Tackle House Feed Popper: Every Size From 70 mm to 175 mm Explained
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Minagiman's Fishing Adventures in Japan
DUO Tide Minnow Slim 148F/178F: Redesigned With the New MLS Magnet System
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DUO’s Tide Minnow Slim has been a long-selling seabass minnow in Japan and overseas. Now it has been completely redesigned, and the big news is the first use of DUO’s new MLS (Mag Launcher System). It uses magnets to snap the weight forward the moment the lure lands, which is a different approach from conventional weight-transfer systems.
Here is what MLS changes, and how to choose between the new 148F and 178F.
Specs
| 148F | 178F | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 148 mm | 178 mm |
| Weight | 22 g | 32 g |
| Type | Weight transfer (D-Bullet System × MLS), floating | Weight transfer (D-Bullet System × MLS), floating |
| Running depth | 0.5–0.8 m | 0.5–0.8 m |
| Hooks | #5 | #4 |
| Split rings | #2.5 | #3.5 |
| Price in Japan (inc. tax) | ¥2,970 | ¥3,190 |
| Release | October 2026 (planned) | October 2026 (planned) |
The sizes are new (148 mm and 178 mm), so they will not be confused with the older models. It has the same name, but it is best treated as a new lure.
What is MLS (Mag Launcher System)?
The weak point of normal weight transfer
In a weight-transfer minnow, the weight slides back for the cast, then rolls forward when the lure lands so it can start swimming. Normally the lure has to tip nose-down after landing for the weight to roll forward. That causes a short delay before it starts to swim.
MLS “launches” the weight with magnets
In MLS, strong magnets on the back and at the rear of the shaft pull against each other and shoot the weight to the front of the body. The weight returns even when the lure is almost level, so it starts swimming the moment it hits the water.
- Instant action on landing, so you are less likely to miss bites that come right after splashdown
- The weight resets without the lure tipping forward, so it swims straight from the spot you cast to
- If a hard jerk knocks the weight out of place, it snaps back and the swim stays stable
- The weight ball system is replaced by a wire-through construction
Seabass are often drawn to the sound of a lure landing, so a minnow that swims immediately is a real advantage, especially when you cast to a pin-point target and want the bite right there.
A body rebuilt from scratch
Moving to MLS and a wire-through frame meant redesigning the whole body: face, lip and outline. The body is slightly thicker than before. The action is a stable wobble-roll that grips the water on a slow retrieve and holds together at speed. DUO presents it for straight retrieves and jerks, and for sea-run white-spotted char and sea-run cherry salmon as well as seabass.
148F or 178F?
| 148F | 178F | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 22 g | 32 g |
| Best for | General use: river mouths, tidal flats, surf | Big bait, trophy fish, places that need long casts |
| Bait to match | Sardine, gizzard shad juveniles, medium mullet | Gizzard shad, big mullet, autumn sweetfish |
| Hooks | #5 | #4, stronger for big fish |
Start with the 148F. Move to the 178F when the bait or the fish are bigger. At 22 g the 148F is easy on a standard seabass rod and still casts well. At 32 g the 178F is heavy, so check your rod’s lure rating. It should earn its place in late autumn and winter, during gizzard shad and spawning-sweetfish patterns.
Running depth: 0.5–0.8 m
Both sizes run at 0.5–0.8 m: a little deeper than a shallow runner, in the upper mid-column. They suit deeper river mouths, harbours and the drop-offs on surf beaches, wherever you want to go one layer below the surface. On days when you need to go shallower, rotate with a shallow runner.
Colours (10)
- Tasty Iwashi
- Red Head Holo
- Clear Pink Head Chart
- Aka Kin (red gold)
- UV Pink Sunrise GB II
- UV Clear Chart Back
- Rainbow
- Shining Iwashi
- Pearl Chart OB II
- Matte Chart Iwashi
A simple system: Tasty Iwashi or Shining Iwashi for clear water and sardine bait, Pearl Chart OB II or Matte Chart Iwashi for murky water and night, and Aka Kin for dawn and dusk.
Things to keep in mind
- It is a popular series, so stock may be short just after release
- It is a completely different lure from the old model, so test it before treating it as a direct replacement
- At 32 g, the 178F may not be castable at full power on light seabass rods
My take
The name is familiar, but inside this is a brand-new minnow. The idea of a lure that swims the instant it lands is simple, and for seabass that react to the splash, it could make a real difference. Autumn and winter is the time to see how well MLS works.
Read next
- Autumn Seabass in Japan: Patterns and Lure Rotation
- The Gizzard Shad (Konoshiro) Pattern
- Eclipse Full Flow 120F Review
ABOUT ME
Born in 1994. Originally from Hyogo Prefecture, I moved to Iwata City in Shizuoka Prefecture in search of the sea. I am an Enshunada surf angler who enjoys surf fishing. I am also active on YouTube, and my fishing grounds range from Irago to Iwata.
