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

[ono87]

Originally Posted by 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.

Sorry about that, see what happens "Never post with out caffine". I'll be heading out again to Oman and Africa for GT fishing. Since I am a confessed Tackle Ho, looking for another stick to curb my addiction. Thanks for the info

ED

[Uncle Russ]

Tom,

Actually, I didn't buy the Long Pens either as something "...to present to someone as a great 'thank you'" OR even to fish with. There were two reasons, actually that I bought two of them--the first was to serve as a class-3 flotation device in case the boat sinks--kind of like Mathew McConahey or whoever the hell it was clutching on to that piece of the Titanic before he froze to death and went belly up--and second, I wanted to be able to go up to Gunsmoke or MrBill, yell "Mine's bigger than yours is!" and haul out that Long Pen to compare to their Tuna Hunter Juniors.

I appreciate the complement, but I can't agree with you that I write a better thread than Gunsmoke or MrBill, though--there's something seriously disturbing about those fellows. I'm not good at a whole lot, but one of the talents I think I have always had is that I can usually tell when someone is bull-shitting me. And the really, really, scary part is that I think those boys are usually, if not always, telling the truth.

Especially, Gunsmoke--think about that for a minute--if he actually did only 10 percent of what he claims, every state in the union would re-instate the electric chair.

Barack and Hillary have been getting themselves in trouble by the folks they associate with--the Reverend Wright, that dude from the weather underground, the Emir of Dubai, and...oh yeah, Bill Clinton. Just imagine what would happen if someone found out that Gunsmoke was one of their supporters--either would have to resign from the race in a heartbeat.

Russ

[Fishhead56]

Ono87
From where in Oman are you fishing.
I have fished from the port of Salala.
This was in the mid 90's No popping.
Trolling and some bottom fishing.
This was March and April also.
Common catches were.
Mahai 1 mile from shore off the FADs
Sails 3 to 4 miles out.
And Tuna 6 to 12 miles out.

Met a Britt that worked at the airport for Honeywell
He had a 16' alum v bow skiff w\tiller outboard.
Fishing their was amazing stuff that not many westerners had seen.

I'd like to here more.

[ono87]

Originally Posted by Fishhead56

Ono87
From where in Oman are you fishing.
I have fished from the port of Salala.
This was in the mid 90's No popping.
Trolling and some bottom fishing.
This was March and April also.
Common catches were.
Mahai 1 mile from shore off the FADs
Sails 3 to 4 miles out.
And Tuna 6 to 12 miles out.

Met a Britt that worked at the airport for Honeywell
He had a 16' alum v bow skiff w\tiller outboard.
Fishing their was amazing stuff that not many westerners had seen.

I'd like to here more.

We fished with Ocean Active in Musadam. Fantastic GT fishing. Need ultra heavy gear, 13-15kg rod, 100-130 lbs spectra, 200 lbs leader. If you want to catch the mythical 50kg gt, you need to go. You can also catch, schoolie YTF, Longfin tuna, and huge mackeral. I will be going back in Nov, need to handle that monster that busted me off at 14kg of drag! The fish would not be denied, broke me off on the reef.

ED

[Fishhead56]

Thanks for the reply.
Let us know about your
plans and trip.
Hope you don't mind a PM question or 2
I will be very close to there again next year Jan - July
on a project at the Port of Korfforkan
maybe 50 miles from there..
Good Luck
Kev

[LEXPRO]

Russ, Have you used this rod back working poppers? I grabbed a 9ft (not really heavy) rod and handled it to see if it would fit me and i felt i couldnt "Pop" the rod with my wrist due to its size. Do you pop these long rods or rip em back to the boat?

[Uncle Russ]

LEXPRO: Unfortunately, I have not had much opportunity to fish the Souls much--the only time I have used it was blind casting on the Big E last September when there was no surface bite on. Mine is VERY stiff, but I had no problem either popping or ripping with Fisherman Long Pens, Tuna Hunter Juniors, or the full sized Tuna Hunters. My wrists were fine. I did buy the 90XXH model instead of the 90XH, which I understand from Randy to be considerably lighter, and which the Souls website, once you re-translate what it is saying, indicates it is much easier for the beginner to cast and use. I still sometimes regret the choice I made between the two. I will have this rod on the Big E over the July 4 weekend when I use it to win the Big Tuna Pot.

Russ

[LEXPRO]

I have a OTI 7ft, GUSA 8ft, and I was thinking about buying one and using it on the trip but i thinking im talking myself out of it. I just didnt feel like i could work a popper with a 9fter, maybe it was the placement of the grips on the particular rod i was holding (All Star 9ft Blue water avenger). I also emailed anglers pro to see if they could sell me on a high end popping set up but they never replied. Maybe it was not meant to be... so i may have to buy a 7.5 OTI

[gman]

Originally Posted by Uncle Russ

LEXPRO: Unfortunately, I have not had much opportunity to fish the Souls much--the only time I have used it was blind casting on the Big E last September when there was no surface bite on. Mine is VERY stiff, but I had no problem either popping or ripping with Fisherman Long Pens, Tuna Hunter Juniors, or the full sized Tuna Hunters. My wrists were fine. I did buy the 90XXH model instead of the 90XH, which I understand from Randy to be considerably lighter, and which the Souls website, once you re-translate what it is saying, indicates it is much easier for the beginner to cast and use. I still sometimes regret the choice I made between the two. I will have this rod on the Big E over the July 4 weekend when I use it to win the Big Tuna Pot.

Russ

I used one, I think it was Sami's from APS, really nice rod. Souls actually came out with shorter versions such as 7.5, and a 8' as well delivery sometime in the next few months

[Uncle Russ]

I heard about those shorter rods--I have an 8 foot Smith that is also very nice--easier to handle than the longer rod for me. LEXPRO: I cannot imagine Randy or Sami not answering--must have been a slip up--they are the nicest guys you'll ever meet--and both of them will be on the July 4 trip as I understand it--so you might try again.

Russ