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.

The other issue is “adaptability”. Good rods cover 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.
Class B is OK. Designed or supervised by slow pitch 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.

It’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=”http://anglers-secrets.com/v2020/faq-how-should-i-match-the-rod-to-the-jig/” variation=”orange”]ROD ACTION TONE[/fancy_link]
[fancy_link link=”http://anglers-secrets.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.

ModelLengthJig Weight
average
Price
without tax
603-2191cm100gJPY50,000
603-3191cm150gJPY50,000
603-4191cm200gJPY50,000
603-5191cm250gJPY52,000
603-6191cm300gJPY52,000

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.

ModelLengthJig Weight
average
Price
without tax
55 #0170cm60gOPEN
55 #1170cm80gOPEN
55 #2170cm120gOPEN
55 #3170cm180gOPEN
55 #4170cm220gOPEN
55 #5170cm250gOPEN
55 #6170cm300gOPEN
55 #7170cm350gOPEN
55 #8170cm400gOPEN
60 #0180cm60gOPEN
60 #1180cm80gOPEN
60 #2180cm120gOPEN
60 #3180cm180gOPEN
60 #4180cm220gOPEN
60 #5180cm250gOPEN
60 #6180cm300gOPEN
60 #7180cm350gOPEN
60 #8180cm400gOPEN
70 #0210cm60gOPEN
70 #1210cm80gOPEN
70 #2210cm120gOPEN
70 #3210cm180gOPEN
70 #4210cm220gOPEN
70 #5210cm250gOPEN
70 #6210cm300gOPEN
70 #7210cm350gOPEN
70 #8210cm400gOPEN

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.

ModelLengthJig Weight
average
Price
without tax
Force 1191cm90gJPY54,000
Force 2191cm130gJPY55,000
Force 3191cm150gJPY55,000
Force 4191cm200gJPY55,000
Force 5191cm250gJPY56,000
Force 6191cm300gJPY57,000

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.

ModelLengthJig Weight
average
Price
without tax
606-1198cm80gJPY43,500
606-2198cm100gJPY43,500
606-3198cm160gJPY43,500
606-4198cm200gJPY44,000
606-5198cm250gJPY45,000
606-6198cm300gJPY47,400

Ocea Jigger Infiniti by Shimano

oceajiggerinfiniti

Shimano is finally releasing its flagship model for 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.

ModelLengthJig Weight
average
Price
without tax
653183cm140gJPY49,000
654183cm180gJPY49,500
655183cm220gJPY49,800

Class B

Galahad by Yamaga Blanks

galahad
ModelLengthJig Weight
average
Price
without tax
63/1 slow190cm80gJPY36,000
63/2 slow190cm120gJPY37,000
63/3 slow190cm160gJPY38,000
62/3 slow188cm200gJPY41,000
62/4 slow188cm250gJPY42,000

Slow Emotion by Xesta

ModelLengthJig Weight
average
Price
without tax
B681204cm120gJPY42,000
B682204cm150gJPY42,000
B683204cm200gJPY42,000
B684204cm250gJPY42,000
B685204cm350gJPY42,000

Horizon SL by Tenryu

horizon_sl_main
ModelLengthJig Weight
average
Price
without tax
66B-ML198cm100gJPY38,000
66B-M198cm150gJPY38,500
66B-MH198cm180gJPY39,000
66B-H198cm250gJPY40,000

Luxxe Ocean Almea by Gamakatsu

img_almea
ModelLengthJig Weight
average
Price
without tax
B67FL201cm60gJPY41,500
B67UL201cm70gJPY41,500
B67L201cm80gJPY42,000
B67ML201cm120gJPY42,500
B67M201cm150gJPY43,000
B67MH201cm200gJPY43,500
B67H201cm220gJPY44,000

Stiletto SLOW STYLE by Hot’s

SSS_7472
ModelLengthJig Weight
average
Price
without tax
SSS63L191cm80gJPY42,000
SSS63M191cm100gJPY42,000
SSS63H191cm160gJPY42,000
SSS63XH191cm230gJPY47,000

Game Type Slow by Shimano

gametypeslow
ModelLengthJig Weight
average
Price
without tax
B682203cm100gJPY34,000
B683203cm180gJPY35,100
B684203cm230gJPY36,100
B685203cm300gJPY37,100

Class C

Metal Witch Slow fall by Palms Elua

metalwitch2_main_img
ModelLengthJig Weight
average
Price
without tax
631SF191cm80gJPY24,000
632SF191cm120gJPY24,300
633SF191cm160gJPY24,500
634SF191cm180gJPY24,800
635SF191cm220gJPY25,500
636SF191cm250gJPY25,800

Giant Killing by Major Craft

1311053790174_2
ModelLengthJig Weight
average
Price
without tax
B64/2SP193cm80gJPY18,000
B64/3SP193cm120gJPY18,500
B64/4SP193cm150gJPY19,000
B64/5SP193cm180gJPY19,500

Crostage by Major Craft

1352277483925_1 2
ModelLengthJig Weight
average
Price
without tax
B63/2SP191cm70gJPY11,500
B63/3SP191cm110gJPY12,000
B63/4SP191cm140gJPY12,500
B63/5SP191cm170gJPY13,000

Hope the information helps you! Good luck!