By the time you’re reading this I’ll be in Japan. It’s a combination trip — part vacation, part sponsor work, part lure buying and part fishing. I’ve been dreaming about this for years.
The thing about Japan is that it’s a place where bass fishing lures and techniques have been expanded and tweaked over the years. I know from the reports I’ve gotten that bass fishing is huge in Japan and that the local anglers are really good at their craft.
And, from what I hear they have plenty of good water for practice. Several Japanese lakes are borderline legendary, and we all know about Manabu Kurita hauling in a world record-tying largemouth from Lake Biwa. I can’t wait to give a couple of those places a try, especially Biwa.
I’ve watched Japan for years. They’re at their best when they modify lures and techniques. They’re really good at changing weights, line placements and hook locations to give something a different look.
Historically, their work has been part of a four-step process. Things originate here then they go to Japan to be modified and made better. After that, they come back here to be tested at the highest professional levels. If they work for us, word gets out and they move into the recreational ranks.
The drop shot rig is an excellent example of what I’m talking about. Contrary to what some anglers might think it’s not new at all. It’s been around as a live bait rig for decades. I used it as a kid in saltwater. Then, somewhere along the line bass anglers gave it a try. It worked, sort of. But it was the Japanese who tweaked it with lighter line, new hook designs and breakaway weights.
It’s been around long enough now that most of us think about it as an American technique, something we do over here. That’s partly true, but it’s far from the whole story.
Another example is the finish they put on their baits. There’s no doubt that the photo-type finishes they came up with for hard baits and the color innovations they used on plastics influenced American manufacturers.
I’m thinking that there’s stuff going on over there that we’ve never heard about, stuff that could turn out to increase our weights and our success as bass anglers. There could be something I learn on this trip that might help me win an Elite Series tournament next year.
I have money put aside for that. I’ll probably have to pay a small fortune in extra baggage fees for everything I bring back. I hope so anyway. That’ll mean my trip was a success. You know what they say — the man who dies with the most toys wins.
Anyway, I’ll be gone for nine days. When I get back I’ll write a couple of columns about what I learned and what they’re doing to help move our sport forward. In my opinion it’s an overstatement to say they’re ahead of the curve, but it’s not an overstatement to say they’re at the forefront of improvements and modifications to existing techniques and products.
Mike Iaconelli’s column appears weekly on Bassmaster.com. You can also find him on Facebookand Twitter or visit his website, mikeiaconelli.com.
