First Foray Into the Dark Side (first JDM order)

[garroyo130]

Well I just ordered my first JDM rod. I was looking for a panfish/trout rod and thought I had settled on either a Lamiglass panfish or TFO panfish rod until I stumbled upon the countless threads on JDM rods. Ended up ordering a Major Craft Trapara Area Model TXA-632SUL from asianportal. This is my first JDM purchase and between conversions, language barriers, and lack of reviews, gotta say it was a bit scary even for an inexpensive rod ... but I have a feeling the bait monkey will like JDM offerings.

[Eric 26]

I feel the same way. After reading multiple threads on this site and @bulldog1935  consistently showing some of the most amazing gear on here, I pulled the trigger after @Bassjam2000 posted on the Tatula 80. My only regret is I feel the bait monkey has found a new partner in his cousin the JDM bait monkey ?

[bulldog1935]

I was so impressed with my first Valleyhill rod, I came back for 2 others. 

All-range BFS 6'7"

Inshore MH 7'5"

Inshore MH 7'2"

For their weight rating and action, they're surprisingly light in hand.  Though I'd have to admit, if I could find similar configurations in Yamaga Blanks, would head straight there. 

Y/B rods are shocking lightweight for their long length, most aimed for shore fishing, and they just don't make boat rods in my target niches - their boat rods are aimed for near/offshore. 

[garroyo130]

@bulldog1935 I read your posts on rockfish rods and was tempted, but for the amount of panfish/trout fishing I do, I couldn't justify the price. Now for bass rods ... different story

[Eric 26]

29 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

I was so impressed with my first Valleyhill rod, I came back for 2 others. 

All-range BFS 6'7"

Inshore MH 7'5"

Inshore MH 7'2"

For their weight rating and action, they're surprisingly light in hand.  Though I'd have to admit, if I could find similar configurations in Yamaga Blanks, would head straight there. 

Y/B rods are shocking lightweight for their long length, most aimed for shore fishing, and they just don't make boat rods in my target niches - their boat rods are aimed for near/offshore. 

I’m starting to think you’re my personal bait monkey with all these posts?. I’m still drooling over that ZPI Alcance?. It’s a good thing I’m not a bicycle enthusiast ?

[bulldog1935]

The Alcance is electric-fast.  It came up on a recent parallel discussion about the surprising Super Duty G. 

The Alcance has the magnesium spool options not available for Lew's, and just astounds with cast distance.  And of course it's overall lighter weight. 

 

[KP Duty]

Don't be surprised when a duty fee bill from fedex shows up in the mail.....usualky about 7-10 days after you receive your jdm rod.  

[The Bassman]

3 hours ago, KP Duty said:

Don't be surprised when a duty fee bill from fedex shows up in the mail.....usualky about 7-10 days after you receive your jdm rod.  

I've ordered two rods from Asian Portal by way of Fed Ex with no fees. They were two piece, hence smaller packaging if that makes any difference. Shipping was expensive but evened out because of low item price.

[redmeansdistortion]

Now is the time to buy JDM, the exchange rate is crazy good right now.  You get a lot more for your money at this point in time.  Here are a couple of my glass trout rigs.

 

 

[bulldog1935]

I have been buying from Japan for 20 years, since the only way to buy was using a broker in Japan, both because of the language barrier and banking laws - even if they sell through paypal, it must be based in an offshore bank - offshore credit cards are not accepted in Japan by law. 

Then, it was the only place you could find quality new glass fly rods, and we had a cult going on FFR for Kineya, Trutta, Quiet Loop, Norie, Studio Thin Line, brown-glass Fenwick, etc. 

I still use Masamichi at noppin.com for shops that don't sell direct to US, such as SquidMania, Haneda Craft, and KTF (exceptional spool bearings).  He's also set up to bid for you on yahoo.jp. 

This was a rolled-on-order S-glass inshore fly rod that cost what you'd expect

I've also been buying from UK and EU that long. New and antique fly reels, all those bike parts @Eric 26 dreads.  Tackle and bike parts from across both big ponds for half what you'd pay here for the same. 

 

@KP Duty  I have never once been required to pay an import duty on my purchases. 

 

the triangle with the lightning bolt is the JDM home market quality approval sticker

 

A funny story about import duties.  JY Young & Sons of Redditch (est.1905) decided in 2001 they couldn't compete with offshore manufacturing in fly reels, and closed the line.  This Revolution, s/n 139 was made the last month they were open. 

 

FishPersonKev on ebay bought the entire parts inventory, assembled the reels here, and sold them as J. Austin Forbes.  He carried the entire parts inventory in his suitcase on successive trips to and from Redditch, to avoid customs duties. 

It took him more than 11 years to sell all the reels and close his website. 

[redmeansdistortion]

19 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

the triangle with the lightning bolt is the JDM home market quality approval sticker

And here I always thought it was a warning for fishing during thunderstorms lol

[FishTank]

I just made an order for a Megabass Valkyrie. I am kind of nervous about a rod being shipped from Japan.  I have ordered several reels but this will be my first rod.  We will see how it goes.

 

I also found a good deal on a Megabass P5 Destroyer X-Bites. If the one I just ordered arrives in one piece, this one will be the next. 

[Tatulatard]

13 minutes ago, FishTank said:

I just made an order for a Megabass Valkyrie. I am kind of nervous about a rod being shipped from Japan.  I have ordered several reels but this will be my first rod.  We will see how it goes.

 

I also found a good deal on a Megabass P5 Destroyer X-Bites. If the one I just ordered arrives in one piece, this one will be the next. 

Wowzers.  Can't you get them in the US with warranty?

[FishTank]

Just now, Tatulatard said:

Wowzers.  Can't you get them in the US with warranty?

I doubt it. For the price I paid, I thought it was worth the risk.  

 

Megabass has, in the past to me, been pretty tight lipped when it comes to their warranty. But on the other hand, they did recently warranty two old Vision 110's that had the internal balls stuck in the front of them. 

 

 

[Tatulatard]

2 minutes ago, FishTank said:

I doubt it. For the price I paid, I thought it was worth the risk.  

 

Megabass has, in the past to me, been pretty tight lipped when it comes to their warranty. But on the other hand, they did recently warranty two old Vision 110's that had the internal balls stuck in the front of them. 

 

 

The tackle trap has them.  They run about $450 if you use their code.  I added one to my checkout once just to see what the damage would be.  They look and sound cool but are too rich for my blood. 

[FishTank]

6 minutes ago, Tatulatard said:

The tackle trap has them.  They run about $450 if you use their code.  I added one to my checkout once just to see what the damage would be.  They look and sound cool but are too rich for my blood. 

Sorry I didn't read your post correctly..... Yes you can get the Megabass P5's in the US with a US warranty but they run about $500. I can get one sent from Japan for $365 but no warranty.  

[Tatulatard]

1 hour ago, FishTank said:

Sorry I didn't read your post correctly..... Yes you can get the Megabass P5's in the US with a US warranty but they run about $500. I can get one sent from Japan for $365 but no warranty.  

I was talking about the valkaryie.  The trap has them with us warranty.  They seem like really cool rods.

[warefisher]

On 4/20/2022 at 6:54 AM, redmeansdistortion said:

Now is the time to buy JDM, the exchange rate is crazy good right now.  You get a lot more for your money at this point in time.  Here are a couple of my glass trout rigs.

 

 

That’s a beautiful reel!  Shimano Conquest, right?  Am tempted just on looks alone.

[warefisher]

I can get the Daiwa reel I want on AliExpress.  Any issues there?  Used successfully by anyone?  They’re the only source I can find for a specific Daiwa model, at this time.

[redmeansdistortion]

43 minutes ago, warefisher said:

That’s a beautiful reel!  Shimano Conquest, right?  Am tempted just on looks alone.

Millionaire CT SV up top and Calcutta Conquest BFS on the bottom.

[Eric 26]

43 minutes ago, warefisher said:

I can get the Daiwa reel I want on AliExpress.  Any issues there?  Used successfully by anyone?  They’re the only source I can find for a specific Daiwa model, at this time.

I’ve purchased through Ali Express and had zero issues. It’s my understanding it’s similar to using google, make sure the seller has a solid reputation and you should be fine. Hopefully others will chime in as well.

[Tatulatard]

3 hours ago, warefisher said:

I can get the Daiwa reel I want on AliExpress.  Any issues there?  Used successfully by anyone?  They’re the only source I can find for a specific Daiwa model, at this time.

I got my tatula elite from them and a bunch of reel color parts.  It takes forever for anything to get here though but yeah they are legit.

[garroyo130]

Well my first JDM order happened exactly how I dreamed it would ... just like in the nightmares I had the rod arrived broken in a bunch of pieces. Time to file a claim with FedEx ... 

[KP Duty]

8 hours ago, garroyo130 said:

Well my first JDM order happened exactly how I dreamed it would ... just like in the nightmares I had the rod arrived broken in a bunch of pieces. Time to file a claim with FedEx ... 

That surprises me.  I've had a couple of rods show up broken, but they were all from sierra trading and they ship rods in thin cardboard tubes (still love the place though).  All my jdm rods were shipped in pvc.  Hope it all works out.  Major bummer.

[bulldog1935]

FedEx conveyors are the death of many packages. 

Over 20 years, I've purchased a dozen +2 JDM rods without any damage. 

I've always been impressed with the quality of packing on these rods - some seem like you could drive a UPS truck over them without damage. 

Most recent rod purchases were from Plat, Asian Portal and FishingShop,kiwi. 

I'm curious whether quality of vendor packaging was a factor, and what Japan vendor you used.