Spring 2025
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The eye at the front gives the bait less vibration, which allows you to present the bait more quietly.”
FISHING THE GIGANOTO
There are many ways to fish a lipless crankbait, and the large GIGANOTO can be fished in all of the traditional ways but excels around grass.
“During the summer, Lake Biwa is full of grass, and anglers use a ‘yo-yo’ retrieve to get fish to bite,” Kawano said. “Jerking the bait free from grass gives it excellent vibration, and the fast fall triggers fish because of its weight and speed of fall. The preferred retrieve speed of Japanese anglers with this bait is relatively quick, which gets the bait to vibrate strongly.”
Even if the grass isn’t present, a ‘yo-yo’ type retrieve works well, but it also excels with a standard straight retrieve, according to Kawano. There are many ways to fish it, and the vibration from each retrieve is excellent.
“Even with a straight continuous retrieve, you will feel the strong vibration,” he said. “Japanese anglers have also done very well with it with a lift and fall because it sinks so fast. This bait lipless can go deeper, literally deeper.”
The large profile bait has proven itself on a trophy fishery like Biwa but will do the same on American fisheries known for big bass. “It’s a unique bait made for big bass in Japan, but can be a weapon for California,” said Kawano. “Lipless crankbaits work great on Clear Lake and Lake Berryessa, using them around the grass for the giant bass that lives there. The GIGANOTO was made when you wished you had a heavier lipless crankbait to fish deeper and more effectively.”
Though largemouth are the primary reason this lure was made, Kawano says it’s perfect for any predator fish, including the striped bass, one of the most popular targets in Northern California. “In addition to the long casting distance, it works well in strong currents because of the weight of the bait,” he said. “Many anglers like to use big jerkbaits for stripers, but this is a new approach to striper fishing. The shape and size will appeal to huge fish like the striper.”
Valleyhill has a long history in Japan, designing lures to meet specific needs, like the GIGANOTO for extreme casting distance. This is just the latest example of a unique bait hitting the American fishing scene, and there will be more to come. •
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