Sillago (Kisu, Japanese whiting) fishing is highly competitive, with tournaments held all over Japan. While catching Sillago itself is not especially difficult, competitions that focus on the number or size of fish caught within a limited time clearly reveal differences in angling skill.
Anglers who consistently place highly in tournaments not only excel at identifying areas where Sillago are likely to gather based on knowledge and experience, but also at searching over a wide area efficiently.
In this context, “efficient fishing” means minimizing non-fishing time within the limited time available. Tasks such as baiting the hook, removing caught fish, changing rigs, and dealing with tangles all reduce actual fishing time. The goal is to cut down these interruptions as much as possible and maximize the time spent actively fishing, even by a single minute.
To achieve this, serious anglers pay close attention to every part of their tackle, including rods and reels, and make every effort to gain even one or two extra meters of casting distance while preventing line trouble.
In Sillago fishing, casting distance often becomes a decisive advantage. For this reason, a wide range of tackle developed specifically for competitive Sillago fishing—from rods and reels to sinkers and balances—is available on the market.
Against this backdrop, Shimano released the long-awaited Kisu Special 45 in 2022, a dedicated Sillago reel equipped for the first time with a 45 mm long-stroke spool. The following sections explain what kind of reel it is and how it has evolved from previous Kisu Special models.
Shimano's First 45mm Long Stroke Model!
The fishing tackle industry in the spring of 2022 was highly energized by the full model changes of the flagship general-purpose spinning reels from the two giants leading the market: Daiwa’s 22 Exist and Shimano’s 22 Stella. Although these launches drew much of the attention, there was also a major development in Shimano’s surf casting reel lineup—the full model change of the Kisu Special, a surf casting reel dedicated to sillago fishing.
Shimano’s flagship line of large surf casting reels has long carried the name “Kisu Special.” Beginning with the Titanos Super Aero Kisu Special released in 1982, this series has built a long history, and the latest model marks the 30th anniversary of Shimano’s flagship surf reel lineage. Over the years, it has evolved into a true pinnacle of surf casting reels, standing alongside Daiwa’s Tournament Surf 45.
DAIWA Tournament Surf 45
The Kisu Special 45 incorporates nearly all of Shimano’s current technologies and, as a super long-distance casting model, is also equipped with the company’s first 45 mm long-stroke spool.
It should also be noted that the Kisu Special 45 is available not only in the standard model, but also in a CE (Competition Edition) model tuned specifically for tournament performance.
The Difference Between 35mm Stroke and 45mm Stroke
The “stroke” referred to here means the length of a spinning reel’s oscillation. When the handle is turned, the spool moves back and forth, and the mechanism that lays the line evenly from the top to the bottom of the spool is called the oscillation system.
The distance that the spool travels back and forth is known as the stroke. In general-purpose spinning reels, the stroke is usually around 17 mm to 25 mm. In large surf casting reels, however, the spool diameter is much larger, and the stroke is often around 30 mm to 35 mm.
A longer stroke offers two major advantages: it allows more line to be wound onto the spool, and it can also make it easier to achieve greater casting distance.
The spool of a surf casting reel also has a taper, meaning that its diameter gradually becomes smaller from the base toward the front lip of the spool. In many cases, this taper is around 2° to 5°.
A larger taper reduces line-release resistance, which is beneficial purely in terms of casting distance. However, if the taper is too steep, the line is more likely to slip off the spool too easily and release forward in a clump, increasing the risk of line trouble.
For that reason, a taper of around 2° or less is generally considered easier to manage, especially until the reel becomes familiar in actual use.
Kisu Special 45 CE Model's Unique Feature: "45mm Stroke Compatible Super Slow 10"
This mechanism is exclusive to the Kisu Special 45 CE model. It features a unique oscillation system called Super Slow 10, which winds the line onto the spool with extremely high density. As the name suggests, the oscillation is exceptionally slow. During one full round trip of the spool, the line is laid approximately 100 times, creating an extremely dense winding pattern. By packing the line tightly without adding much angle to the line lay, the system minimizes resistance during line release.
At the same time, super-dense winding created by slow oscillation can often lead to line trouble, especially when using thin PE lines such as PE #0.4. Problems can occur when the upper layers of line dig into the lower layers and catch during the cast, or when the line tangles into a knot-like ball. Shimano has addressed these issues with its own proprietary solutions, including a spool design in which only the front section is made taperless.
Super Slow 10 was also used in the previous 16 Super Aero Kisu Special 35CE, but that model had a 35 mm stroke. In addition, although slow oscillation is also found in Shimano’s general-purpose Stella series, the degree of slowness is very different from Super Slow 10, and the resulting line-lay density is on a completely different level. While both systems share the goal of improving casting distance, the mechanisms themselves can be considered fundamentally different.
This stands in clear contrast to Daiwa’s approach, known as Cross Wrap, which aims to reduce line trouble by laying the line diagonally across the spool in a crossed pattern.
Rigid Cast Mechanism Significantly Reduces Deflection During Full Casts
The construction of the Kisu Special 45 is, in many respects, very close to that of the 22 Stella, with the main difference being the rotor material.
The body is made of magnesium alloy, the drive gear is a super duralumin HAGANE gear, the pinion gear is made of ultra-high-strength brass, and the reel is equipped with a titanium one-piece bail. In other words, the key materials related to rigidity are essentially the same. The only notable difference is the rotor: the Kisu Special 45 uses a CI4+ rotor, whereas the 22 Stella uses an aluminum or magnesium rotor depending on the size. Even so, the Kisu Special 45 offers more than sufficient base rigidity.
On top of that, as a large surf casting reel, the Kisu Special 45 is equipped with an additional rigidity-enhancing feature called Rigid Cast.
Rigid Cast is a structure developed exclusively for the Kisu Special 45. By thoroughly analyzing the load applied to each part of the reel during casting, Shimano optimized the material selection and thickness of each component. This approach secures rigidity exactly where it is needed, while also maintaining an ideal balance between overall strength and lightness.
As a result, even when casting rigs with size 30 sinkers (approximately 113 g) to size 35 sinkers (131 g) at full power, the reel shows very little flex in use. This minimizes power loss and helps carry the rig farther.
In tournament settings, where highly skilled anglers compete against one another, even gaining an extra meter of casting distance can be a major advantage. For that reason, it is essential that the power put into the cast be transmitted to the rig as efficiently as possible.
The Kisu Special 45 is a model that allows this sense of rigidity to be felt clearly throughout the entire cast, from the moment of release to the flight of the rig and its splashdown on the water. Despite this high level of rigidity, the reel itself weighs just 400 g in the standard model and 405 g in the CE model, placing it among the lightest large surf casting reels in its class.
It Has Become a True Rival to Daiwa's Tournament Surf 45
As tackle designed to gain an edge over rivals in Sillago tournaments, Daiwa’s Tournament Surf 45 could fairly be described as the dominant force for many years. Until the release of the Kisu Special 45, Shimano did not offer a 45 mm stroke model in this category.
DAIWA Tournament Surf 45
It was also clear that the Tournament Surf 45 enabled highly efficient fishing by prioritizing the comprehensive reduction of line trouble. Technologies such as Twist Buster II—which reduces twist by rolling the line in the opposite direction of the twist applied during retrieval—and the Cross Wrap line-lay system contributed greatly to that reputation.
Although the Cross Wrap line-lay method is somewhat disadvantageous in terms of line-release resistance, the advantage of the 45 mm stroke still allowed the Tournament Surf 45 to achieve several meters more casting distance than the 16 Kisu Special 35CE. For many surf anglers, the Tournament Surf 45 came to be regarded as a kind of iconic premium model.
Shimano, however, could no longer overlook the importance of the 45 mm stroke. In 2022, the company finally introduced its long-awaited 45 mm stroke model. Super Slow 10 was also adapted to this longer stroke configuration for the first time.
In addition, Shimano refined the spool shape to address issues such as line dig-in, which can occur more easily with the dense line lay produced by slow oscillation. The reel also incorporates and further develops technologies proven in Shimano’s general-purpose spinning reels, including Infinity Drive and SilentDrive, both of which contribute to a smoother and more refined winding feel.
As a result, the Kisu Special 45 has become a true rival to Daiwa’s Tournament Surf, not only in name but also in actual performance. Going forward, more and more direct comparisons between the two models will likely continue to appear, especially online.
Recommended Rod: Kisu Special Put-in Joint
The Kisu Special Put-in Joint is an ultimate Sillago rod that combines the three qualities most essential to Sillago fishing—casting distance, controllability, and sensitivity—at a very high level. It can be regarded as one of the highest-spec Sillago rods currently available.
The lineup is limited to a 4.05 m three-piece put-in-joint configuration, but it still offers eight models ranging from the 405AX type to the 405FX+ type. These variations are based on differences in blank stiffness, tip thickness, reel seat position, and recommended sinker load.
There is also a blank-only specification without guides, allowing anglers to choose and install guides according to their own preferences. In that case, the guide compatibility chart for each model should be checked carefully in advance.
When selecting the right type, it is highly advisable to examine and test the actual rod at a tackle shop before making a decision. It is especially important to check the feel of the rod with a reel mounted, as this provides a much clearer sense of the overall balance and usability.
Aim for the Best Catch with the Best Sillago Tackle Combination!
It can be said that the combination of the Kisu Special 45 and the Kisu Special Put-in Joint currently stands among the very best tackle setups available for Sillago fishing, alongside Daiwa’s combination of the Tournament Surf 45 and the Tournament Masterize Kisu.
With top-tier tackle in hand, the focus can shift fully to aiming for the best possible catch and taking on tournaments where highly skilled competitors gather. When competing with equipment of the highest level, everything comes down to preparation, execution, and performance on the day.
