Deitz Deittrich the shimano guy....

[turn_in_poachers]

What can you tell us about the Cumulus rods? $350 for a Shimano rod seems kind of steep, but if theyre as nice as they are made out to be... I'm very interested.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I had to sign a non-disclosure on this rod, and have really only known about it a couple months. Since the cat seems to be out of the bag, I dont suppose I can get in too much trouble...

The Cumulus rod was designed to be the lightest production rod on the market today. The finished baitcasting 7'1" MH Fast tip rod will be right at or around 3.5oz. While a 6'10" comes in at 3oz... they went so far as to not put any labels on the rod which would add weight, instead, laser ingrave the rod actions and such into the blank. The guides are Titanium SIC fuji guides. Currently Shimano is releasing only 6 rods in the Cumulus line.. 3 baitcasting(6'5"M, 6'10"MH, 7'1"MH) and 3 Spinnning.(6'5"M, 6'10"M, 6'10"MH) The blanks are not normal, and do not have an IM rating like the Cumara which is IM10.. they are calling the new blank HM1, I was explained a little bit about it, but went way over my head. Something about resins mixed with high modulus graphite or something like that, but dont quote me. The price tag is not friendly, I think I heard $350 for the spinning, and an even $400 for the baitcasting.

From the sounds of it, we may or may not see them here late March?

It is my goal to be the first in MN to have one-8-)

[polarsusd81]

They will no doubt be awesome rods, but you will not see me paying that kinda price for a rod. There are some cool features and each one is supposed to be unique based on the paint at the butt section, but that is a little high for a po' boy like me.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I have a feeling you are not alone.. They are for sure going to be a specialty rod.

[TR21HP]

I guess they are no more expensive and even lower priced than some G Loomis rods but still terribly expensive.

[bemidjibasser]

Why not get a custom built rod so it is the EXACT rod that you want if you are going to spend that much cash??? I know for a fact that I can and have built 7' rods that are lighter than 3.5 ounces.

[Cecil]

I know the 7-6 you made is about as light as I currently have...

[bemidjibasser]

yeah, the 8' crankbait rod i am building right now will maybe weigh 3 ounces. The bare blank weighs 2.2 ounces. With micros and a split reel seat and split grip no fore grip it might even be under 3 ounces when done. For an 8' rod that will be extremely light.

[Deitz Dittrich]

BB-I'm not saying you have to. Custom rods are great. I think what you do get with the Shimano, a lifetime no questions asked warranty. BB- as I said, I am not nocking custom rods in the slightest. And as I said before.. these are not your normal mass built rod. They will have a small nitch of owners, thats about it.

[Deitz Dittrich]

please also keep in mind that I am probably a bit biased and can admit it as I am with Shimano.

[bemidjibasser]

As far as warranty goes, the builders that I know warranty their work. If anything I have built breaks, I will fix it. Simple as that.

[Cecil]

I like turtles

[Larson15]

I still like the cumara

[RK]

Hiya -

Kind of interesting how rod manufacturers are migrating to one extreme or the other with their new product lines over the last year or so. St. Croix (Mojo) Falcon, (Bu-coo) and Wright & McGill (Skeet Reese sig. series) all hit the "value" angle with their recent additions. Seems like Abu Garcia is following suit with their Vendetta line (which looks/feels a lot like a JDM rod actually).

On the other hand Shimano, which at least when it comes to rods has historically been really middle of the road from a pricing standpoint (great value up and down the product line, IMHO), comes out with the Cumara and follows it up with the Cumulus, Diawa has the Steez, Kistler the Helium II, and Dobyns has a new high end line too. Plus Loomis, of course.

I think you can put the Cumulus in the category the marketing types call "Enthusiast" tackle - stuff purchased more for the thing itself than its function, like $500 spinning reels and $650 baitcasters. Just a different market niche.

Probably nice rods for sure though.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[chief]

RK,

A person, less thoughtful and diplomatic than you, might change "Enthusiast" to "Exclusionary".

[JohnMickish]

Since everyone knows that Shimano purchased G. Loomis a few years ago, this rod sounds like they took the GLX technology (arguably the best rod in the world) and applied it to a Shimano rod. This should be a good one and save a couple of bucks over the cost of a GLX, plus maybe a little better warranty.

[TR21HP]

mnfishinguy,

It's nuts but you can spend up to 475 bucks on a GLX now. But I agree, I love the GLX.

[TonkaBass]

I like Loomis better than shimano rods... there I said it, and you cant hate me dietz cause they are kin!!! lol Really though I think the Shimano warranty policy is hands down one of the best out there...

[Nick Kuhn]

For that price they should come with a laser guided casting feature.

[turn_in_poachers]

I like turtles

bahahahahahahahahahahah.

It seems like a really nice rod. and I love Shimanos warranty. I'll wait for them to come out. Thanks Dietz!

[grab the net]

Kudos' to Shimano for extending that type of warranty on a high end rod. I look forward to seeing them at the NW show.

[grab the net]

What blank are you building that crankbait rod with?

[JohnMickish]

You are right, the GLX rods are WAY up there in price, but have you seen the price on the Diawa Steez rods? Ouch.

[bassNspear]

at least you look good doing it!

[bemidjibasser]

@ grab the net...

I am building on a Castaway blank that I got from Swampland Tackle. It is the 8' MHM. I would say it is closer to a MM than MHM, though.

Castaway Blank 965 XP3 Details

8'0" Length

Line # 12 - 20

Lure Oz. - 1/2 - 1 oz

PWR - Med Hvy

Action - Mod

Butt Dia. - 0.496

Tip - 6.0 this is what it is listed at, but it is actually a 5.5

Wt. Oz. - 2.2