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September 30, 2024 11:18 pm
The beginning of my attempt to catch up on posts, finishing articles, etc….starts here.
Despite my crazy-busy life, I’ve been out on the water quite a bit, this year…thankfully.
Past 4 months in particular, have been very memorable, as I’ve spent a great amount of quality time with various combos. The Raid Bishop has been a lot of fun along with the Sedition Bloody/Steez CT combo tossing around smaller jerkbaits and topwater with utter ease. Steez Racing Design Hustler Tech Tune has seen a lot of time on the water as well.
Even though the Bishop beautifully handled a couple of 7+lbers these past two weekends, there’s a certain rod that has really stood out …The Designo Overlay DLO-C65MHRST 5s. The DG6+ blank is a real one. This rod is nearly as sensitive as the level 7 Vantage and Leggeras I own. Simply put…it’s outstanding. Sensitive, responsive, light and quick in the draw, the 65MHRST has put countless fish in the boat since February when I really started testing it out. 3/16 oz pegged bullet/t-rig around light-moderate cover, target casting…pure fun. Gika out in more open water around structure…good times. A modded/tuned Steez CT has been the mate, and this rod, despite its “5s” designation, loads up and casts beautifully. It’s akin to the RAID Bishop that feels so fast in hand, that it makes you think it would be a PITA to load up/cast…not the case. This 6’5” rod thinks it’s a 7 footer…and has been one of my favorites this year.
I’ll publish a more detailed breakdown/article in the next couple of months, but until then….
October 1, 2024 9:02 am
Good to see you getting time on the water and then converting successfully, bro.
And incredible gear as always...thanks for sharing.
RISE reacted
October 1, 2024 10:16 am
Awesome fish, awesome combo!
I've found that with Designos the difference in the "speed" rating is almost minimal. There are differences, especially with a stinger tip but tips almost feel the same between a 2s and 4s. Not necessarily a bad thing, just a thought. Could just be my inexperience though. Your thoughts?
Always learning...
October 3, 2024 7:13 am
Ugh, no no no, the pics we need are the Sedition! Man that rod has me intrigued for jerkbaits as I am looking for a second jerkbait rod for 3/8 to 1/2 oz baits of the shallow diving variety to about 5-6 feet. My Desroyer Etna is easily the best jerkbait rod I have ever used bar none for this.This one has me intrigued by its specs…
And I guess Deisgnos are ok, if that is your cup of tea 
. I still need to log some productive time with mine but my fishing seems to be of the quarterly variety. As rare as finding many of these rods it seems anymore…
October 3, 2024 9:01 pm
Yeah man, your have such a killer collection of uniquely modded/tuned reels and highly regarded hard to acquire rods...sux that you don't have more available waters to fish close to you.
Kickerfish1 reacted
October 4, 2024 6:17 am
Main thing is I don’t have much available time any more and limited desire it seems. I have small metro waters within 15-30 minutes that are of the shallow no wake variety. Anything sizable is 4-6 hours away
RISE reacted
Topic starter
October 5, 2024 8:27 pm
@pkn8 Per my conversations with Yuki, the “speed designations” refer to both power and taper. They are different with his solid tips vs tubular builds. Mainly, you have to look at the model ratings to get a better idea of what’s going on. A lot of them will be a heavy (H) backbone section with a longer or shorter solid tip (which changes the transition from tip to backbone, or a medium heavy (MH) with a shorter solid tip, or a medium (M) with a longer solid tip and so-on. In other words, the actual taper of the solid tip will vary across different models that are close to one another in length versus a rod with the same fast/short solid tip, if that makes sense.
The differences in the tubular builds’ “speed ratings’ will be in the power of the blank as well as taper. My Vantage DV7 Semi Order and Leggera 611 sport a faster taper than my 68MH Tubular, but all are a 4s rating and all are tubular. The difference is the power in that 68 is outstanding, which gives me what I’d consider “equal” performance in the hookset department, to the other longer rods. I agree that in hand the tapers can seem somewhat similar on certain tubular blanks but trust me, they fish very different in power/on the water vs a carpet test or finger bend. Thus, sometimes earning the same designation. I hope that makes some sense.
Side note: One thing to remember is when you get into higher quality carbon/scrim, or what we deem “more sensitive“ rods, a lot of those rods/blanks will minimize use of resin because it heightens the sensitivity (not to mention lightens up the blank), but makes the blanks more…dare I say…brittle. If you’ve noticed, most JDM bottom contact Rods do not sport that western style “true fast taper“ that we see in the states and that is for a reason. When the load of, let’s say a Hooksett, or a cast is distributed more evenly along the length of the blank, that blank will last much longer and is less prone to breakage due to over stress. A fast taper puts more stress on the blank than a slower taper and this is why many jdm bottom contact rods feel like “broom sticks” with a slower taper, but the “speed” is in the power…feel me?
Topic starter
October 7, 2024 10:48 am
Main thing is I don’t have much available time any more and limited desire it seems. I have small metro waters within 15-30 minutes that are of the shallow no wake variety. Anything sizable is 4-6 hours away
Do you have any buddies, that want to get out there with you? I’m super grateful for our community, but having a few local buddies to hit the water with is always crucial for me and really gets the juices flowing.
