DRAGONtail Hydra 395 v2 Tenkara Rod Review

Order the NEW Hydra 395 v2 Tenkara Rod at DRAGONtail Tenkara!

From the introduction of tenkara to the USA zoom rods have been popular with anglers. The term “zoom” rod comes from Shimano and some of the multi-length rods designed by Dr. Hisao Ishigaki. In the USA, the triple zoom rod has without a doubt been the most popular iteration of the multi-length rod. While so called “triple” zoom rods actually only have two extendable lengths, the marketing convention is they are called triple zoom rods because they can be fished at three different lengths.

But triple zoom rods are anything but easy to make. Sure, every domestic tenkara rod company has their version, but interestingly, most JDM tenkara companies avoid them. They are notorious in being overly heavy and clunky to fish. They frequently have varying actions depending on the extended length. And they just don’t cast like a fixed length tenkara rod. But many folks like them and they are money spinners for tenkara rod companies.

Well, in the spirit of trying to make the triple zoom rod more respectable, DRAGONtail Tenkara has been quietly working on a revision of their previously released Hydra tenkara Rod. The old Hydra was a two length rod, and while it was functional, it was a little statically heavy and definitely tip heavy (91.3 g overall weight with a rotational moment of 7.5). It was a nice rod for 2018, but it wouldn’t pass 2026 technology standards.

Overview

The new version of the Hydra is a three position multi-length rod. It has an overall similar appearance to the old Hydra, but while some improvements. But it’s the measurements and function where the real changes lie.

The handle is quality cork and is 26 cm (10.2 in.) long. It has the classic DRAGONtail double hump shape, which is Brent’s variation of the traditional tenkara hyotan gourd shaped handle.

The butt cap has knurling to aid in removal. The zoom post captures the zoom segments better than any other zoom rod I’ve used. Brent says this is due to the high tolerances that can be achieve at their Korean factory. Whatever the reason, it’s a welcome improvement. The zoom sections are held snugly in place, but are easily deployed when needed.

The lilian is attached to the T1 (tip) section via a perfect glue joint. The T1 section can be removed through the T2 section allowing complete disassembly of the rod for cleaning and drying.

Measurements

Characteristic	Measurement
Sections	9
Nested	57 cm (22 in.)
Extended	320 cm (10 ft. 6 in.) 360 cm (11 ft. 10 in.) 392 cm (12 ft. 10 in.)
Weight (w/o tip plug)	84.6 g (3 oz.)
CCS	18 pennies 20 pennies 22 pennies
RFI	5.6 – Moderately Fast/Upper Mid Flex 5.6 – Moderately Fast/Upper Mid Flex 5.6 – Moderately Fast/Upper Mid Flex
Rotational Moment (@ 392 cm)	6.7

Performance

As shown in the 10 penny Bend Profile, the Hydra 395 v2 has a little more stiffness in the lower sections than the TUSA Sato (another very popular triple zoom rod) but its tip is more flexible. This allows the Hydra to have casting accuracy with light level lines, as well as power for larger fish. In addition to the Sato, I also show the Hydra compared to some other popular DRAGONtail rods of similar lengths.

The rod’s casting action is relaxed but not slow. It should be noticed that the Hydra v2 has the same RFI across all three fishable lengths. This is rare in zoom rods, where the RFI usually varies as the rod is extended. The importance of this is that the Hydra v2’s casting action feels the same at all three lengths. You don’t have to adjust your cast due to one length being fast action and another being a slower action. That’s really nice!

Rod balance is an issue with most multi-length tenkara rods. They are generally better balanced at the shorter lengths, but when fully extended, they feel tip heavy and comfortable. But the Hydra v2 is different. Its rotational moment is only 6.7, which is really good for a zoom rod. Again, the rotational moment is a numerical estimation of tip heaviness. Anything less than 7 is good. Less than 6 is really good. For comparison, the old Hydra had a rotational moment of 7.5.

The Hydra v2 casts smoothly and efficiently. Since the rod weighs less and is much less tip heavy, its casting inertia is less than it was with the older version of the Hydra. This makes the rod more pleasing to cast. Brent spent a lot of time and several iterations on refining the Hydra to get it just right.

Here is a video of Brent testing the Hydra 395 v2 prototype:

Conclusion

The Hydra 395 v2 is an excellent upgrade to an already great rod. Its lower weight, improved rotational moment (tip heaviness), and friendly flex action make this rod what a triple position tenkara rod should be. Also, its unvarying flex action over all three lengths makes the rod predictable when casting and thus improves casting accuracy. From 320 to 390 cm, the Hydra 395 v2 allows the angler to adjust the length for the desired presentation, all in one convenient rod. It’s a winner for those who want a very capable triple zoom rod!

Order the NEW Hydra 395 v2 Tenkara Rod at DRAGONtail Tenkara!

Disclaimer: My opinion regarding this rod is just that, my opinion. Your opinion may differ. Also, your rod may not have the same length, issues, or functionality as my rod. There are variations between rods, even in the same production run. No description can fully tell you how a rod feels or fishes. For this, you must personally hold, cast, and fish the rod then make up your own mind. I was loaned the rod by Brent Auger. I have no formal affiliation with DRAGONtail Tenkara and there was no expectation of a positive review.

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