works Bivi
Tetra Works Toto 42
Storm Flutter Stick 5cm
Seaspin Pro-Q 120
Smith Super ULM
Skagit Design Jet Bait


In the meantime some cool photos:

A great DUO of lures!

View from the port.

My fishing ground. Poor of catches.

Seaspin Mommotti takes the spot at sunset

Great combo: Mommotti 180 + new custom rod + LSD hip bag

The Toto 42 has shown some great potential.

By the way, do you like the new layout? I had to change a little bit because the right column was getting too crowded. Please let me know your feedback. Thanks.

The Vagabond Fisherman Blog in English

Good news for all my friends who enjoy extreme popping and tropical lure fishing. My friend Alessandro has decided to post in his blog both in Italian and English. Make sure you follow his blog! Lots of great info and superb reports, the kind that we always dreams of about :)

Source: The Vagabond Fisherman

Preparing for the Trip Part I

Finally this weekend I will take a 3 day fishing trip in the Aegean Sea. I haven't cast a lure in a while so I am super excited about this trip coming in a few days. This evening I took out my lure boxes and start to pick those that I consider essential for this trip. I will be aiming at seabass, Leerfish and probably some barracuda. I expect to use topwater and shallow runner lures plus some LRF lures for gars and horse mackerel. This is one of the boxes I will take with me. You can notice mostly DUO lures : Tide Minnow, Bullet DC-9, Realis 120, Spearhead Ryuki and Larus Project.
I want to test them and review them here on my blog after the trip. I will be bringing more lures with me. The other box will include Seaspin, DUO and Tackle House lures mostly.
Wait for more info and photos soon...

A very nice blog: Braidrunner

This is a very nice and professional blog that I have discovered last week. The author is an expert angler and most important of all a great photographer. The stuff you can see on his blog is outstanding. Amazing photos and very interesting fishing articles make this blog a must "visit" for all the angler out there.
I think we need more and more blogs of this quality on the net, it just shows the artistic side of lure fishing the way that I like and always try to convey in my blog.
Very glad for this recent discovery. Please have a look:

Braidrunner

The layout is simple yet crisp. Looks very professional.

This is a great photo take from the blog today. The setup is just as original as it gets.
The lure is a DUO Tetra Works Pocopoco F

Touching the Soul

This is a nice fly fishing trailer. I wish we could see more projects like this related to lure fishing.
Great Photography.




Touching the Soul (BC section trailer) from Troy Costa | Unified Productions on Vimeo.