Post by Chee Yung on Dec 1, 2007 22:44:13 GMT 8
Rod Story #11: Kagerow Kei Penta 7’ 2/2 3wt
Hi Bobs,
Bamboo rods from Japan were once considered to be cheap factory made products and indeed many found on ebay are post WWII works that were brought back by American GIs as souvenirs. However, present day Japanese bamboo rods easily match and even exceed the craftsmanship of rods made in USA and Europe.
My first introduction of Japanese rods was in my youth long before my canerod obsession. I received a craft book called ‘The Living Heritage of Japan’ and in it were articles featuring ‘living master-craftsmen’ so treasured that they gazetted by the government as living treasures! A master bamboo rodmaker was featured in its pages and the impression was just incredible. When will we ever consider artists as living treasures? No wonder we have few who pursue craft to perfection…
Anyway, I always wanted to own a Japanese bamboo mastermaker’s work and after 2 years, I’ve finally found one. Rick Sorensen of Westslope kindly sold me this Kagerow Kei Penta 2/2 3wt by master Hideto Ishida. ‘Kagerow’ means ‘mayfly’ and this rod has a sweet medium fast parabolic action. Penta rods have 5 flats instead of the normal 6 ( hex) rods. This configuration allows a more powerful forward cast if the guides are mounted on a flat… or so it is theorized.
The finish of this rod is simply the best I have seen, period. Perfect gunmetal bluing to ferrules and rings, very dark flamed flats all angular and sharp, wraps with varnish terminating razor sharp, mirror tips, bronzed guides, ebony ferrule plug and reel seat end cap that is so smooth you’d swear its metal. It arrived in a brass capped and leather covered tube that emitted the scent of lemon flowers.. Jim Payne would have loved that!
Had great fun casting the rod last weekend with Uncle & Adi and caught a few fish too. It is hard to imagine but this 3wt cast across NZ easily at its widest section and allowed me to fan across almost half the fishable stretch after the big tree. Here are some rod photos courtesy of Westslope.. and some catch pics
Peacock Bass
We were casting dries one day and witnessed a school of toman babies chasing fries near the shore… it was fun hooking a few and seeing them crawl back downhill into the water after unhooking.. rugged fish!
Until the next rod story, happy fishing!
CY
Hi Bobs,
Bamboo rods from Japan were once considered to be cheap factory made products and indeed many found on ebay are post WWII works that were brought back by American GIs as souvenirs. However, present day Japanese bamboo rods easily match and even exceed the craftsmanship of rods made in USA and Europe.
My first introduction of Japanese rods was in my youth long before my canerod obsession. I received a craft book called ‘The Living Heritage of Japan’ and in it were articles featuring ‘living master-craftsmen’ so treasured that they gazetted by the government as living treasures! A master bamboo rodmaker was featured in its pages and the impression was just incredible. When will we ever consider artists as living treasures? No wonder we have few who pursue craft to perfection…
Anyway, I always wanted to own a Japanese bamboo mastermaker’s work and after 2 years, I’ve finally found one. Rick Sorensen of Westslope kindly sold me this Kagerow Kei Penta 2/2 3wt by master Hideto Ishida. ‘Kagerow’ means ‘mayfly’ and this rod has a sweet medium fast parabolic action. Penta rods have 5 flats instead of the normal 6 ( hex) rods. This configuration allows a more powerful forward cast if the guides are mounted on a flat… or so it is theorized.
The finish of this rod is simply the best I have seen, period. Perfect gunmetal bluing to ferrules and rings, very dark flamed flats all angular and sharp, wraps with varnish terminating razor sharp, mirror tips, bronzed guides, ebony ferrule plug and reel seat end cap that is so smooth you’d swear its metal. It arrived in a brass capped and leather covered tube that emitted the scent of lemon flowers.. Jim Payne would have loved that!
Had great fun casting the rod last weekend with Uncle & Adi and caught a few fish too. It is hard to imagine but this 3wt cast across NZ easily at its widest section and allowed me to fan across almost half the fishable stretch after the big tree. Here are some rod photos courtesy of Westslope.. and some catch pics
Peacock Bass
We were casting dries one day and witnessed a school of toman babies chasing fries near the shore… it was fun hooking a few and seeing them crawl back downhill into the water after unhooking.. rugged fish!
Until the next rod story, happy fishing!
CY