From Passionable Fishing, our Japanese-language journal.

The Tailwalk AJIST 511 Anniversary.

Measured from the reel mounting position, it seemed about 3.5 cm longer than the Yoihime Ten 54FL.

At 64 g, it was not especially light for that length, but the balance was good.

Despite a tip diameter of 0.75 mm, the tip bent in more readily than the Yoihime Ten 54FL’s. The curve of the rod as a whole felt good too.

Three fish in fast water

I took it fishing straight away. At a spot with fast current, I landed three aji of around 26 cm.

The supple belly was part of the rod’s character. But it also left the rod a little short of power when drawing the fish in.

I had to lift the rod, then wind as I lowered it—the sort of method used for powerful fish.

Perhaps aji of around 25 cm in water without current would be the limit for bringing them in smoothly just by winding.

I lifted all three fish out with the rod. For that, the firm butt gave me no problem.

I thought the rod was well put together.

Lighthearted fishing, with plenty of ability

This felt like a rod with which I could enjoy ajing easily and lightly, yet at a high level.

Its value for money seemed particularly strong. In a way, perhaps I would be missing out by not owning one.

There was something appealing in the combination of section #1, with its solid tip and tubular belly, and section #2, the butt.

Meanwhile, my tuned HSR-63

34’s rods have considerable potential, but for some reason the maker seems to like doing things a little differently.

Personally, I had still not found a balance in one that completely satisfied me as it came. They were interesting, though. For my use, they needed tuning.

At the time, I was tuning an HSR-63 Version 3 to make its curve flow smoothly down towards the butt. I liked it very much.

Yes. This had become my favourite rod. At that point, I preferred it even to the Yoihime Ten and Hana series.

My wife described it—the rod after tuning—as “very gentle with the aji”.

Its sensitivity was also very good, although not at the VARIVAS level, and the aji did not come off easily. The sensation of a bite seemed to last longer too.

For sensitivity, I thought VARIVAS belonged in the highest class, though it was a different kind of sensitivity from the Yoihime 54FL.

These are the November 2021 impressions. This entry gives the Tailwalk’s weight as 64 g; the later grip-modification article records 65 g before alteration. Each figure is retained as written in its source.

Later entries: shortening the Tailwalk’s grip and changing impressions of the HSR-63 Type III.

Originally published on our Japanese-language site, Passionable Fishing, on 4 Nov 2021. Translated for Avantgarde Fishing. These are the author’s personal observations at the time of writing. Product availability and fishing conditions may have changed.
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