(Editor's note: BassFan's Jon Storm recently spent a week in Japan and writes of the experience in this continuing series.)
It's easy to get a little overwhelmed at a Japanese tackle show. There are thousands of products you've never seen, so it's difficult to tell what's "new" and what's a few years old. And you're never sure if a product will eventually make it to the U.S., or even if folks in the States could order it online for overseas shipping.
Just imagine hundreds of crankbaits and jerkbaits, perhaps thousands of soft-plastics, rods, reels, line. Instantly, dreams of the next revolution in fishing spring forth, and you find yourself locked into a fantasy where you dominate your local events with a bait no one else has got.
It's fun, but it's not very realistic. And the truth is, Japanese tackle is no different than U.S. tackle. Meaning, there's a lot of good stuff, a small amount of great stuff, and quite a bit of junk.
I think all BassFans learned a long time ago that a fancy paint job isn't what catches fish. And in Japan, U.S. tackle companies like Heddon, Rapala, Zoom, Gary Yamamoto and Berkley command a massive share of the market (Yamamoto by far is the most popular plastic brand there, followed probably by Zoom).
During the 2 days I spent at the Osaka Tackle Show, I searched out what I felt was the cream of the crop. I couldn't do it alone. I relied of course on a translator (Yasutaka Ogasawara), as well as pro anglers, journalists and bloggers.
Rather than attempt to cover the entire show in a single article, I'll be publishing a few pieces that focus on particular tackle categories.
This first article is about reels.
Revo Elite IB
Fans of Abu Garcia can certainly appreciate this flagship model in the company's Japan lineup. Info on the reel was a little difficult to translate, and no word on whether it'll come to the States, but it's certainly a thing of beauty.
Most noticeable is its weight – a super-lean 7 ounces, even though the main frame and sideplate are made of aluminum.
It houses a brake system from Abu called Infinite Braking (hence the IB name) that's currently available in the States on the Revo Premier model. Each of the six brake positions includes a spring for super-tuned cast control in the wind, and because it can be fished in a more "open" configuration, even in wind, distance is said to be significantly increased.
Other amenities include a 9+1 bearing system, 6.4:1 gear ratio, curved-in handle to reduce wobble and a super-light spool. Note the shiny exterior and overall styling.
MSRP comes in at about $430.
Daiwa's new bass stable includes the flagship Z2020 (left) and the round Ryoga.
Three From Daiwa
Daiwa showed off three bass-style reels, including its new flagship Daiwa Z2020 (MSRP: $580), which is designed more like other, current low-profile reels and sits lower on the rod.
Daiwa referred to it as a "new-concept reel" because of its new brake system. Flip the reel over and the angler can choose one of three brake settings – max, all-around and loose. The max setting would be for wind, the loose setting for still conditions.
Check out Shimano's redesigned Calcutta Conquest.
At each setting, there are 20 positions for fine-tuning, set with the brake adjuster on the side of the unit. The reel's set to be available this spring and it's a good chance it, or a reasonably likeness, will come to the States.
Another notable reel from Daiwa was the Topic, which is a small baitcaster meant to replace a spinning reel. Lengthwise, the spool is small, but it's quite large in diameter. It features a carbon handle and a 6.8:1 gear ratio. MSRP comes in at about $420.
Lastly comes the new Ryoga round reel (MSRP: $540). It's machined from a single block or aluminum and is surprisingly light (9 ounces). The tolerances are amazingly tight – there's no shift, wobble or play anywhere on the reel – and it includes a new drag system that's audible (it clicks as line is pulled out). Note the offset gearbox so the reel sits lower on the rod.
Shimano's New Conquest
The Shimano booth included an absolutely staggering range of reels, many with small little tweaks in handle designs and color palettes, but the main focus was certainly on the company's redesigned Calcutta Conquest DC (comparable to the TE DC in the States).
This Megabass reel, made by Daiwa, weighs in at just 5.36 ounces.
The redesign allows the high-end reel to sit lower on the rod, so it's more comfortable to fish. It still includes the interior digital cast control as well as exterior fine adjustments. MSRP in Japan is about $650.
Megabass
BassFans probably recognize Megabass as a bait and rod company, but this tackle giant is also well known in Japan for its reels, which Daiwa manufactures for the company.
The centerpiece of the Megabass reel display was its IS73C (Competition), with a custom carbon handle, 11+1 bearings and 7.3:1 gear ratio. The reel weighs an astounding 5.36 ounces.
Notable
> Previous stories by Storm about his trip to Japan include:
'Rig-Meister" Hata Takuma
Record-holder Kurita haunted by monster
A 2-part interview with Seiji Kato
Texas-rigging crankbaits
