Major craft benkei BIC 69 FR “frog game”

[HawgHunter13]

I have one of these rods and it’s a great rod but I can’t find anything on it even though I own one. I believe there not from the states and very popular over seas but it’s hard to find anything about them. Anyone use them and how to they really hold up? I haven’t used it much and it’s one of my frog rods but I use another setup more. Any thoughts on this one?

[BrianMDTX]

I have to admit. I read the title and thought it was the newest release from Nintendo!

[HawgHunter13]

Lol

[bulldog1935]

That's a $214 JDM rod.   

 

Here's the OOS listing at Asian Portal

 

NEW Standard bus rod BENKEI" is born! Blank design: Blank design using high-middle elastic carbon which carefully selected materials according to their individuality and use. It is a high basic blank with excellent sensitivity and operability. Guide concept: KR & K guide setting of Arkonite ring manufactured by Fuji Kogyo. It is a guide of an excellent strength ring and a light and reliable frame. Length (ft): 6'9 "Lure (oz): 1 / 4-2 Line (lb): 14-30 PE.Line (Issue): 40-60 Action: REGU
In frog games?C only its power fighting ability tends to attract attention?C but in reality it is very delicate fishing. A tight approach that reduces waterborne sound greatly increases the hit ratio. In addition?C the delicacy of the tip part that enables quick dog walking also contributes to improving the hooking rate with frog games with many mistake bytes. Of course?C the bat power which is equal to the gachinko match is certified. * The image of the product you are posting is displaying the representative image. Moreover?C the color may look different from the real one. Please be forewarned."

 

 

[HawgHunter13]

So it looks like I have a pretty high end (for me) frog rod

[fishwizzard]

As I said in the other thread, you rod came up when I was looking for a short frog rod.  I like that style of rod, "powerful with a MF or slower taper", for frogging as it really helps to keep them on the line and to reduce the heartbreak of frogging a little.  Going shorter/slower makes slackline management critical to getting reasonable hooksets, but that's a good habit to get it to in general. 

[HawgHunter13]

Good info, thanks for the help. 

[bulldog1935]

Asian Portal has the Fed-Ex over-size package charge worked into their price - Plat and Digitaka simply add it as a second charge.  Plat usually adds the "free" FedEx into pricing on higher grade rods.   I chased down my Valleyhill RO 67MMM on Digitaka, and the delivered cost from either Digitaka or Asian Portal would have been the same.  

 

Asian Portal's free Fed-Ex ($28 small package) on any $100 order has to be a loss-leader for them.  They're banking on you coming back and spending more later.  

I've bought so many small parts and lines $105 orders from them, I always check their inventory first on the reels and rods.  

 

Good call on the rod grade. No Major Craft rod is junk at any level. Fuji guides and reel seats are kind of a baseline for consideration for me - without Fuji, nothing.  

And as our OP pointed out, one man's mid-grade is another man's untouchable.  

[Jigfishn10]

3 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

 And as our OP pointed out, one man's mid-grade is another man's untouchable.  

So true...very good point

[redmeansdistortion]

I have a few Major Craft rods myself and another that has been on order since May.  Production of the rod I ordered was supposed to start in June but was pushed back, the Finetail Stream Glass.  I really love the moderate action and fast recovery of a good glass rod, but unfortunately nobody on this side of the world makes anything like that in a L or UL variant, let alone a casting model.

[HawgHunter13]

Good info, I don’t want anyone thinking that I am saying the this benkei is junk. Just don’t hear anything about them or major craft around here. I can say that I landed a nice bass this morning and it’s a solid rod. Works the frog great (I think for the backbone this rod has it has a soft tip). This said …… I am a little confused what they mean by regular fast, does anyone know what power it is? I think it’s a heavy power /moderate fast action ? Is this correct?

[redmeansdistortion]

3 minutes ago, HawgHunter13 said:

Good info, I don’t want anyone thinking that I am saying the this benkei is junk. Just don’t hear anything about them or major craft around here. I can say that I landed a nice bass this morning and it’s a solid rod. Works the frog great (I think for the backbone this rod has it has a soft tip). This said …… I am a little confused what they mean by regular fast, does anyone know what power it is? I think it’s a heavy power /moderate fast action ? Is this correct?

You're right, regular fast in Japan is what we refer to here as moderate fast.

[Diggy]

1 hour ago, HawgHunter13 said:

Good info, I don’t want anyone thinking that I am saying the this benkei is junk. Just don’t hear anything about them or major craft around here. I can say that I landed a nice bass this morning and it’s a solid rod. Works the frog great (I think for the backbone this rod has it has a soft tip). This said …… I am a little confused what they mean by regular fast, does anyone know what power it is? I think it’s a heavy power /moderate fast action ? Is this correct?

I have a few of their rods, but recently picked up a Days 70x.

I can throw a jig on it or a deps 250 which is wild to me since it's rated  3/8-3oz
My most memorable catch on it. I want to pick up a few more soon.


Yes you are correct, its like a moderate fast in most cases. My rod is also reg-fast but its pretty stout in the tip section compared to others with the same action.