Overview
Built to be the pinnacle of performance, the Shimano Poison Ultima Casting Rods bring Shimano’s JDM offering to the North American market and generously showcase Shimano’s most advanced rod technologies. Blending Spiral-X Core and Hi-Power X technologies, the Poison Ultima Casting Rods offer incredibly light blanks with increased multi-directional strength and added blank twist resistance. Shimano’s X-Guide system also unlocks the full potential of the blanks by dramatically decreasing weight and providing heighted casting performance.
Pushing the limits of sensitivity, the Poison Ultima Casting Rods feature Shimano’s Full Carbon Monocoque grip that transmits the slightest vibrations through the grip to your hand. The shapes were also developed by scientifically analyzing tournament anglers’ movement and holding posture to elevate performance even further. Pushing the limits of rod building technologies, the Shimano Poison Ultima Casting Rods deliver JDM quality that is simply unmatched.
Features
-Carbon Monocoque grip
-Dyna Balance
-X Solid Hi-Power
-Hi-Power X
-TAFTEC
-Spiral-X Core
-UBD
-Limited 1-Year Warranty
Awards
ICAST 2023 Viewer's Choice - Best Casting Rod
Specifications
| Model | Length | Power | Taper | Line Wt. | Lure Wt. | Guides | Handle Length | Handle Type | |
| PU1610MA | 6'10" | Medium | Fast | 8-16lb | 1/4-1/2oz | 9+Tip | 14" | Cast A | Buy Now |
| PU170MHA | 7' | Medium Heavy | Fast | 10-20lb | 3/8-1oz | 9+Tip | 14" | Cast A | Buy Now |
| PU172HA | 7'2" | Heavy | Fast | 12-25lb | 1/2-1 1/2oz | 8+Tip | 14-1/2" | Cast B | Buy Now |
| PU172MA | 7'2" | Medium | Fast | 8-16lb | 1/4-3/4oz | 8+Tip | 14-1/2" | Cast B | Buy Now |
| PU174MHA | 7'4" | Medium Heavy | Fast | 10-20lb | 3/8-1oz | 9+Tip | 15-1/4" | Cast C | Buy Now |
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Customer Reviews
If you can afford it, it’s the best out theNormally I’d never be able to afford one of these. But I was patient, saved up gift cards from my birthday and Christmas, waited for the mailing list sale, and was able to pick up the 7’4”MH for a fairly low price, at least low for a $1k rod, back in the beginning of February. I fish with rods in every price range, from budget gear all the way up to here, but spend most of my time in the $200-$350 rod price range. I own an NRX+ 844c MBR that was my previous highest end rod (now my second after this lol). This is, in my opinion, a step up from that. Insanely lightweight, insanely beautiful and well built (the craftsmanship is impeccable), and even more insanely sensitive. NRX+ is no joke, but this takes it to another level. I’ve fished the 2 side by side with the exact same lure (1/2oz compact jig) just to compare, and with the Loomis you can still feel everything on the bottom, but with this it’s, for a lack of a better word, more pronounced. It’s hard to explain, and I’m happy and humbled to own both, but PU is definitely a more sensitive rod. The action is really good too, it’s surprisingly universal. I spend most of my time throwing compact jigs on it but I’ve thrown a 6” Magdraft, spinnerbaits, underspins, and Texas rigs on it too, it’s handled all of it just fine. It doesn’t feel like it’s about to explode either when you set the hook, it feels rock solid and sturdy. Rod comes with a super nice bag/sleeve/sock/whatever you wanna call it, a ton of paperwork that’s all in Japanese, and a very big smile on your face when you open the box. My biggest con with it isn’t just to this rod, it’s for all Shimano products: the 1 year warranty. It’s crazy that a rod that costs almost as much as my first car has only a 1 year warranty, it should be at a minimum 3-5 years, lifetime would be better. But that’s all of Shimano, nothing you can do about that. Only actual con I really have with the rod itself is something I gripe about with a lot of high end rods: no hook keeper. I personally use Genius hook keepers that attach to the reel so it’s not a very big deal to me but I’d like to have one as an option. Overall, if you can afford it and want to spend this kind of money on a rod, you won’t be disappointed. I certainly am not
Great, but……I purchased the 7 ft Mh.
Everything is beautiful about this rod, except the spool tensioning knob. It has some very sharp edges on it so one side of your finger will get a little bit aggravated and of course, no hook keeper. I am a huge enthusiast of hookers and I don’t get why companies cannot put them on anymore. I use the rod for 5/16 and 3/8 jigs and it is absolutely fantastic. Very sensitive on par with the NRX sensitivity and the conquest sensitivity.
Overall reviewBreak it down.
Sensitivity-10/10
Guides-10/10
Weight-10/10
Balance-9/10
Real seat-9.5/10
Finish-10/10
Cost-1/10
Score = 8.5/10 overall. Minus the cost it will be 9.7/10.
No doubt it is at the pinnacle of rods. 200$ rods gives you a good blank but mediocre components. 300$ rod gives you good rod blank with average components. 500$ gives you good rod blank good components light weight but lacks balance. Once you go nrx and above, you will find all and balance. The 610medium casting weighs at ~90 grams. That is around 3.1 oz. Much lighter than phenix feather if you were to compare the feather mh 71 which weighs at 3.35 oz(94g). The mh 70 casting weighs right at 100grams ~ 3.5 oz. In perspective ultima are much lighter than phenix compare to rods of appropriate caliber. Phenix rods power rating are under power of those who knows. Now compare to its lesser sibling the adrena, it is much lighter. The adrena 611m+ is 110grams and 610m is 105grams. So for sure adrena can't touch the ultima in terms of weight. The reel seat of the ultima also allow a low seat position = improve in palming. Pair with a low sitting reel like bfs aldebaran = crazy palmability.
Like a super long finger tip! Very sensitiveThis rods sensitivity and overall ability to feel the details on the bottom is amazing. Graphite rods are sensitive to start with, but this one takes it up a few notches for sure. The handle and reel seat are very nice and fit my hand near perfectly. Being light weight, well balanced, and a great action for texas rigs and other bottom contact baits. It is a pleasure to use, as it should be at this price. I plan to buy another before long.
Previous Feedback
Comments: Got the 170Mh, comes with nice rod sleeve that could be better padded all the way down. No tip protector installed. The carbon handle is wrapped in strong protective plastic. It comes with a ton of tags and papers. The rod is lightweight, bout same as the Adrena not as light as a Phenix feather. Fit and finish are excellent , its very nice to look at. X Carbon wrapping is aesthetically pleasing to see and feel, has nice shiny finish. Guides look good . The CI4 reel seat is compact, fits my hand well. The monocoque handle looks and feels great , really like the shape, it fits well under forearm, very well thought out. I believe it is the perfect size handle , at least for me. Ive only used it for few hours today with a 2021 Antares 70 and 15 lb tatsu. I threw 4 inch Senko , flukes and even 3 inch Bass Assassin with no weight. No problem throwing lightweight lures a good distance. I guess the Antares has alot to do with that though. The tip is very fast with usual Shimano strong backbone . Sensitivity seems on par with the Adrena, though im not a big bottom contact fisherman so take with a grain of salt. Overall i like the rod alot , is it worth the $956 including tax, no. Would i buy it again, yes. I don't have alot of bills so its not that big of a deal. The Poison Adrena does the same thing at $400 though , it just doesnt look as pretty. Ill probably add the 610M next month.
From: Tony: Southern California 8/3/23