DAIWA Gouin Otoshikomi H/XH-235MT

"Metal Top" and "AGS" achieve the highest sensitivity in the series. An evolved slim, thick-walled design further improves cushioning and power during the fight.

Otoshikomi fishing demands two very different qualities at once: the finesse of light-tackle fishing needed to tell whether bait is hooked, and the backbone of a big-game rod ready for a head-on fight with large amberjack. The tip section uses "Metal Top" — a first for the series — whose distinctive suppleness helps keep bait from coming loose, dramatically improving both visual and tactile sensitivity. The tubular section is built even thicker-walled than before, delivering the cushioning that protects against leader breaks along with the surging power to lift large amberjack with ease. On top of that, using V-Joint α at the ferrule gives it a strong, beautifully bending action even as an easy-to-carry, center-cut two-piece rod. The reel seat pairs well with electric reels, fitted with a Zero Seat center grip that holds securely even under heavy load. A metal holder pipe is fitted behind the reel seat, improving stability when a clamp is attached — a fully equipped rod purpose-built for otoshikomi fishing.

DAIWA Technology

ESS — Expert Sense Simulation
When a rod bends, it generates energy (restoring force) that works to straighten it back the other way. This is "strain energy" — the energy stored in a deformed (strained) blank as it tries to return to its original shape — and it's an extremely important factor in determining a rod's performance. DAIWA developed its own system for analyzing and designing around this "strain energy," making it possible not only to clearly quantify where a blank excels and where it falls short, but also to reflect the angler's own sensibility in the design — bringing the rod ever closer to what anglers are actually looking for.

AGS
AGS (Air Guide System), which delivers light weight and high sensitivity, uses a carbon frame. Because carbon offers roughly three times the rigidity of titanium, it transmits even the faintest signals carried through the line directly to the blank without absorbing them, giving it high sensitivity. Carbon's light weight also helps reduce the weight of the whole rod, and lightening the tip section in particular brings an added boost in sensitivity.

Metal Top
By fitting the tip with a super-elastic titanium alloy tip section similar to SMT, it gains the kind of ultra-high, metallic sensitivity unique to titanium alloy. That high sensitivity covers a range of vibration — bites and the subtle "motare" (a fish mouthing the bait) — that ordinary carbon simply can't pick up.

Zero Seat Center Grip
Zero Seat is a reel-seat design philosophy aimed at letting anglers enjoy fishing wholeheartedly, free of stress. The "Center Grip," developed based on that philosophy, pursues comfortable grip performance when using an electric reel — maintaining the grip performance that matters most under heavy load, while hollowing out material from areas that don't affect the grip itself, achieving a major reduction in weight and bulk.

V-Joint α
V-Joint α was born by using the high-strength material Nanoalloy at the joint and applying DAIWA's own precision-machining technology, evolving V-JOINT into something even stronger, lighter, and cleaner-bending. On rods with a higher number of joints, it allows the joint section to be shortened, contributing to lightness while still delivering strength.

X45
To prevent the twisting that occurs during casting, action, hooksets, and fights, years of research led to the conclusion that, on top of the conventional structure (0° and 90° relative to the rod tip), wrapping a "45°" bias cross — carbon fiber angled at ±45° — is the optimal way to prevent twist. By adopting X45, twist is prevented, and power, handling, and sensitivity are all dramatically improved.
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Product Details

A supple, highly sensitive design unique to Metal Top
The tip section uses Metal Top, excellent in both visual and tactile sensitivity. Even in situations where it's hard to tell if bait like a small horse mackerel is hooked, its excellent visual and tactile sensitivity makes it easy to sense. It also removes the need to jiggle the rod to check whether bait is still on, giving the fish time to properly take it. This Metal Top pays close attention to how the joint is finished, achieving a bend as clean as SMT's.

V-Joint α — a joint you'd never notice
Even as a center-cut two-piece rod, it achieves a smooth bend with no sense of power loss. Because the angler can bend the rod deep with confidence, it puts real pressure on the fish, improving the catch rate.
(Photo: fighting a fish on the MH-240MT prototype)

"AGS" fitted to the tip section
Fitted with the carbon-frame "AGS," which is harder and more sensitive than titanium. It delivers overwhelming tactile sensitivity and eliminates the feeling of top-heaviness through reduced weight. On top of that, AGS's inner diameter is set to 6mm, preventing leader-wrap trouble even with a leader attached.

Metal holder pipe
A metal holder pipe section means you never have to guess where to position your clamp. Clamp holding power is improved too.

Fitted with a Center Grip built around grip performance with an electric reel
An EVA section between the reel seat and the metal holder pipe also gives it a pleasant feel against the fingers.

A nut ring machined for easy tightening with an electric reel

A three-dimensional name badge with real presence

Fitted with high-strength HB guides

A large fore-grip you can hold with confidence during the fight

Around the reel seat

With the included oversized gimbal fitted

The benefits of a refined taper plus an evolved slim, thick-walled design
The biggest keys to this rod's real-world fishing performance are its refined taper and thick-walled design.

First, on the taper: it's now easier to let a fish take the bait and easier to control once hooked, compared to the previous model. Specifically, section #1 was made more supple, and #2 given more power. At the moment a fish takes the bait, the rod bends cleanly starting from the tip. And because it then bends naturally all the way to the butt, the peak of the bend shifts toward the angler. This makes the fish feel lighter, lets you make the most of the butt's power, and makes controlling the fish easier.

Next is the slim, thick-walled design. Finished with even thicker walls than the previous model, it dramatically improves both the power to stand up to large amberjack and the toughness to stop a run without putting undue strain on the leader.
(Photo: fighting a fish on the MMH-245 prototype)

Combines two seemingly opposing qualities: the power to comfortably handle a large yellowtail amberjack, and the cushioning that keeps a thin leader from breaking.