Matched this Glassfin rod with my Calcutta Conquest BFS, and this rod is a serious tool for me now on the water.
CASTING:
I am finding it very easy to adjust my timing to get more accurate. I have casted everything from a 1.2 gram spoon with no hook (for practice) to 4.5 gram minnow lures on the water and the action of the rod is just slow enough that I can time my release accurately, but fast enough for speedy recovery of the rod tip to rest. I really like how this rod casts. It is a joy to use on the water.
ACCURACY
The fast recovery of the rod tip makes the Glassfin rod SIGNIFICANTLY, like miles better than the Aioushi I had and loved. The rod tip recovery is VERY GOOD. Performance wise, the Aioushi is a mere toy compared to this. This is a serious rod and casts like a serious rod...I am finding that I am getting increasingly accurate with this rod and the action and recovery no doubt contributes a large part to this.
DISTANCE
For me distance is useless without accuracy with a tool like this and the bulk of my use case for this rod is for close quarters work within 40 feet. WIth a 4.5 gram lure I am now able to hit a targeted pocket some 50-60 ft away almost consistently with a sidearm cast, this I believe to be helped in large part by the nicely dialed in action of the rod, and the fast recovery of the rod tip. Close in casting is effortless to get accuracy. The softer tip of the Aioushi made under hand casting easier to time (but that rod was also FAR FAR less predictable, sometimes it would buckle), but I think with practice I will be able to gain similar proficiency and with better distance for low trajectory underhanded casts with the Glassfin.
AESTHETICS
CAVEAT: Aesthetics are a VERY VERY personal thing and do not affect the performance of the rod AT ALL. Cork work is super clean and the hardware too is clean and simple, but I would have preferred higher quality cork on this (what they used isn't poor quality either so this is a minor quibble). The metal hardware is spartan and well produced, very clean and easy to handle, but I would have preferred heavier metal and a shinier finish on them. I would have personally preferred more muted colors for the wraps for a more subtle look but that's personal taste. The reel seat could be more refined but here again - Personal taste. The spigot ferrules are well made and VERY well fitted - high quality work, with the minor minor issue of the yellow epoxy showing thru the translucent white rod blank - Does NOT affect performance or fit in any way.
SUMMARY
Well made rod with serious performance, accuracy and feel. Makes me wonder why anyone needs to spend any more money for a big dollar stream BFS rod. I am really enjoying this rod. Nicely done DANKUNG Davis....First impressions are very good! I caught 12 smallmouth bass on my first outing with this outfit with the biggest one measuring 12" and bring it in was easy. I get the feeling the rod can handle bigger fish.
Thanks for all the listening to feedback, and all your hard work on getting this rod out to market! I would recommend this to anyone who is picking this genre of fishing up looking for a rod not just as a beginner set up, but as a rod someone can grow into as they get more skilled. This is NOT a toy.
Matched this Glassfin rod with my Calcutta Conquest BFS, and this rod is a serious tool for me now on the water.
CASTING:
I am finding it very easy to adjust my timing to get more accurate. I have casted everything from a 1.2 gram spoon with no hook (for practice) to 4.5 gram minnow lures on the water and the action of the rod is just slow enough that I can time my release accurately, but fast enough for speedy recovery of the rod tip to rest. I really like how this rod casts. It is a joy to use on the water.
ACCURACY
The fast recovery of the rod tip makes the Glassfin rod SIGNIFICANTLY, like miles better than the Aioushi I had and loved. The rod tip recovery is VERY GOOD. Performance wise, the Aioushi is a mere toy compared to this. This is a serious rod and casts like a serious rod...I am finding that I am getting increasingly accurate with this rod and the action and recovery no doubt contributes a large part to this.
DISTANCE
For me distance is useless without accuracy with a tool like this and the bulk of my use case for this rod is for close quarters work within 40 feet. WIth a 4.5 gram lure I am now able to hit a targeted pocket some 50-60 ft away almost consistently with a sidearm cast, this I believe to be helped in large part by the nicely dialed in action of the rod, and the fast recovery of the rod tip. Close in casting is effortless to get accuracy. The softer tip of the Aioushi made under hand casting easier to time (but that rod was also FAR FAR less predictable, sometimes it would buckle), but I think with practice I will be able to gain similar proficiency and with better distance for low trajectory underhanded casts with the Glassfin.
AESTHETICS
CAVEAT: Aesthetics are a VERY VERY personal thing and do not affect the performance of the rod AT ALL. Cork work is super clean and the hardware too is clean and simple, but I would have preferred higher quality cork on this (what they used isn't poor quality either so this is a minor quibble). The metal hardware is spartan and well produced, very clean and easy to handle, but I would have preferred heavier metal and a shinier finish on them. I would have personally preferred more muted colors for the wraps for a more subtle look but that's personal taste. The reel seat could be more refined but here again - Personal taste. The spigot ferrules are well made and VERY well fitted - high quality work, with the minor minor issue of the yellow epoxy showing thru the translucent white rod blank - Does NOT affect performance or fit in any way.
SUMMARY
Well made rod with serious performance, accuracy and feel. Makes me wonder why anyone needs to spend any more money for a big dollar stream BFS rod. I am really enjoying this rod. Nicely done DANKUNG Davis....First impressions are very good! I caught 12 smallmouth bass on my first outing with this outfit with the biggest one measuring 12" and bring it in was easy. I get the feeling the rod can handle bigger fish.
Thanks for all the listening to feedback, and all your hard work on getting this rod out to market! I would recommend this to anyone who is picking this genre of fishing up looking for a rod not just as a beginner set up, but as a rod someone can grow into as they get more skilled. This is NOT a toy.