KABUTO RODS - Introducing Model 67116 Two-Hander Glass Fly Rod

The latest offering from Kabuto Rods has been a long time coming as Yakuyuki Kabuto has been working through various prototypes to add fiberglass two-handers to his list of offerings.  Great things are always worth the wait.

The Model 67116 is the first of several new Kabuto Rods fiberglass two-hander models, with this one being an 11'6" 6/7 weight.  In the coming months, Model 4511, a 11' 4/5 weight, and Model 8120, a 12' 8-weight, are still in the works with both being planned for release in spring 2026.

I asked Yakuyuki if he'd provide some background on this new offering and he went in depth with a lot of excellent details into his process, which I greatly appreciate.  I hope you do as well.  

Yasuyuki Kabuto wrote...

"To share the background behind the development of our new fiberglass two-hand rod, I’d like to start by talking a bit about my personal history with fly fishing.

I first picked up fly fishing in July of 1995, the year after I graduated from university. I live in Hokkaido, the northernmost region of Japan, which sits at a latitude similar to Oregon. This area is blessed with countless rivers and lakes filled with trout, making it one of the richest trout-fishing regions in the country.

In my younger days, I explored a wide variety of fishing spots throughout Hokkaido.  These days, I mainly fish the areas around Sapporo, where I live.  Of all the local waters, the place I frequent most is the Shiribetsu River, which runs through the Niseko area, famous as an international snow resort destination.

The Shiribetsu River system offers a wonderfully diverse fishing environment.  In the small tributaries, native Japanese trout species like Yamame and Iwana coexist with wild, self-sustaining populations of introduced rainbow and brown trout.  The range of fish species is extensive.  The river itself also varies dramatically, from tiny streams perfect for a 2-weight rod, to wide lower sections that require an 8-weight two-hander.  It's a river where a wide variety of fishing styles can be enjoyed.

All of the fiberglass rods I produce have been designed and tested on this river system.

While I had long focused on fishing the tributaries, I’ve recently become captivated by spey fishing in the lower reaches of the river, where I primarily used graphite two-hand rods.  Many of today’s graphite two-handers are superbly designed, some of my favorites include the Burkheimer 8134.

However, I began to imagine how much fun it would be to create a two-hand rod in fiberglass, especially because of the unique feel it offers during hook sets and while playing fish.  I decided to start with an 11’6” 6/7 weight model.

Given my experience designing many single-hand fiberglass rods, I assumed I would be able to transition to designing a two-hander without too much difficulty, but this turned out to be a much more challenging task than I had anticipated.

The pre-preg material I use is traditional E-Glass, which has a relatively high weight.  With longer rods, this weight causes the blank to bend more under its own mass—often resulting in a rod that feels overly soft or sluggish.  Initially, I planned to use put-over ferrules, as many manufacturers do, because they help keep costs down.  However, I ultimately decided to use spigot ferrules, just like I do for my single-hand rods, as they offered more precise control over the rod’s action and made it easier to bring my design vision to life.

Thanks to this decision, and after extensive trial and error, I was able to produce a blank that has the smooth, bamboo-like action I aim for in all my rods.

Looking ahead, I plan to develop two more models: a 12' 8-weight and an 11' 4/5 weight.

As with my single-hand rods, the new two-hand rods also feature the translucent blank colors that have become a signature of Kabuto Rods.  When I first introduced this translucent look back in 2010, it was relatively uncommon, but over the years, many other makers have followed suit. I take great pride in having contributed something meaningful to the world of fiberglass fly rods.

For the reel seat, I’ve paired a Snake Brand screw-lock hardware with a stacked bamboo spacer.  The grip avoids compressed cork as possible and instead uses only flor-grade (or higher) cork rings.  At the top of the grip, I’ve added a check made from Ultem resin, which provides a unique visual accent.  Thi is an extremely hard resin, but when polished, it takes on a beautiful amber-like luster.

As for the rod’s action, anglers who are used to graphite Spey rods might find it a bit unfamiliar at first, but I believe they’ll quickly get the feel for it.  There’s no need to force the rod to bend, the key is to cast smoothly and without over power.  When done right, it delivers a powerful and elegant cast.  The most important thing is not to overpower it.

For the 11'6" 6/7 weight model, I recommend a 400-grain Scandi head or a 450-grain Skagit head—both with short heads.

The price for the Model 67116 (11'6" 6/7 weight) is $980.  As of the time I’m writing this, the current delivery time is approximately three months. A few rods have already been ordered, so by the time this article is published on your blog, the lead time may be even longer."

Visit the Kabuto Rods website to see this and his other models.  Follow along with the latest shop news on Facebook and Instagram.