Daiwa 53M

by Dean Price
(Australia)

I had been fishing for a while with 43M and wanted to start fishing with the larger version 53M. It was hard at first to get used of the extra length and stronger feel of the 53M compared to the 43M. However I started to get breakthroughs with this rod when fishing with it on a large still water river on a stand up paddle board catching Australian bass. These are very similar to small mouths.

I took this rod to New Zealand and caught a very big brown trout in the Tongariro river with the fish running downstream with the fast current and thinking I was to be snapped off. Surprisingly I gained control with the 17 foot power stick and managed to beach the large trout surprisingly very quickly.(No running or chucking!)

During a recent casting practice I was casting some 4.5 Sunline 100% fluorocarbon that I bought off TenkaraBum and it casts beautifully and can't wait to use this combination on the fish. Recent lines I have used have been to heavy (furled) or a little light but the Sunline 4.5 seems to be perfect for my needs.

“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten” - Benjamin Franklin

"Be sure in casting, that your fly fall first into the water, for if the line fall first, it scares or frightens the fish..." -
Col. Robert Venables 1662

As age slows my pace, I will become more like the heron.