Quantum Kayak Series Rods

Quantum’s new Kayak Series rods are nice looking inshore sticks, all 7-ft. 6-in. long, light-weight and responsive. The components are solid: dual-foot Fuji Alconite guides, tough Hypalon grips, a Fuji rod seat, and a high-end graphite blank designed to survive the kayak-inevitable high-sticking. The price is right too, just a hair under $100.

Sounds good so far, but other than the shiny label, what makes these kayak rods? Quantum representatives point to the rod butts, which they say are stretched out to hold reels higher out of the water. At a lengthy 17-in., they are a lot longer than most of us are used to in this rod class. This unusual feature inspired a lot of talk at the spring shows. It was natural to question whether they’d be awkward to use.

Whatever the scuttlebutt, the proof is in the fishing. I took a set of Quantum Kayak rods down to Baja after the show, where I put them in the hands of a couple of hardcore ocean kayak fishers. I played with them myself too, managing to pry a few nice calicos out of the Punta Banda boiler rocks. This is risky fishing, where your head has to be on a swivel and all movements sure and quick. Would the long rod butt get in the way?   

It didn’t. The concern over the longer butt is a mirage. Let me explain.

Few people fish straight ahead from a kayak. The bow gets in the way. When retrieving, I usually hold the rod angled to one side or the other where the rod butt tucks naturally against my side. Personally, I did not find the longer butt awkward. When hooked up, the bent rod settled nicely against the belly.

On the plus side, the length of the butt was wonderful for longer, accurate casts. There’s only so much distance you can manage while sitting on your rear end, so anything extra is appreciated. Quantum’s new Kayak Series Rods might not be right for everyone; they work for me. Quantum is trying to make the stuff we kayak anglers want – give their new rods a look. 6 models: 3 casting, 3 spinning, rated medium, medium-heavy, and heavy. www.quantumfishing.com.

Originally published in Western Outdoor News, May 4, 2007

Light, Strong, and Built for ‘Sit-Down’ Fishing: Lamiglas Kayak Series Rods

Lamiglas has a treat for kayak anglers: a new series of custom-quality saltwater rods specialized for our ‘sit-down’ fishing style. There are seven models, 3 casting and 4 spinning, rated to handle lines from 6-lbs. all the way up to 40. All measure 7-ft. 6-in., long enough to reach around the bow or get the line out of the way of a troller’s paddle stroke.

The Kayak Series rods are remarkably lightweight and sensitive, yet built to survive punishing conditions. Lamiglas National Sales Manager John Posey said the rods’ toughness comes from the Tri-Flex construction process, an exclusive graphite-fiberglass-graphite ‘sandwich’ that produces a soft, fast-action tip and plenty of backbone for lifting fish. “You can high-stick the rod without breaking the tip,” said Posey, a good thing since it’s nearly unavoidable when bringing a fish ‘yak-side.

Unique kayak friendly features include rod butts sized for a seated fight and integrated leash points for tying down a stick that’s too good to go overboard. www.lamiglas.com

Originally published in Western Outdoor News, August 11, 2006

Unsinkable - Okuma’s Revolutionary New Floating Baidarka Kayak Rods

‘Ol Neptune is ticked. He’s going to have get his fishing gear elsewhere because kayak anglers are done donating it to the King of the Sea.

The clever minds at Okuma have cooked up a truly revolutionary new series of rods for kayak fishing: the Baidarkas. Fear not slippery hands or sneaker sets that turn kayaks topsy-turvy, these babies float! High and nearly dry too, flat on the surface where they are easy to see and recover.

The rods are largely the brainchild of Okuma Marketing Specialist Ric Hawthorne, Okuma Product Development Manager John Bretza, and Hawthorne’s Marketing cohort Marc Mills.

Mills noted kayak fishing is growing into an important business sector. “Our team knew we needed to push the envelope in rod development. We needed more than great actions, something that will change the way the industry thinks about rod design, kayak fishing and Okuma,” Mills said.

“One of the things we pride ourselves on here at Okuma is our ability to address the need for niche products, and after seeing the speed and growth of Kayak Fishing, it was an easy decision to try and do something no one else had done before,” added Bretza.

Okuma’s kayak fishing know-how originated with Hawthorne, who has an extensive history in the sport. During his time at Malibu and Cobra Kayaks, he pushed the cutting edge of fish-friendly boat design. At Okuma he’s up to his old tricks, dreaming up gear that is not only tough, it performs.

The Baidarka rods – named in tribute to the native Aleutians, whose genius created the ultimate stealth craft – are built for kayak fishing from the rod tip to the butt.

The Baidarkas’ flashiest trick is floating any reel appropriate to the action – sealed blanks and extended EVA grips see to that – but there’s a lot more here. Let’s take a look.
 
Four models will debut in July, with another three on the way. The introductory models include three 7.5-ft long IM-7 graphite inshore trigger sticks rated ML (8-15 lbs), M (10-20 lbs) and MH (12-25 lbs). These sticks are designed for classic round reels such as Okuma’s Indurons. They’re right for chucking heavy spinnerbaits in the bays, casting plastics for kelp calicos, and dragging baits for halibut.  

The fourth model is a 7-ft fiberglass rod beefy enough for big game. Rated M (15-30), it looks well suited to trolling live mackerel for yellowtail. A pair of spinning rods and a light trigger stick are in the works. When they’re ready, Okuma’s floating Baidarkas will handle the vast majority of West Coast kayak applications. All should retail for around $130.  

The introductory rods are incredibly lightweight and sensitive, with fast-action tips that shut down quickly for greater lifting power. They have durable hardened TICH double-foot AFTCO guides – a lot of them – Fuji TCS or DPS reel seats, and an integrated tie-down ring on the butt.             

The butts are shortened for sit-down style fishing. The foregrips are correspondingly longer – dramatically so to provide much of the rod’s floatation. In comparison with existing models, the trigger sticks have nearly an additional foot of foregrip.

The extra foot of foam doesn’t seem to steal any sensitivity, and it’s notched too, to ensure the line won’t scrape it when the rod is bent. Hawthorne said it has another benefit, additional leverage when you’re locked in battle with a big fish.

Hawthorne feels Okuma has a winner on its hands: “The rods fish well, with good sensitivity and great action. When people see them, we think they’ll say ‘Oh my, this is exactly what we need.’”

Yard sales just got a lot less expensive. www.okumafishing.com

Originally published in Western Outdoor News, July 6, 2007