Common Cents Database

The Common Cents Database presents information for a large number of tenkara, seiryu and keiryu rods. More rods will be added as I have time and as I either acquire or borrow rods to measure.

The system was designed to compare fly rods by measuring how much weight is required to load the rod without overloading it.

Each rod is clamped in a horizontal position and weight in the form of pennies in a light plastic bag is attached to the rod tip. Pennies (specifically, pennies minted after 1996) are added to the bag until the tip bends down from the horizontal by a distance equal to one third of the rod's length. For those of you outside of the US who don't have pennies or a sense for how much they weigh, ten pennies weigh 25 grams.

For example, clamp a 12' rod by the grip so that the rod is horizontal and the grip section of the rod is at a height of 5' above the floor. Pennies are added to a bag tied to the rod tip until the rod tip is 1' above the floor. The 4' deflection (from 5' to 1') is 1/3 of the rod's 12' length.

The system was developed by Dr. William Hanneman to compare fly rods, and the one third figure was chosen because it represents an amount that would fully "load" but not overload the rod. Even though you do not need to "load" a tenkara rod by that amount to get a good cast, there's no persuasive reason for changing the 1/3 figure for tenkara rods.

After all, the absolute number of pennies in the bag is not important. What is important is having a way to measure the relative stiffness from one rod to the next. The system does allow you to get a good idea of the relative stiffness of two different tenkara rods, and the one third deflection goes beyond the difference in the tips to measure the stiffness of the whole rod.

There is more to the Common Cents System than what I have presented above, and there are more measurements that can be taken. What I have chosen is the basic measure of stiffness. It doesn't tell you everything you'd want to know about a rod, but in one number it does give you a reasonable estimate of how stiff a rod is compared to other rods.

The measurements shown here are not scientifically rigorous. My floor is not level and I do not have a carpenter's level to make sure that a rod is clamped in a perfectly horizontal position. The results may not be perfectly accurate, but they are certainly accurate enough to allow you to compare rods.

Tom Davis, in his Teton Tenkara Blog, has taken the Common Cents system and expanded it. He has added what he calls a Rod Flex Index, which divides the penny rating of the Common Cents system by the  rod's length, which makes it easier to compare the flexibility of different length rods. Shorter rods tend to have lower penny ratings, and his index adjusts for that.
http://tetontenkara.blogspot.com/p/rod-flex-index-chart.html

    
RodPenniesZoomedZoomedClass
Nissin Air Stage Hakubai 240 硬中硬5  Seiryu
Nissin Air Stage Hakubai 190 硬中硬6  Seiryu
Shimotsuke Oikawa III 2906  Seiryu
Nissin Seikon Bessaku Tsuzumi 330 硬調6  Seiryu
Nissin Zerosum Hatsuume 3906  Seiryu
Nissin Air Stage Hakubai 240 硬調7  Seiryu
Nissin Air Stage Hakubai 290 硬中硬7  Seiryu
Nissin Fine Mode Nagare 2 way 390 硬調78 Seiryu
Nissin Fine Mode Nagare 330 硬調7.5  Seiryu
Suntech Kurenai HM30R7.5   Seiryu
Nissin Fine Mode Nagare 2 way 440 硬調88.5 Seiryu
Nissin Royal Stage Syunki 3308   Seiryu
Nissin SP 3908   Seiryu
Nissin SP 4508.25   Seiryu
Shimotsuke Oikawa III 3408.25  Seiryu
Nissin Air Stage Hakubai 340 硬中硬9  Seiryu
Nissin Fine Mode Nagare 2 way 390 硬硬調910  Seiryu
Nissin Royal Stage Syunki 3909  Seiryu
Nissin Spread Tsubaki 3909  Seiryu
Suntech Kurenai HM33R9  Seiryu
Nissin Pro Spec 320 6:49.59.5 Tenkara
Nissin Fine Mode Nagare 360 中調10  Seiryu
Nissin Fine Mode Nagare 2 way 540 硬調10? Seiryu
Nissin Pro Square 320 6:410  Tenkara
Nissin Pro Square 320 Level Line10  Tenkara
Nissin Royal Stage Syunki 45010  Seiryu
Nissin Air Stage Hakubai 290 硬調10.5  Seiryu
Nissin Pro Square 360 6:410.5  Tenkara
Daiwa Seiryu X 3511  Seiryu
Nissin Air Stage Hakubai 390 硬中硬11  Seiryu
Nissin Air Stage Fujiryu 330 5:511  Tenkara
Daiwa Expert Seiryu 3011.5  Seiryu
Nissin Fine Mode Nagare 360 硬調11.5  Seiryu
Nissin Pro Spec 2-Way 360 6:411.511 Tenkara
AllFishingBuy Wakata 270612  Tenkara
Nissin Air Stage Hakubai 340 硬調12  Seiryu
Nissin Kawashi 360 6:412  Tenkara
Nissin ProSquare 390 6:412  Tenkara
Nissin Royal Stage Tenkara 320 6:412  Tenkara
Nissin Zerosum 320 6:412  Tenkara
Suntech Kurenai HM3912  Seiryu
Suntech Kurenai HM4512  Seiryu
Suntech Suikei ZPRO 5412??Keiryu
Daiwa Expert Tenkara LL3612.5  Tenkara
Nissin Air Stage Hakubai 390 硬調12.5  Seiryu
Nissin Air Stage Fujiryu 360 5:512.5  Tenkara
Nissin Royal Stage Honryu 33012.5  Tenkara
Daiwa Expert Tenkara L LL36 13 Tenkara
Daiwa Rinfu 3513  Seiryu
Daiwa Sagiri 39MC 1315 Seiryu
Nissin Air Stage Hakubai 290 硬硬調13  Seiryu
Nissin Air Stage Fujiryu 410 5:513  Tenkara
Oni Rod (pre Type I designation)13  Tenkara
TenkaraUSA Ebisu13  Tenkara
Daiwa Seiryu X 4513.5  Seiryu
Nissin Pro Spec 320 7:313.514.5 Tenkara
Suntech GM Suikei Keiryu Special 2713.5  Keiryu
Suntech TenkaraBum Traveler 2713.5  Keiryu
TenkaraUSA Ayu 1st generation 6:413.5  Tenkara
Daiwa Master Tenkara L LL36 14 Tenkara
Daiwa Sagiri 45MC 1414 Seiryu
Nissin Pocket Mini 27014   Keiryu
Nissin Pro Square 320 7:314   Tenkara
Nissin Pro Square 450 6:414   Tenkara
Nissin Royal Stage Tenkara 360 6:4 14  Tenkara
Nissin Royal Stage Tenkara 400 6:4 14  Tenkara
Nissin Zerosum 360 6:4 14  Tenkara
Shimotsuke Tenkara Gen 24014  Tenkara
Suntech Kurenai PROSPEC 3314  Seiryu
Tenkara Times Try 360 6:414  Tenkara
Tenryu Furaibo TF3914   Tenkara
Daiwa Expert Tenkara L LL45M14.514.5 Tenkara
Daiwa Rinfu 4514.5  Seiryu
AllFishingBuy Motsugo 270614.5  Tenkara
Shimano Maystone 36NW14.5  Tenkara
Suntech Kurenai H3914.5  Seiryu
Daiwa Enshou LL36SF15  Tenkara
Gamakatsu Ryokei 39015  Seiryu
Shimotsuke Kiyotaki 2415  Keiryu
Nissin Air Stage Hakubai 450 硬調15 Seiryu
Nissin Pro Spec 2-Way 360 7:31514.5 Tenkara
Nissin Tenkara Mini 27015  Tenkara
Shimano Mainstream Tenkara 44NP15  Tenkara
TenkaraUSA Ito1515 Tenkara
Nissin Air Stage Honryu 38015.5  Tenkara
Nissin Royal Stage Honryu 39015.5  Tenkara
Nissin Zerosum 400 6:415.5  Tenkara
Tenryu Furaibo TF39TA15.516.517Tenkara
Daiwa NEO LL32SC16  Tenkara
Nissin Pocket Mini 30016  Keiryu
Nissin Royal Stage Tenkara 320 7:316  Tenkara
Nissin Zerosum 320 7:316  Tenkara
Shimano Pack Tenkara1615 Tenkara
Suntech FMX Keiryu ZPRO 5316  Keiryu
Daiwa Enshou LL41SF16.5  Tenkara
Daiwa NEO LL36SC17  Tenkara
Daiwa Seiryu X 5417  Seiryu
Daiwa Tenkara 3317  Tenkara
Nissin Pocket Mini 36017  Keiryu
Nissin ProSquare 360 7:317  Tenkara
Nissin Tenkara Mini 32017  Tenkara
Shimotsuke Tenkara Gen 27017  Tenkara
Shimotsuke Tenkara Mai17  Tenkara
Suntech Kaname H4517  Keiryu
Suntech TenkaraBum Traveler 391718.519.5Keiryu
Tanuki 37517  Tenkara
Daiwa Soyokaze 27SR17.5  All Purpose
Discover Tenkara Karasu 36018  Tenkara
Nissin ProSquare 390 7:318  Tenkara
Nissin Royal Stage Tenkara 360 7:318  Tenkara
Nissin Ukon 360 7:318  Tenkara
Nissin Zerosum 360 7:318  Tenkara
Nissin Zerosum Oni Honryu 39518  Tenkara
Shimano Keiho Tenkara 33 NR18  Tenkara
Suntech GMR Special II 36NP18Seiryu
Suntech TenkaraBum Traveler 44181920Keiryu
Tenkara USA Iwana 9'18  Tenkara
Suntech GM Suikei Keiryu Special 3918.52121.5Keiryu
Suntech GM Suikei Keiryu Special 4418.52021Keiryu
Suntech Suikei TenkaraBum 3618.5Tenkara
Suntech Suikei TenkaraBum 4018.5  Tenkara
Daiwa Tenkara 3619  Tenkara
Fountainhead Caddis Fly 33019  Tenkara
Gamakatsu Ryokei 36019  Seiryu
Nissin 2-Way 540ZX soft1920 Keiryu
Nissin Fine Mode Kosansui 27019  Keiryu
Nissin Tenkara Mini 36019  Tenkara
Shimano Keiryu Tenkara 34-38 ZL1914 Tenkara
Shimano LLS33NX19  Tenkara
Fountainhead Caddis Fly 36020  Tenkara
Nissin Air Stage Fujiryu 330 6:420  Tenkara
Nissin Royal Stage Tenkara 400 7:320  Tenkara
Nissin Sakon 400 7:320  Tenkara
Nissin Ukon 400 7:320  Tenkara
Nissin Zerosum 400 7:320  Tenkara
Nissin Zerosum Oni Tenkara Honryu 45020  Tenkara
Shimotsuke Kiyotaki 2720  Keiryu
Shimotsuke Tenkara 3.320  Tenkara
Shimotsuke Tenkara Ten20  Tenkara
Tenryu Furaibo TF39 Becchou20  Tenkara
Fountainhead Stone Fly 33020.5  Tenkara
Nissin Air Stage Honryu 45020.5  Tenkara
Nissin Pocket Mini 39020.5  Keiryu
Daiwa Soyokaze 31SR21  All Purpose
Discover Tenkara Karasu 40021  Tenkara
Nissin 2-Way 450 ZX soft2122 Keiryu
Nissin Seikon Betchou Fujiryu 33021  Tenkara
Shimano LLS36NX21  Tenkara
Shimano LLS33NB21  Tenkara
Sakura Seki Rei 3.321  Tenkara
Suntech Kaname III FP 3821  Keiryu
TenkaraUSA Iwana 11' 21  Tenkara
Daiwa Hinata 822  Tanago
Nissin Air Stage Fujiryu 360 6:422  Tenkara
Nissin Pro Square 450 7:322  Tenkara
Shimano LLS36NB22  Tenkara
Shimano Mainstream ZE2221 Tenkara
Suntech Suikei TenkaraBum 3322  Tenkara
Nissin Zerosum 450 7:322  Tenkara
Daiwa Expert Tenkara LT 3323  Tenkara
Daiwa Hinata Chutsugi 242327 All Purpose
Nissin Seikon Betchou Fujiryu 36023  Tenkara
Suntech GMR Special 36NP (with 35 tip)23Seiryu
TenkaraUSA Iwana 12'23  Tenkara
Fountainhead Stone Fly 36024  Tenkara
Nissin Pocket Mini 45024  Keiryu
Suntech Fieldmaster 39242628Keiryu
Tenkara Customs 12' 6:424  Tenkara
Nissin Fine Mode Kosansui 32025  Keiryu
Nissin Fine Mode Kosansui 450 (soft)25  Keiryu
Shimano Kozuka 27NT25  Keiryu
Shimotsuke Tenkara 3.625  Tenkara
Shimotsuke Kiyotaki 3025  Keiryu
Shimotsuke Kosasa 21025  Keiryu
Suntech Kaname III FP 4325  Keiryu
Suntech Fine Power NP5625.526 Keiryu
Daiwa Expert Tenkara LT 3626  Tenkara
Nissin Air Stage Fujiryu 410 6:426  Tenkara
Nissin Nuki Muso 45 (medium)262626Kieryu
Sakura Kongo 3326  Tenkara
Shimotsuke Kiyotaki 3326  Kieryu
Suntech GM Suikei Keiryu Special 532626.526.5Keiryu
Daiwa Expert Tenkara LT 3927  Tenkara
Daiwa Hinata Chutsugi 282733 All Purpose
Daiwa Kiyose 24SF27  Keiryu
Sakura Kongo 3027  Tenkara
Suntech Fieldmaster 44272929.5Keiryu
Daiwa Enshou LT36SF28  Tenkara
Daiwa Kiyose 43M-Y2830.5 Keiryu
Daiwa Kiyose 43M2831 Keiryu
Daiwa Kiyose 43MF2833 Keiryu
Daiwa NEO LT33SC28  Tenkara
Daiwa Tenkara RT 2728  Tenkara
Nissin Fine Mode Kosansui 360 28  Keiryu
Shimano Kozuka 30NT28  Kieryu
Shimano Kozuka 33NT28  Kieryu
Suntech Suikei 39 stiff283132Keiryu
Daiwa NEO LT36SC29  Tenkara
Fountainhead Stone Fly 39029  Tenkara
Shimotsuke Kiyotaki 3629  Keiryu
Suntech Fieldmaster Long H 4529  Keiryu
Tenkara Customs 12' "Triple Zoom"293233Tenkara
Daiwa Enshou LT39SF29.5  Tenkara
Nissin 2-Way 330ZX stiff3031 Keiryu
Nissin 2-Way 380ZX stiff3032 Keiryu
Nissin 2-Way 540ZX medium3031 Keiryu
Shimano Kozuka 36NT30  Keiryu
TenkaraUSA Yamame30  Tenkara
Nissin 2-Way 450ZX medium30.530.5 Keiryu
Suntech Grayce II NP523132 Keiryu
Tenkara Customs 12' 8:231  Tenkara
TFO Soft Hackle31  Tenkara
TenkaraUSA Amago31  Tenkara
Nissin Fine Mode Kosansui 39032  Keiryu
Suntech FMX Keiryu Stiff 45 32  Keiryu
Suntech Keiryu Sawanobori 53 32  Keiryu
Daiwa Enshou LT44SF33  Tenkara
Daiwa Hinata Chutsugi 323337 All Purpose
Daiwa Kiyose 27SF33  Keiryu
Daiwa Kiyose 30SF33  Keiryu
Daiwa Keiryu-X 3033  Keiryu
Shimano Kozuka 39NT33  Keiryu
Suntech Field Master 53333333Keiryu
Suntech Sawanobori Cho Kotsugi 4533   Keiryu
Suntech Field Master Long H 5433   Keiryu
Daiwa Kiyose 33SF34  Keiryu
Nissin Sensui 3034  Keiryu
Daiwa Expert Tenkara LT H4435  Tenkara
Daiwa Keiryu-X 3335  Keiryu
AllFishingBuy Unagi 450936  Universal
Daiwa Kiyose 36SF36  Keiryu
Nissin Sensui 3336  Keiryu
Shimotsuke Kiyotaki 3936  Keiryu
Daiwa Keiryu-X 3637  Keiryu
Nissin 2-Way 450ZX stiff 3741 Keiryu
Nissin ProSquare 390 8:237   Tenkara
Daiwa Kiyose 39SF38   Keiryu
Suntech Genryuko 3639 Keiryu
Nissin ProSquare 450 8:240   Tenkara
Suntech FMX Keiryu Stiff 5440 Keiryu
Daiwa Keiyru-X 3941 Keiryu
Daiwa Kiyose 42SF41 Keiryu
Daiwa Kiyose 45SF42 Keiryu
Daiwa Sekkei 36M4347 Keiryu
Daiwa Keiyru-X 4244 Keiryu
Nissin 2-Way 540ZX stiff4445 Keiryu
BackpackingLight Hane46  Tenkara
Daiwa Keiyru-X 4546 Keiryu
Daiwa Sekkei 45M4647 Keiryu
Nissin Sensui 3946  Keiryu
Daiwa Hagakure 540 extra stiff47  Carp
Daiwa Hamon J 540 extra stiff49  Carp
Suntech Genryuko 3950  Keiryu
Suntech Genryu Sawanobori 4554  Keiryu
Nissin Kyogi 54057  Carp
Nissin Red Dragon Carp 54067  Carp
Suntech FMX Keiryu Extra Stiff 45 67  Keiryu
Nissin Flying Dragon Carp 53068  Carp
Nissin Red Dragon Carp 45069  Carp

TenkaraBum Home > Common Cents Database


“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten” - Benjamin Franklin

"Be sure in casting, that your fly fall first into the water, for if the line fall first, it scares or frightens the fish..." -
Col. Robert Venables 1662

As age slows my pace, I will become more like the heron.


Warning:

The hooks are sharp.
The coffee's hot.
The fish are slippery when wet.

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