RipHair

Having trouble finding the 4p rod. Do you know your model number? There are a ton on JDM tackle heaven but as well I don't see the 4p on amazon.co.jp or Shimano's site.

I live in the city so most of my fishing involves travel whether it's by motorcycle or plane. I have 4 or 5 St Croix Triumph 4p rods in M and MH, they are all 6'6. They've done me good the past 5+ years but learned about some of the JDM offerings and excited to try them out. I heard about Megabass Levante but then realized Orochi XXX are most likely superior in quality but they are completely sold out everywhere in Japan. My wife is over there now so she can certainly pick up anything as long as it's in stock. If anyone knows of a place in Japan that has it in stock please let me know. Otherwise, what are some other 4 or 5p travel rods I should look at? Shimano Poisson Ultima 5p looks like a sick rod but it's super expensive - I think I would probably rather upgrade 2 of my rods instead of 1 for that price. For reels, I currently have a Abu Revo STX 7.1:1 and a bass pro $99 one that is near it's end of life. She already got me a Shimano Scorpion DC 2021 in 8.5:1 so I'm excited about that. Any other reel recommendations? I was thinking about dedicating a M rod to more BFS/finesse, was planning on using the Scorpion for that but perhaps there's a better reel to pair? I guess I should really be mixing BFS in here as I think it's a completely different class but just mentioning it in case. If it helps, I fish for mostly bass avg'ing 3lb but up to 10lb sometimes and mostly.

I've had so much success using wacky rigs, weightless senkos, texas rigs last summer on the lake I grew up on when all I my life I always used rapalas, jitterbugs, moss bosses, etc... that I want to dedicate 2 of my rigs to this type of fishing. My weightless/finesse setup will be Shimano Scorpion DC 2021 with either Orochi XXX 4p M for weightless. I'm thinking 12# Tatsu FC for this. Other MH will be Abu Revo STX w/ a St Croix Triumph MH 6'6 (trying to get Orochi XXX 4p MH but all out of stock). This will be more for the texas rigs and general use. Already have some Assassin 12# I plan to throw on. I've been fishing 20# braid w/ 4' 15# FC leader up to this point on all my rigs. When wormin' I was trying to be extra careful to always have contact with the worm but I did miss a few bites also had a couple deep sets. I'm happy to move to pure FC if I get any extra sensitivity which from this forum I read to be the case. The bass I target avg around 3lbs but I guess trips down to Florida I could be getting some up to 10lbs but I definitely won't be punchin' mats seeking them out, mostly swimbaits, senkos, etc... A few questions for you fine folks: 1) Can I try to go down to 8# or less for the finesse setup? I don't think I've fished that low since I was a kid and using mono and I think it should work. 2) Should I use a backing at all? I guess it'll save on cost a bit but I really don't like the idea of an alberto knot going through my guides each long cast so happy to not do this unless there's a stronger reason to do it other than some cost savings? 3) If I go with 12# main should I aim for 10# leader or 8# leader? I like the idea of snapping the line at the leader and not somewhere along the main but I'm a bit tired of knots flying through the guides each cast if I can help it. Maybe the knot will be much smaller with smaller FC though so perhaps not so bad (thinking of my 20# braid + 15# FC knots being fairly small but not nothing).