Daiwa Iprimi 60XUL and 60XUL-4

The Daiwa Iprimi 60XUL and 60XUL-4 are soft "Area" spinning rods that are designed specifically for fishing in lakes or streams with minimal current. Japanese Areas are private pay-to-fish lakes and streams. They are heavily stocked and heavily fished. Anglers in Areas have progressively gone to 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 and 60XUL-4 are worth a serious look.

Iprimi_60XUL.jpg60XUL
Iprimi_60XUL-4.jpg60XUL-4

The Daiwa Iprimi 60XUL and 60XUL-4 are 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 and 60XUL-4 rods are very soft, they are 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 into mountain lakes. A few years ago, a couple friends hiked the John Miur Trail. They fished along the way to supplement their diet. By far, most of the fish they caught were in the mountain lakes. A multi-piece spinning rod was the hit of the trip.

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 and 60XUL-4 are good rods for sunfish and crappies. 

Then again, the rods are not just for lakes! They are equally at home in streams with modest current that hold 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 in that stream, and the Daiwa Iprimi 60XUL and 60XUL-4 are very well suited to fishing micro spoons and small spinners.

Considering that these are soft rods, rated for very light lines and small, light lures, they would be ideal if you wanted to target micros. Most American anglers who fish for micros use spinning rods, but most spinning rods available in the US are overkill for 4-6" fish. A creek chub will put up a surprisingly good fight, and will put a surprisingly deep bend in either of these rods. With some 1.5g Shimano Slim Swimmer spoons or some 1.5g Smith AR-S spinners and some 2 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 and 60XUL-4. 

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

Iprimi 60XUL
Area (lake)
Tubular
6'0"
2
37.8"
2.1 oz
1.5 - 3 lb
.6 - 3 g (1/50 - 1/10 oz)
Rod made in Vietnam

Iprimi 60XUL-4
Area (lake)
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

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!