The ultimate reel for new pride and joy.

[Martin Lo]

Pretty excited to have hands on this stick, I wanted the best of the best with subtle styling. The Skunkworks Devs, 7'1L Tarakan.


It's designed using the lightest most sensitive blank possible and to balance with reels from 155g.

Now the dilemma is choosing between an Exist 2004 or the Vanquish C2000HGS..

The Vanquish wins out in weight, retrieve rates yet the Exists is just simply sexy...
Does anyone have data on their spool diameter? With a sensitive rod it can be used with straight fluoro and still feel everything hence a larger spool diameter will be the biggest factor to line management and casting performance.

Hard choice, here's a few more perspectives



Whichever its gonna be an exciting X'mas season!

[chopperdog]

Everyone's different but i never felt much difference with reels under 250g. Under that they're all easy to handle all day long. And at 7'1" you probably want more than 155g to balance.

stop playing with yourself and import a 2000 Stella

[matt jorg]

I googled this rod I'm interested....
But this post and a Facebook page is the only thing coming up!?

Best of the best? More info plz!!!!???

[Martin Lo]

Originally Posted by matt jorg

I googled this rod I'm interested....
But this post and a Facebook page is the only thing coming up!?

Best of the best? More info plz!!!!???

Lol not a claim but its kept very simple.
The best blank, guides, components.
Follow that with plenty of static and dynamic load measurements,
Make it balance for a suitable reel, keep in mind line and baits intended
keep it simple and voila!

[Martin Lo]

Specs wise:
7'1"
3-10lb
1/32-1/4oz
It was measured to a RDA depicting power by grams and taper by angle but more on that in another post.
Fuji Ti Torzites with the ID to pass up to 14lb leader.
Ti/TVS seat fit so it's carbon to carbon to Ti to fingers, a larger hollow surface for sensitivity.

Balances with 150-165g reels allowing for high end lightweight reels.

Which reel looks wise matches it? Exist or Vanquish?

[manno]

My EX Gekka is 7'1.5" and balances perfectly with a 1000 size FE Stella.

[Martin Lo]

Originally Posted by chopperdog

Everyone's different but i never felt much difference with reels under 250g. Under that they're all easy to handle all day long. And at 7'1" you probably want more than 155g to balance.

stop playing with yourself and import a 2000 Stella

OH SO TEMPTED!
I figured the VQ & Exist as lighter rotors and hence quicker startups.
And they're also grey, black and silver =D

[matt jorg]

3-10lb, 14lb leaders, 150g reels is very diverse sounds like 3 different rods to the norm.

Like the guides anyway.
Rrp?

[Martin Lo]

Originally Posted by manno

My EX Gekka is 7'1.5" and balances perfectly with a 1000 size FE Stella.

I wanted the biggest spool possible in the smallest frame. It helps when I fish straight FC. But I may yet go the Stella.

[manno]

Originally Posted by MCYL

I wanted the biggest spool possible in the smallest frame. It helps when I fish straight FC. But I may yet go the Stella.

Which is why i run the Yumeya spool, C2000M. Its wider than the stock 1000 spool. Same as the C2000HGS spool but with a much more substantial line capacity.

[Martin Lo]

Originally Posted by matt jorg

3-10lb, 14lb leaders, 150g reels is very diverse sounds like 3 different rods to the norm.

Like the guides anyway.
Rrp?

The lighter K2s although classed as fast has more of a JDM like taper, probably to supply high end JDM rod makers.

The guides is a specced a little larger to accomodate leader knots, a Torzite 4.5J has the same ID as a SiC 5J.

For reels, it's intended balance with
exists and VQs at around the 160-170g mark.

They are built to order to allow for choice of colours.

The first 10..well 8 will go for $699.

[Martin Lo]

Originally Posted by manno

Which is why i run the Yumeya spool, C2000M. Its wider than the stock 1000 spool. Same as the C2000HGS spool but with a much more substantial line capacity.

Oh nice! They'll fit C2000s too? What are their capacity? And what do they look like? Glad I asked here

[thor]

The Vanquish C2000HGS spool is 42mm OD. I can't speak for the current Exist 1003 but older ones were 40mm OD.

The real choice is Vanquish or Stella. The reduced inertia of the Vanquish is noticeable. The new gear train in the Stella is to die for. Now, sometime in 2015, the Twinpower will see a makeover with the composite rotor, magnesium body and the new gear train.

http://fishing.shimano.co.jp/product/reel/2815

Love those new Fuji TVS reel seats.

[royflatmate]

G'day MCL i take it that Chris made you the rod saw some photos of it.Looks nice and he does a good job.He has been doing some very nice work with the Phenix blanks.

cheers....Ray

[Martin Lo]

That's right, there's Chris from CKR and Josh from weapons customs rods. They both built a lot with Phenix blanks and form up the majority of the group.