Nissin Royal Stage Tenkara 360 (6:4)
Made in Japan.
The Nissin Royal Stage 360 (6:4) action is the softer version of the 7:30, which we think so highly of. If your main use case is dry flies / tenkara flies, then this is the rod for you. It is an excellent choice for casting level lines beautifully.
Like the 7:3, we found the Royal Stage 6:4 to offer a great combination of balance, sensitivity, accuracy and overall performance. All this at price point that makes this round a tremendous value.
6:4 vs. 7:3
Compared to the 7:3, the 6:4 is a noticeably softer rod. The CCI of this rod is 13 pennies (the # of pennies required to bend the rod a full third) vs. 17 for the 7:3. Not surprisingly, the rod has more body flex, extending into the midpoint and just beyond of the rod. All of this is reflected in the RFI value of 3.61 which translates into a slower action rod. This rod is wonderful to cast and will load lighter level lines enabling delicate presentations.
This rod is also 13% lighter than the 7:3 (2.31 vs. 2.66 oz). While this is not much, it is noticeable and makes for an effortless, all day casting rod.
The handle on Royal Stage is cork and its shape has a concave profile to it. This is typical in Tenkara rods, but I found the concave profile of the Royal Stage to be slightly more pronounced. After fishing it many hours one afternoon, I came to greatly appreciate the subtleties of this grip. It’s a design that instinctively promotes a light grip and facilitates an oily smooth wrist action. All this of course, leads to a delicate cast that drops your fly softly onto the water.
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
Nissin Royal Stage Tenkara 360 (6:4)
Soft material case
ROD SPECS
SECTIONS: 8
EXTENDED LENGTH: 3.6 meters / 12 feet
COLLAPSED LENGTH: 22.3 inches collapsed
WEIGHT: 2.31 oz (2.45 oz with plug)
ACTION: Slow action
TIPPET: 5X - 3.5X
ROD FLEX INDEX(RFI): 3.61 / CCS of 13 Pennies. Find out more.
SPECIES: Trout, Bluegill
FISHING APPLICATIONS
Dry & Wet flies
FINAL THOUGHTS
An excellent level line Tenkara rod.
CASTING GUIDE:
Cast it lightly, taking the rod back to the 12 o’clock position, holding the rod with your index finger pointed forward and using your wrist. The Bow Cast works well in situations where it is required.