Suntech Keiryu Special 53

The Suntech Keiryu Special 53 has been discontinued. The Suntech PROSPEC RC is somewhat similar. The PROSPEC RC comes in three versions, soft (中硬), medium (硬中硬), and stiff (硬調). The soft is really quite reminiscent of the discontinued Suikei ZPRO, the medium is somewhat similar to the Keiryu Special 53 or the Field Master 53. The stiff is stiffer than the Field Master.

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The Suntech Keiryu Special 53 is indeed special. They "Suntech GM Suikei Keiryu Special" had been discontinued by the time I was first introduced to Suntech. I was able to purchase some of the last few Keiryu Special 39 rods and immediately fell in love with them. They were just exactly what I was looking for. Although they are keiryu rods, I thought the action of the Medium version
(GM 粋渓　硬中硬) made them excellent for tenkara fishing.  They have a nice progressive bend profile and a slightly faster action than most tenkara rods. The tip sections are a bit softer than most tenkara rods, while their midsection is just a bit firmer.

Their light weight, three position zoom function and the ability to fish bead head nymphs better than most tenkara rods makes them perhaps the most versatile rods in the US for tenkara fishing.

After slowly building a close working relationship with Suntech, I was able to convince them to bring back the Keiryu Special 39. The following year, they offered to bring back the Keiru Special 44 for me. I then asked them to bring back the Keiryu Special 53 and they agreed. They also agreed to make a new rod, the GM Suikei Keiryu Special 27.

There was then a whole family of Suntech GM Suikei Keiryu Special rods, ranging from the Keiryu Special 27 for small overgrown streams to the Keiryu Special 53 for large open rivers. The 27, 39 and 44 have since been replaced by the TenkaraBum Traveler rods.

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Suntech Keiryu Special 53

Two factors prompted me to ask Suntech to bring the Keiryu Special 53 back into production. Interest in two handed rods had picked up, and Suntech discontinued the Suikei ZPRO 54. The Suikei ZPRO 54 was a three position zoom rod, with essentially the same three lengths as the Keiryu Special 53. It was wonderfully light and I liked the rod a lot, but its maximum tippet recommendation was 8x, which many people felt was just too light.

The Keiryu Special 53 is rated for 6X, which will be adequate for the size fish most people catch.

The Keiryu Special 53 pretty effectively bridges the gap between one-handed and two-handed rods. At the shortest length, 4.5m, it is a nice one-handed rod that is not as tip heavy as the Tenkara USA Ito, while being substantially more capable (26 pennies compared to 15).

Somewhat surprisingly, it is still a very reasonable one-hander at the 4.9m middle length. That pretty much blows away all the 4.5m honryu tenkara rods. Some people will cast it one handed even at the full 5.3m length but I think most will prefer to use two hands.

With longer rods, the rod's own inertia loads the rod, so they can cast lighter lines than you would expect. The Suntech Keiryu Special 53 casts a size 2.5 line nicely, and I really don't think you need to go over size 3, even if you are new to two handed rods.

I haven't caught any really large fish with the Keiryu Special 53 yet, but given the penny ratings, it should handle fish over 20 inches. I think the only limitation will be the 6X tippet strength.

Although I have mostly used my own Suntech Keiryu Special 53 for tenkara fishing - with a light tenkara line and an unweighted or lightly weighted fly, Suntech designed to rod for keiryu fishing. The three lengths make it just about the ideal keiryu rod for small streams. The rod is rated for tippets down to 9X, so you can go just about as fine as you would want. With a light keiryu line, small split shot and red wiggler, you will be surprised how many fish there actually are in the small streams!

If you don't fish with red wigglers, but do fish with bead head nymphs, I would still suggest the light keiryu line and yarn markers. Your casting may not be as accurate, but your drifts and strike detection should more than make up for it.

Suntech Keiryu Special 53 Features

As with all other keiryu rods I know of, the grip is a widened section of the rod blank. The grips on some keiryu rods are fairly thin but the Keiryu Special 53 fills the hand nicely.

The grip screw cap has been redesigned since Tom Davis posted his review of the GM Suikei Keiryu Special 39. It is now a one-piece plastic cap. The two O rings hold the zooming sections firmly - so firmly in fact that you probably will have to twist each zooming section to make sure it is fully seated, and again to release it.

Suntech also upgraded the "Suntech" rod sock from cloth to a stretchy knit. I like the stretchy knit rod socks much better than the cloth ones where you have to fold over a flap and tie down the drawstring.

Rather than a tip plug, which can fall out and is remarkably easy to lose, the Suntech Keiryu Special 53 comes with a KTC-16 rod cap. It really is a much more secure solution.

As with all of the other Suntech rods, the lillian is attached by a swivel that is thin enough to easily pass through the second section.

Suntech GM Suikei Keiryu Special 53

Length (extended) - 14'10", 16'1", 17'2"
Length (collapsed) - 21 1/4"
Weight (with Fuji cap) - 4.0 oz
Weight (without Fuji cap) - 3.5 oz
Sections - 12
Tip Diameter - .6mm
Butt Diameter - 22.5 mm
Tippet recommendation - 9X - 6X
Pennies 26, 26.5, 26.5

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