New Fluke-Intended Dark Matter Rod

[Leprechaun]

Was watching John Skinner's latest video, and half-way through he whipped out the new Dark Matter fluke stick, upon which he drilled some nice "fun-size" Goliath Groupers from his motorized kayak. He said he worked thru six prototypes in 2020 before he was happy with it, which I believe.

For those that don't know, Dark Matter rods are the house brand of J&H Tackle/Oakdale, and the ones I've seen all looked to be well constructed - though I have not seen this particular model as yet.

Spec's are 6'8" overall length, with a 16.5" rear grip (I prefer just a bit longer, but still a very acceptable length), Winn Grips on the rear handle area, and a full set of Fuji Alconite guides. Rated 1-6oz lures, which covers about 85% of what we do offshore. Nice moderate bendo to it, which I look for, in order to prevent a good one from coming unbuttoned on the long, looong trip up to the net.

Cost is a relative modest $169, which makes it a bit less pricey than the Kilsong-supplied Black Hole Charter Special MH 6'9" stick that I use for rough-day deep fluke in conventional and for tog jigging in the spinning version, (along with my fav, the 6' Shimano Type J ML for both species).

I've heard good things about these Dark Matter rods. Are they $300 Shimano factory sticks? No. Or $450 custom CTS's? No, even less so. But for a relatively modest amount of jing, they look to be solid contenders for those that are shopping for a good stick in this price category. I will pass by J&H at some point later this Spring, in order to get my own eyeballs on it.

Video (The Dark matter rod part starts at 9:40):



J&H Web page:

Dark Matter John Skinner Jig and Bounce Casting Rods - J&H Tackle

The Dark Matter John Skinner Jig and Bounce Casting Rod has finally arrived! This rod was designed by John for catching fluke. In the beginning John was just shallow water fishing in the bay but now he does a lot of ocean fishing as well so he wanted a single rod that could do both. This rod is...

www.jandh.com

 

[longcast]

Nice write up. Thank you. I will take a look when I pass by.

 

[Capt Richie]

isn't it great how conservation works once almost gone & now their everywhere ..

 

[Leprechaun]

????? ?????

Edit: oh wait, you mean the Groupers, I guess. Not the Skinners, as we’re more than good on those!

 

[SEMPER FIsh]

Mr. Lep,

Just curious if you were able to handle this rod in person and if so, what your thoughts are. Thank you in advance.

 

[Leprechaun]

Not as yet. My travels haven’t taken out that way, since I wrote my original post here. Soon though, I would think.

In the meantime, what are you looking for in a fluke rod? And where and how do you fish? Maybe there are more options in rods that you might want to consider.

 

[SEMPER FIsh]

Thank you for your response. I am just trying to find a versatile rod. I was leaning towards the Black Hole Charter Special 6’8 before I saw this rod. Most of my outings are outside in about 40-90’. I go up to 4oz, 5oz max. I don’t have the luxury to carry multiple rods so I would be grateful if I can find a versatile rod that I can use outside but also inside if needed

 

[NoFlukenName]

I’ve used this rod past couple of trips and like it so far. A bit lighter than the Nexus and it’s easy to jig one handed with it. Picked up an 8.5 pound, 27 inch fluke with it last Sunday. Not saying the rod made the difference (I’d like to think it was all me), but feels really comfortable and has handled bucktails to 5 ounces with no issues so far....

 

[Leprechaun]

So you know, Kilsong has a Charter Special Light about to be released, so there 's that . . .

 

[Twf]

Anyone now what the blank is used from dark matter?. I'm trying to make a copy of the Skinner fluke rod. If anyone has one a few measurements would be helpful. Like tip size, thickness of the blank in front of the firearm and the bottom of the Winn grip on the blank. And how far up the first guide is.

 

[Leprechaun]

My understanding is that its a proprietary blank.

 

[Twf]

Any

My understanding is that its a proprietary blank.

Idea on what blank maybe close, I'm trying to do this cheaper so don't want to send much on a blank. I don't even see what the dark matter blank is made from. Figuring out the guides will be a challenge since I'm new at this. At least I know there fuji I series guids

 

[Flukinit]

While on a recent visit to J&H was talking with a guy behide counter who was actually quite knowledgeable and nice to talk with as opposed to some of the guys there. Was discussing this blank I said it was more a 3-6 oz he said they are working on a lighter blank for the bay. Told him to keep the same grip layout. No timetable but did say they were testing a few prototypes late in the summer.

 

[NoFlukenName]

While on a recent visit to J&H was talking with a guy behide counter who was actually quite knowledgeable and nice to talk with as opposed to some of the guys there. Was discussing this blank I said it was more a 3-6 oz he said they are working on a lighter blank for the bay. Told him to keep the same grip layout. No timetable but did say they were testing a few prototypes late in the summer.

Was actually fishing with John in Florida on Saturday and he had this lighter version with him. Will be a Spinner and looked and felt like a mini-version of the fluke rod. He signed off on this last prototype so hopefully will be available sometime in Spring.

 

[Leprechaun]

So I finally got a chance to get over to J&H and have a look at these rods. They are quite nice for the asking price and seem to be rated right on the money, lure weight-wise. A bit too powerful for shallow water work, but should be right at home on the offshore fluke grounds, if you take along only one rod as a "do-all."

I prefer to carry aboard a lighter stick for those days that call for it, as lighter is always more fun. But as a single bring-along this one is fine. A bit lighter in action than the Black Hole Charter Special, which will easily handle an 8-ounce load, but that rod has a very different, more precise feel to it.

I still can't seem to find what these are made of, nothing on-line and the guys at the shop were a bit evasive when I put the question to them - so I didn't press it. Based on the moderate action I would guess some type of graphite/glass composite, but it could just as easily be a low modulus carbon, like IM-6 or the like.

But when you think about it, it's certainly a "popular-priced" choice, not some high-cost, high-end custom. So does the blank composition REALLY matter, if the rod performs? Not to me. Most of my gorgeous customs stay home the majority of the time anyway, as I've found that my factory sticks are plenty good. "It ain't the arrow, its the Indian" is so very true.

Anyway, its carries all Fuji guides and a nice set of grips, including a Winn Grip immediately behind the reel seat, so good to go there. I actually prefer the Winn grips, as they remain somewhat tactile even when wet. So overall, pretty nice stuff for $169. I don't think you can go wrong here.

Oh, and I believe it would make a very proper inshore/light offshore togger as well, so there's that . . .

 

[Flukinit]

Pete your right on its a little less power than the Charter special. I used this rod for the 3-6/7 oz application. Rod sets up nicely I know Skinner liked the Nexus blanks but thought the front 4" on the blank was soft so he cut them down to 6'8". His Dark Matter is set up at 6'8" and set up like the Nexus after he cut them. They did a nice job on this build want to see the spinner.

 

[Flukinit]

Following up on my post #13 stopped by J&H on Thursday and they just got the lighter Skinner Jig and Bounce rod which is 6'6" as opposed to the 6'8" heavier version. Its a conventional with grips the same as the 6'8" but much lighter than the 1st rod. This rod feels to be a 1-3 oz blank felt real nice. Check it out gonna stop down in the next week or so to pick it up.

 

[Savvy18]

Flukinit-

I had spoken to Skinner about making his rod for us guys who are vertically challenged (like myself) and feel extremely uncomfortable with rods in excess of 6'6". He mentioned how he thought the 6'8" rod was the perfect length for "what he does." I suppose that is true...But maybe he/they changed their minds. Either way, I'm happy to hear it. I'll get out to J&H to look at it soon enough. Even when I have WAY TOO MANY rods already for fluke & tog, I cannot seem to temper my interest in NEW rods (and of course reels too).

Joe, you wanna grab Pete and make a pilgrimage out to J&H to do a look-around one day coming up? We can do a little grub afterwards and shoot the shit. We can ask Spanky and Bady to join us. Darryll too. Maybe throw in Molitor.

 

[Snapprhead27]

Flukinit-

I had spoken to Skinner about making his rod for us guys who are vertically challenged (like myself) and feel extremely uncomfortable with rods in excess of 6'6". He mentioned how he thought the 6'8" rod was the perfect length for "what he does." I suppose that is true...But maybe he/they changed their minds. Either way, I'm happy to hear it. I'll get out to J&H to look at it soon enough. Even when I have WAY TOO MANY rods already for fluke & tog, I cannot seem to temper my interest in NEW rods (and of course reels too).

Joe, you wanna grab Pete and make a pilgrimage out to J&H to do a look-around one day coming up? We can do a little grub afterwards and shoot the shit. We can ask Spanky and Bady to join us. Darryll too. Maybe throw in Molitor.

I'd be down for a meet up. I'm 5 mins from J&H

 

[Flukinit]

Stopped at J&H again yesterday and I will add the Bay jig and bounce has winn grips only unlike the heavier model that has both foam and winn grips. Really nice stick.