Shimano Zodias Rods - Thoughts?

[Slazmo]

Hi everyone.

As per title, I know a lot of the US guys love them for the freshwater scene and thinking for $200 landed in a baitcast rod BNIB landed its a steal, in comparison to some of the trash we get in Aus for around the $180 $240 Mark.

Would be matching up with the Chronarch 201E on the Zodias 1610MH-2pc (2.08m).

Not knowing much about them has anyone tried one or own one and uses it form our local species? Other than the usual dribble about the blank and the guides the seat looks nice and comfortable and the rod itself looks pretty ok from what i can see online.

Any comments good or bad.

Thanks.

Andrew

[The Doctor]

Andrew, I don't own one myself as I have multiple rods in the same/similar length and power before their introduction. But I did order a few (2Cs and 1 S) from Japan for a friend, and handled and fished them quite a few times.

I think they are great rods for the price. Made in China but very well made - in my opinion better than the current high-end domestic Daiwa models i.e. Battler series that are also made in China, by a large margin.

The tapers are true, and the cross wrapping allow the blanks have great recovery - say a M/ML powered blank with a regular taper can still have very responsive and 'crisp' feel.

I know sensitivity is very subjective but I found it to be more than adequate on the ML spinning model when fishing small swim jigs. Can't say much about the sensitivity on casting models as we have only used moving baits on them - no matter how rubbish of a rod you use, when a fish smacks on the moving lure, you will know.

For the price you pay to get one form Japan, I think you will be very happy with the rod.

[Slazmo]

Rubbish - I had to use loosely for a whole and varying contributing factors on a rod. Been looking at quiet a few at a local and still feeling quiet meh about them.

Thanks for the words.

[The Doctor]

Oh and I really like the reel seat on the casting models ('fight grip type R'), it is the same as they use for almost all current mid to high end C models (from Zodiac to World Shaula). Regardless of whatever non sense name they give it, the reel seat is one the best I have used in terms of palming comfort.

[deathpact2003]

I use the castingspin 4-8lb Zodias. It is used for hard bodies as a whole, but it was mainly intended for some of the hairier areas I fish. Excellent casting distance, comfortable as a whole (inc grips) and plenty of power. Since buying the rod I've only really fished straight fluoro with it for bream/mullas, that being said I still get plenty of sensitivity out of it and it can only get better with braid. Quite happy with the rod and take it out each time I go out.

[Slazmo]

Thanks guys for the replies.

Just put the money down on the 1610MH-2. Should be here within the new week. Will do a review on it when i get a chance.

Andrew

[BREAMCRAFT3000]

Originally Posted by Slazmo

Thanks guys for the replies.

Just put the money down on the 1610MH-2. Should be here within the new week. Will do a review on it when i get a chance.

Andrew

Has the rod arrived yet? If so, what have your thought been so far?

[Slazmo]

Hey mate the rod arrived. A little under packaged from Japan and in good knick. It's been used a few times and its bloody a good bit of kit as it only set me back $159 in the end.

When I'm on my laptop I'll post up some pics - otherwise great little rod for my Curado / Chronarch.

[Slazmo]

20151207_084919-1.jpg
Unboxing the Zodias from Japan. Was very disheartened that the rod came in a triangular carboard box that was half crushed and wasnt packed well at all, rod was just "swinging in the breeze" inside in its rod bag... Luckily no bruises or bumps. I loaded it up after this shot expecting it to blow up in my hands - thankfully it didnt.

Yes its a 2 piece job. Male and female design, no use of a inserted ferrule like the Pflueger Trion Transcendant travel rod or others.

20151207_084942-1.jpg
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The Shimano designed and made reel seat - I really like it and its a far cry from the Fuji offerings, something very different, probably suit smaller hands better than my own however very functional and comfortable. Takes the reel foot solidly and there is no side to side sway that some reel seats happen to do. The top hood is aluminium with a plastic winch insert, so there is no trouble with metal on plastic wear like some reel seats out there.

The top hood of the winch can be full wound off and it'll slide all the way upto the stripper guide - so it makes cleaning this area a breeze. Especially with baitcasters which tend to collect water all throughout this area.

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Rating of said rod - this would make a great heavy freshwater rod for cod or the like. For saltwater use it would be nicely suited for cod and jacks and other more northern morsels.

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The blank, the whole way through to the tip is like this, its a very nice blank in the full sun lit up. The spiral wraps get very tight and to a solid wrap over the female part of the rod where the ferrule (join) is. The blank is cleared however there is a certain feel to it as you can feel the wraps in your hand.

[Slazmo]

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The rod bag that you get with the rod - I will get it stitched up the middle so that the two parts are separated from each-other, this is the only gripe I have with it at the moment.

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Some of the guides are epoxied so minimally its exposed a few binds and left a few holes. Ill have to go over these and fill in the gaps so that water doesnt get into them and corrosion starts. In the mean time I wash the guides pretty well so no worries here otherwise.

20151207_135338.jpg
This really got me thinking, this part of the blank above the reel seat hood was left like this, it obviously was missed out when the blank was cleared or at some point, I had a mate airbrush a UV stabilised 2 pack clear over this area and it came out beautifully.

20151207_140323-1.jpg
Now shimano say that they use Fuji Alconites, however on the right are Fuji Alconites on a Trion. What I see on the left look like Fuji Sic's - some retailers like Tackle Warehouse state that these rods have Fuji Sic's - not sure who to believe however they look like Sic's than Alconites.

20151208_172744.jpg
Last pic with the Curado G5/7 on it - casts heavy soft plastics a mile and is very responsive and has a lot of balls.

[Slazmo]

Final shot.

After contacting the seller about the guide and blank issue I ended up getting $57 back on the price - so I only paid $156 (inc postage from Japan), this is the same price as you would pay for a Basspara Baitcast rod or many others found locally. Pretty happy with the rod as it balances up nice with Curado and the Chronarch and is something a little different from the AUDM rods.

[The Doctor]

Enjoy the rod, Andrew. Excellent rod for the price.

[Slazmo]

Originally Posted by The Doctor

Enjoy the rod, Andrew. Excellent rod for the price.

Thanks mate. Sure fit the bill for the rod I needed. Just couldn't see the point spending the money here with so few models to choose from.

Just finding the time and the place to use it now.😅

[nagz]

Originally Posted by Slazmo

Thanks mate. Sure fit the bill for the rod I needed. Just couldn't see the point spending the money here with so few models to choose from.

This quote sums up shimano aus 110%

[Tonka-T]

Originally Posted by nagz

This quote sums up shimano aus 110%

Why is that ? They have such a range of rods and reels overseas but we see sweet fa of it.....