English edition. Specs, model numbers and Japan release dates are read from the makers' Japanese sites. Prices are in Japanese yen (JPY) from Japanese online stores, and most shops ship within Japan only. Links to pages without an English version open in Japanese.

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Updated Oct 18, 2026

Fishing Gear Note compares fishing gear such as reels, rods, lines, lures and life jackets by the numbers the makers publish and by store prices. It started on Oct 14, 2026.

The writer, and what I write

I write numbers that can be confirmed in official documents, and the prices stores sell at. Weight, gear ratio, line retrieve per crank, max drag, rod length and lure weight rating, line size and strength: things that read the same for anyone.

I have 30 years of fishing, from eging and jigging to bass, and hold a boat license and a certified fishing instructor qualification. On top of that, I am a "gear nerd" who loves nothing more than comparing spec sheets. I don't just list numbers; I add numbers I recalculate myself, such as how much you pay to save 1g, how many cranks it takes to retrieve 100m, or the price per meter.

I have not yet published data I measured myself on the water. The numbers in articles come from each maker's official documents.

The same writer also runs "Golf Gear Lab" (golf clubs by the numbers), "Mountain Gear Note", "Camp Gear Note", "Race Gear Note" (running gear) and "Pickleball Gear Note".

How rankings are decided

Each ranking covers one type of gear. The writer chooses the order by weight, gear ratio and strength figures, build and price, and gives the reason for each rank in the "Why this order" table in the article. Ranks are given among current models sold on Rakuten Ichiba. The size of an affiliate commission never changes the order.

Where the numbers come from

Numbers I could not confirm are not written.

Water safety and rules

Gear specs do not promise catches or safety near the water. Wear a life jacket, stay out of no-entry areas, and stop when the weather or waves turn bad. Rivers and lakes may require a fishing permit, and size and season rules differ by region. Articles introduce the cautions issued by makers and public bodies.

About the photos

The background photos on the home page and other pages are from Unsplash (free photos that allow commercial use). Photographers: Harli Marten (morning sea), Austris Augusts (breakwater), Thijs Kennis (mountain stream), Wynand van Poortvliet (reel over the sea), Colter Olmstead (sunset and rod), Serge Shpak (lure on moss) and Simon Maisch (waves on rocks). Product images are Rakuten Ichiba product images, used as links to the product pages.

Relationship with the makers

This is an unofficial site run by an individual, with no connection to any maker. Product names are trademarks of their owners. Specs and prices can change, so check the official site and the store page before you buy.

About advertising

This site takes part in affiliate programs such as Rakuten Affiliate. If you buy a product through a link in an article, the site may earn a commission. Whether there is a commission never changes the numbers or the order.

Who runs this site

This site is run by an individual. Please report mistakes through the contact page. I check, correct, and add an update date to the article.