I thought I’d add a little more on the 2500 Vanguard with the shallow spool. It is a JDM reel. It’s 5:3.1 gear ratio. I have a FL Stradic 3000c a Stradic 2500 FM I have a 4000 CI4+ the last year they made it. 
 

The 2500 Vanguard is a fine reel for light, even ultra light use. It is a 2500 size reel but of course the shallow spool mostly negates its use for serious bass work, the other thing it does have is a noticeably smaller handle than the Stradic FM2500. JDM reels always seem to come this way. It’s not a problem in that I use it as a light/ ultra light reel (as far as my use) I had looked at a 1000 Stradic FM and they are sweet little reels, I just prefer a larger model myself. 

 

That's it…in case anyone were to order one or wondered, just know it’s got a smaller than normal handle on it. 

Seems to me if the rods are the same power, the action is irrelevant because at full load they will show exactly the same bend, a parabolic one, followed by a more hinged one then rod failure. What we feel is not what the fish feels as far as load, how the rod bends is irrelevant if the fish is under the same load, which gets you the same results, remember the fish has mass that displaces water and power in the water, but no real weight, they are neutrally buoyant, otherwise they would be called rocks.

On 9/4/2024 at 9:07 AM, bulldog1935 said:

Traditional UL is a a short para-taper rod matched with a small- or micron-frame spinning reel.  The taper is intended to bend deep into the handle, making small fish feel like big fish feel on heavier tackle. 

5' Falcon UL (1990)

Modern finesse rods, along with traditional threadline rods, are longer progressive taper, and can be rated UL or XUL (sub-gram low end, and on to M in longer rods) - the taper gives powerful butt for turning fish.  

I have a few XUL spinning rods, 7-1/2' to 8', in salt finesse - these are rated down to 2-lb line, but I've never fished lighter than 4-lb salt copolymer, and can fish farther with PE#0.5 or #0.6.  

Takamiya 7'9" Rockfish XUL (2010)

UL stream casting rod rated 1 to 7 g - if I was using mono, it would be 5-lb, but I fish PE#1 (same dia. as 4-lb mono), which is 20-lb breaking strength, and 8-lb leader - I set my drag to 1.5 lbs for the rod rating.  Note 1- to 7-g rating on this progressive taper is much wider than the 1- to 2-g rating of the the traditional Falcon UL spinner above.  

Smith Dagger Stream 5'5" UL

 

Addressed the differences between UL and finesse rod in this essay:  

which also dispelled the idea of "true BFS", though some balked.  

 

I'm surprised Falcon printed 'UL action' on the blank.  UL is obviously the power.

not the question you asked but if you get some bread and go for grass carp you’re definitely gonna win 🤣

Small reel, light whippy rod, line is 6# or less.

On 9/13/2024 at 10:48 AM, KP Duty said:

 

I'm surprised Falcon printed 'UL action' on the blank.  UL is obviously the power.

100% of pros misuse action for power. Like hey I'm KVD you need this 7' mh action rod with xf tip for all your reaction style presentations.

3 hours ago, QUAKEnSHAKE said:

100% of pros misuse action for power. Like hey I'm KVD you need this 7' mh action rod with xf tip for all your reaction style presentations.

Well I'm an internet pro 🕴️lol.