Kabuto 7653 - Fantastic Fly Rod!!!

I will be trying to put some miles on this rod over the Memorial Day Weekend - I've only got a few 5wt lines, so I'll be cycling through them pretty quickly as I try a develop a feel for this Kabuto. From the first lawn casts, I could tell this rod is really something special. Snappy, medium action and refined (keeps the line under control very easily). Made me look like someone that knew what they were doing... Then I took it out to the lake. Fishing with it is an absolute pleasure. Casts nicely in close and just as well out to 60'. I managed to get a couple of bluegill to hand, one bass to take (but got off while I was fumbling with the camera), and one crappie. It's a wonderful thing to pick up a rod that works well with you - casting, aesthetics, versatility and fish conquering prowess are all qualities I want out of a rod. Most times you get a few of these, but not all out of a rod. From this first experience, I am inclined to say this is a wonderful thing this Kabuto 7653 ;)

Lawn Casting the Japanese 7'0" Fiberglass Fly Rods

I took the Japanese rods out to get more time in cast them before the Kabuto has to get mailed out to the next recipient (it is a Fiberglass Manifesto Loaner program rod) I lined the Kabuto 7033 with a RIO Perception WF3 - and wouldn't you know it, it cast it beautifully!!! I have cast four different lines on it now and it has handled them all perfectly!!! It is a rare rod that can cast several lines, but do to that well like it was made to cast each line specifically, that is one in a million - if I had to have only one flyrod, this Kabuto would be it (and I'm glad I don't have to own just one and can enjoy them all). That said, the Ijuin Yomogi is a completely different beast all together. As I said before - this is the slowest rod I have ever cast. I lined it up with a SA Supra DT3 and it forces you to slow down every part of the cast. In that process you feel the backcast load, the line unfurl after you stop the backcast, the rod reloading as the forward cast begins, and the stop rod flexing at the end of the forward cast and you see the line unfurl completely and land with no force whatsoever. With this rod, you will not punch 50' of line through a 10 knot headwind. You will not break the sound barrier either. But you aren't supposed to. You will enjoy developing an intuitive understanding of the cast, and if you are lucky enough to get a fish to play tug of war, you will smile like a little kid on Christmas - this is the definition of ultralight weight fiberglass fishing. These rods are just wonderful - despite their being the same length, having the same three pieces and the same line designator, they could not be any more different. They do share the fact that they are both works of art that are meant to be enjoyed out on the water catching fish!

More Rod Casting

I brought the Kabuto out again to get a better feel for it. I also brought out a Steffen 7'6" 3/4wt 3 piece by Matt Leiderman. Both these rods cast smoothly with a WF4 line. Awesome rods!!! It is so fulfilling to cast a loop and watch it unfurl and gently place the fly 20-30 feet out. I had some good wrestling matches with a whole mess of bluegill (translation - a whole mess is more than 25), some big green sunfish and one large mouth bass. I saw a bunch of LMB, and I would get them to follow, but the one in the pictures is the only one that took. If I haven't said it before - "I love fiberglass fly rods!". There were huge schools of gizzard shad stacking up near the outfall - love is in the air (water)... I can't wait for the water temps to start warming up and the spring blitz turns on!!! Just around the corner!

Testing Out Some Rods

A session at 4 Mile Run casting the Eagle Claw Featherlight 6'6" 4/5wt 2 piece (with a WF5F SA GPX) and a Kabuto 7033 (lined with a WF4F SA Mastery Trout). I got a 5 inch bluegill with the Featherlight - the rod casts really well for a $30 piece of kit. This is one of those rods that will live in the back of your truck and everytime you pass a body of water, you will be compelled to stop and cast a line just because. Next I cast the Kabuto. Mind you this is nearly a $700 rod (from Hokkaido) - and it cast very crisply - it actually felt alive. Oh so svelt!!! I truly enjoyed casting this rod (on loan from "The Fiberglass Manifesto" rod loan program) and an 8" bluegill was just icing on top of that casting cake. So - a nice session with representatives from both ends of the spectrum (although bamboo costs way more, there aren't many more fiberglass rods that cost this much - but oh my, it is worth every penny!!!). I think I'll go fishing tomorrow morning with the Kabuto.... Not having cast the two side by side, as good as the Kabuto is, I think the Barclay casts slightly better (although the finish on the Kabuto sheds water better - I have noticed after several casting cycles, the flyline will tend to "stick" on the smoother Barclay surface - nothing a little shake can't take care of).

More Drooling

Kabuto 6'6" 3 weight 3 piece - fiberglass flyrod perfection... pair this with an Abel Creek Size 1 in standard black and you could cook eggs on this thing it's so hot!!!! I need to win the lotto... or get a better paying job... or learn how to make gorgeous rods like this...

Uuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhh...........

Can I borrow a towel.... I've got drool all over my keyboard and my shirt and my pants.... Kabuto Rods - handmade in Hokkaido, Japan. Fiberglass never looked so good.