Slow Jerker or Longfall Jerker?
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.
Hi,toto-san
Im just wondering
Is spiral wrap guide a good choice for slow jigging?
Will there be any different from the conventional guide build for slow jig such as slow jerker rods?
Hi Wan.
I have tried the spiral guide in the field only once. I only got a 3kg size Trevally.
PROS. I think it was easy to ride the fish bite. When I make actions, I found it easy to control the tip movements. But I don’t know, maybe it’s the property of the blanks. I didn’t test the same blanks with the normal and the spiral. They say the sensitivity is better because of more small guides.
With spiral guide turning left toward the tip makes the line load toward to the left. I do line management with my left finger or thumb, so I found it easier.
CONS. I was a little nervous when I got the fish near the boat and it started running around. I felt the blanks twisted a little, which means power loss. One of the pros that they say is that the spiral guide prevents interference between the line and the blanks, but I thought that you should never lift the rod to fight.
It’s a subtle difference, I would say. And it’s up to your preference. For me personally, spiral guide is not a big factor when I choose my rods.
Hi
there is an error in the Long rods table. It is written 283cm in all the rods, but it actually is 238cm
Thank you for the correction. You are absolutely right!