Craig DeFronzo
I am 100% guilty of being a tackle snob. I like what I like and usually that centers around high end Japanese equipment. I normally have no time for anything outside of that realm. I also almost never buy into the hype associated with new tackle releases unless it has to do with something directly related to my “wheel house”. The problem with that notion is that I am pretty much shielded from all other tackle that isn't included in my own personal “realm” of interest. Somehow, on occasion, I do manage to get my tentacles wrapped up in something I normally would not have given a remote sniff too. That is the case with Kuying rods.
Kuying is a Chinese company that builds rods using mainly Japanese components such as Toray graphite, Fuji reel seats and guides on their higher end models. Not all of their rods use 100% Japanese components as is evidenced by the lower costing models they offer. I have become quite fond of Major Craft Japanese rods and currently own about 12 or so. I found myself in need of a couple of ML to M rods that I could leave at my cabin in North Carolina. Something I wouldn't miss too much when I was in Florida. I weighed buying another 150.00+ Major Craft against maybe a pair of lower prices rods. I decided to check out what Kuying had to offer. I already own 3 Kuying Teton UL rods and a Tournament series casting rod and I really like them.
The Top Caster TCS702ML spin
Perusing the Aliexpress site led me to the Kuying outlet. I scoped out the Top Caster series. This is a very inexpensively priced series consisting of a 7ft 2pc ML spinning rod and its exact bait casting match, also a 7ft 2pc ML. Both rods are available for about 55.00 ea including free shipping. Yeah, I'm sure your eyebrows raised a little at that. It is really inexpensive. Let me be the first to state that these are not bargain quality rods. They are not the garbage you might expect to find for that price in the big box stores.
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/produc ... 6343tAKixK
Breaking them down:
Both blanks are Japanese Toray 46T woven carbon cloth graphite. This is actually a fairly high grade of carbon for a rod that costs so little. Plenty of higher quality JDM rods use 46T. Lots of inexpensive rods are made of 24T or less. The blanks on these rods are sensitive and strong as I've used them in the salt for Reds and have no issues there.
The guides on my rods are both Fuji K series copies and I suspect that Kuying makes their own in house K series type guides. The spinning guides are referred to as K series and look like Fuji KLAG guides. The casting guides are known as KT series. The design of the K series guides is supposed to minimize any loops that may form around the guides or tip during casting. I assume the frames are SS as they have shown both strength and have not oxidized and I am not sure of the material used for the rings but I can attest in the year plus that I've had both rods, neither the frames nor the guides have shown any wear or failed in any way. Again, I've used both in the salt and I have used braid on them as well.
The K series guides were designed to eliminate tip and guide wrap issues associated with braided line
The handle is comprised of a comfortable EVA foam split grip wrapped around a Fuji reel seat. What has impressed me with this extremely affordable series is that its fit and finish is on par with rods that cost double and even triple as much. The ferrule joint is compact and sturdy. I've never had a modern 2pc rod loosen up. The graphics and epoxy coat on the rod are clear and crisp. Again, for a rod that costs about 50 bucks, it is as pretty as any mid end rod out there. The spline was correct on both of the rods I got and the guides were straight and wrapped cleanly with zero blems and no air bubbles.
Comfortable and durable EVA foam handles make fishing long hours a breeze
Did I mention that these are 2pc rods? They have tiny ferrules that I simply forget about. I don't notice them and I'm not sure being a 2pc rod detracts from the sensitivity of the rod
This 1 5/8” bait puts the diminutive size ferrule in perspective
On the Water:
The proof is obviously in the pudding when it comes to fishing rods and even the prettiest rod would not stack up if it didn't fish worth a damn.
In the case of the Top Caster TCS702ML spin, I use this rod mainly in a 30acre Florida strip pit loaded with bass.....so much so it has become a regular when I fish there anywhere from 2 to 4 times a month. I've used it as a drop shot rod matching it up with a Shimano Saros 2500 FA and 6lb Sunline Super Natural. Generally fishing in 12ft of water or so, I opt for a 1/8oz tungsten cylinder weight and a 1/0 Gamakatsu Split Shot hook. The rod has proven itself as an adequate drop shot rod although I do have some drop shot specific outfits that cost way more. It is sensitive enough and has the backbone to fight decent sized bass with little effort. I attribute that to its fast action.
I really never thought to use this as a drop shot only rod though. I was putting it through its paces as a general application rod, maybe one that would be a great option for someone backpacking or camping. The Top Caster got quite a workout pitching an 1/8oz Diner Shiner jig head with a 4” Yamamoto Grub as well. The bass really liked this set up and the the rod once again was sensitive enough to detect light bites and powerful enough to set the hook. This was a bonus as my true intention for this rod was to fish light crankbaits and topwaters with it. Using the same reel and line, I experimented for a couple of weeks with Lucky Craft SKT Tiny cranks and a host of other UL offerings. The rod performed great as a crankbait stick. It telegraphed every wobble the baits made and loaded up nicely when a bass latched onto one of them. I also has solid results using small 2” Pop X type topwaters. The stick was responsive and light and easily manipulated the poppers. I was able to make swift hooksets and didn't have any issue with fish coming unbuttoned. I was pretty impressed at the lower weight range of baits that this rod handled.
The TCS702ML can “do” Wacky rigs
It can “do” all typical soft plastic finesse presentations well
Fiesty gills? No problem
On the other side of the coin, I also use this rod for light inshore duty and have taken some decent slot Reds and Trout with it on moving baits such as spoons and Rapala minnow type baits up to 3/8oz but usually lighter. Again, not a worry here as this rod performed more than capable. I simply swap out the spool on the Saros for one with braid when I go inshore salt fishing with the same set up.
The verdict:
My opinion of the Top Caster TCS702ML is that it is a truly shocking surprise combination of value and quality at about 55.00 shipped, I'm not sure there is a better option at that price point. I'm not sure it would be fair to expect anything more out of a rod that is so inexpensive. Considering its low price tag, I honestly can't even recommend anything that needs to be improved upon. I think it really delivers. It looks, feels and fish's better than some rods that cost double, maybe even triple which should speak volumes. The Top Caster spin has me wishing Kuying made a few other models because I would surely buy them if they did.
I'm not sure if Kuying is trying to determine a price point based on how popular it has become since its release or it is what it is at a 55.00 stick. Either way, I'm pretty certain even the most discerning anglers would see the value and quality in this rod and not be ashamed to put down their higher priced rods to find a spot for it in their rotation.
Round Two: The Kuying TCC 702ML casting rod.
Hmmmmm, a ML casting rod might seem quite suspect to some. Why something THAT light? It isn't BFS and it certainly isn't a Flipping stick. Does it fill a necessary niche? For me, a predominantly light tackle angler, I have had several ML casting rods that I use to sling lighter spinnerbaits, JDM Chatters like the Break Blade and Dera Break and square bills, so this type of thing is right up my alley. The rod has the same components and nomenclature as its spinning counterpart, I am also pretty sure it is the exact same blank. I teamed this rod up with a Shimano Curado E 51 that had been hot rodded and improved and spooled with 20lb Daiwa Samurai.
The Kuying TCC 702ML casting rod
The baits I employed were a little heavier than light spinning fare. I went with 3/16oz Jackall Super Eruption Spinnerbaits, a host of 3/16oz and 1/4oz cranks, 1/8 and 3/16oz Chatters and even some 1/4oz jig n pigs. As with the spinning rod, I felt every vibration of the baits and the rod easily detected strikes and allowed for solid hooksets. The rod handled all of the moving baits adequately as I expected.
I experienced success with the jig n pig but I felt the tip was not as fast as I would normally prefer for fishing jigs......that is pretty much the only negative I have here. I think this is a relatively sound all purpose rod for the money otherwise. I will point out that I do fish jigs on light gear as well with my Major Craft Volkey 6-8L with relative ease. The blank is much thinner than the Kuying, but is also more sensitive.
KT guides
As with its spinning counterpart, I used it in the brine too. I put down my favorite Major Craft 6-8 Benyro M casting set up, which I truly enjoy fishing......to give the Top Caster a run in the suds. It didn't disappoint.
This funny looking snook came in the fast moving water below the Rousseau dam, the TCC 702ML handled it easily
The verdict:
If you are looking for a low cost light tackle bait casting option that has the ability to be a jack of all trades, this is a great overall option. I think it has obvious limitations based on the weight of lures the rod can comfortably handle but if you know what a ML is, you likely understand its role in your quiver.
Spinnerbaits and moving baits are what this rod was made for
Again, impressed by the unobtrusive ferrule
Overall:
I would surmise that the spinning rod is a bit more versatile than the casting rod but if you are looking for a low cost option as I was, to take camping or leave at a second location and not really miss it, I don't think there is anything else of similar quality that compares. These rods are spectacular for the price. They were specifically designed for light tackle snakehead and peacock bass fishing, so it is no surprise that they can handle bass, snook, trout and redfish.
Handling fish is not an issue. One could opt for one of each style for what many rods cost by themselves. I could have purchased 3 of these rods for what I normally expect to pay for my JDM rods. So this was pleasant experience for me. These rods come in their own soft case and would be perfect for leaving in one's truck for in prompt exploration expeditions.
They redesigned the Kuying site recently and I really had to look for the Top Caster series.....they are still there and they are still 54.00 and change shipped. If you are a first time buyer I think they give you a 4.00 discount. I abhor cheap Chinese goods......these rods are simply the antithesis of everything associated with that.
). Tackle enthusiasts and many different opinions on little things is a big part of that to me. That is why I voice mine. I do agree with you on many aspects concerning that rod. Most importantly that you get a lot of fishing rod for 50$ (Plus a bit of tax/customs in some countries). Some rods have very nice looking EVA and others do not IMO. Same goes for cork etc. On a 50$ rod maybe I should have set my expectations lower than I did - and that may in part affect my feelings for the rod today.