The Fiberglass Manifesto: KABUTO RODS

Yasuyuki Kabuto wrote…

“To share the background behind
the development of our new fiberglass two-hand rod, I’d like to start by
talking a bit about my personal history with fly fishing.

I
first picked up fly fishing in July of 1995, the year after I graduated
from university. I live in Hokkaido, the northernmost region of Japan,
which sits at a latitude similar to Oregon. This area is blessed with
countless rivers and lakes filled with trout, making it one of the
richest trout-fishing regions in the country.

In my younger days,
I explored a wide variety of fishing spots throughout Hokkaido.  These
days, I mainly fish the areas around Sapporo, where I live.  Of all the
local waters, the place I frequent most is the Shiribetsu River, which
runs through the Niseko area, famous as an international snow resort
destination.

The Shiribetsu River system offers a wonderfully
diverse fishing environment.  In the small tributaries, native Japanese
trout species like Yamame and Iwana coexist with wild, self-sustaining
populations of introduced rainbow and brown trout.  The range of fish
species is extensive.  The river itself also varies dramatically, from
tiny streams perfect for a 2-weight rod, to wide lower sections that
require an 8-weight two-hander.  It’s a river where a wide variety of
fishing styles can be enjoyed.

All of the fiberglass rods I produce have been designed and tested on this river system.

While
I had long focused on fishing the tributaries, I’ve recently become
captivated by spey fishing in the lower reaches of the river, where I
primarily used graphite two-hand rods.  Many of today’s graphite
two-handers are superbly designed, some of my favorites include the
Burkheimer 8134.

However, I began to imagine how much fun it
would be to create a two-hand rod in fiberglass, especially because of
the unique feel it offers during hook sets and while playing fish.  I
decided to start with an 11’6” 6/7 weight model.

Given my
experience designing many single-hand fiberglass rods, I assumed I would
be able to transition to designing a two-hander without too much
difficulty, but this turned out to be a much more challenging task than I
had anticipated.

The pre-preg material I use is traditional
E-Glass, which has a relatively high weight.  With longer rods, this
weight causes the blank to bend more under its own mass—often resulting
in a rod that feels overly soft or sluggish.  Initially, I planned to
use put-over ferrules, as many manufacturers do, because they help keep
costs down.  However, I ultimately decided to use spigot ferrules, just
like I do for my single-hand rods, as they offered more precise control
over the rod’s action and made it easier to bring my design vision to
life.

Thanks to this decision, and after extensive trial and
error, I was able to produce a blank that has the smooth, bamboo-like
action I aim for in all my rods.

Looking ahead, I plan to develop two more models: a 12′ 8-weight and an 11′ 4/5 weight.

As
with my single-hand rods, the new two-hand rods also feature the
translucent blank colors that have become a signature of Kabuto Rods. 
When I first introduced this translucent look back in 2010, it was
relatively uncommon, but over the years, many other makers have followed
suit. I take great pride in having contributed something meaningful to
the world of fiberglass fly rods.

For the reel seat, I’ve paired a
Snake Brand screw-lock hardware with a stacked bamboo spacer.  The grip
avoids compressed cork as possible and instead uses only flor-grade (or
higher) cork rings.  At the top of the grip, I’ve added a check made
from Ultem resin, which provides a unique visual accent.  Thi is an
extremely hard resin, but when polished, it takes on a beautiful
amber-like luster.

As for the rod’s action, anglers who are used
to graphite Spey rods might find it a bit unfamiliar at first, but I
believe they’ll quickly get the feel for it.  There’s no need to force
the rod to bend, the key is to cast smoothly and without over power. 
When done right, it delivers a powerful and elegant cast.  The most
important thing is not to overpower it.

For the 11’6″ 6/7 weight model, I recommend a 400-grain Scandi head or a 450-grain Skagit head—both with short heads.

The
price for the Model 67116 (11’6″ 6/7 weight) is $980.  As of the time
I’m writing this, the current delivery time is approximately three
months. A few rods have already been ordered, so by the time this
article is published on your blog, the lead time may be even longer.”

Visit the Kabuto Rods website to see this and his other models.  Follow along with the latest shop news on Facebook and Instagram.