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CB
Rod Wars Part 12: The Cumara Reaction Rods up the ante for Shimano
(continued)
 Real
World Tests:
To test the Cumara Reaction rods we fished a variety of hardbaits at Clear Lake
and the California Delta. Though the rods are specifically designed for either
soft or hard cover we made a point to fish the rods in both and with a variety
of lures, some of which were outside the various recommended ranges of our three
test rods. During these tests we paired the Cumara Reaction rods with a wide
assortment of reels including Curados, Chronarchs and even the new Core 50mg.
With a DD22 tied on we test the
rods
Casting: The Cumara
Reaction Series rods are decent casters and felt right in the middle of the
spectrum during testing. Unlike rods made of glass where we could really load up
and whip lures the Cumara rods felt stiffer and more about accuracy than
distance. The one rod that really stood out in terms of distance was the
CUC711MH which could absolutely catapult 1oz. lures without any effort at all.
The Cumara Reaction Rods make use
of high quality Fuji SiC guides
Retrieving: The
Cumara can be compared with the Daiwa Steez in some respects, both are designed
to offer superior sensitivity with graphite but still deliver the parabolic
action of glass. While the Daiwa Steez is more ornate and definitely has more
enthusiast appeal it also does mimic glass better, the Cumara Reaction Series
never lets you forget that it is graphite but is no less effective when it comes
to loading up properly and preventing hooks from being torn out of fish during
the battle.
The Cumara CUC70H surprised us as
it was able to cast even the largest crankbaits with ease
When I started the tests I
liked the CUC76ML for fishing speed traps on the Delta, I preferred the CUC70H
for fishing medium diving cranks, and I really liked the CUC711MH for tossing
the Norman DD22 deep diving crankbaits that I am so fond of. I found the rods to
feel very precise with a wide range of baits and though they responded much like
other crankbait rods once a fish was hooked. When working lures they felt
crisper and a whole lot less sloppy than normal glass cranking sticks.
The rods feature a tiny 3/5"
foregrip which
It was these attributes
that inspired me to start working surface baits like buzzbaits and poppers with
the rods. Both the CUC76ML and the CUC711MH felt out of their element but the
CUC70H felt right at home with a buzzbait or even a spook or popper tied on. The
wide range of retrieve capabilities of the CUC70H shone even brighter when I
tied on a Norman DD22. While I was not able to cast as far as with the longer
CUC711MH the rod didn’t feel stressed at all even when deep cranking.
The CUC70H keeps fish pinned on
with a forgiving tip while the strong butt section makes it easy to turn fish
Sensitivity: The
Cumara Reaction Series are among the most sensitive crankbait rods we have
tested. Along with some of the JDM offerings and the Daiwa Steez Fle-X-Lite the
Cumara Reaction Series rates high in terms of sensitivity. Sensitivity isn’t
always one of the categories anglers rate high up on their list when looking at
cranking rods. Sure the rod has to be sensitive enough to allow anglers to
differentiate varying types of cover, but being a reaction bait rod feeling
bites is not as much of an issue when fish hook themselves.
Loaded up its quite impressive
what Shimano was able to do with graphite alone when it comes to parabolic
action
That being said it is an
added value when a crankbait rod is more sensitive as it helps anglers navigate
structural hazards more effectively. The Cumara’s custom split reel seat design
provides plenty of access to the rod’s IM-10 blank making it easy to detect any
changes in the action of the bait, and the sheer light weight of the rod only
adds to that responsive feel.
The Cumara Reaction rods feature a
more traditional wire hook keeper
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