Gan Craft Jointed Claw 148

Gan Craft Jointed Claw 148 (Jointed Claw Kai 148 in Japan) – a premium JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) glide bait, a smaller version of the Jointed Claw 178. Its shape and colours imitate the ugui, a small fish of the carp family common in Japanese rivers.

The original Jointed Claw 178 swims a wide, slow S-shaped path, while the 148 swims a slightly narrower and faster one. This makes it work well in tighter spots, and its smaller size helps where predators are used to big lures.

The lure comes in two versions: slow sinking (SS, about 37 g) and floating (F, about 34 g).

Key features:

• Length: 148 mm
• Weight: about 37 g (SS) or about 34 g (F)
• Type: slow sinking (SS) or floating (F)
• Hooks: Cultiva ST-36BC trebles, size 2 at the front, size 4 at the rear
• Swims a narrower and faster S-shaped path than the Jointed Claw 178

What it is for and what tackle to use

• Fish: pike.
• Where to fish: lakes, ponds, lagoons and slow rivers, especially tighter spots and heavily fished waters.
• Size and weight: 148 mm, about 34–37 g.
• Type: a lipless glide bait, slow sinking (SS) or floating (F).
• Rod: a casting rod or a strong spinning rod rated for about 25–70 g.
• Line: 0.20–0.28 mm braided line.
• Retrieve: a slow steady retrieve; short rod twitches and pauses give sharper turns.
• For pike: use a steel or titanium leader.

The rod and line recommendations are a guide: they help you choose, but you can also fish with similar tackle you already own.