The Flick shake which brought the big title at the Amistad
Seiji Kato :The genius lure designer who is rare in Japan. he made TD Minnow(Daiwa),Sammy and Pointer(Lucky craft) and many famous Baits.
He won the tournament of co-angler section at 2007 BATTLE ON THE BORDER CO - LAKE AMISTAD, TX In 07' February, His total weight was 48ld 8oz, a lead 2ld 5oz from FRANCO VALLEJOS of second place. On the Day3 of co-angler section final day, at the middle of a creek which had the spooning area was key spot of his pro partner Grant GOLDBECK.
Them target was bush trees on the creek channel begin to narrow. Bass suspended inside bush trees.
Seiji said " Grant tried to catch them by jig, I couldn't understand that what's his target and fish condition at early time, but I saw his and understood that. Then if I understood that, I just try to fishing by my style and I did."
Therefore the Bait & rig which he used is a Flick Shake + jig head(wacky style set up).The contenders use a rig of this style increased recently in U.S.A. but originally the secret rigs in the Japanese bass fishing tournament are popular in Japan. wacky style was always a popular rig in U.S.A, but it is the rig which it used a jig head for in substitution for a hook that Seiji used.Because a field is small as for the tournament in Japan, most matches are performed under tough condition.They make an effort for the development of secret rigs various day and night to become the higher advance how the Japanese player gets a fish byte in the situation.
Flick Shake + jig head(wacky style set up) was born to that situations.
The tackle he used in day3. Rod : Poison Power Finesse competition ML 6.7ft, Lour : Flick Shake + wacky jig head 2.7g. Line : 7ld Fluorocarbon line.
In fact, Seiji had another secret on this day. he used two flick shake like a cross at one time because it for volume up and appeal up.
Why did not Seiji reveal it?　because his partner Grant was interested in that rig and understood power of that rig in tough condition then Seuji caught fish on his eyes. Seiji thought that if he dosen't reveal his secret to Press, it some help to Grant's fish of this season.
By the way, if you use power finesse rig at fishing with heavy cover, you must mind tactics with the fish to lose change by a heavy cover rotation in such it. For example, I have you understand it if you inspect the tackle that Seiji of this time used again,As for the combination of light line and finesse worm, it is difficult a little to treat it with a rod released in U.S.A. now. Because they are so strong.Of course I do not deny the necessity of the hard power rod.Because so many heavy covers in American field and bass stay tight in them.
But then if we use light line for finesse rig we must change it a little.
In this case, the most important thing is "get fish bite first", and move to fight bass with a careful.
For example,when Seiji gat bite in bush tree at this time, his pro partner Grant handled a trolling motor and moved a boat from Bush tree to open water.
Seiji said "When it is pulled with the trolling motor that the bass did not act violently.Because I used Poison(Jackall release).This rod has bat power but from the tip to there, it consisted of the softness with the tenacity".
Therefore there is little sense of incongruity to the bass after the hooked up,And it is rare that they act violently.The bass came to the boat side and noticed, and to begin to act violently.But he already on the open water and do not have to worry about the cover. He caught the 8Ld over that there was in a cover at a 7Ld line.