Just like any other fishing, the tackle setting is important to make your game easy, fun, and productive. Like Sato Sensei says, 80% of fishing is done in the setup.

There are a lot of slow pitch rods on the market now, but it’s hard to get most of them outside Japan. I sell secondhand Slow Jerkers, and I can help you shop from Japanese retailers for 10% handling fee. But I do understand the shipping fee is a big issue.

A lot of people have sent me inquiries whether or not a certain rod works for them. But it’s really difficult to answer because it depends on what you expect but you don’t know what to expect when you are just starting this game.

The blanks is made of highly resilient, high carbon materials, and it takes craftsmanship to build such delicate, heavy duty productions at the consistent quality.
All the slow pitch rods should have all the properties. Yet, prices are different. I don’t think anyone will question why. But everyone wants to know what difference they make.

“Sensitivity” is one issue. Finesse and awareness is the key factor in this game.

另一个问题是“适应性”。好棒的封面wide range of jig weights and water conditions. Cheap ones find difficulties when the situation gets tough, like the strong current, multiple layers of currents, and deeper water. Good ones also work well with varieties of your tactics, from fast, punchy application to long, slow and soft application.

So if you are just fishing in the shallow water, like 30m to 60m, you may not feel much difference. So a lot of anglers have Slow Jerkers for 100m and deeper range, but save some money with a cheaper rod for the shallow.

For your reference, I have graded from Class A to C
Class A is most recommended. Designed and field tested for so many times by top slow pitch experts. It works in harder conditions, it gives you bigger range of tactics, and its high quality of production is consistent. All made in Japan.
B类就可以了。设计或监督减缓由供应者h experts. Mostly made in Japan. Class A is actually hard to get outside Japan. If you find Class B locally, you may as well grab it to start with.
Class C is not really recommended. It only works in limited conditions. And it lacks consistency in the production. There reasons why they are available at low price, mainly because they are not made by Japanese craftsmen. But it can be applied in the shallow, easy conditions.

Rod Power Rating

“Which power model should I get?”

That is the most frequent question people ask me.

The rod specs say which jig weight range the rod is the most suitable. But this is just a little indication of the action tone. You should not think this is specifically the jig weight you are supposed to use. In reality, jig weigh is not the only factor that the rod works against for actions. Let’s say you move a 300g jig at 3 meters deep. Any rod model can do that, you can imagine. The water resistance factors are very big and there’s no way to indicate that.

我t’s a plain fact that Slow Jerker set the standard. We call 603-3 Power 3. 603-6 Power 6. And pretty much all the brands follow this standard. In the most frequent slow pitch jigging situation in Japan, from 50m to 150m deep, from the spankered boat that keeps you vertical, the jig weigh range from 100g to 300g, Power 3, 4, 5, 6 is the required range of rod power. Lower power model is for shallower waters or for special purposes with the soft action tone. higher power model is for deeper waters or for special purposes with the strong action tone.

When you are free-drifting, the verticality is totally different than spankered boat. So you would need to translate this into your condition. Send me an inquiry to see which power model is suitable for you.

  • What is your main depth range? If you narrow it to a 30 meter range, what would that be?
  • How is your boat operating while fishing? Free-drifting? Drifting with sea-anchor? Or controlled drift by the captain?
  • What are your main targets? Pelagic fish? Demersal fish? Or both?

Also see.
[fancy_link link=”//m.bitbjax.com/v2020/faq-how-should-i-match-the-rod-to-the-jig/” variation=”orange”]ROD ACTION TONE[/fancy_link]
[fancy_link link=”//m.bitbjax.com/v2020/faq-why-does-it-have-to-be-so-vertical-for-slow-pitch-jigging/” variation=”orange”]STAYING VERTICAL[/fancy_link]

Class A

Poseidon Slow Jerker by Evergreen

02025020_08

Without doubts, No.1 slow pitch jigging rod that Sato Sensei developed in every possible refinements. It was the first slow pitch rod, and still is the best slow pitch rod. It was remodeled in 2012, but the main spec stays the same. A little change to the reel seat and to the guides because Fuji, the guide maker, stopped the production of the old model. That is how perfectly this rod is designed and how consistently it’s been produced at the finest quality.

Model Length Jig Weight
average
Price
without tax
603-2 191cm 100g JPY50,000
603-3 191cm 150g JPY50,000
603-4 191cm 200g JPY50,000
603-5 191cm 250g JPY52,000
603-6 191cm 300g JPY52,000

Logical by Deepliner

Captain Higashimura of Deepliner was inspired by Sato Sensei and now one of the legendary slow pitch masters. Logical is a slow pitch rod that he developed with severe perfection. The blanks has the least coating because it affects the rod action. All the guides are Torzite for the maximum sensitivity. In comparison with Slow Jerker, Logical feels a little softer in action.

Available is 3 lengths, 55 (170cm), 60 (180cm), 70 (210cm). 60 is the balanced versatile model. Longer 70 moves the jig more in one stroke, effective in falls, softer in action, not suitable in heavy water situation. Shorter 60 is easier to control, moves the jig in more details, faster in kickup action, more suitable in heavy water situation.

Model Length Jig Weight
average
Price
without tax
55 #0 170cm 60g OPEN
55 #1 170cm 80g OPEN
55 #2 170cm 120g OPEN
55 #3 170cm 180g OPEN
55 #4 170cm 220g OPEN
55 #5 170cm 250g OPEN
55 #6 170cm 300g OPEN
55 #7 170cm 350g OPEN
55 #8 170cm 400g OPEN
60 #0 180cm 60g OPEN
60 #1 180cm 80g OPEN
60 #2 180cm 120g OPEN
60 #3 180cm 180g OPEN
60 #4 180cm 220g OPEN
60 #5 180cm 250g OPEN
60 #6 180cm 300g OPEN
60 #7 180cm 350g OPEN
60 #8 180cm 400g OPEN
70 #0 210cm 60g OPEN
70 #1 210cm 80g OPEN
70 #2 210cm 120g OPEN
70 #3 210cm 180g OPEN
70 #4 210cm 220g OPEN
70 #5 210cm 250g OPEN
70 #6 210cm 300g OPEN
70 #7 210cm 350g OPEN
70 #8 210cm 400g OPEN

JAM rod by Seafloor Control

Kazuhiro Hirota of Seafloor Control is one the leading SPJ experts. This rod is designed and field-tested by Hirota and his team. When I describe this rod, “sharp response” is the word that comes to my mind. The rod is hyper-responsive that gives you a joy to dance your jig. The butt end is finished with BAVS which amplifies the vibrations from the line with the whole blanks. This system helps you to listen to the ocean.

Model Length Jig Weight
average
Price
without tax
Force 1 191cm 90g JPY54,000
Force 2 191cm 130g JPY55,000
Force 3 191cm 150g JPY55,000
Force 4 191cm 200g JPY55,000
Force 5 191cm 250g JPY56,000
Force 6 191cm 300g JPY57,000

Propagate by Beat

propagate

Beat was a private brand, specializing in slow pitch jigging, established in 2011 by Mr. Toshiya Ogai. He is a lure designer and studied slow pitch jigging with Sato Sensei.
Propagate is all made in Japan. A little longer than Slow Jerker. It has captured fans and very solid reputations. In comparison with Slow Jerker, Propagate feels a little harder in action.

Model Length Jig Weight
average
Price
without tax
606-1 198cm 80g JPY43,500
606-2 198cm 100g JPY43,500
606-3 198cm 160g JPY43,500
606-4 198cm 200g JPY44,000
606-5 198cm 250g JPY45,000
606-6 198cm 300g JPY47,400

Ocea Jigger Infiniti by Shimano

oceajiggerinfiniti

fo Shimano终于释放旗舰模型r the slow pitch rod in June 2014. They are only producing only one model yet. More to come in 2015. Haven’t heard any feedback from the field yet, this is definitely going to be a top notch product.

Model Length Jig Weight
average
Price
without tax
653 183cm 140g JPY49,000
654 183cm 180g JPY49,500
655 183cm 220g JPY49,800

Class B

Galahad by Yamaga Blanks

galahad
Model Length Jig Weight
average
Price
without tax
63/1 slow 190cm 80g JPY36,000
63/2 slow 190cm 120g JPY37,000
63/3 slow 190cm 160g JPY38,000
62/3 slow 188cm 200g JPY41,000
62/4 slow 188cm 250g JPY42,000

Slow Emotion by Xesta

Model Length Jig Weight
average
Price
without tax
B681 204cm 120g JPY42,000
B682 204cm 150g JPY42,000
B683 204cm 200g JPY42,000
B684 204cm 250g JPY42,000
B685 204cm 350g JPY42,000

Horizon SL by Tenryu

horizon_sl_main
Model Length Jig Weight
average
Price
without tax
66B-ML 198cm 100g JPY38,000
66B-M 198cm 150g JPY38,500
66B-MH 198cm 180g JPY39,000
66B-H 198cm 250g JPY40,000

Luxxe Ocean Almea by Gamakatsu

img_almea
Model Length Jig Weight
average
Price
without tax
B67FL 201cm 60g JPY41,500
B67UL 201cm 70g JPY41,500
B67L 201cm 80g JPY42,000
B67ML 201cm 120g JPY42,500
B67M 201cm 150g JPY43,000
B67MH 201cm 200g JPY43,500
B67H 201cm 220g JPY44,000

Stiletto SLOW STYLE by Hot’s

SSS_7472
Model Length Jig Weight
average
Price
without tax
SSS63L 191cm 80g JPY42,000
SSS63M 191cm 100g JPY42,000
SSS63H 191cm 160g JPY42,000
SSS63XH 191cm 230g JPY47,000

Game Type Slow by Shimano

gametypeslow
Model Length Jig Weight
average
Price
without tax
B682 203cm 100g JPY34,000
B683 203cm 180g JPY35,100
B684 203cm 230g JPY36,100
B685 203cm 300g JPY37,100

Class C

Metal Witch Slow fall by Palms Elua

metalwitch2_main_img
Model Length Jig Weight
average
Price
without tax
631SF 191cm 80g JPY24,000
632SF 191cm 120g JPY24,300
633SF 191cm 160g JPY24,500
634SF 191cm 180g JPY24,800
635SF 191cm 220g JPY25,500
636SF 191cm 250g JPY25,800

Giant Killing by Major Craft

1311053790174_2
Model Length Jig Weight
average
Price
without tax
B64/2SP 193cm 80g JPY18,000
B64/3SP 193cm 120g JPY18,500
B64/4SP 193cm 150g JPY19,000
B64/5SP 193cm 180g JPY19,500

Crostage by Major Craft

1352277483925_1 2
Model Length Jig Weight
average
Price
without tax
B63/2SP 191cm 70g JPY11,500
B63/3SP 191cm 110g JPY12,000
B63/4SP 191cm 140g JPY12,500
B63/5SP 191cm 170g JPY13,000

Hope the information helps you! Good luck!