YAMAGA 12 WT REVIEW By Nick Curcione

This is a second fly rod review for the Bear’s Den and as before in the interest of credibility I want to make clear that I am not affiliated with Yamaga rods. In fact, prior to getting my hands on this 12 wt., I knew very little about the company. I learned that they are one of Japan’s foremost manufacturers of premium grade conventional and spinning rod blanks and finished rods and I like that about a company that also builds fly rods because it means they have a broad range of knowledge and experience to bring to bear on the product and that typically bodes well for the consumer. For those of you with some years behind you, you may recall that was the case with the then California based company Fenwick that offered a full complement of freshwater and saltwater sticks covering the full fishing spectrum. This was also the case with Gary Loomis when he was producing rods covering the full spectrum of sport fishing.

So, what about this new (at least for me) rod from Yamaga? I’ll get right to it and report that I am very impressed with it. As in the previous review I’m basing my evaluation not on any written specs or advertising copy but solely on its actual performance.  We all know that the two key rod functions are casting performance and fish fighting capability which make for a particularly difficult marriage when trying to incorporate both in a single stick like a fly rod. Unlike its conventional or spinning counterparts, a fly rod is the only rod designed to cast a weighted line. It’s the line that delivers the fly, not the concentrated weight of a bait or lure. This unique function presents a significant challenge to the designer/builder who is tasked with trying to insure that the rod can fulfill both functions.

If you visit the Yamaga website, you’ll see that their fly rod lineup consists of a 6,8, 9, two 10 wts. (one is designated XP), and a 12wt. The two top sections of the 10 wts are the same, but the two butt sections of the XP model incorporates the added lifting power of an 11 wt. So, if you’re looking for an 11 wt, the 10 XP is an appropriate choice. They are all 4-piece and 8’ 11” in length. (I find it curious that they are an inch shorter than the industry standard nine footers). They are rated as fast action sticks, and the joints are spigot style. This latter feature may raise some eyebrows but let me try and add some clarification. There are basically two styles of ferrule systems. The one used on most multipiece rods joins the sections by having one slide into the other (the top section slides over the lower, or the top piece inserts into the lower). The spigot on the other hand has a narrow plug that slides into the adjoining section. There’s been some criticism regarding spigot joints but much of this is unfounded. Almost all the old Hardy rods had spigot ferrules, and one of the best big game fly rods of all times, Scientific Anglers’ Great Equalizer, was joined in this manner. For some of the ten plus years I was with TFO I never experienced a problem with any of their spigot ferruled rods. When a problem was reported it was most often due to user misinformation. Some folks thought there was a defect because they couldn’t close the gap between the sections and tried to force them together. Of course, this is not what you want to do. The gap is part of the design process, and most spigot ferrules have one that is generally between ¼ to ½-inch between the two sections. The purpose of this is to allow for gradual wear but in nearly 50-years of fishing rods with this system I never found it to be an issue. So, in terms of how functional a spigot ferrule is, there is no reason for concern. However cosmetically some are put off because they do not like the way joined sections look with the resulting small gap.  Personally, I think it gives the rod a rugged, functional look but preferences in this regard will always differ.

 The website also informs us that they use Toray Nano Alloy for the butt section on all the models save for the 6 wt. I didn’t know what this was, so I looked it up and read that it’s a “dampening nylon resin that maintains the high temperature rigidity and moldability of standard nylon while delivering 4-times the dampening performance of butyl rubber and other conventional materials.” Maybe if you’re a materials expert this provides some clarification, but I still don’t have a firm grasp of what it entails. What I do know however is that it works because this 12-wt. stick really performs. It casts well and has terrific pulling power. I loved my old Equalizer which was my go-to stick whenever I was fly fishing offshore, but decades have passed and with the advances in material composition and design specs this 12 wt is light years ahead. Even compared to today’s premium rods, I would rate this as the strongest 12 wt I’ve cast and fished. 

I cast several appropriate grain weight lines on this stick, from weight forwards to intermediates and there was no problem with any of them.  The one I used the most was a 450-grain sinking shooting head. You have probably heard this before, but an important casting tip, especially with a powerful 12 wt is to avoid the temptation to use more force in your casting stroke. When handling a heavy weight stick many casters mistakenly feel the need to really muscle the rod particularly on the forward stroke. Instead, follow the adage and ‘let the rod do the work.’ Slow things down, make the acceleration and definite stop in conjunction with a sharp haul on the line and you’ll be pleased with the results.

I took it mako fishing in my home waters off San Diego and it proved to be a great day to see how it performs with powerful offshore gamefish. I took three makos that trip all on this rod and it was up to the task in every respect. These weren’t the giants we sometimes encounter, they were in the 50-to-70-pound range, but they fight like hell, and I could really put the heat on them with this stick. Whatever magical mix of materials and design strategy they used to construct it, it’s a rod you can confidently use in extreme fly-fishing conditions.

My only real criticism is the grip. It’s designated as a full well but for my tastes the indentations should be more pronounced. I understand there are infinite variations in everyone’s hands, but the same hand that casts a 3 wt. is used to handle a 12 wt and those who are more knowledgeable in this area than myself advise that a true full well design fits the ergonomic bill. The stripping guide is a tad smaller than the ones on some of my other rods, but it proved entirely functional. There was no hindrance in the line (with and without connecting loops) passing through. One item I’ve never seen mentioned in a review is the rod sock and the one that came with this stick feels softer  than some of those accompanying rods selling at nearly twice the price. Ah, price, the one prominent issue I leave for last. Given its quality components, craftsmanship, and performance creds, at $675 I feel this rod is one of the best values on the market. Enough said.