【Beginner in Stream Fishing】Trying out the super budget stream rod "Masu Ranger" priced around 3000 yen, new model for 2026

I purchased a new stream fishing rod (pole) "Masu Ranger," the 2026 new model. I headed to the river on a nice day to conduct a usage test. With good cost performance and beautiful coloring, how was the catch!?

The easily accessible-priced stream fishing rod "Trout Ranger," what's its cost performance like!?

I will test the newly purchased Ohashi Fishing's stream fishing rod "Trout Ranger MorphoRise SP-50." The author acquired this rod for 3861 yen.

The Trout Ranger series is a well-known rod among fishing enthusiasts, known for its affordable fiberglass rods that offer great cost performance and enjoyment. I bought it because I wanted to expand my fishing techniques and experience the difference from the carbon rod I usually use.

First, I chose a wide part of the river to check the casting distance and maneuverability. To be honest, I didn't expect to catch anything right away, so I decided to enjoy fishing freely with the new rod.

That day, the weather was clear and pleasant for the first time in a while. The color of the purchased Trout Ranger MorphoRise, TwilightRise, has an attractive metallic color that changes appearance when reflecting sunlight. Other colors include "AquaRise" and "ForestRise."

I didn't need to catch anything, but I still wanted to!

Since it was my first time in this place, I lacked familiarity with the area and couldn't proceed further on foot. Once I started fishing, I began to desire a catch, so I decided to look for other potential spots. What I learned from starting stream fishing is that you can't gather information unless you go there yourself. I have no choice but to search for spots on foot.

There are some points of concern, but there are also beautiful sights.

What caught my attention is that there are many troubles with the line entangling at the tip of the rod when reeling it in. Every time it gets tangled, I have to untangle it by hand, which disrupts the rhythm. I don't know if it's an issue with the tip part at the end of the rod or a characteristic of the rod itself. Since the way I handle the rod has changed, I can't identify the cause.

On this day while walking and fishing, I often saw beautiful blue dragonflies. They were likely a species called "Aohada Dragonfly," flying around me in pairs. Their metallic texture and vibrant colors match well with the trout ranger. Thanks to purchasing a new rod, I was able to witness this sight.

I was able to catch an Iwana after persevering.

To be honest, I was about to give up, but after sticking with it, I managed to catch a single Iwana about 20cm long! When I threw the lure into the strong current, I felt the vibrations of the fish through the rod with the splash of water. Thanks to the good grip of the trout ranger, I succeeded in catching it without losing it! It was worth continuing to trust this rod and walk along the river.

When the rod changes, the way of fishing changes significantly, and I feel I have understood the importance of using different rods depending on the location. The glass rod is quite flexible, making it difficult to manipulate the lure, but it has an impression of absorption that prevents losing fish. Also, when you visit various fields, there may be new discoveries.

Interview and text by Kazuma Tanaka

Search Masu Ranger on Amazon