21 Sephia XTune Tip Eging

S510ML+-S (Vertical tip model suitable for eging)

Vertical tip eging is attracting attention as a new approach to tip eging.

In regular tip eging, anglers ride on one side of the boat, letting it drift with the wind and current, and then jigging the lure after it hits the bottom and letting it stay there. The angler fishes in the direction that the lure moves away from them. In contrast, in vertical tip eging, the boat is kept upright and drifting, so anglers can ride on both sides, the boat moves slowly, and it is possible to drop the lure near the angler's position, similar to regular tip eging in calm conditions. Because the boat's movement is less affected by the wind, it is easier to feel when the lure hits the bottom, and anglers can thoroughly explore deeper areas. The Sephia ExTune Tip Eging S510ML+-S is a rod that has been refined specifically for this vertical tip eging.

When dropping an egi (squid jig) vertically, the rod's movement is transmitted more directly. While this makes it easier to impart action, it also makes it difficult to stabilize the egi's posture during pauses when giving a squid time to grab it. This difficulty is solved by incorporating the flexible solid tip of ToughTec∞. It absorbs the rocking of the boat and enhances the stability of the egi during pauses.

Furthermore, it features butt power that allows you to firmly jig heavier jigs such as the Sephia Entourage Seagull 3.5 S3 (43g) in deep water, and a shorter length that makes it easy to handle high loads. With a total length of 5 feet 10 inches, it exhibits excellent maneuverability even when the jig goes under the boat and you need to lower the tip to jig.

Of course, it inherits the excellent basic performance that the Sephia ExTune Tip Eging has cultivated. Not only is it lightweight, but it also has a "true lightness" that feels light during actual fishing, and the refined specifications such as the light, thin, sharp, and tenacious blank structure based on Spiral X Core are added to the soft tip and hard butt. It achieves powerful jigging and stability that makes it irresistible to squid, opening the door to a new strategy called vertical tip eging. Furthermore, in calm conditions or when squid are highly active, it also performs well as a tip-action model of the Sephia ExTune Tip Eging.

In 2020, the Sephia Limited Tip Eging rod was released, and we received many comments from people who were amazed by its lightness, sensitivity, and balance. We also received many reports of successful catches from all over the country. And now, in 2021, the XTune series is finally being released, and it is a rod that is completely different from the Limited series. The XTune is often thought of as a lower-end model than the Limited series, but in reality, it is a series that continues to reign as a high-end model. The ExTune has been completely redesigned from the ground up, and has been reborn as an entirely new rod.

In terms of specifications, the XTune is on par with the Limited. It uses a carbon monocoque grip, Spiral X Core, interchangeable tip system, and X Guides, and while it doesn't quite reach the level of the Limited, it still uses a considerable amount of high-quality materials.

So, what are the defining features of XTune? The answer is simply "ease of use."

The Limited is essentially a racing car meticulously tuned for the racetrack, while the XTune is the ultimate sports car for public roads.

The XTune is a rod that allows anyone to go fast, no matter who's using it.

The Limited model has a very stiff design, making it exceptionally responsive and nimble. However, it can be a bit unruly for those who aren't comfortable with the technique of building up tension before braking. While this is largely intentional, the XTune model offers a milder version of this characteristic.

By making the settings milder, we reduced the strain on the wrist when jigging, prioritizing ease of use.

Furthermore, when the jig is stationary, instead of stabilizing it solely through rod manipulation, the rod also does some work to absorb some of the waves, which is another advantage.

■S68L, ML, M (68 series)

The 68 length is a consistent length that is neither too long nor too short. As a result, you should notice a clearer difference between the items. Roughly speaking, L is softer, ML is medium, and M is stiffer, but please use them according to your needs without worrying about the weight of the jig. For example, when the sea is rough, even if you are using a heavy jig, using an L will allow for more stable fishing, and even in shallow waters, if you want to cast and move the jig far away in calm conditions, use an M. Use them however you like. The weight rating of the jig is just a guideline, so please use it with your own free thinking without being constrained by it. We have also made it more compact for expeditions. Many anglers want to take the top-of-the-line ExTune on expeditions rather than a center-cut two-piece rod. We have responded to the detailed requests of such anglers.

■S511ML-S (Short Length)

Responding to requests for a more aggressive approach with a shorter rod, we've added a short length to the ExTune lineup, a length not included in the Limited series. While short rods are notoriously difficult to handle, this rod, despite its interchangeable tip system, exhibits an astonishingly beautiful bend, a sight to behold during a fight. It brilliantly overcomes the rod's tendency to wobble and the difficulty in controlling its power, which are common drawbacks of short rods.

■S68MH-S (2021 additional model)

The S68MH-S overturns the notion that tackle for handling heavy jigs is heavy tackle, as it has been streamlined to allow for effortless handling of even heavy jigs. With a tip that firmly detects the subtle bites of squid (ToughTec∞), butt power that firmly lifts even heavy jigs (Spiral X Core, High Power X), and trouble-free X Guides, it is possible to tackle big game with greater precision throughout the day.

By detecting subtle changes in currents, tidal eddies, and shifts in sea conditions, we ensure we don't miss the short window of opportunity that is characteristic of large fish.

This rod is absolutely essential for targeting large squid and those living in strong currents, such as the red squid species that inhabit areas deeper than 50 meters, the white squid species that live in deep waters during winter, and the bigfin reef squid that cling to the bottom in strong currents.

■S72ML-S (2021 additional model)

Finally, the longest model in the series has arrived. This rod truly returns to its roots. The performance we sought in this rod was not just a delicate tip and butt power to jig the squid, but above all, "flexibility" to stabilize the squid. Bigfin reef squid fishing can now be enjoyed from boats of all sizes all over the country. The performance required of rods has also become diverse. Among them, a long rod exceeding 7 feet has been a long request. It perfectly expresses the "flexibility" that is difficult to achieve with short rods, such as at the bow of a large boat that has risen up, or in a small boat that is prone to rocking, and the feeling of being heavy due to the poor balance that is common with long rods has been eliminated by Shimano technology. Lightweight and strong. A long rod that only Shimano can make, that is the S72ML-S.

The Sephia ExTune S510ML+-S is Shimano's first rod developed with vertical tip eging in mind. Vertical tip eging is performed with the boat upright (bow facing into the current or wind), and because the line falls vertically, anglers can enjoy fishing side by side on both sides of the boat. This is the difference from regular tip eging done while drifting, and because there is less boat movement, it is easier to feel the bottom and it is easier to target deeper areas.

Currently, I fish by joining boats that use the mid-weight (jigging) method of fishing with an egi lure while the boat is upright. However, the number of boats that allow this type of fishing is increasing nationwide, including in the Kanto and Kansai regions, and vertical tip eging is becoming more widespread.

The fishing method is also different from regular tip eging; you drop the jig almost straight down, so you use a jigging-like motion. Therefore, if you use a soft, R-action rod, it will bend too much when you jigge, and the jig won't move properly. Conversely, because the line is straight, the jig will move with just a slight movement of the rod. If the tip is too stiff, the jig's head will easily move up and down during the pause, which is the posture that squid dislike the most.

The S510ML+-S is designed for vertical tip eging, with an exquisite balance of the stiffness needed for jigging and the flexibility essential for staying still. In actual use, the rod doesn't bend all the way to the butt section when jigging, and even with its short length, it doesn't feel difficult to stabilize the jig while staying still. The flexible solid tip of ToughTec∞ does a great job. It's a very contradictory statement, but it has the strength to move the jig firmly when jigging, and the flexibility to bring out the stability of the jig when detecting a bite. To put it simply, it's like a combination of an R-action and an F-action, resulting in a type of rod that was previously absent from Shimano's tip eging rods.

Of course, the ExTune's characteristics such as lightness, strength, excellent balance, and high sensitivity remain unchanged. "Ease of use" is also a major feature of the ExTune series, and this aspect has been thoroughly incorporated into the S510ML+-S.