New to these boards! Can’t testify to the VWE rods but I plan to get the 8’. Xxh for big baits and some musky, but I own and absolutely love the dragoon. I even got the Yamasemi spinning rod version that also has two tips.
the Dragoon with the soft tip is great for the TK and other treble hook reaction. Baits. I also love the fast tip as it makes the rod very sensitive and seems like it would be a great smaller beast hook soft bait rod.
I keep a 150 size reel for smallmouth floats with the fast tip for jigs, Texas rig, etc, and use the regular tip and a 300 size reel when i use this as a dedicated small swimbait rod (specifically TK). It is also great for spinner baits and seems like it would be great for smaller magnum flutter spoons (a new technique for me)
not a great jerkbait rod but I can cast pointer 100 size lures on it if needed.
it will handle the 3oz rating but I feel like it’s not super comfortable. Eg I don’t love casting an 8” mag draft on it. The 1-2.75 range is perfect though, specifically the 2oz sweet spot (TK)
my first fish on this rod was a dorado in Argentina on a Raid Japan G.I. And it was perfect for it. Dorado bite slowed down and water was super low so we went after tararira (so much fun). Switched to fast tip and pitched weed mats straight braid to wire leader with a 1(I think) oz Mepps spinner with a weedless Stanley Ribbit style frog as the trailer, casting on top of weed mats and letting it fall off the edges.
took it to Florida and caught fish. Taking it river striper fishing and plan to use it as a musky small bait rod for our smaller water musky and our lake musky that sometimes like small lures. Also have caught rainbow trout with it on jerkbaits. I Keep it in an old fly rod tube hidden under my truck seat and don’t have to worry about it breaking or being seen. Fits in a standard 9’ 4piece fly rod tube and comes with a standard 4 piece (very nice) fly rod sock.
same thing with the Yamasemi. Use the regular tip for trout in the smokies with an indicator and double nymph rig (Nikko stonefly, mayfly, caddis etc and even actual tied flies) and the fast tip for smallmouth fishing with owner finesse football heads and Nikko hellgrammite/leeches and even 3” swimbaits on a 1/32 jig head. Same rod.
For both rods I keep the rod tube tied onto my bag and worst case scenario I have an extra tip if one breaks. Also, it goes with me as a carry on.
having been a fly fisherman for years before switching over to having more fun, the tech for multi piece rods is sound and solid so long as you assemble it correctly. I have noticed with casting bigger baits it’s good to check the ferrules and alignment every so often. As you would a knot connection.
These rods are not cheap and I was quite disappointed to see the made in China when there is a lot of literature and talk about “handmade in Japan”. To be fair, blanks made in Japan and assembled to whatever degree in China. They are beautiful and feel very high quality, and highly sensitive, especially with the faster tip.
that being said they are worth every penny (to me) and i would recommend them to anyone if you can find them.
I will be curious to see reviews on the VWE rods as they seem amazing and will be my next rod purchase 100%. The only reason I chose the dragoon over a VWE as my first travel rod was the versatility of the two tips.