TackleTour

Shimano's JDM-esque Zodias 172MH



Introduction: Though they are a recognized leader in fishing reels, and their JDM rod offerings are highly coveted, Shimano has had to fight hard to gain recognition from enthusiasts in the North American market with their bass rods. In an attempt to rectify this situation, the manufacturer imported their JDM line, Expride, and last year, they introduced a new series of rods with an even more JDM feel - Zodias. But unlike Expride, Zodias was designed for the North American market both in actions and price point. Here now is our review of the $199 Zodias 172MH.

Complete Article: http://tackletour.com/reviewshimzodias172mh.html

I concur. While I can't confirm the excess gloss coating on the blank dampens the feel of the rod, I can only imagine it does just that. I also think Shimano could have dropped a size on the guide frames. It would look sick if the blank was raw / unfinished.

WOW very poor showing for the hype this stick gets???
But being unbalanced a bit porky can lead to less perceived sensitivity.
Ive handle these at shows and was never impressed by them.

Agree wholeheartedly on the balance. The 172 I have wouldn't balance out on sub 7 ounce reel so I can only imagine what the 172MH is like. I did find the sensitivity on my 1610ML and 172M to be quite good but sensitivity is subjective.