Tenryu Rayz Baitcasting Rods
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The Tenryu Rayz baitcasting rods are just beautiful rods, and to my eye are even nicer than their spinning rods. If there was ever a rod that just cried out for the Shimano Calucutta Conquest BFS reel, this is the rod that does!
Redesigned for 2020
The Tenryu Rayz baitcasting rods were redesigned for 2020. The new Rayz models are a step closer to the premium Spectra rods. The blanks are both firmer and faster than the original Rayz rods, which has made the rods more accurate. The carbon/glass percentage has been changed, with most of the old Rayz rods being 85% carbon and 15% glass and the new Rayz rods being 92 to 96% carbon, depending on the model.
2020 RZ542B-L (top)2019 RZ56L-BC (bottom)
The new Tenryu Rayz baitcasting rods are shorter than the comparable original Rayz models. The "Light" rod for 2020 is 5'4" compared to 5'6" in the original Rayz. As the photo above illustrates, most of the length reduction is in the grip behind the reel seat. You don't need a two-handed grip to cast a 5'4" rod, so you don't need much length behind the reel seat.
The Ultralight rod for 2020 is 4'10", five inches shorter than last year's model. I think that will be welcomed by small stream anglers. It has the same shorter grip as the Light rod, but the business end is a few inches shorter also, which will make the rod a bit more convenient for narrow streams and for underhand flip casts.
The rod specs for the Ultralight and Light rods are unchanged from last year, although this year Tenryu gives a bit more information, suggesting that the Ultralight rod was optimized for 3 gram spoons and spinners, while the Light rod was optimized for sinking minnow plugs up to 5 grams or spoons up to 8 grams. I had kept an RZ53UL-BC for myself, and can attest that it worked very nicely with 2.5 and 3 gram spoons, but was not at all overburdened with 4.5g sinking minnow plugs. I think I would key on the 4.5g weight to determine whether to get the UL or L rod. If you fish with lures of 4.5g and under, get the UL. If 4.5g and over, get the L.
For bigger water and bigger fish, there is also a 7'1" Medium Light Medium (between Light and Medium) optimized for 7 cm minnow plugs up to 10 grams, and spoons up to 14 grams.
Tenryu Rayz RZ542B-L|
Model |
RZ4102B-UL |
RZ542B-L |
|
Model |
RZ712B-MLM* |
2019 Tenryu Rayz Baitcasting Rods - 25% off
Tenryu Rayz RZ3UL-BC and Shimano Calcutta Conquest BFS HG
Tenryu Rayz RZ3UL-BC, Shimano Calcutta Conquest BFS HG,Varivas Bait Finesse Nylon line, Daiwa Crusader Red Gold 2.5g spoon
Tenryu Rayz RZ56L-BCRZ53UL-BC (Sold Out)
The Tenryu Rayz RZ53UL-BC is sold out and no longer available. The information below is provided because the replacement RZ4102B-UL shares the same lure and line ratings. The performance will be comparable, although the new rod is a bit faster and a bit more accurate.
The RZ53UL-BC is the Twitchin' baitcast model. It is tuned to cast lightweight lures with pinpoint accuracy. It will work well with minnow plugs with a bait finesse reel.
Tenryu Rayz RZ53UL-BC and Shimano Aldebaran BFS XGThe rod will also work with the 2.2g Ajing jig heads and small plastics. The Cultiva Pinworms and Ring Kick Tail worms both work quite well for either smallmouth bass or trout. I have also done quite well with the rod using the 2.5g Daiwa Crusader spoons, which is what the fish in the photo below took.
Tenryu Rayz RZ53UL-BC, Shimano Calcutta Conquest, Rainbow TroutDo not think that just because it is an ultralight rod it can only handle ultralight fish!
Tenryu Rayz RZ53UL-BC, Daiwa Alphas Air Stream Custom, Northern PikeAnd don't think that just because it is a trout rod it can only handle trout.
RZ56L-BC (sold out)
The RZ56L-BC is the Jerkin' baitcast model. It is designed for use throughout the mountain stream area with slightly heavier lures, such as the Daiwa Silver Creek 4.5g heavy sinking minnow.
The
micro guides maximize the benefits of the slim lightweight blank.
RZ75M-BC
Versatile rod for larger lures and larger fish in wider rivers.
Model
Type
Length
Sections
Breakdown
Length
Rod Weight
Line Weight
Lure Weight
Sale price
RZ75M-BC*
Wild (stream)
7'5"
2
45 1/2"
3.9 oz
4 -10 lb
3/16 - 11/16 oz (5 - 20g)
$318.75
Made in Japan
Few rods left in stock.
One last point - when you put the two sections together there will be a gap as shown in the photo below. That is normal. Don't force them.
There is supposed to be a gap. Don't force it.Shipping
Domestic shipping is $10 via USPS Priority Mail (2-3 day delivery).
The
charge for international shipping depends on the destination country,
the weight of the package, the overall length of the package and the
value of the package. Packages under 24" long and under $400 in value
will go via USPS First Class International. Packages over 24" or over
$400 will go via USPS Priority Mail International. The International shipping charge will be calculated at checkout.
*Domestic shipping charge for the RZ712B-MLM and RZ75M-BC is $20.
Warning:
The hooks are sharp.
The coffee's hot.
The fish are slippery when wet.