| |
Shimano LLS 36 NX
Rod Review
I had wanted to fish with a Shimano LLS 36 NX ever since seeing Dr. Ishigaki's in Daniel's apartment in the fall of 2010. Had I realized he'd had it with him, I probably could have tried it out when we were fishing. As it is, I've waited nine months. So, was it worth the wait? Well, yes and no. As Jim B. wrote in
his review
of the rod (in the Your Reviews section), it is a beautiful rod with nice olive finish and quality cork. Both of these reviews are based on the same rod - Jim very generously offered to lend me his rod for the purpose of this review. I find it much easier to describe something by comparing it to a more widely known item, so this review will largely compare the Shimano LLS 36 NX with a rod that to my readers will be much better known and more widely accessable: the Tenkara USA 12' Iwana. They are similar rods, but they are clearly not the same. The Shimano is a bit lighter at 2.4 ounces compared to 2.7 for the Iwana (measured on my own "postal scale"). The center of gravity is in almost exactly the same spot for the Shimano and the Iwana (Series II grip) so the lighter weight is definitely noticeable when casting. The Shimano LLS 36 NX feels a bit stiffer that the Iwana, but just a little, not nearly as much as a Yamame or Hane. The Iwana has very slightly stiffer butt sections and slightly softer tip sections than the Shimano. The most significant difference may be that the Shimano has a tubular tip section rather than the solid tip of the Iwana (and all the other Tenkara USA rods). Jim had mentioned how he thought the stiffness of the rods affected casting in a breeze, but I fished on a windless day.
The slghtly stiffer rod and noticeably stiffer tip do change the casting dynamics. It certainly appeared to me that the Shimano LLS 36 NX design had been optimized for a size 4 level line. I also tried a size 3, a size 5, several tapered lines, and both tapered and level horsehair lines. Size 4 level fluorocarbon line is the one that seems to fit the rod the best, and with it the rod will make effortless pinpoint, tight loop casts. Just to be fair, the Iwana will, too, but because of the softer tip it takes a slightly different casting stroke and a bit more care to execute. I have since fished with a number of rods that were designed specifically for level lines, and nearly all have tubular tips, which are stiffer than solid tips.Shimano does not follow the 5:5, 6:4, 7:3 method of labeling rods, but I would say the Shimano LLS36 is a 6:4 rod specifically designed for fishing a level line. That should come as no surprise because Dr. Ishigaki, probably the premier proponent of level line tenkara in Japan, is a design consultant for Shimano. What I also found interesting was that the rod is clearly best with an unweighted fly. Even the minimal weight of a killer bug affected the cast. To be clear, the Shimano with the size 4 level line will cast the killer bug, and would certainly cast a Czech nymph or woolly bugger or Dave's hopper. It's just that with an Ishigaki Kebari, the cast is a thing of beauty. With a weighted fly the cast works, but the beauty is gone.
So, should you rush out and by a Shimano LLS 36 NX? Well, even should you want to, you can't. Jim bought his from AllFishingBuy, but they've been out of stock ever since. You might have to buy one from Japan. And that's not the only thing you'd have to buy from Japan. Should you happen to lose the little wooden plug (like I did - the only one I've lost in years of tenkara fishing), it will take you quite an effort to find a replacement. I was finally able to replace the lost plug, but it was neither easy nor inexpensive to do so. Same goes for the butt plug or a broken tip (thank Yebisu I didn't break the tip). I don't know where you would buy one, what it would cost or if it is even available.So my bottom line on the Shimano LLS 36 NX? It is beautiful and is a dream to cast, but until there is an authorized dealer in the US that not only keeps it in stock but also keeps replacement parts, it may not be practical. It is unquestionably a very nice rod, but it's nearly twice the price of an Iwana, doesn't have a rod case, you can't read the warranty (unless you read Japanese), and you can't easily get spare parts.
Update November 5, 2011
Reading back over this review, it is clear to me that my overall assessment of the rod was colored by losing the tip plug and my uncertainty over how to replace it or even whether it could be replaced. I have since replaced the plug and have now developed a good relationship with the shop in Japan where I was able to buy it. Shimano rods are still not readily available in this country, and the warranty is still a mystery, but I now know that replacement parts are available. To me, that alone returns the Shimano LLS 36 to the list of practical rods. It is still an expensive rod (with a list price in Japan of about $315 not counting shipping), but it is a beautiful rod with which you can make precise effortless casts using a level line. I can't say it's my favorite rod (I prefer one a bit softer) but it is a really very nice one. If you have questions about the Shimano LLS 36 NX please go to the
contact us
page.
Return from Shimano LLS 36 NX Rod Review to Tenkara Rods
Return from Shimano LLS 36 NX Rod Review to TenkaraBum Home
Follow me on Twitter
|
