Daiwa Iprimi 60XUL-4

The Daiwa Iprimi 60XUL-4 is a 6 foot, soft, full flex, 4-piece spinning rod that is ideal for small lures and light lines. It is an "Area" spinning rod, designed specifically for fishing in lakes or in streams that have minimal current. Japanese Areas are private pay-to-fish lakes and streams. They are heavily stocked and heavily fished. Because of the heavy fishing pressure, anglers fishing Areas have gone to progressively smaller, lighter lures and lighter lines. To cast the lighter lures and protect the lighter lines, the rods are generally pretty soft.

The "XUL" stands for extra ultra light, and these rods are exactly that. They are rated for lures from just .6 g to 3 g (roughly 1/50 to 1/10 ounce) and lines of just 1.5 to 3 lb.

Wait! You mean a 1/8 oz lure and 4 lb line is too much for the rods? Really?

Yes, really.

For anglers who want a soft whippy rod, a rod as described by Erne St. Clair or Joe Robinson (see Threadlining), the Daiwa Iprimi 60XUL-4 is worth a serious look.

Iprimi_60XUL-4_2.jpgDaiwa Iprimi 60XUL-4

The Daiwa Iprimi 60XUL-4 is soft and full flex - exactly the action that Erne St. Clair had maintained was critical for executing the snap, wave, and Fer de Lance casts that he developed. According to St. Clair, the casts are more accurate and quicker to execute, and because of the reduced rod motion, are much less likely to scare the fish you are trying to catch.

Because the Daiwa Iprimi 60XUL-4 is very soft, it is better suited to fishing micro spoons or small spinners than jigs or small jerk baits. You'll detect strikes better with a steady retrieve than with a jigging or twitching retrieve. With micro spoons or small spinners, you can also fish streams (Trip Report 9-2-19) as long as the current isn't too strong and the fish aren't too large.

The 4-piece rod would be handy if you backpack to mountain lakes. A few years ago, a couple friends hiked the John Miur Trail in California's Sierra Nevada mountains. They fished along the way to supplement their diet. They took their tenkara rods and fished the streams, but by far, most of the fish they caught were in the mountain lakes. A multi-piece spinning rod was the hit of the trip.

trout-park-rainbow.jpgRainbow trout caught with Daiwa Iprimi 60UL-4

It has been a long, long time since I have backpacked in to fish mountain lakes, but I did have a Daiwa Iprimi 60XUL-4 in my suitcase on a trip out to Missouri and Arkansas (and having it in the suitcase saved me $25 each way by not having to check a rod case). Whether you hike in or fly in, having a 4-piece rod instead of the "standard" 2-piece rod is very convenient!

Of course, lakes are not just for trout fishing. I am pretty sure that a lot more people fish for sunfish and crappies in lakes than fish for trout in lakes. The Daiwa Iprimi 60XUL-4 is a fun rod for sunfish and crappies. The fish are fairly small, the lures are fairly small and most rods are just overkill.

shimano-slim-swimmer-small-brown-tenbum.jpgThe Daiwa Iprimi 60XUL-4 is perfect for little wild trout!

Then again, these rods are not just for lakes! They are equally at home in streams with modest current and modest fish. I'm thinking brookies or little wild rainbows and browns. One of my favorite streams is just loaded with 5-7" browns. They're all wild. NY doesn't stock fish that small. The state does stock the reservoir into which the stream flows, and the the browns run up into the stream to spawn. Micro spoons and small spinners are very effective there, and the Daiwa Iprimi 60XUL-4 is very well suited to fishing micro spoons and small spinners.

colorado-spinner-smalal-brownSmall brown trout caught with a Colorado Spinner

Considering that this is a soft rod, rated for very light lines and small, light lures, it would be ideal if you wanted to target micros. Most American anglers who fish for micros use spinning rods, but most ultralight spinning rods available in the US are rated for 6 lb line, which is much too heavy for 4-6" fish.

Over the last few years, "chubbing" has become popular with spin fishermen in Japan. As the name implies, chubbing is fishing for chubs. Japan has a few species of chubs, as does the US. Like the chubs in the US, most are about 4 to 6 inches long. Anglers there generally use very light, whippy rods with small spoons and spinners, although some also use small topwater plugs.

micro-spoon-creek-chub-cropped.jpgCreek Chub caught on a micro spoon

A creek chub will put up a surprisingly good fight, and will put a surprisingly deep bend in the Daiwa Iprimi 60XUL-4. I am a little surprised that more people don't fish for them. With Finesse-Fishing Colorado Spinners, Shimano Slim Swimmer spoons or Smith AR-S spinners and some 2 lb or 3 lb Sunline Area Meister line, you could have a wonderful day on a nearby stream that no one else fishes.

If you are a fan of very soft rods, very light lures and very light line, take a serious look at the Daiwa Iprimi 60XUL-4. 

Model
Type
Tip
Length
Sections
Breakdown  Length
Rod Weight
Line Weight
Lure Weigt

Iprimi 60XUL-4
Area (lake, gentle stream)
Tubular
6'0"
4
19.7"
2.3 oz
1.5 - 3 lb
.6 - 3 g (1/50 - 1/10 oz)
Rod made in Vietnam

If the button says Add to cart, the item is in stock.

Shipping is $8-12 via USPS Ground Advantage (US only).

Header photo: Tenryu Rayz RZ4102B-UL, Shimano Calcutta Conquest BFS-HG ('17)

Warning:

The hooks are sharp.
The coffee's hot.
The fish are slippery when wet.

All the hooks sold on Finesse-Fishing.com, whether packaged as loose hooks or attached to lures, are dangerously sharp. Some have barbs, which make removal from skin, eyes or clothing difficult. Wear eye protection. Wear a broad-brimmed hat. If you fish with or around children, bend down all hook barbs and make sure the children wear eye protection and broad-brimmed hats. Be aware of your back cast so no one gets hooked.

Also, all the rods sold on Finesse-Fishing.com will conduct electricity. Do not, under any circumstances, fish during a thunderstorm. Consider any fishing rod to be a lightning rod! Fishing rods can and do get hit by lightning!

Whatever you do, do it with finesse!