The Cumara is the most
expensive rod in the
Shimano freshwater
lineup and the price
point of $199.99 for
these rods brings them
into the G.Loomis and
St. Croix space, though
not up to the top end of
it. The longer 7’2” rods
retail for just 20
dollars more. While
still cheaper than ultra
premium rods like that
of Megabass and the
Daiwa Steez series the
Cumara rods are a
considerable investment
for anglers.
Cast tests at Clear Lake
Shimano does have one
advantage going for them
however, and that edge
is the Core baitcaster.
The Core matches up
perfectly with the
Cumara in terms of
balance, feel, and
overall aesthetics. I’ve
talked to many dealers
that have said that
some anglers come into
the store are on the
edge when it comes time
to pony up for a Core or
a Cumara, that is until
they try both of them
together and they instantly
are sold. The rig
just feels "right" in your
hands, and that feeling
is only enhanced when
you have a chance to
fish the equally light
and sensitive outfit. As
with other Shimano rods
the Cumara’s other great
strength is the service
offered by Shimano’s
over the counter
warranty program. You
really don’t have to
worry about fishing this
rod hard with such a
program.
An insert following in
the tradition of the
Crucial series
Breaking it down Shimano
is proving that they are
just as much a rod
company as they are a
reel manufacturer, and
you can’t walk into a
tackle shop without
running into one of
their rods. While
Shimano gained momentum
in the mainstream rod
segment the Crucial and
now Cumara offerings are
solidifying Shimano as a
player in the high end
rod space. Adoption for
these rods always takes
more time than
mainstream priced
offerings, but the
Cumara is in fact priced
aggressively.
On our second trip back
to El Salto the Cumara
was just as good. this
rod continues to grow on
me and has proven to be
much more than just a
bottom bouncing plastics
stick
Consider the
competition, the Daiwa
Steez rods retail for
over a hundred dollars
more. While the Steez
rods and even more
expensive Steez
Compile-X cater more to
the enthusiast angler
the Cumara plays more in
between entry high-end
and premium, a market
occupied by many of the
Tier 1 and custom rod
manufacturers. Based on
features, style, and
innovation the Cumara is
actually a very good
value.
Ratings: (We've re-calibrated our ratings standard for 2008 and have included a key at the bottom of the following matrix as a guide):
|
Shimano
Cumara
CUC68M
Ratings (?/10)
|
| Construction/Quality |
The
Cumara
exhibited
a
very
good
build
quality
for it's
price
class.
It
features
good use
of
materials
and is
put
together
in a
clean
package |
7 |
| Performance |
Great
performance
in a
surprisingly
wide
range of
applications.
This may
have
been
designed
to be a
bottom
bouncing
rod but
it can
do a
whole
lot more |
8 |
| Price |
How can
a 200
dollar
rod win
a best
value
award?
When it
offers
more
performance
than the
price
implies.
This rod
is worth
every
penny
and then
some,
and can
hold its
own with
many
more
expensive
premium
rods |
9 |
| Features |
The rod
also
sports
great
features
like
overall
light
weight,
split
reel
seat,
innovative
hook
hanger |
8 |
| Design (Ergonomics) |
Good
overall,
and
while we
liked
the fact
that
Shimano
created
a new
hook
hanger
the
implementation
doesn't
accommodate
as wide
a range
of baits
as other
hook
hangers |
7 |
| Application |
This
stick
can be
used
for so
much
more
than
just
bouncing
contact
baits on
the
bottom |
8 |
|
Total Score
|
7.83 |
Ratings Key:
1 = terrible : 2 = poor : 3 = lacking : 4 = sub par : 5 = mediocre : 6 = fair : 7 = good : 8 = great : 9 = excellent : 10 = unbelievable!
For More
Details
of the
updated
rating
system
visit
our
explanation
here |
Pluses and Minuses:
|
Plus Minus
|
| J
Very
Sensitive
IM-10
blank |
L
Hook
hanger
not as
good for
some
lures or
in low
light
conditions |
| J
Perfect
match
for the
Core |
|
| J
Innovative
hook
hanger |
|
| J
Surprisingly
versatile |
|
| J
Great
price
for what
you get |
|
Conclusion:
The Shimano Cumara
is the natural
companion for the
Core, and together
they seem so much
more than they are
just by themselves.
Still, the Cumara
can be paired nicely
with other Shimano
reels (my next
choice being the
Chronarch Mg), but
seems to lose some
of its lightweight
luster when paired
with heavier reels.
Other than the Daiwa
Steez Reel/Rod combo
there are no other
single manufacturer
offers that are able
to offer such a
unique feel. The
Cumara breaks into
the high end space
for Shimano, and
while enthusiasts
are still waiting
for some variant of
the Shimano FD rods
to cross the pond
and compete with the
Steez head on the
Cumara represents
for many US anglers
a true premium
offering. Big fish
after big fish the
Cumara proved to
have the sensitivity
to detect the
lightest of bites,
and I would rank it
right up there with
Loomis IMX in terms
of sensitivity, and
when it came to
pulling the big ones
in the Cumara proved
to be up to the
challenge as well,
exhibiting more
muscle than I
expected. The rod
really grew on me,
and the more I
fished it the more I
felt like Shimano
had really done the
homework and
delivered a truly
worthy upgrade from
their Crucial
series. If the hook
hanger was just
tweaked a bit the
rod would have been
perfect for me, but
even as it is I can
wholeheartedly
recommend the Cumara
for any angler
looking for a
home for their Core,
or any other
lightweight
baitcaster. When you
consider how much
rod you are getting
feature and
performance-wise and
compare it with
other Tier 1
offerings as well as
those from smaller
rod builders the
Cumara really proves
to be an outstanding
value at 199-219
dollars.
Looking for a
Cumara? Try
Tackle Warehouse.
