Major Craft Go Emotion

While visiting Tokyo I had the chance to handle the Major Craft Go Emotion rods at the Sansui shop in Shibuya.
I enjoy Major Craft rods a lot but to tell you the truth I never considered buying or even checking in detail this bass rod. As a salt lure angler I always check for rods made for salt water but this time I was somehow struck by this rod.

The two models I have handled were the 66ML and the 70ML. Both are rated at 3/8 ounces and 5-10lb line. I found the rods to be extremely light with a nice fast action. The first thing it came to my mind is that these rods looked very good for a light setup in salt water. By light I mean a combination of a 2500 reel , 0.6/0.8PE line and small lures targeting fishes like small seabass and pelagics.

This is definitely only my opinion but sometimes I really need some rod with a light rating but fast enough that would allow me to work with small minnows and especially top water lures with ease.
The action of the Go Emotion was indeed the type I was looking for but I never found in other LRF rods I have tried.

The rod comes with K guides, a nice Eva grip and a fast blank.

The Go Emotion comes in different models all suited for freshwater application (bass fishing). The prices are very good (11000 YEN /112 USD avg.) and the workmanship looks great as usual.

I also liked the short foregrip for more sensibility and weight cut. I enjoyed the blank responsiveness and the price tag.  Will I buy it?  I still have to decide but I am very welcome to get feedback from other anglers who have tried it.


Short video on the Go.Emotion by Major Craft




More detailed info can be found here: Major Craft Japan

Shimano Coltsniper BB S900M. More photos and rod curve

I got an email from a friend asking to see more photos of my new rod. I have also added a photo of the rod curve under 500gr of traction. 

Rod Curve under 500gr of traction.

First 2013 Post: News from Major Craft

Here we are. A new year and my first 2013 post on my blog.
I just saw a post on Major Craft's Facebook page and I wanted to share with you. According to the official Facebook page, the Japanase company is working on a "international series" named "TUREL" specifically designed for the international market.
This is something interesting as shows how the guys at MC are aware of the potential of the brand overseas. According to the first rumors, the rod series will range from LRF to Heavy stuff. It looks like we will have a brand new Solpara-Crostage level medium quality rods at great prices. Looking forward to hear and read more about it in the future. For now, check this photo shared by MC on the facebook page. This is a LRF model.

Wait for more news.

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.

Yamaga Blanks...

I have been quite busy at work lately. I don't have much time to research, take photos and write about my passion as I did until last month. I'll try to update my blog this weekend.
In the meantime I am giving to this teaser. I finally got my hands on a true high quality "made in Japan" rod by Yamaga Blanks.
To be continued...

Atlas LG Ajing Rod by NISSIN

Lately I read and find more info about ultralight lure fishing. Casting lures of 3-4 grams and catching rockfish or small predators is becoming more and more common. The fun is there, and if you look at my previous post about the blog of my friend in Spain (Rock Fishing Spain), you will understand why.

To start this type of fishing I searched around for a ultralight rod that would be great as a starter rod and that would not cost a lot. After extensive researches I found this interesting rod on PLAT. The rod is made by Nissin, a respectable Japanese company known more for other types of rods rather than lure fishing. Before getting this rod I asked some feedback to PLAT (always helpful) and also checked their online catalog. After getting  good feedback and given the reasonable cost of about 80USD. I just bought it.

The Rod is a 7.4ft (220cm) 0.6-8gr. fast action rod designed for targeting aji (horse mackarel). It gives its best with small soft baits with1.5-2.5 gr. jigheads. Also it handles small spoons and minnows in the 4-6 gr. range.

I have fished it only once with a 1000 shimano reel (gives a good balance) spooled with 0.14 nylon.

 It was just a rod test so it is too early to give a final judgement to the rod, but I found it very sensible and fun to fish with. I hooked two small sized garfishes, which are plenty in the Mediterran sea right now. The rod is so sensible and light that I could feel - despite using nylon line - every attack on the soft lures. The fun of ultralight rods is that even a garfish of 200 gr. feels like a 2 kg. seabass. The bent on the rod and the light line is a blast to feel. I feel comfortable with the Atlas LG  and I think the rod can handle bigger size fishes easily. I am planning to use it again, with some PE line, and target some rockfish and breams. 

As for the rod. You can see the pictures. Fujı Reel seat, Fuji aluminum oxide guides, quality EVA grip, metallic red trims and a nice looking blank. Definitely can feel the JDM touch as usual. 

I will write a better review once I take it out again to catch some fish.  This was just a intro. 

My rod is the Atlas LG 704M.  The lineup includes a 7.8ft version both L and M (L stands for light and M for medium). Below you can see the details.

Details of the rod from Nissin's catalog.

Detail of the rear grip. The winding check and butt ring is, again, metallic red.

Detail of the blank. Atlas LG.

Nissin Japan

The rod features Fuji "O" Aluminum Oxide guides.

Detail of the small Fuji guide concept guide.

Spigot Joint.

Major Craft Trapara

The Trapara is the latest addition to the wide family of Major Craft rods.
It is a low-budget trout rod in line with the Basspara (bass fishing) and Solpara series (seabass, eging, rockfish, shore jigging)
The rod, judging by the pictures, is as usually well made with a nice aesthetic and in this case a beautiful brown blank and quality cork.  Probably a "made in China" model, but with great Quality Control and workmanship.
A good price for a rod that seems to be another winner for the Japanese Rod maker.
Looking forward to ordering one.

Official page is here: Major Craft Trapara

Detail of cork handle

Spigot Joint

Fuji Aluminum "O" Oxide Guides.

The Trapara lineup includes 6 different rods for different uses. Blank action is medium.
Casting rage from 0.8 - 3 grams to 1-4 grams. Length is from 6ft to 6.6 ft.

Street price is in the 6.700 and 7.100 YEN range.

Models:
TPS-602SUL 
TPS-632SUL 
TPS-662SUL 
TPS-602UL
TPS-632UL
TPS-662UL

Major Craft Solpara Seabass Rod

They are many rodmakers in Japan known for their amazing high quality products. 

One of those companies is certainly Major Craft. This company, in my opinion, makes one of the best rods in terms of cost/performance. They have rods that start from about 80USD up to 400USD.  

Their catalog range from ultralight trout rods to Tuna  boat casting rods. They offer lots of models to choose from and basically you can find a rod for every kind of lure fishing. And the best part is that they keep adding new rods almost on a monthly basis.

At the bottom of their line we find the Solpara range. These rods, introduced in 2010, are cheap but yet very pleasing. To keep the costs down the production was shifted to China but the guys at Major Craft were able to ensure that the quality remained high as for the other MC rods. 

Solpara: Performance > Cost . It summarizes exactly the rod quality price ratio.

The Solpara rod  family is pretty vast. They have seabass, ajingu, rockfishing, eging, shore jigging models and so on. The trademark of the Solpara is the very nice electron blue blank that really adds a perceived quality feel to the whole rod and look insanely cool!. Guides are Fuji  Aluminum Oxide and the workmanship is overall really impressive for such a cheap and made in China rod. As told before, quality control is definitely there. 

The Details on the rod like cork accents, quality EVA and metal rings add a nice touch and give that famous JDM signature to the rod.

It comes in different length and power : 

• SPS-862L         8'6 " 7-23
• SPS-902L         9'0 " 7-23         
• SPS-862ML 8'6 " 10-30
• SPS-902ML 9'0 " 10-30
• SPS-962ML 96 " 10-30
• SPS-962M 96 " 15-42
• SPS-1002M 100 "15-42

Ok, so, you would say, the rod is nice looking but how does it behave in action? How is the blank? Sensibility?

Well, I use the 9ft 7-23gr. medium-light Seabass rod (SPS-902L) and I have been very pleased with it.

I own many rods made by different  and famous brands and I can safely say that this rod is a keeper. For the price you pay you get a very decent rod, light, sensible and very enjoyable. It has a moderate-fast action and is pretty flexible. It casts lures very effectively and safely casts  up to 18 gr. with no problems. 

I admit that I didn't fight any respectable fish but the rod has enough backbone to handle good size seabass or  even bluefish. The 9ft matches very good with a size 3000 Daiwa or 4000 Shimano reel.

I have been so impressed that I am thinking about getting the shore jigging rod too. My friend got the eging rod and it says that is incredible for the price he paid.

Fuji DPS reel seat plus a nice composite cork and EVA
combination for the foregrip. Very nice looking detail.

The grip is made with good quality EVA. The metal ring
and the cork add a nice touch to the rod.

The rod comes with silver Fuji Aluminum Oxide Guides.
Cheapest Fuji guides available but they do their job with braid

Spigot Ferrule Joint

 Link to  Major Craft Solpara 

Bottom line is, the rod is definitely a very decent rod, not a high end top quality rod, but at this price point I doubt you can find anything better. Being made in China might sound like a big turn off, but trust me, you wouldn't tell the difference with a made in Japan one.  I heard also great things about the upper level series such as the Saltz and Huntaway. I am sure you will get even a better rod once the price starts to reach the 150-250 USD (12.000 - 20.000 YEN) range. I am following closely this amazing rodmaker. They just keep producing new and exciting products at a fast rate. The latest range they introduced is the Trapara (trout rods).

I am planning to write more in the near future. I'll post some pictures of the rod in action. 

In the meantime have a look at their website : Major Craft