Product Overview
DRAGONtail's original Shadowfire360 struck a great balance of quality and affordability in a tenkara rod and has long been one of our favorites at any price. Brent Auger of DRAGONtail recently went back to the drawing board in an effort to improve the original, so now we have the Shadowfire365! This is a great update to an old favorite.
So, what's different? The biggest difference is in the way this new rod loads and flexes. The older Shadowfire had a flexible tip that tapered fairly quickly into a stiffer midsection and butt. This newer version flexes more in the middle of the shaft and has a slightly stiffer tip section. Basically, this adds up to a rod that will cast lighter level lines with greater ease and accuracy, efficiently absorb energy when fighting fish and still cast heavier lines well. Take a look at Tom Davis' review on his Teton Tenkara blog for a full-on tenkara nerd comparison and his thoughts on the rod. The new aesthetics are very pleasing and add to the overall impression of quality. Here are DRAGONtail's bullet points for the update:
- Softer flex with improved flex distribution through the whole rod.
- Lighter swing weight for greatly reduced tip heaviness.
- Re-added the swivel tip lillian (by popular demand) and made it thin enough to slide through the tip so you can take rod fully apart for cleaning.
- Updated and more appealing look/graphics.
- Increased durability and strength without increasing the weight.
This is a very versatile rod that can cover a wide variety of fishing situations, from small streams to larger rivers or even lakes and ponds. DRAGONtail recommends the Shadowfire for targeting fish up to 18" but larger fish can definitely be landed on this rod with skill and patience. If you're looking for a versatile, go-anywhere rod to get started fishing tenkara without breaking the bank, the Shadowfire is a great choice.
Add a Starter Kit to your order and you'll be ready to go fishing! We recommend starting with the 12.5ft line for the Shadowfire. Looking to customize your setup? We're happy to help! Give us a call or email!
Shadowfire365 Rod Specs:
- Rod length: 368 cm (about 12 feet)
- Soft 6:4 action
- Recommended Level Line weight - #3 or #3.5
- Rod weight: about 2.9 oz
- CCS/RFI - 20 pennies/5.4
- High quality carbon fiber
- Swivel tip lillian
- Collapsed rod length: 23.25 inches
- Handle length: 10.25 inches
- 8 segments
- Universal and Plug-type tip cap included
- Matte Black finish except for handle section
- Hard Storage Tube: 24.75 inches
From Tom Davis of Teton Tenkara:
The new SHADOWFire 365 is a great rod, and deserves a look for anyone looking for a modest priced, well made tenkara rod. Personally, I like it much better than the original Shadowfire 360, as I feel this new iteration casts a lot better. If you are looking for a new tenkara rod for 2019, then consider the SHADOWFire 365. It has a great action, is durable, and will not let you down. It's also backed by DRAGONtail's unbeatable customer service!
