®
A
n emerging name in America, Valleyhill is the
latest top Japanese lure brand to enter the
North American market with highly technical lures to fit specific needs. They make many lures under
Valleyhill and more under their sister brand, Whiplash
Factory. All of them are highly detailed with a purpose,
including the large lipless crankbait called GIGANOTO, which
was developed for catching huge bass on the world-famous
Lake Biwa.
FILLING A NEED
Lake Biwa is the crown jewel of Japanese bass fishing, and in 2009, Manabu Kurita caught a world-record-sized bass there. The 22-lb, 5-ounce fish was one ounce bigger than the existing record, but it tied the world record set by George Perry in Georgia in 1932 because it wasn’t two ounces more than the record. This giant bass put the lake on the map, attracting anglers worldwide.
Anglers from Japan and elsewhere often fish Lake Biwa, hoping for a new record. While many anglers fish from boats, even more fish from the shoreline. This is why casting distance is critical, and Valleyhill developed GIGANOTO specifically for longer casts.
“Anglers who pursue bass from the bank wade out to reach targets,” said Mr. Yu Kawano, the head of marketing for Valleyhill. “Besides wading far into the water, they need the special tackle to assist their unique styles and baits to cast farther. Their goal is up to 80 yards, which shows their passion for making long casts.”
Bank anglers in Japan also use rods like the Valleyhill Black Scale Distance Edition, which can be up to 9 or 10 feet long. But the bait is also specially designed for excellent casting distance, even with standard gear from shore or a boat. Its nearly one- ounce weight (27g) and the aerodynamic shape helps it fly through the air.
GIGANOTO DESIGN FEATURES
Like most lipless crankbaits, GIGANOTO has incredible vibration and a great swimming action to mimic a baitfish. Sound is also critical in the design, and modifications can be made to cast it even further.
“Under the massive chin section on the bait, there is a place to attach a drop-shot weight for longer casts,” said Kawano. “It also has a very loud knocking sound because of the lead block inside the body. It’s available in three versions, the original, a tungsten version, and a lighter bait with the same shape and profile.”
In addition to GIGANOTO, GIGANOTO TG is approximately the same weight. The TG version includes tungsten rattles for a different sound, and GIGANOTO Light has the same size profile but weighs 21g grams or 3/4 ounces. They all feature specially designed Ryugi hooks with a smaller hook at the rear to stabilize the bait as it falls.
The top of the bait is also unique as there are two line ties, each giving the bait a different action. “The two eyes give you two ways to change your presentation as the back eye makes the bait have a wider wobbling action,” said Kawano. “The back eye also allows for a more stable cast.
Spring 2025
page
11