I chose by three things, sinking speed, weight and price, with the eye of a fishing instructor who has fished for 30 years and also does eging. No. 1 is the Shimano Sephia Clinch Flash Boost size 3.5. It is a normal type with a sinking speed of 3.7 sec/m and a list price of JPY 1,130 (excl. tax). For the second, add a shallow type; for the third, add the Egi-Oh K Deep, released in early October 2026.
The Gear Nerd's Pick
How fast an egi sinks is hardly set by its weight. Shimano's Clinch differs by only 0.5g between normal and shallow, yet the sinking speed is 3.7 and 6 seconds, a factor of 1.6. What matters is the shape and attachment of the sinker, so I add to my egi by sinking speed, not by the weight number.
Key points
- The Clinch differs by 0.5g between normal and shallow, and the sinking speed differs by a factor of 1.6
- To the bottom at 5m depth: 10 seconds for deep, 30 seconds for shallow
- The Egi-Oh K Deep size 3.5 goes on sale in early October 2026
A 0.5g difference, and the sinking speed differs by a factor of 1.6
Shimano's Clinch size 3.5 is 19g at 3.7 sec/m in normal and 18.5g at 6 sec/m in shallow. The weight differs by only 0.5g.
Surprising. Even so, the time to sink 1m differs by 2.3 seconds. If you choose among the same size 3.5 by weight alone, your count to the bottom goes off and you cannot work the layer you meant to.
The Yamashita Egi-Oh K was the same. Basic is 22g at about 3 sec/m, shallow 20g at about 6 sec/m and super shallow 19.5g at about 8 sec/m. Just 2.5g lighter, and the sinking time stretches by a factor of 2.7.
How I chose
I looked at sinking speed first. In a Shimano article, eging expert Masataka Yukawa says to cast the normal as the standard and switch to shallow or deep by how fast it reaches the bottom, so I lined them up on the premise that you buy in that order.
What I hesitated over was the order of the three normals. The deciding point is the Clinch's build: easy to pick up at JPY 1,130 (excl. tax), and the glowing plate shows even while you pause. That works. I ranked these from the current models you can buy on Rakuten, looking at the official numbers.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Shimano Sephia Clinch Flash Boost size 3.5
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 915 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 1,980. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanChoosing a size 3.5 egi: three, by sinking speed
One is not enough. I put together size 3.5 in three with different sinking speeds.
- The first is normal. In the band of 3–3.7 sec/m, it is my standard for days when I do not know the spot
- The second is shallow. Around 6 sec/m, for shallows where it reaches the bottom too fast, or days when you want to show it slowly
- The third is deep. Around 2 sec/m, for deep water where it is slow to find the bottom, or days with fast current
Comparing five recommended size 3.5 egi by the numbers
| Rank / model | Type | Weight | Sinking speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 Shimano Sephia Clinch Flash Boost | Normal | 19g | 3.7 sec/m |
| No. 2 Yamashita Egi-Oh K | Basic | 22g | about 3 sec/m |
| No. 3 Duel EZ-Q Dart Master | Normal | 19g | about 3.2 sec/m |
| No. 4 Shimano Sephia Clinch Shallow Flash Boost | Shallow | 18.5g | 6 sec/m |
| No. 5 Yamashita Egi-Oh K Deep | Deep | 25g | about 2.0 sec/m |
Seconds to reach the bottom, and price per gram
| Model | To 5m depth | To 10m depth | Per gram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinch Flash Boost | 18.5 sec | 37 sec | JPY 59.5 |
| Egi-Oh K | 15 sec | 30 sec | ― |
| Dart Master | 16 sec | 32 sec | ― |
| Clinch Shallow Flash Boost | 30 sec | 60 sec | JPY 81.1 |
| Egi-Oh K Deep | 10 sec | 20 sec | ― |
At 5m depth, the gap between deep and shallow is 20 seconds. Three times. A big gap. Because the length of the count to the bottom differs this much, recount when you change the type.
The gap among the three normals is small. At 5m they fall within a 3.5-second band, 15 to 18.5 seconds, so whichever you use first, the counting does not change much. So I made the first one the easy-to-pick-up Clinch.
Why this order
| Rank | Model | Reason for this rank |
|---|---|---|
| No. 1 | Clinch Flash Boost | A normal type at 3.7 sec/m, and easy to buy more of at JPY 1,130 (excl. tax). |
| No. 2 | Egi-Oh K | 22g is the heaviest of the normals and suits long casts. As the standard first egi, I put No. 1, which glows even when stopped, above it. |
| No. 3 | Dart Master | About 3.2 sec/m, close to No. 2. The hook is attractive, but the shape is unusual, so I put No. 2 ahead as the standard first egi. |
| No. 4 | Clinch Shallow | At 6 sec/m it suits a second egi, but the speed is too slow to make it your first. |
| No. 5 | Egi-Oh K Deep | About 2.0 sec/m is the fastest sinker of the five, so I made it the third, for days when the bottom is hard to find. |
No. 1 Shimano Sephia Clinch Flash Boost size 3.5 | the glowing plate never stops working
There is a reflector inside, and the plate sways and flashes not only during the dart but during the fall and while it is held still at the bottom. It works even in the time you pause. Clever.
One thing to watch. The sinking speed is Shimano's reference value and changes with the tide. It suits anglers who want to set the first-egi standard, price included.
No. 2 Yamashita Egi-Oh K size 3.5 | a fall that does not wobble
The clear projection behind the belly, the Hydro Fin, cancels wobble during the fall like a boat's rudder. It can also be made deeper by winding lead wire, or shallower by widening the hole.
Heavy. Reaches far. At 22g, it fits anglers who want to cast even a little farther.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Yamashita Egi-Oh K size 3.5
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 1,100 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 1,476. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanNo. 3 Duel EZ-Q Dart Master size 3.5 | a hook that resists snagging
Unusual shape. The hook is a trick hook that bends moderately, and the maker says it is built to make it easy to recover from snags. The shrimp-like shape and the foot light that flaps its legs are also unusual.
The point to watch is that the shape differs from most other egi. It is hard to line up a common yardstick. It is the one for people who want to lose fewer egi on rocky bottom.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Duel EZ-Q Dart Master size 3.5
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 952 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 1,327. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanNo. 4 Shimano Sephia Clinch Shallow Flash Boost size 3.5 | the second one
6 sec/m. Slow. It sinks 1.6 times as slowly as the normal. In the Shimano article, Mr. Yukawa says a slow-sinking egi works on big spring squid.
The so-so part is that, being lighter, it is poor at fast-tempo jerks. The article says to pause after a jerk until the head drops. It is the second egi for people who often go to spots with a lot of shallows.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Shimano Sephia Clinch Shallow Flash Boost size 3.5
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 1,239 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 1,991. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanNo. 5 Yamashita Egi-Oh K Deep size 3.5 | on sale in early October 2026
A brand-new release, and this is the nice part. 25g at about 2.0 sec/m, a type for deep water of 10m or more and days when side wind or tide pushes the line. The sinker is stamped "3.5D", so you can tell it apart straight out of the box.
The point to watch: the Egi-Oh TR sinker cannot be attached. It is the third egi for people who stand on rocks and breakwaters with a lot of deep water.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Yamashita Egi-Oh K Deep size 3.5
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 1,197 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 1,574. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanWhy a heavier egi jerks with better tempo
In the Shimano article, Mr. Yukawa says a heavier egi drops its head smoothly after a jerk, so it moves sharply even at a fast tempo.
A light egi is the opposite. If you jerk before the head drops, it goes straight through or floats up without darting, which shows that sinking speed is a number that also decides how you work the egi.
So what decides sinking speed? The Egi-Oh K's sinker can be made deeper by winding lead wire and shallower by widening the hole. It is the sinker that adds or subtracts weight, which is why the speed changes so much even at the same size.
For a rod to cast a size 3.5, the eging rod ranking lines up six 8.3–8.6ft ML rods. All six have size 3.5 within their supported egi range.
Which size 3.5 egi to pick? How I split them
- First size 3.5: the No. 1 Clinch. You can use 3.7 sec/m as your counting standard
- To a tide line a little farther out: the 22g Egi-Oh K
- Deep water and breakwaters or rocks with fast tide: the just-released Egi-Oh K Deep. At about 2.0 sec/m it reaches the bottom early, a dependable third for days when you get pushed along. Reassuring
If you fish a lot of shallows, you can also choose a shallow as your second. I compared leaders in the fluorocarbon leader ranking.
For the reel on days you go for yaen instead of egi, see the 26 Aorimatic BR LT review.
For small autumn squid, you can choose size 2.5 or 3, and from a boat, a heavy boat egi. Shallow and deep can wait until you have the normal size 3.5.
FAQ
What sinking speed is normal for a size 3.5 egi?
For a normal type, 3–3.7 sec/m. The Egi-Oh K is about 3 seconds, the Dart Master about 3.2 seconds and the Clinch Flash Boost 3.7 seconds.
How do I use shallow and deep types?
The standard is normal. Cast the normal, and if it hits the bottom right away or snags a lot, go shallow; if it is slow to find the bottom, go deep. Mr. Yukawa lays out this order of thinking in a Shimano article.
How many grams is a size 3.5?
It varies. Even in the same size 3.5, it runs from 18.5 to 25g. Of the normal types, the Clinch and Dart Master are 19g and the Egi-Oh K is 22g.
Gear in this article
Ads and images: Rakuten IchibaSources
- Shimano official: Sephia Clinch Flash Boost size 3.5
- Shimano official: Sephia Clinch Shallow Flash Boost size 3.5
- Shimano official: Sephia Clinch Series Complete Guide (1)
- Yamashita official: Egi-Oh K
- Yamashita official: Egi-Oh K Deep
- Yamashita official: Egi-Oh K Shallow / Super Shallow
- Duel official: EZ-Q Dart Master
