Welcome to the Shimano Instage review by FishingMad. Shimano has finally released its premium rod series “Instage” into Australia. These rods were released to the JDM market a couple of years ago and in New Zealand in 2025, but finally available in Australia in 2026. The new Instage rods are magnificent and might just be the best inshore rods Shimano has ever made. Supreme attention to detail and incorporating all the latest features and tech advancements we have seen from Shimano and G.Loomis in recent years. The Instage rod series tells a compelling story of Shimano’s rod journey. Why, because it takes on the best components and ideals of other rod series and feels like everything Shimano has been building towards is brought to life with this very polished and refined Instage rod series.
Shimano Instage a journey to perfection
To really break this down, I feel it’s important to highlight the hundreds, if not thousands, of hours I have put into product testing of Shimano’s recent rod series. Including Zodias, TCurve, Expride, Dialuna, Poison Adrena, NRX+, Conquest, Artiesta, Izalus, Ascenza, Hydra, Tiapan, Grappler, Terez, Extraction, Maikuro and more. You can literally watch hundreds of FishingMad episodes on YouTube and TV of me using this gear. When you put so many hours into testing products, you can quickly identify the look, feel, action and value in a new product. In the case with “Instage” you see a rod series that takes the very best from other rod series and overcomes some challenges with some rod series.
Instage comes at a steep but reasonable price point, ranging from $679 to $699. There are 7 models to choose from, including 4 spin (M, ML, M+, MH) and 3 baitcast (ML, M, MH). A good range covering light, medium and heavy inshore fishing for spin and baitcast.
Shimano Instage features and tech
Instage is ideal for light/medium inshore fishing, particularly for soft plastic usage. However, they have been designed for both saltwater and freshwater applications and cover a wide variety of species. Instage incorporates the full swag of Shimano’s new features and technology, including the carbon monocoque butt section. This improves on its shape and design to provide extreme comfort, sensitivity, and lightweight handling, and adds a cork bottom for improved durability and to prevent the rod from scratching when placed on the ground. Carbon Rods like this have been documented to increase sensitivity by up to 30% whilst greatly reducing rod weight.
The C14+ perfection reel seat proves extreme comfort and lightweight performance. This is a massive improvement on previous rod series such as T-Curve premium which really lacked the comfort when working the rod in your hand.
Further refined by premium X guide 3D titanium guides which are a perfect size and weight. Spiral X Core blank, and Hi-Power X wrapping all the way through the rod blank. Incorporating all of Shimano’s premium light/Medium tackle technology in a refined and stylish rod.
But let’s look at why this rod feels so refined. In many ways, this rod resembles what we saw with T-Curve Premium and Loomis NRX+ range. However, the Instage is much more comfortable in your hand and the action is far better suited for local species and conditions. Especially when fishing with soft plastics. The medium spin models are the perfect soft plastics rod for snapper in inshore waters. It’s medium-to-fast action, is an improvement on the NRX+, which extra fast action was really designed for offshore markets with large mouth Bass in mind. Locked drags and pulling fish out of heavy structure, which is very different to our typical inshore fishing requirements. It’s so much more comfortable in the palm of your hand, working the rod with a shaped cork and a C14+ perfection reel seat. Finally its a true 2-piece rod (unlike T-Curve Prem, which was ¼/¾ with an unusual looking spigot join), and comes with a great cary case perfect for transportation.
It incorporates tech from Zodias but adds an element of finesse and lightness. It was 10 years ago now that the 1st hollow monocoque butt was released, which provides light weight and sensitivity, but this feels more refined. It also takes inspiration from ExPride, but the guides are a much more appropriate size, and actions are less stiff. The new 3D Coldforged one-piece titanium guides are lightweight and strong, and allow anglers to avoid being forced to use only FG knots. When I compare it to all these other rod series, I feel like they have taken all the best components, put them into a new rod series, and learned from other rod lineups.
Shimano Instage target species and audience
Instage rods feel like the ultimate inshore rods for targeting species like snapper, mulloway, and Australian salmon. Whilst the shorter length rods like the 66ML spin feel like the perfect kayak fishing rod for a rage of species whilst also making an ideal freshwater rod for targeting yellowbelly and redfin. It’s comfortable, it’s sensitive, it’s stylish, it’s durable, its action feels just right, and the guides aren’t too small. It’s rare that I give any fishing gear such high praise, but this rod is simply magnificent. Who knows, maybe one day we will see a hook keeper on Shimano rods, but that might be the only oversight.
Of course, the price point of nearly $700 isn’t for everyone. It means this rod is tailored for the high-end premium market, competing with the likes of Samurai Infinity, Millerods, and Daiwa Steez. This rod really feels like it’s found a sweet spot for me for high-end premium inshore rods and might be the best light tackle rod for inshore fishing I’ve used. Now this rod series has literally just dropped in Australia, so we will certainly need more time on the water with it, truly putting it through its paces. That being said, I have had my hands on this rod series for some time, as my impatient nature decided to import one from a JDM store some time ago. Behind the scenes, I have used it under wraps and been super impressed with its performance.
You can see a full 20 minute video walkthrough of this rod series in the FishingMad members area.
Shimano Instage Notes
- Instage feels like everything Shimano has been building towards
- Initially released in Japan then NZ, finally in Australia in 2026
- True 2-piece rod split in the middle. Great for transportation, and the spigot join is clean and strong, and fits well with the rods aesthetics.
- Targeted for high-end market
- MF action is perfect for inshore fishing
- 66ML might be the perfect kayak rod
- Carbon Monocoque butt but refined even more
- Cork under rod butt
- So comfy in hand
- Extremely light weight
- Coldforged Titanium X guides – Perfect guide sizes
- Spiral X Blank
- C14+ reel perfection seat
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