Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Fishing => Lures => Topic started by: the rockfish ninja on October 16, 2019, 11:01:29 PM

Title: Japanese slow pitch jigs ....... (USA sources? dealers?)
Post by: the rockfish ninja on October 16, 2019, 11:01:29 PM
I've been all in on this slow pitch jigging trend out of Japan, but I've only had access to the more generic stuff from SavageGear & Shimano. It's working well, but after doing some reading up on it I find that I'm only scratching the surface, and there is a whole other level to the game. I've found some interesting lures from mfgs like Seafloor Control, Zetz, Evergreen, Damiki, and a line made by Abu for the Japan market. (The variety of colors and shapes is mind boggling) 

(https://i.imgur.com/mOERZCd.png)

Seems the Aussie's and Kiwi's are up on it already, even Europe, but here in the USA I've found little or no sources. The only eBay dealers are overseas with limited variety of product, and there's a gazillion knockoffs on Aliexpress, but I wanted to get my hands on a few of the real thing.

Any sources? Websites? USA dealers?

THX
Title: Re: Japanese slow pitch jigs ....... (USA sources? dealers?)
Post by: boon on November 01, 2019, 12:39:47 AM
Plat should have you covered. Shipping might be rough due to the weight involved.

https://www.plat.co.jp/shop/catalog/default/language/en/cPath/4062_4064/lure/jig.html
Title: Re: Japanese slow pitch jigs ....... (USA sources? dealers?)
Post by: SevenYearsDown on November 01, 2019, 06:28:23 AM
I believe Tady has some.
Title: Re: Japanese slow pitch jigs ....... (USA sources? dealers?)
Post by: the rockfish ninja on November 01, 2019, 04:14:05 PM
Quote from: boon on November 01, 2019, 12:39:47 AM
Plat should have you covered. Shipping might be rough due to the weight involved.

https://www.plat.co.jp/shop/catalog/default/language/en/cPath/4062_4064/lure/jig.html

Thanks, that site has a lot of awesome gear!!...   ... but sadly the shipping for weighted jigs or a nice jigging reel would just shoot a hole in that idea.

Where are you? and are you into the slow pitch thing?
Title: Re: Japanese slow pitch jigs ....... (USA sources? dealers?)
Post by: the rockfish ninja on November 01, 2019, 04:15:03 PM
Quote from: SevenYearsDown on November 01, 2019, 06:28:23 AM
I believe Tady has some.

I already picked up a couple, we'll see how they perform on my next trip out.
Title: Re: Japanese slow pitch jigs ....... (USA sources? dealers?)
Post by: Bryan Young on November 01, 2019, 05:30:03 PM
Try MasterCraft. Their USA headquarters is on Maui, I believe.
Title: Re: Japanese slow pitch jigs ....... (USA sources? dealers?)
Post by: Gadget on January 16, 2020, 01:06:43 AM
Guys having played with these for a while now , Home made jigs can work as well as The fancy expensive jigs if you use a bit of thought as to how the water will flow over the jig and where you put the most weight.Centre weighted or slightly forward of centre are best.I start with a balsa master,made a high temp silicon mould and then pour my jigs from those.Tio make the masters i usually look at pictures of the jap jigs and copy those to a degree.
Title: Re: Japanese slow pitch jigs ....... (USA sources? dealers?)
Post by: Gadget on January 16, 2020, 01:12:36 AM
other types
Title: Re: Japanese slow pitch jigs ....... (USA sources? dealers?)
Post by: Gadget on January 16, 2020, 01:14:25 AM
weights vary between 350gm and 720 gms
Title: Re: Japanese slow pitch jigs ....... (USA sources? dealers?)
Post by: Gadget on January 16, 2020, 01:19:54 AM
The cost here for Japanese gear is astronomical hence my attempts at creating my own.Funny thing is they seem to work just as well provided you dont have a jig that sinks backwards.Predatory fish shy off when their prey shoots towards them.Once you have a mould the more you make the cheaper they get.For instance the sea rock copies.If you can locate them are around $75 AUD.i have made the first 8 and already have the cost down to around $18.50 each
Title: Re: Japanese slow pitch jigs ....... (USA sources? dealers?)
Post by: the rockfish ninja on January 16, 2020, 01:30:27 PM
Quote from: Gadget on January 16, 2020, 01:19:54 AM
The cost here for Japanese gear is astronomical hence my attempts at creating my own.Funny thing is they seem to work just as well provided you dont have a jig that sinks backwards.Predatory fish shy off when their prey shoots towards them.Once you have a mould the more you make the cheaper they get.For instance the sea rock copies.If you can locate them are around $75 AUD.i have made the first 8 and already have the cost down to around $18.50 each

Nice work!!!, thanks for sharing.

I'm still new to the flat fall/slow pitch game so I'm still getting a feel for which shapes & designs do what. Some of the shapes like "Rector" fall too slowly and I don't think are suited for this west coast CA fishery at deeper depths. Oddly enough my jig that caught the most fish is a $10.00 Savagegear knockoff called a "Squish", the action works but the finish is inferior and chips even from fish strikes, let alone reef rocks.

I just wouldn't even attempt making any, (and I'm a very crafty guy that makes things too), but I just wanted to get a couple of the real thing to see if they are superior to the knockoffs in effectiveness and durability.
Title: Re: Japanese slow pitch jigs ....... (USA sources? dealers?)
Post by: Gadget on January 29, 2020, 12:57:36 AM
I will bet they are not any better.my searock copies are probably the best jig option for real deep water .500gm .go to the bottom well and flutter when jigged.
Title: Re: Japanese slow pitch jigs ....... (USA sources? dealers?)
Post by: Ron Jones on January 29, 2020, 03:46:24 AM
They seem to look and act like Norwegian jigs (cod jigs.) They are nowhere near the prices you're talking about.
The Man
Title: Re: Japanese slow pitch jigs ....... (USA sources? dealers?)
Post by: boon on February 02, 2020, 08:45:13 AM
Quote from: the rockfish ninja on November 01, 2019, 04:14:05 PM
Quote from: boon on November 01, 2019, 12:39:47 AM
Plat should have you covered. Shipping might be rough due to the weight involved.

https://www.plat.co.jp/shop/catalog/default/language/en/cPath/4062_4064/lure/jig.html

Thanks, that site has a lot of awesome gear!!...   ... but sadly the shipping for weighted jigs or a nice jigging reel would just shoot a hole in that idea.

Where are you? and are you into the slow pitch thing?

Just saw this now... I'm down in New Zealand. We do quite a lot of jigging, although the majority of the time it's "mechanical jigging" with short parabolic rods and, generally, long tail-weighted jigs, as the action of the jig comes much more from the rod/angler than the jig itself (within reason...).

When we do slower kinds of jigging.... I mostly fish slow jigs over slow pitch, jigs like Inchiku and Kabura, because we're targeting different species. Generally speaking anywhere that I would fish slow-pitch I'm likely to catch large Yellowtail Kingfish and I'm better off mechanical jigging with my heavy setup. That said, I plan to do a bit more slow-pitch (and I even have a couple of those Savage Gear "Squish" jigs!).

Of all the many types of fishing I've tried, japanese styles of jigging are the ones that seem to need the most "correct" gear.
Title: Re: Japanese slow pitch jigs ....... (USA sources? dealers?)
Post by: the rockfish ninja on February 03, 2020, 08:50:29 PM
Quote from: boon on February 02, 2020, 08:45:13 AM
Quote from: the rockfish ninja on November 01, 2019, 04:14:05 PM
Quote from: boon on November 01, 2019, 12:39:47 AM
Plat should have you covered. Shipping might be rough due to the weight involved.

https://www.plat.co.jp/shop/catalog/default/language/en/cPath/4062_4064/lure/jig.html

Thanks, that site has a lot of awesome gear!!...   ... but sadly the shipping for weighted jigs or a nice jigging reel would just shoot a hole in that idea.

Where are you? and are you into the slow pitch thing?

Just saw this now... I'm down in New Zealand. We do quite a lot of jigging, although the majority of the time it's "mechanical jigging" with short parabolic rods and, generally, long tail-weighted jigs, as the action of the jig comes much more from the rod/angler than the jig itself (within reason...).

When we do slower kinds of jigging.... I mostly fish slow jigs over slow pitch, jigs like Inchiku and Kabura, because we're targeting different species. Generally speaking anywhere that I would fish slow-pitch I'm likely to catch large Yellowtail Kingfish and I'm better off mechanical jigging with my heavy setup. That said, I plan to do a bit more slow-pitch (and I even have a couple of those Savage Gear "Squish" jigs!).

Of all the many types of fishing I've tried, japanese styles of jigging are the ones that seem to need the most "correct" gear.

I've tried the longer fast jigging stuff but they work like hex bars out here, hit or miss, not as consistent at flat falls from my experience.

Interesting, those other jigs you mention (we call them rock rover & octopus) never work for me out here and I've heard the same from other west coast USA anglers. That's why I took an interest in these jigs, cause I've tried a lot of squid & octopus jigs out here with little action, and the flat fall jigs produced right off the start. The Squish gets bit a lot, just the finish isn't holding up compared to the few legit jigs I have, chips all over it, still works though.

As for the "correct" gear thing, I've seen those guys from Japan taking 4-5 rods for different jig weights and I found that you have a lot more variance than they suggest, (maybe they want to sell more gear? ;)). I go out with two rigs, a light setup (Trevala S-jigging/Accurate V300) rated @ 168gr, but I've used up to 230gr on it with success. The other rig is like you, a short parabolic (St Croix rod/Avet SX), for 200gr and upwards.
Title: Re: Japanese slow pitch jigs ....... (USA sources? dealers?)
Post by: akfish on February 03, 2020, 09:05:58 PM
Check out Johnny.jigs.com. I haven't used them bt they look great and have reasonable prices.
Title: Re: Japanese slow pitch jigs ....... (USA sources? dealers?)
Post by: k1n on February 18, 2020, 01:12:08 AM
Go to fred hall and buy to your hearts content. Major craft jigs are nice and evike usually has a deal going for jigging master diamond eyes as well.
Title: Re: Japanese slow pitch jigs ....... (USA sources? dealers?)
Post by: Benni3 on February 18, 2020, 02:54:00 AM
Quote from: k1n on February 18, 2020, 01:12:08 AM
Go to fred hall and buy to your hearts content. Major craft jigs are nice and evike usually has a deal going for jigging master diamond eyes as well.
Yes evike is cool,,,,,, 8) has good deals online at jigging master - Evike.com and check out the jigging master videos on YouTube,,,,,,,,,, ;D