BlueCurrent III
Core light game series, 5'3" to 8'2" spinning and bait, jigheads to plugs and rigs to 20 g
BlueCurrent III is the core of Yamaga Blanks' light game range and its value line, released in 2020, with two bottom-game models added in February 2024. Yamaga lists its aims as a wide release point for easier casting, a smooth, continuous bend that avoids tension loss, and faster response so the rod works as an extension of the hand. The blanks run 90.5 to 96.4 percent carbon with put-over ferrules, Fuji SiC-S stainless-frame K guides and Fuji seats. Japanese retail runs from ¥25,500 to ¥33,500 ex-tax.
The spinning models step up by length and load. The 53 and 510 are close-range rods for jigheads from under 1 g to about 1.5 g on PE 0.06 to 0.3 or 1 to 3 lb; the 63 and 69 add small plugs; the 74 is the all-rounder for jigheads, sinker rigs, metal jigs and plugs to 10 g; the 711 casts light jigheads long distances; and the 82 is a power finesse rod for jigheads up to 20 g and 7 to 9 cm plugs. The 76 Stream is a plugging rod for fish holding in current.
The bait models (53/B, 69/B, 78/B and 82/B) pair the same lengths with baitcasting reels, and Yamaga notes the 53/B also works for bait finesse in mountain streams. The 78 and 78/B are the bottom models, aimed mainly at black sea bream: the spinning 78 also works plugs with a responsive belly, while the 78/B is the more specialised bottom rod for free rigs and Texas rigs, using the sensitivity of the retrieve.
Shaded band: the spread of the lineup's 13 models, as percentile rank among same-type rods. Solid line = series median · dashed ring = catalog median.
- Models
- 13 9 spinning · 4 casting
- Length
- 5'3"–8'2" 1.61–2.50 m
- Power
- XUL–ML 4 classes
- Inferred
- Line
- 1–10 lb 0.1–0.8PE
- Lure
- 1/96–11/16 oz 0.1–20 g
- Released
- 2020–2024
Rods in this series
13 models| Save | Model | Length | Power | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53 | 5'3" | XULI | Buy from Yamaga Blanks | |
| 53/B | 5'3" | XULI | Buy from Yamaga Blanks | |
| 510 | 5'10" | XULI | Buy from Yamaga Blanks | |
| 63 | 6'3" | XULI | Buy from Yamaga Blanks | |
| 69 | 6'9" | XULI | Buy from Yamaga Blanks | |
| 69/B | 6'9" | ULI | Buy from Yamaga Blanks | |
| 74 | 7'4" | XULI | Buy from Yamaga Blanks | |
| 76 Stream | 7'6" | LI | Buy from Yamaga Blanks | |
| 78 | 7'8" | MLI | Buy from Yamaga Blanks | |
| 78/B | 7'8" | LI | Buy from Yamaga Blanks | |
| 711 | 7'11" | LI | Buy from Yamaga Blanks | |
| 82 | 8'2" | MLI | Buy from Yamaga Blanks | |
| 82/B | 8'2" | MLI | Buy from Yamaga Blanks |
I Power rating inferred from the lure / line-weight recommendation — not specified by the manufacturer.
Model notes
All 13 models5'3" two-piece for close-range jighead fishing under 1 g, rated to 4.5 g with jigheads from 0.1 g on PE 0.06 to 0.3 or 1 to 3 lb. Yamaga also lists mountain-stream trout among its targets.
5'3" baitcasting finesse rod for jigheads under 1 g at close range, which Yamaga also recommends for bait finesse in mountain streams. Rated 0.5 to 4.5 g on PE 0.3 to 0.5 or 3 to 5 lb.
5'10" short rod tuned for 0.5 to 1.5 g jigheads at close range, a little stiffer and sharper than the 53 for casting in wind and twitching in daytime. Rated 0.3 to 4.5 g on PE 0.06 to 0.3 or 1 to 3 lb.
6'3" short rod covering jigheads of about 0.5 to 3 g with enough distance to reach fish, plus plugs around 2 g. Rated 0.3 to 5 g on PE 0.06 to 0.3 or 1 to 3 lb.
6'9" technical jighead and plug model with a carefully tuned belly for twitching and jerking jigheads and working plugs with little travel, also suited to boat mebaru and boat ajing. Rated 0.3 to 7 g on PE 0.08 to 0.4 or 1 to 4 lb.
6'9" standard baitcasting model of the series for jigheads and plugs worked precisely, with a flexible tip and a moderately stiff belly. Rated 0.8 to 7 g on PE 0.3 to 0.6 or 3 to 6 lb.
7'4" all-rounder of the series for jigheads, sinker rigs, metal jigs and plugs, keeping its sensitivity below 10 m. Rated 0.3 to 7 g with jigheads and up to 10 g with rigs on PE 0.1 to 0.5 or 1 to 5 lb.
7'6" plugging rod for fish holding in complex current, working topwater plugs, minnows and sinking pencils from small aji sizes up to seabass and black sea bream plugs. Rated for plugs of 1.6 to 12 g on PE 0.3 to 0.8.
7'8" spinning bottom and hard-lure model released in February 2024 for black sea bream, seabass and rockfish, with a flexible tip and resilient belly for topwater popping over micro-bait feeds as well as free rigs. Rated 1 to 15 g on PE 0.3 to 0.8.
7'8" baitcasting bottom rod released in February 2024 for free rigs and Texas rigs on bream, flathead and other bottom fish from surf, estuaries, breakwaters and pebble beaches. Rated 2 to 15 g on PE 0.4 to 0.8.
7'11" long-cast light jighead rod that keeps contact with the current and the jighead at distance, in fast water and deep areas. Rated for jigheads of 0.5 to 7 g and rigs of 2 to 11 g on PE 0.2 to 0.6.
8'2" power finesse rod for long casts to fish in weed and fast current, handling 7 to 9 cm plugs for seabass and black sea bream and swimming jigheads up to 20 g for rockfish. Rated 2 to 20 g on PE 0.3 to 0.8.
8'2" long baitcasting rod for distance with jigheads, floats, jigs, rigs and plugs, covering surface seabass and black sea bream, rockfish and aji. Rated 2 to 20 g on PE 0.4 to 0.8 or 4 to 10 lb.