Summer 2025
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“Sight-fishing with spinnerbaits is underutilized in the West, but also, the idea that you can use the spinnerbait as a technical lure—not just a chuck-and-wind search bait—is something I hope more people try,” he added.
It’s that shift in mindset that unlocks the true power of the lure. Treating the spinnerbait as a finesse weapon, as a thinking angler’s tool, brings it back into relevance—even in a tech-heavy age.
“Spinnerbaits are not outdated,” he said. “They’re just misunderstood. And in today’s pressure-heavy waters— especially in Japan—they still catch fish others miss.”
A CULTURE OF ADAPTATION
Bass fishing in Japan is a mix of heritage and high- tech, restraint and refinement. Anglers work within tight geographic limits, deal with extreme fishing pressure, and often have to bank fish rather than rely on boats. These conditions have shaped the country’s unique techniques— and explain why someone might still swear by a lure as “old- school” as the spinnerbait.
But that devotion isn’t just nostalgia. It’s built on results. For Tsukgaru, the spinnerbait remains not only effective but deeply satisfying.
“It keeps me excited every year,” he concluded. “Even after all this time, it still teaches me something new.” •
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