Suntech Field Master RC

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The Suntech Field Master II has been replaced the with a newer model, called the Field Master Suikei RC Aggresssive Hard Tone. The "Hard Tone" is what I have always called "stiff" because that seems to describe a rod well, without having to get into the nuance of what "tone" means. Actually, the Field Master II was also Hard Tone. I think I'll just call the rod the Field Master RC since no one who doesn't read Japanese would be able to read the Suikei or the Aggresssive Hard Tone.

From the description on Suntech's website, I thought the new rod would be both lighter and stiffer than the Field Master II. I was wrong on both counts. Comparing sthe two 39 length rods, the weight is exactly the same and the Field Master RC seems to have a litttle less inertia when wiggling it, which can only mean it is a bit more flexible. It is not as flexible as the TenkaraBum Traveler 39, though.

Aside from being a bit more flexible, the biggest difference between the Field Master RC and the Field Master II is that the Field Master RC does not have a lillian. Instead, it has the type of line attachment system shown in the image below. The line is tied around that narrow "waist" at the end of the rod tip. 

That attachment system works wonderfully if you are using a light keiryu line. The Field Master RC is a keiryu rod, after all, so from the rod designer's viewpoint, the switch is an improvement. When you are using a tenkara line, though the attachment is not nearly as secure as tying the line to a lillian.

I have not lost a line when using a rod with this type of line attachment, but some customers have. Tenkara line is much thicker and much stiffer than keiryu line, which effectively is just tippet material and might be the diameter of 4 lb test line, rather than 14 lb test size 3.5 tenkara line.

You could tie a bit of light braided fishing line to the end of your tenkara line and tie the braid to the rod tip, which would provide a secure connection. However, if you would prefer a lillian, the tip section for the Field Master II fits the Field Master RC. Thus, if you want the rod but want a tip with a lillian, order a field Master II tip when you order the Field Master RC. Swap the tips and use the Field Master RC tip as a backup.

The Suntech Field Master RC has the same three position zoom function and the same three lengths as the TenkaraBum Traveler rods. However, it is considerably stiffer. The Field Master RC would make a good rod for fishing weighted nymphs, but would not be as well suited to casting unweighted wet flies. You certainly could do it though. Because the rod is stiffer overall, if you want to cast a tenkara line I would recommend a size 4.

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The rest of the page was written about the previous model, the Field Master II. The new rods are similar enough that it is still relevant, though.

The Suntech Field Master 39 was the first 3-position zoom rod sold in the US. When I first ordered the Field Master 39 (back in 2012) I had been looking for a rod that had all the sensitivity and feel you get from a rod that doesn't have a cork grip, but also had bend characteristics that placed it squarely in the middle of the "tenkara rod" range. The Field Master 39 did that, and did that at three different lengths! I couldn't have asked for more.

There is a big difference between what I knew then and what I know now. Other than the few Daiwa tenkara rods I also imported that year, all of the tenkara rods available in the US in 2012 were made in China. The Chinese had no history of tenkara fishing. They made rods for bait fishing. The earliest tenkara rods in the US had actions that put them squarely in the middle of the keiryu rod  (bait fishing) range, so in retrospect, it was no surprise that the Suntech Field Master, which is a keiryu rod, had an action squarely in the middle of the "tenkara" rods available here at the time.

I would bet that all of the people who purchased Field Masters in the early years used them exclusively for tenkara fishing rather than bait fishing, though. Of course, many if not most also fished bead head flies, which is something the Field Master does quite well.

It fishes bead heads well because fishing bead heads, particularly heavy bead heads, is essentially keiryu fishing, which is done with split shot and dead drifts. And although the Field Masters do quite well with a size 4 tenkara line, they really are better at keiryu fishing than they are at tenkara fishing. However, they are still better at fishing bead head nymphs than the average tenkara rod.

Being keiryu rods, the Field Master RC are available in longer lengths - 53 and 62 in addition to the more common tenkara lengths of 39 and 44.

I've only fished a Field Master II 53 a few times, but if you are looking for a two-handed rod for either flies or bait, the Field Master 53 is a fine choice. It has the same fit and finish as the shorter Field Masters (as all the Suntech rods for that matter).

There seems to be a general consensus that zoom rods are more pleasant to fish at their shorter lengths rather than fully extended. When it comes to two handed rods, though, I think the opposite is true. I believe the Suntech Field Master 53 is nicer at full extension and much nicer fished as a two-handed rod.

Rods don't feel tip heavy when casting two handed, and the extra length provides substantially more inertia, making the rod slower and giving you a lot of tactile feedback. Whereas I fished the Field Master 39 and 44 at all three lengths, I have fished the 53 at full extension most of the time. 

Not always, though. The last time I fished the Field Master 53 was on a fairly small stream that didn't have much in the way of overhead canopy. I fairly frequently switched between the shortest setting, 4.5m, and the longest, 5.3m, depending on the stream width and cover. At 4.5m I fished the rod as a one hander and at 5.3m as a two-handed rod.

I know a lot of tenkara anglers would fish the above stream with a 360 or even 320 rod. There is room for a 450, though, and the drifts will be much better. Where the stream opens up even a little, the full 530 length will give you better drifts than you can get with a 450, let alone a 360.

For a stream like the one shown above, the Suntech Field Master 53 would be ideal. The stream is wide enough that you would certainly appreciate the length, but it is not so wide that you'd need a 62 rather than a 53. There is little in the way of overhead branches so casting and landing fish would not be a problem.

Despite being a big, beefy rod, the Field Master 53 can protect a light tippet. The above rainbow was caught on a size 30 hook and 8X tippet.

In general, I would recommend light tippets - lighter tippets than most rod manufacturers recommend and lighter tippets than most anglers fish. Most tenkara anglers fish 5X tippets. I truly believe you will catch more fish with 6X than you will with 5X. I only know of one time when I lost fish to tippet breaks with 6X and then landed a similar size fish with 5X. Most of the fish most tenkara anglers hook will not break 6X tippet!

Suntech Field Master Details

Like all Suntech rods, the Field Master is made in Japan - and it shows. The "fit and finish" are excellent. The finish is a metallic gray on the grip and zooming sections, and on the accents at the tip end of the black-painted smaller sections. The Field Master II grip is smooth to the touch, yet it is still an effective non-skid grip. Because your fingertips are right on the blank itself, it provides unmatched sensitivity so you can feel what's going on with your line and your fly. When keiryu fishing, I would urge you to use yarn markers, which are even more sensitive than your fingertips in detecting strikes.

After you have fished with corkless grips for a while, you will realize that cork grips on tenkara rods must have been copied from Western fly rods where you have yards of fly line laying on the water and lots of slack in your line -  and thus no need for sensitivity.  After fishing a light, tight line for a while, staying in contact with your fly, you will not feel any need for cork grips.

The Field Master grip screw is made of a plastic material, is beveled for comfort is knurled to provide a positive grip. The grip screw also holds the rear ends of the zooming sections when the rod is not fully zoomed. The plugs and O rings hold the sections securely, with no hint of rattling.

The fit is pretty snug, and I find it helpful to twist the sections as you are seating them. They almost snap into place. Be sure to twist them to the right (clockwise if you were looking directly at the grip screw cap). If you twist them to the left, it may loosen the grip screw cap, increasing the chance for it to get lost. Be sure to check the grip screw cap to see that it is tightly screwed in each time you extend the rod.

The Field Master 53 comes with a Fuji KTC-16 instead of the more common tip plug. The band is tight enough that it definitely is not going to come off unexpectedly.

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I do not keep the Field Master Suikei RC rods in stock, but I can order one for you if you wish. They come in 39, 44, 53 and 62 lengths.

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