6’3″ (192cm) Slow Jerker or 7’10” (238cm) Longfall Jerker?

This is a question people ask me sometimes when they are starting slow pitch game.

I think it’s also good to consider these models in comparison to understand this game more.

Let’s compare the specs first.

Slow Pitch Model	Length	Jig Weight Strong Tone	Jig Weight Medium Tone	Jig Weight Soft Tone
Slow Jerker 603-2	191cm	60g – 80g	80g – 130g	130g – 180g
Slow Jerker 603-3	191cm	80g – 100g	100g – 150g	150g – 260g
Slow Jerker 603-4	191cm	100g – 150g	150g – 210g	210g – 300g
Slow Jerker 603-6	191cm	150g – 210g	210g – 270g	270g – 400g

The jig weight indications are based on the practical application of slow pitch experts. The actual applicable range is not limited to it. Each model can work both lighter (in stronger action tone) and heavier (in softer action tone) jig weights.

Longfall Model	Length	Rod Power	Jig Weight Range
Longfall Jerker 710ML-2	238cm	Medium Light	80g – 600g
Longfall Jerker 710M-3	238cm	Medium	80g – 600g
Longfall Jerker 710MH-4	238cm	Medium Heavy	80g – 600g
Longfall Jerker 710H-6	238cm	Heavy	80g – 600g

All Longfall Jerker models are meant to be used in “soft action tone”. That is why all the model is rated for jig weight 80g to 600g. There are different rod power to adjust to different degrees of water influence (depth and current).

So, there’s a clear difference between Slow Jerker and Longfall Jerker.

Slow pitch expects to speed up and whip the jig (or not to whip) by the rod actions. Also, there are different kinds of jigs. Some want to be whipped strongly, some softly, and some just want to be dropped.
Longfall expects to lift and drop as long as you can. It’s rather a simple game. Less tactics are involved. You CAN try to make a lot of different actions with a longfall rod, but longfall rod is too long and it’s pretty difficult. All the actions are bound to be bigger, slower and softer.

Beat Propagate has the similar line-ups.

Slow Pitch Model	Length	Jig Weight Average
Propagete 606-1	201cm	80g
Propagete 606-2	201cm	100g
Propagete 606-3	201cm	160g
Propagete 606-4	201cm	200g
Propagete 606-5	201cm	250g
Propagete 606-6	201cm	300g

Longfall Model	Length	Jig Weight Average
Propagete Expert Longfall 702-2	219cm	130g
Propagete Expert Longfall 702-3	219cm	180g
Propagete Longfall 706-3	229cm	200g
Propagete Longfall 706-4	229cm	250g
Propagete Longfall 706-5	229cm	350g

Beat rods have not been studied and used as intensely as Slow Jerker. So we don’t know how it works with different jig weights for what action tone. But in general, Propagate slow pitch models are a little softer than the equivalent Slow Jerker model.

Now, what rod you should get to start this game?
Slow pitch model or long fall model?

This question actually arises mainly in Asia. Probably because slow pitch jigging is getting really popular in Singapore, and the leading anglers there have been successful with long fall models.
As little as I know about their fishing style, the boat operations or the field conditions, I know they fish in relatively shallow water, and their main target is groupers. It makes sense to me because long fall technique is effective for demersal fish.

I’m sure there are all kinds of fishing styles around the world. I’m not here to tell which is better or which is a right way.

But if I’m to recommend to someone which rod to start this game with, I definitely recommend slow pitch rod.

You can apply a lot more kinds of actions than long fall rods. And you can learn more with a slow pitch rod. That’s the most important thing, I think, when you start your new game.

Long fall technique is just an idea to maximize the falls.
e.g. If you project your rod action range in a clock, say, your normally jerk in slow pitch from 2 o’clock to 5 o’clock, or maybe from 12 to 3. In slow pitch, you change the motion range constantly.
Long fall tech is about letting the jig fall from 12 to 6, all the way. Of course you can do this with slow pitch rod. But longer rod would enhance the falls. That was the idea that created Longfall Jerker. But because of its length, it’s hard to make little actions or punchy application. Long fall is a specialized rod. That’s why I recommend Slow Jerker to start with in order to learn all the possible actions you can do with it.

The ocean is different everyday. The current changes every hour. Different fish. Different depth. Fish changes preferences by the tide, by the season, by the location.

You would want to change something when you are not catching. You want different tactics. You want to adapt to the situation. And only you can do is to keep changing until you hit it.
Before slow pitch, what you could change used to be like jig weights and colors. But now with the slow pitch principles, it can be unlimited combinations of the rod, line, leader, hook setting, action tones, and the jigs with different weights, types and colors.
You would learn more about these things with slow pitch rod.

And I strongly encourage to get 2 different models of slow pitch rods first. Then the third rod can be a high pitch rod or a long fall rod. By then, you will know what kind of tactics you would like to play or you would find effective.

Plus, there are a lot of times when slow pitch rods can do longer falls than long fall models.

When the boat is free-drifting, the line is bound to be going in the water sideway. You want to jerk up the line sideway too. In the direction that the line in the water is pointing. But usually the boat has roofs and lines hanging above your head. And long fall rods can be hard to handle sometimes.

See more details here. Tips for fishing on a free-drifting boat →

Once again, this is just one general suggestion. If you know what rod you want to buy, you should go for it. If you don’t know, this is one thing to consider. Because if Sato Sensei doesn’t know what kind of field he’s taken to, and if he’s allowed to take only one rod, he will definitely grab a Slow Jerker, not a Longfall Jerker. There are reasons for that.