Carpenter Utahime (Diva)

 歌姫　pronouned as Utahime.
From Japanese 歌 (uta) meaning "song" combined with 姫 (hime) meaning "princess" i.e. Song Princess or songstress or Diva.

Carpenter Utahime (UH) was born as product that have less water resistant due to its small mouth cup compared to the big brother Damsel and as alternative fish attractor with different movement as contrast to Gamma (y) or Bluefish (BF) lures.

Utahime was first introduced in 2019 and production sales in 2021.  As May 2022, there 4 for models of Utahime produced i.e. Utahime 120g, Utahime 95g, Utahime 70g and Utahime 70g Nagi (calm version).

Based on maker Konishi-san's blog there are also Utahime 250g which resides under KLL plug series.

Utahime 250 KLL

The features of Utahime design is to catch GT, Amberjack and Tuna with small low splash and slight diving action.  I found that if you don't have a 13g hook for Utahime 120, you can choose either 11g or 15g hook for both front and back.  Also different size hook will gives you slight different action.  Please do try with 11g and 15g hooks or the combination, you'll be surprise on how "pleasant" the action of the lure.

As for compatible rods, BlueChaser BLC Super Cobra, Great Python GP and Endless Passion series were recommended based on the lure weight used.   I can say that for Utahime lures, due to the small mouth, rods with "lower" LB rating, soft tip, not so stiff middle section can also be effective to "play" the lures.  Myself used TBL83/32 or SLP80/33 or TBL80/35 or PJ80/36 EP85/36 to play Utahime 120 lures.  I think if applied more powerful rod with LB rating more that 38Lb, Utahime 120 will easily jump out of the water with normal slack line.

As for colors for Utahime 120, 5 were produced for sale back in 2021.

Utahime 120 smoke black metal pasted

Utahime 120 white metal pasted

Utahime 120 flyingfish

Utahime 120 black back side gold metal pasted

Utahime 120 black metal pasted

For Diva 95, it was classified as "special sale" where anglers can buy them if they send Memorial Catch Photo on Jan 22, 2022.
I do not know if Carpenter wants to produce Utahime 95 as normal production or just Special sale lures.  Kinda frustrated.......

Utahime 95 Special Sale color

Utahime 95 Special Sale color

Last size in Utahime collection is the small 70mm 68g that came in two version i.e. normal version and "Nagi" calm.  But there is also a version named "Utahime 70 L-Quiet" which schedule as Special Sale version.

Utahime 70 and Utahime Nagi color

Difference in labeling between normal (bottom) and Nagi version (top)

As for color goes, Utahime 70 was produced in 6 colors i.e. White metal paste, Dark Blueback Yellow side, Black back Gold side, Anchovy metal paste, Sardine metal paste and Flying fish metal paste.  I think Utahime 70 series were produced targeted for yellowfin tuna fishing.

Please refer to official website HERE for further Information.

Disclaimer

I do not claim to be an authority in the field of the rod, lure and equipment testing and the use of any information on this site are at the user’s and buyer's own risk.  All of the above writing is just my passions, feedback and opinion and acts as information for the public.  Please browse official sites for more accurate explanations and descriptions. While I make every effort to provide accurate and complete information, I provide NO warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of any information on this site. I welcome suggestions on how to improve this site’s content and correct errors. I am also NOT ASSOCIATED with any brands and/or promoting and /or advertising any brands.

Lure MAX and line MAX and notation of drag value are reference levels. Please consider casting methods and fighting methods etc. as it changes with the person who uses it.

Those who are expert the basics of loading method properly can use bigger lures and even use thicker lines.

Rod weight is a numerical value when measuring the prototype rod. Please acknowledge that there are some errors at the time of the product.

Rod Specifications Parts are subject to change without prior notice for improvement. Please note that.

Carpenter Strike Eagle

1st writing in many months!!  Dunno what topic to write. Carpenter has released few major lure models in past 3 years i.e. Strike Eagle (Oct 2020), Utahime / Diva (Jan 2021) plus the special Seafrog Evo 105 (May 2021).
2018-19 sees a lot of Carpenter released 120gram lure class. BF120, GeNei 120, Hayabusa 120 and in April 2019 new color for Maihime 120 was released.

Lets talk about Carpenter Strike Eagle.
It is said that Strike Eagle (SE) appeals with effective movements different from those of Gamma (y), Bluefish (BF), Maihime (Dancer), Ge-Nei (Illusion), and Hayabusa (Falcon) with target fish mainly amberjack i.e. Hiramasa of Genkai Sea and other Seriola sp and GT. In Konishi's blog, it is said that SE is often good for tidal and wind waves.  So far i have not seen any video or youtube regrading the action of SE lures.

I have been told that Hiramasa of Genkai Sea is very picky and sensitive to bait fish and the diet depends on season.

SE started with KLL042A lure and normal production sales started in October 2020. Strike Eagle is planned to be 30g, 45g, 60g, 75g, 100g, 120g, 150g, 200g, 250g and  350g. It can be adjusted to the size of the bait fish, so if it is completed, it will be more effective lure chasing the Hiramasa.

Frabkly speaking, I am a little bit confused and amazed on the sub-model of SE lures i.e. Normal, L-Quite, LL-Quite and Active version.  So with different lure weight of 10 sizes, all together there will be 40 versions of Strike Eagle lures!!! And for collectors there plenty of lure colors!!!

As the time of this writing, I managed to know 3 sizes of lures produced i.e. SE100, DE150 and SE150 while few models are in prototype version e.g. SE120, SE150 rattle version, SE250 currently tested with Captain Tashiro-san of Sunrise in Genkai Sea.

Below is the specification of produced SE

SE100 Normal / 215mm / approx. 100g / F

SE100 L-Quiet / 215mm / approx. 89g / F

SE100 LL-Quiet / 215mm / approx. 85g / F

SE100 Active / 215mm / approx. 99g / F

SE150 245mm / approx. 146g / F

SE150 L-Quiet / 245mm / approx. 130g / F

SE150 LL-Quiet / 245mm / approx. 124g / F

SE150 Active / 245mm / approx. 145g / F

SE250 Normal / 295mm / Approx. 242g / F

SE250 L-Quiet / 295mm / Approx. 215g / F

SE250 LL-Quiet / 295mm / Approx. 205g / F

SE250 Active / 295mm / Approx. 240g /

As for hook size:
SE100 / hook weight (per piece) approx. 8g or 9g / SP ring 250Lb

SE150 / hook weight (per piece) approx. 13g (11g or 15g can be used also) / SP ring 350Lb

SE250 / Hook weight (per piece) Approx. 20g / SP ring 350Lb

As for rod, almost all Carpenter rods can play SE e.g. EP series, SLP series, PJ series, BLC series, TBL series, F3 series, MH series, etc., rods that match the lure weight, wave conditions, and fish conditions.

Luckily Current lure color for SE is only three Blue Pilotfish,  Black (Metal) and  Blue Back Hologram.  There is also two special color produced for SE250 i.e. Limited Color Tokara Special and Limited Color Genkai Nada Special.

I am quite surprise that SE lure is also design to target GTs of Tokara.

Below pictures were taken from official Carpenter website: 

SE250 Limited Color Tokara Special

SE250 Limited Color Genkai Nada Special

Disclaimer

I do not claim to be an authority in the field of the rod, lure and equipment testing and the use of any information on this site are at the user’s and buyer's own risk.  All of the above writing is just my passions, feedback and opinion and acts as information for the public.  Please browse official sites for more accurate explanations and descriptions. While I make every effort to provide accurate and complete information, I provide NO warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of any information on this site. I welcome suggestions on how to improve this site’s content and correct errors. I am also NOT ASSOCIATED with any brands and/or promoting and /or advertising any brands.

Lure MAX and line MAX and notation of drag value are reference levels. Please consider casting methods and fighting methods etc. as it changes with the person who uses it.

Those who are expert the basics of loading method properly can use bigger lures and even use thicker lines.

Rod weight is a numerical value when measuring the prototype rod. Please acknowledge that there are some errors at the time of the product.

Rod Specifications Parts are subject to change without prior notice for improvement. Please note that.

Carpenter Bluefish 100-200

 Truthfully I have no idea when is the first production of Bluefish 100-200 (BF100).  I presume the test was done as the same period with BF120/130 during maker Mr Konishi's trip to Komodo end of 2004.  All pictures below were taken from Official Carpenter's website. Please see the official site for BF100 here.

Found this picture from Carpenter website

Also found form Carpenter's website are prototype of BF100 and BF130

As other BF series, due to it's short pitch, BF100 is suitable for more choppy sea condition with its rolling S action.  BF100 is suitable for anglers who targeted GT, YFT, amberjack and hiramasa.
Action for BF100 can be seen here and for BF120 is here.

Overall length is 200mm with average weight is 95g.  Compatible hook weight per piece is 9g e.g. Decoy YS-22 5/0, Decoy SW 5/0, STX-88 4/0, ST-66 4/0, Takumi 4/0 and single hook Yamai #35.  For hiramasa, most BLC series rods are compatible with BF100. 

As for GT, it is suggested TBL80/20, TBL83/32, TBL80/35, EP85/36, EP88/35, and for those who are expert CV79/35 is also recommended. 

I think BF100 one of most common Carpenter's lure production where almost every 2 or 3 years, there will be production of BF100.

I also found 2 pictures from www.proshopfishing.com showing 2004 BF100. 

The earliest pictures of  mass production of BF100 I can find is September 2008, where I presume the are more older production of BF100.  I think there is a production of BF100 to commemorate Bassmate  shop opening/anniversary in 2013. All pictures below were taken from Carpenter's website to show production color.

2008 September BF100 - Gurukun

2008 Septmber BF100 - Clownfish

2009 September BF100 - Black back

2009 September BF100 - Dark blue back

2011 August & 2012 January BF100 - Blue back

2013 December  BF100 - Brimodoki (Pilot fish)

2013 December BF100 - CamusSawara

2013 December BF100 - Dark blue back

2013 December BF100 - Flying fish brown back

2013 December BF100 - Pink back

2016 Mac BF100 - Cobalt blue side purple

2016 Mac BF100 - Dark blue back gold tiger stripe

2016 Mac BF100 - Diablo black back

2016 Mac BF100 - Flying fish deep blue back

2016 Mac BF100 - Nirami hanadai

2017 February BF100 - Diablo white

2017 February BF100 - Nirami hanadai

2019 January BF100 - Black back orange belly

2019 January BF100 - Dark blue back gold tiger stripe

2019 January BF100 - Blue back holographic

2019 January BF100 - Diablo black back

2019 January BF100 - Diablo white holographic

2019 January BF100 - Flying fish black back

2019 January BF100 - Nirami hanadai

2019 April / 2020 February BF100 - Diablo dark blue back

2019 April / 2020 February BF100 - Diablo white holographic

2019 April / 2020 February BF100 - Black back orange belly

2019 April / 2020 February BF100 - Blue back side gold

2019 April / 2020 February BF100 - Nanyobudai

2019 April / 2020 February BF100 - Hirami hanadai

2019 April / 2020 February BF100 - Diablo clownfish

2013 BF100 - Bassmate Anniversary

Please noted for 2019-20 production there are lures with "Fish Mark" sticker at the belly.  Myself cannot see any difference of swimming action between non-fish mark and fish-mark BF100. It was told in Carpenter's website that BF100 with "fish mark" label is a "tuned-model" and effective when amberjack chases preys from summer to autum in Genkai Sea, Japan.

Disclaimer

I do not claim to be an authority in the field of the rod, lure and equipment testing and the use of any information on this site are at the user’s and buyer's own risk.  All of the above writing is just my passions, feedback and opinion and acts as information for the public.  Please browse official sites for more accurate explanations and descriptions. While I make every effort to provide accurate and complete information, I provide no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of any information on this site. I welcome suggestions on how to improve this site’s content and correct errors. I am also NOT ASSOCIATED with any brands and/or promoting and /or advertising any brands.Lure MAX and line MAX and notation of drag value are reference levels. Please consider casting methods and fighting methods etc. as it changes with the person who uses it.

Those who are expert the basics of loading method properly can use bigger lures and even use thicker lines. Rod weight is a numerical value when measuring the prototype rod. Please acknowledge that there are some errors at the time of the product.  Rod Specifications Parts are subject to change without prior notice for improvement. Please note that.