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17-11-2003, 03:59 AM
I’ve been testing a few rod blanks for Bream Master and thought that I’d post up some results.

Bream Master is now stocking Samurai and Graphite USA blanks and will have a custom rod service through the shop as soon as the price list arrives (late next week).

It’s always hard to tell what a blank is like without guides on it so we’ve built a few up to see what they are like. On the weekend Mitch and I tested the Samurai 001 and 002 blanks. First impressions are very good.

The 002 was my favourite and actually had a similar action to my TPS. The rod is 6’ and rated as 2-3 kilo, I put the guides off my heartland on it with cork grips etc. It’s very sensitive and a good all round rod, I threw plastics and hard bodies on it. The tip is softish without being too soft and the rod has some real balls down low.

The 001 is softer and more of a straight up plastics rod. Mitch threw the 001 for a few hours so I’ll let him post what he thinks of it. The feel through the rod was awesome though.

Both rods come in 6" and 5" 8'

My next rod to be built up will be a graphite USA. Evan has had a USA built up and while I haven’t fished it but felt VERY nice in the shop, also a similar action to a TPS, by that I mean it's not overly soft but it's not heavy either. The USA blanks cost abit more than the Samurai's but they come with a warrenty and man are they nice blanks.

It felt very similar to the 002, a good all round rod but had more balls down low and would make a sic heavy timber hard body rod. The USA blanks are like 5% glass and it feels tough, they would be virtually impossible to break on a fish I reckon, its bullDohDohDohDoh how far you can bend it.

I’ll let Evan post more about the action as I haven’t fished it yet.

The Samurai will start at about $170 for a basic setup with cork grips and Fuji silicon guides. Plus you can pick your own colours etc. If you want better guides you can add them etc. Not bad value and while they are no Loomis or Struddie it’s a good upgrade from that $100 range without going too sick.

They will be in store about the end of next week so if you want to have a look at them drop in and see Geoff..

Evan
17-11-2003, 05:29 AM
Hey guys as Ira said i just recently purchased a GUSA and got i built up with some SiC guides i had off a previous snaped rod.

Anyway here are the specs of my rod: UR56L
5'6 4-8lb Light rod with a fast taper i think... i basically wanted a rod that can be used from my boat close to the snags to throw small HB's like orgees and sneakies. therefore it had to be light enough to throw these lures but i also wanted it tough enough to be able to lock the drag up and pull fish out of the snags...

i prefer my HB rods to be a bit stiffer than than plastics rods especially in the tip. this blank is stiff but not so stiff that it will still allow the fish to take the lure when it hits it rather than pulling it out of their mouths - it still has that little give that is required.

i havent actually had the time to test it out on the water due to exams but have spent a couple of hours when im bored to throw lures aroung the pool. All i can say is that its a mad rod for sneakies orgees and 45's. i wasnt sure how it would handle the bigger bibbed lures like the R2S and the taylor mades but i wacked one of each on and the rod handled them like a dream....

seriously guys if you want a rod that you can give it DohDohDohDoh to then this is it..... i have had this rod loaded up sooo much that its nearly been in an O shape, certainly in a U shape. short of breaking it over your knee i cant see how this rod could ever break on a fish....

the best bit is though even if it does GUSA back their blanks with a lifetime unconditional guarantee so it would only cost me labor about $75 to get it rebuilt.

i opted for the Composite rods (The UR Range) purely because of the availability of the blank... Even though its got 5% glass you cant really tell that its not a true 100% graphite rod, i think its a tad heavier...

Finally.... GUSA have 2 other ranges the C and the DHX.. the C is 100% graphite and the DHX is like their top of their range 100%graphite.... so if you dont like the idea of having a bit of glass in your rod you can still go the 100%

i think my next rods gonna be the DHX601- will be another mad HB rod with even more grunt...

chris_lemess
17-11-2003, 05:37 AM
Ira, who's going to be building for Bream Master?

cheers

Evan
17-11-2003, 06:52 AM
Sorry forgot to say in my essay.. the blank was only $95... not too shabby for a blank thats got a life time unconditional warranty..

Jeez Ira $170 for a samurai with SiC thats a bargain... guys looking for a new rod should definately consider that....

17-11-2003, 10:43 AM
Vaughan Wilkie is building the rods Chris

He’s is a full time rod builder and he’s been building rods for years he’s done all mine and does an awesome job

Matt Ireland
17-11-2003, 04:33 PM
Hey

My rod i use for breaming is a Samurai 001, I built it up myself. Although im still only a beginner at the bream on lures thing, i find it is really sensitive for fishing sp's. Also get really good casting distances with light weights and very accurate onse youre used to it. Mine is built with fuji alconite guides, but because it is such a light blank go for the lightest guides you can afford. That said, mines still fine with the alconites (Im not sure, but I think the SiC guides are only a little bit lighter than alconites, of course gold cermets are a lot lighter if you can afford them).

What sort of prices are the Graphite usa blanks (for the blank alone not built up into a rod). I'd be interested in opinions on whether to go for the all graphite ones or the ones with 5% glass.

Thanks
matt

bparker
17-11-2003, 05:02 PM
Ira,

I've read recently of new longer versions of the Samurai S001 and S002...7ft I think...I was wondering if you've had a look at them..I'd really like to know what you think.

I wouldn't miund building my own bream SP stick but I'm looking for a suitable and reasonably priced two-piece seven foot blank..these new Samurai blanks may be what I'm after.

cheers

bparker
18-11-2003, 07:01 PM
...the two new 7ft Samurai blanks are the S001x and S002x..the first one described as a 'noodle' rod and the second recommended for SPs.

If anyones seen 'em I would mind hearing you opinion.

pw-bream
18-11-2003, 07:04 PM
Ian Miller talks about them in the latest Modern Fishing.
I think he was instrumental in getting them developed and available here.

Matt Ireland
19-11-2003, 11:01 PM
Mitch

Im keen to hear what you thought of the 001?

And Ira, what did you think of the 002 as a hard body rod? Does it still do okay a SP rod say if i take non-breaming mates fishing so they can use it? Oh, and do you think that the 002x (the 7ft version of the 002) would be possibly a better purchase than the regular 002?

cheers
matt

chris_lemess
19-11-2003, 11:43 PM
Yeah did anyone else read Miller's piece in Modern Fishing about the two extended Samurais? Could be worth looking at. If you like long rods...

cheers

pw-bream
19-11-2003, 11:47 PM
It is certainly a cheaper alternative to something like the Loomis 842 for a longer rod. If the "x" samurai blanks had been around eralier I might have got on and built a rod instead of getting the Squidgy Spin.