Japanese Tackle--a Linguistic Tour de Force!

[Uncle Russ]

OK, so I know that after reading this, someone is going to say: "Well, that's 10 minutes of my life I'll never get back". (The last time someone said that, I replied: "Yeah, it took me 2 minutes to write it." Anyway, what the hell--things are slow and I can't go fishing until July...

I got to reading Sea Crappie's post about trading his Zenaq and did not want to hijack the thread. He mentions his new Souls rod and it got me to thinking how much I just love the names the Japanese give their tackle. Right now, I am reading the pamphlet that comes with the Tackle House Shibuki Minnow--it carefully explains in several languages how the internal construction has been changed over the previous versions of the lure, (even giving two different numbers for the processes.) It describes the stabilization methodology that permits the lure to be trolled or retrieved at 12 knots, and it even diagrams the inside of the bait and explains how internal forces are compensated and shock-absorbed and how the body materials and I don't know what-all. Mercy! All I can say is that if Dell or MicroSoft documented their products as well as this lure is written up, setting up your home system would be absolutely foolproof.

And what is more, when you buy one of the damned things, you don't know whether to feel like an idiot for paying all that money or to feel really cool that you dropped $40 dollars for one lure that a 2 foot 'cuda could make off with in half a heart beat. To top it off, when you open the box, only then do you figure out that their salesmanship was good enough to make you buy the thing and have the privilege of putting about $5.00 worth of hooks on it on your own dime!

It's kind of like the old James Thurber cartoon in which a guy is sitting at a table in superb high-dollar restaurant. He's staring at a filthy, steaming tennis shoe on his plate. The head waiter is saying: "Oui Monsieur, that ees correct. We gave eet a fancy French name, and you ordered it!"

But there is nothing--and I mean nothing--cooler than owning a "Souls Saltwater Finalist Tuna Casting True Excaliber XXHS." I mean it just sounds like a badass rod that you could use to crank in a cow like it was a perch!

Hell, I bought one, knowing that I didn't really need it and certain that it was too long for me and I probably couldn't cast it worth a damn, but figured that it would be at least cool to have something that looked like an ordinary surf rod but that was loaded with massive steroids. And when people ask me "oohra oohra, is that your rod?" I can tell them "Yes, son, that is a "Souls Saltwater Finalist Tuna Casting True Excaliber XXHS!" Be careful because it can hurt you."

When I whip that sucker out, I may not be able to cast it but I guarantee you that I'll feel like John Holmes at a Eunichs' convention!

When you own this rod, and see some poor slob with a dog like an OTI, a Calstar or, (dare I say it?) a Super Seeker, you can just look down your nose at him like you are drinking champagne and he just found a week-old turd in his punch glass.

Smith's and Carpenters are pretty cool but have nothing like the panache of the "Souls Saltwater Finalist Tuna Casting True Excaliber XXHS!"

OK, so there may be one or two options out there that are almost that cool--the "Zenaq Monster Buster for Ironman" comes pretty close--close, but no cigar. The only possible competition would have to be the Seven Seas "Atomic Sword." I think I need one of those too--and maybe a Carpenter's "Wild Violence" while I am at it.

They may be better fishermen than I am, but until mcgolfer, and Ksong and gman and gunsmoke and MrBill and all the rest of you can convince me you too have such a weapon at your disposal, then Podnuh, to old Uncle Russ, you ain't $hit!

Russ

[sami G]

UNCLE RUSS
the KGS is a casting serious from light to medium.
couple of people we know use the KGS 70MH to cast for a medium size GT,
I will definetely used for a small tuna, it will take the abuse with no problem.
in the mean time i don't see any problem landing a 100lb + tarpon,
enjoy it.

[ksong]

Originally Posted by Sea Crappie

On another note, I have no idea what Shibuki means, but that is maybe the greatest lure name ever.

Shibuki means fog caused by spraying water.

[Sea Crappie]

Ksong,

You are the man!

[Uncle Russ]

Crappie: I still think I need a WV--you never can tell when you will run into a 50 KG GT in the Gulf. You can't be too careful!

Thanks for the information, Sami. What do most people use the little 510L for? I am going to use it as my main speckled trout and flounder rod and the 68M for big bay redfish. The 70MH will be used for big bull redfish in the ship channel current. And if the big jacks get too feisty, I will go to the OTI 7 footer and make them wish they had never been born.

Kil: I like that: "...fog caused by spraying water." To show you what an idiot I am, I thought it was the traditional, stylized Japanese theatre--then I looked it up again and that was something different.

Did you ever have a chance to jig with the "Atomic Sword?" By the way, I hope to get to meet you and some of the others on the July Big E trip. Looks like we will be going.

Russ

[gman]

stop taking about my "atomic sword" in public .... oh never mind. Anyway, Russ I want the new 8' Souls casting rod. The 9' is too long for my preference. Man I just want one of the T shirts they make, pretty cool looking as well.

I will be the first to admit I will buy based off looks as well durability, and function which has a lot to do with it. Thats why I may be an ass but I'm ordering the new Stella. Good or not I will own one soon

[Uncle Russ]

You know, gman, I didn't even know they were coming out with an 8-footer, but I'll bet it's a lot like the Smith 80P/35--except the 9 foot Souls has a hell-for-stout ferrule in the middle and the 80P/35 is a butt joint.

What kind of tackle are you bringing on the July 4 trip?

Russ

[bunile]

OH no, THERE GOES TOKYO !! GODZILLA!!COOL NAMES AND nice ladies,JAPANEESE!!

[Ragman]

Great thread! I like/buy cool looking stuff too. The Long Pen is the kind of lure that you present to someone as a great "Thank You" for a special trip or something complicated or problem that they've helped you with.

GS or MrB have got to dig deep into their collective story archives and add to this thread!

[ono87]

Hey Anthony,
I was looking into buying another GT stick, which Coral Viper did you buy? I have the Carpenter 79M, is it similar to the SP series? Yes, I'm with you on cool names, I hanve a friend, named his heavy tuna rod(custom MC Works Japan) Ahi Assasin!

Tight Lines

ED

[Sea Crappie]

Ono,

It took me a minute to figure out you were asking me about the CV. Anthony Bourdain is the author of my sig line (I'm John) . Anyway, I bought the CV79/40RF - SHP. It just came in on Tuesday so I haven't had a chance to fish it yet. I'll say this, it is very light for a rod as strong as it is.