Deps B Custom Head Blade Jig: A Bass Maker’s Answer for Spanish Mackerel
Deps is one of Japan’s best-known bass lure makers, so a Spanish mackerel blade jig from them is a surprise. The B Custom Head Blade Jig borrows its head from Deps’ famous B Custom spinnerbait — and the idea makes a lot of sense. It was developed with Takuya Kai, captain of the Tokyo Bay guide boat BASE and a Deps pro staffer, and at the time of writing every colour and weight was sold out on Deps’ web shop.
Specs
| Weight | Hook | Blade | Price (incl. tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 g | Heavy-wire single #1/0 | #2 Colorado | 1,320 yen |
| 40 g | Heavy-wire single #1/0 | #2 Colorado | 1,320 yen |
| 50 g | Heavy-wire single #3/0 | #2 Colorado | 1,320 yen |
| 60 g | Heavy-wire single #3/0 | #2 Colorado | 1,320 yen |
Six colours: Orange Gold, Green Gold, Purple Silver, Pink Silver, Blue Silver and White Silver. Every weight is the same price, so the 60 g is the best value. The swivel-mounted #2 Colorado blade grabs a lot of water for strong vibration and flash.
Five key features
- Low-centre-of-gravity head from the B Custom spinnerbait. A spinnerbait’s whole job is to track straight at one depth without rising or rolling; that know-how is applied here.
- Stays down at very high speed. Fast retrieves usually make blade jigs rise or spin — this one holds its depth and attitude.
- Compact head that “reads” the current. You feel resistance change as you cross current seams, which is often where sawara pin bait.
- Double flash. The flat sides of the head flicker while the Colorado blade flashes.
- Heavy-wire single hook that resists bending and pins sawara’s hard mouth.
Why bass technology works on sawara
A blade jig and a spinnerbait do the same thing: a spinning blade draws fish while the lure tracks straight at a set depth. The only big differences are salt versus fresh water and retrieve speed. Spinnerbaits have had decades of refinement to stop them rising — bringing that into a blade jig is logical. If anything I wonder why nobody did it sooner.
How it compares
| Deps B Custom Head | Daiwa Saltiga Blade Jig SS | Aquawave Metal Magic Slim | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weights | 30–60 g | 40–80 g | 30–60 g |
| Hook | Single only | Single or double | Double |
| Strength | Stable at high speed | Heavier weights, hook choice | Long slim body, price |
| Silhouette | Compact | Standard | Long and slim |
- Need to reach far or fish deep? The Saltiga’s 80 g option wins.
- Bigger bait or tight budget? Metal Magic Slim.
- Want to show a bigger silhouette? A jig-plus-blade type like the Samurai Jig R Spin.
- Want speed without the lure blowing out? The B Custom Head.
How to fish it
- Sink, then burn it. Sawara react to speed — retrieve faster than feels necessary.
- Count down 5, 10, 15 seconds to find the depth, then repeat the count that got bites.
- Focus on seams: when the resistance changes, run it through that spot several times.
- Stop-and-go when fish follow without eating — the flutter on the pause triggers strikes.
| Situation | Weight |
|---|---|
| Harbours, low piers | 30–40 g |
| Typical piers and beaches | 40–50 g |
| Fast current, wind, long casts | 50–60 g |
Suggested tackle
| Part | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Rod | 9–10 ft light shore jigging rod rated to 60 g |
| Reel | 4000–5000 high-gear spinning reel |
| Line | PE 1–1.5 |
| Leader | 25–40 lb fluorocarbon |
Things to keep in mind
- Hard to get hold of — it has been selling out.
- No 80 g size, so it is less suited to deep water or very strong current.
- Single hook only; double-hook fans may prefer other jigs.
- Check your leader often — sawara teeth.
Minagiman’s take
Blade jigs are often treated as all the same, but this one is clearly built for one thing: not breaking down at high speed. My first two would be Blue Silver and, for murky water, Orange Gold.
Overseas availability is limited; you will usually need a Japanese retailer or proxy service.
Read next
- Daiwa Saltiga Blade Jig SS
- Aquawave Metal Magic Slim
- Major Craft Jigpara Highspin
- Spanish mackerel (sawara / sagoshi) in Japan
