Daiwa Sagiri

by Harold
(North Salem, IN, USA)

I have fished over a dozen times with the Daiwa Sagiri and I am quickly finding it my rod of choice for small stream fishing. It's ability to cast light lines so well makes it ideal for the smaller fish I find in small streams. I find I can cast more smoothly and accurately with it than any other rod I have tried. I can control the line so well that I can do quite well casting in and under brush and trees. I am surprised how well I can cast into the wind with a light line using the Sagiri.

The telescoping handle is wonderful for reaching out farther when the stream widens out. The lack of a cork handle is not an issue for me at all. I actually think I prefer it as it is.

I don't have access to trout streams so I am mostly fishing for bluegill, green sunfish, longear sunfish. The Sagiri is light enough to make catching these small fish a lot of fun. I have caught a few smallmouth bass 6 to 8 inches and it works wonderfully for them. The biggest fish I have taken was an 11 inch largemouth bass. The Sagiri was under powered for a fish of that size, the rod bent down to the handle. I held the rod steady and gave the fish a little when I needed to and was able to land him.

For pond fishing, where the fish are larger and I am likely to hook bass, I will stick with my Amago (I have taken largemouth bass as big as 17" with it). When I head for a stream I will be taking the Sagiri.

The tough little 9' Soyokaze is still the rod tight spaces, I love it as well.

“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.