I'm looking at perhaps picking up a Shimano Yasei perch twist and jerk 203L but am struggling to find any reviews or comparisons against other manufacturers.

The rod looks right on paper and is a price i'm happy to pay, but I'd like to know what you guy think.

It's 5-12g, Fast action, 6'6". Casting reel seat. 11 guides Stainless K-type with alconite inserts.

Shimano don't seem to list a power level for the rod, I assume it's L or ML.

https://todbermanor.co.uk/baitcasting-rods/8763-shimano-yasei-perch-twitch-jerk-203l-5-12g.html

Price is good (£120). It's direct competition appearing to be the Crazee bass C662ML (£85), and the Tailwalk Backhoo rise C672ML (£130).

There is some choice here in the UK but it's pretty limited outside of specialist stores so the chances of finding a bargain are slim.


If any of you guys have used the midrange shimano rods and have a direct comparison for the feel of them V/s other brands I'd love to hear it. I'm going to have to buy blind regardless as none of my local tackle shops sell any light baitcasting gear, It's all spinning rods and the odd baitcaster that isn't suitable for dropshot.

 

I have the Yasei perch in the spinning version and it's a nice rod at the price point. All the rods you listed are going to be of very similar blank quality, so choose the one you like the build of the components best. Very unlikely that any of the anglers on this site will have any opinion of the rods as they aren't sold in America. Have a look at the Lure Anglers Society forum, or some of the many UK based facebook groups to get people's impressions of the rods for sale in the UK.

 

I picked up the Yasei perch spinning when I was in Holland in the spring and it was too windy to fish so we were killing time in tackle shops, which is an expensive way to kill time. It seemed to have a better action than others in the price range to me and I like it very much for perch and zander on the midlands canals.