The Unanticipated Consequences of Using a Light Rod

by Eric Point
(Denver, NC)

This is something Chris failed to mention in his description and experiences with the Suntech Kurenai.

My Kurenai 33R weighs just 1.1 oz. and is a fun and inspiring trout and bluegill rod. There is one drawback however. I was out bluegill fishing on the small lake I live on yesterday evening. I was catching a good number of 8-9 inch bluegill on the 33R and was enjoying the calm evening. I just made a cast and was letting the fly sink. I set the rod down on the seat of my boat while I went for a drink of water. Just then, a bluegill hit the fly and the rod when skipping into the lake like a torpedo! The bluegill started towing the rod out into the lake but luckily the rod floated and I was able to retrieve it and land the fish. So I learned a few valuable lessons: 1) the rod floats (at least to some degree), 2) don't set your rod down!, and 3) beware of light rods when going after big bluegill :)

“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.

We've all had situations where seriously chewed up flies kept catching fish after fish after fish. It is no sin to tie flies that come off the vise looking seriously chewed up.