Legend Pro / Rod & Lure Design
Norio Tanabe
田辺 哲男
Founder of Nories and a living legend of Japanese bass fishing. Creator of the Road Runner rod series and iconic JDM soft baits like Escape Twin still used in top tournaments today.
✍ Editorial note: All gear on this page was confirmed by Bass-Dash's editor (30 years of bass fishing experience) by directly watching the source videos listed below. Only items explicitly stated by the angler as their current gear are included — no speculation.
Verification process: Watch source video → Extract gear → Confirm model number with manufacturer → Attach source URL → Publish
📺 Verified Sources
- Norio Tanabe — BASSFLIX — Watch on YouTube ↗
- Norio Tanabe — DAY2 # BASSFLIX — Watch on YouTube ↗
- Norio Tanabe — DAY1 # BASSFLIX — Watch on YouTube ↗
- Norio Tanabe — VOL.1 10 !? HB640ML & LTT650M BASSFLIX — Watch on YouTube ↗
- Norio Tanabe — VOL.2 3/8oz&1/2oz HB630L HB760L LTT680MH BASSFLIX — Watch on YouTube ↗
- Norio Tanabe — #shorts BASSFLIX — Watch on YouTube ↗
- Norio Tanabe — 2 VS DAY1 BASSFLIX — Watch on YouTube ↗
- Norio Tanabe — BASSFLIX — Watch on YouTube ↗
- Norio Tanabe — BASSFLIX — Watch on YouTube ↗
Norio Tanabe's Tackle Setup
🎣 Norio Tanabe's Rods (20)
- Nories Roadrunner Hardbait Special HB511LL Working light plugs such as the Just Wakasagi, and delicate shaking Amazon eBay
- Nories Roadrunner Hardbait Special HB580LL GC Delicate all-rounder that handles moving baits through light rigs Amazon eBay
- Nories Roadrunner Hardbait Special HB640ML The classic spinnerbait rod. Ideal for 3/8 oz-class spinnerbaits Amazon eBay
- Nories Roadrunner Voice LTT650M Versatile baitcasting model that includes spinnerbaits Amazon eBay
- Nories Roadrunner Hardbait Special HB630L Light moving baits in general at 3/8 oz and 1/2 oz Amazon eBay
- Nories Roadrunner Hardbait Special HB760L Light plugs and shallow cranks that need long casts Amazon eBay
- Nories Roadrunner Hardbait Special HB760M Slightly heavier long-distance plugging Amazon eBay
- Nories Roadrunner Structure ST720H Texas rigs and jigs for heavy cover and structure Amazon eBay
- Nories Roadrunner Voice Hardbait Special HB630LL A rod for light hard baits that he recommends: "you can cast it", "it's good" Amazon eBay
- Nories Roadrunner Voice Hardbait Special HB600L A light-class hard-bait rod he recommends as "good" Amazon eBay
- Nories Roadrunner Voice Hardbait Special HB630L A hard-bait rod he held up and introduced: "this one's the 630L" Amazon eBay
- Nories Roadrunner Voice Hardbait Special HB640ML He says "you can cast it": ML power that covers a wide range of hard baits Amazon eBay
- Nories Roadrunner Voice Hardbait Special HB660L glass Recommended as castable and usable: soft glass for bite-drawing presentations Amazon eBay
- Nories Roadrunner Voice Hardbait Special HB680M The standard model; he says "the one I use most is the 680M" Amazon eBay
- Nories Roadrunner Voice Hardbait Special HB680MH He says "for 3/8 oz and up I use the 680MH or heavier": for slightly heavier baits Amazon eBay
- Nories Roadrunner Voice Hardbait Special HB660H A heavy-class hard-bait rod he says he uses Amazon eBay
- Nories Roadrunner Voice LTT6100H A long heavy model he says he uses, often going up to the 6100 Amazon eBay
- Nories Roadrunner Voice LTT690PH He says he uses it and calls it "a good rod": the most powerful class in the LTT series Amazon eBay
- Nories Roadrunner 76L The old Roadrunner 76L series, mentioned as a long rod ideal for the Deeper Range 1/4 oz Amazon eBay
- Nories Roadrunner Voice The rod he named himself when landing the 50-plus: the Roadrunner Voice Amazon eBay
⚙️ Norio Tanabe's Reels (7)
- Shimano SLX BFS Bait finesse use with light plugs and small cranks Amazon eBay
- Shimano Calcutta Conquest 30 An ultra-compact baitcaster he calls "the Conquest 30". Used for light spinnerbaits and similar Amazon eBay
- Shimano Calcutta Conquest 100DC MG The model with DC braking he names as "the new 100 DC, the MG one" Amazon eBay
- Shimano SLX BFS He names "the SLX BFS" because "it comes in a normal gear ratio": bait finesse for light baits Amazon eBay
- Shimano Metanium DC 100 Mentioned as the Metanium DC: a DC-brake reel for the 3/4 oz Power Roll Amazon eBay
- Shimano Calcutta Conquest DC 100MG Named in his choice of Shimano reels: a DC-brake model that combines control of light baits with casting distance Amazon eBay
- Shimano Calcutta Conquest DC 200 Named in his choice of Shimano reels: uses DC-brake stability for mid-weight to heavy moving hard baits Amazon eBay
🐟 Norio Tanabe's Lures (13)
- Nories Just Wakasagi Smelt patterns on clear lakes from winter to spring. Jerking and dead-sticking Amazon eBay
- Nories Just Wakasagi Deep Suspending jerkbait for smelt-focused fish from mid-depth to deep Amazon eBay
- Nories Taku Jig Vertical rubber-jig fishing in stained water and rain at Lake Mishima and Lake Toyofusa Amazon eBay
- Nories Sankaku Daddy Taku Jig trailer, and for drawing fish off the bottom Amazon eBay
- Nories Crystal S Deeper Range 1/4oz spinnerbait A light spinnerbait he nicknames "Shibu-ichi" and "Ko-bait". Slow-rolling in tough conditions Amazon eBay
- Nories Crystal S Deeper Range 3/8oz spinnerbait A mid-weight he nicknames "the Deeper Shibu-san". An all-purpose spinnerbait Amazon eBay
- Nories Crystal S Super Slow Roll spinnerbait He mentions "doing slow rolls": a spinnerbait specialized for slow retrieves Amazon eBay
- Nories Crystal S Single Colorado spinnerbait Single Colorado blade version he nicknames "Shin-koro". Specialized for slow-rolling Amazon eBay
- Nories Power Roll 3/4oz spinnerbait Used for a double-digit hard-bait day at Lake Sugano. A heavy spinnerbait Amazon eBay
- Nories Crystal S 3/8oz spinnerbait The standard Crystal S he used for a double-digit hard-bait day at Lake Sugano Amazon eBay
- Nories Crystal S spinnerbait He says it's the first thing he ties on when he starts fishing: a search bait for reading conditions Amazon eBay
- Nories Escape Twin A soft bait he named as one he wants to use depending on conditions Amazon eBay
- Nories Big Escape Twin The big worm he actually used to catch a 50 cm-plus bass Amazon eBay
Each item below is grouped by the source video it was confirmed in.
🎣
Reel
SLX BFS
Shimano
Usage note
Bait finesse use with light plugs and small cranks
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-04-29
🎣
Lure
Just Wakasagi
Nories
Usage note
Smelt patterns on clear lakes from winter to spring. Jerking and dead-sticking
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-04-29
🎣
Lure
Just Wakasagi Deep
Nories
Usage note
Suspending jerkbait for smelt-focused fish from mid-depth to deep
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-04-29
🎣
Lure
Taku Jig
Nories
Usage note
Vertical rubber-jig fishing in stained water and rain at Lake Mishima and Lake Toyofusa
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-04-29
🎣
Lure
Sankaku Daddy
Nories
Usage note
Taku Jig trailer, and for drawing fish off the bottom
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-04-29
🎣
Rod
Roadrunner Hardbait Special HB511LL
Nories
Usage note
Working light plugs such as the Just Wakasagi, and delicate shaking
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-04-29
🎣
Rod
Roadrunner Hardbait Special HB580LL GC
Nories
Usage note
Delicate all-rounder that handles moving baits through light rigs
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-04-29
🎣
Rod
Roadrunner Hardbait Special HB640ML
Nories
Usage note
The classic spinnerbait rod. Ideal for 3/8 oz-class spinnerbaits
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-04-29
🎣
Rod
Roadrunner Voice LTT650M
Nories
Usage note
Versatile baitcasting model that includes spinnerbaits
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-04-29
🎣
Rod
Roadrunner Hardbait Special HB630L
Nories
Usage note
Light moving baits in general at 3/8 oz and 1/2 oz
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-04-29
🎣
Rod
Roadrunner Hardbait Special HB760L
Nories
Usage note
Light plugs and shallow cranks that need long casts
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-04-29
🎣
Rod
Roadrunner Hardbait Special HB760M
Nories
Usage note
Slightly heavier long-distance plugging
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-04-29
🎣
Rod
Roadrunner Structure ST720H
Nories
Usage note
Texas rigs and jigs for heavy cover and structure
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-04-29
🎣
Rod
Roadrunner Voice Hardbait Special HB630LL
Nories
Usage note
A rod for light hard baits that he recommends: "you can cast it", "it's good"
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-05-07
🎣
Rod
Roadrunner Voice Hardbait Special HB600L
Nories
Usage note
A light-class hard-bait rod he recommends as "good"
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-05-07
🎣
Rod
Roadrunner Voice Hardbait Special HB630L
Nories
Usage note
A hard-bait rod he held up and introduced: "this one's the 630L"
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-05-07
🎣
Rod
Roadrunner Voice Hardbait Special HB640ML
Nories
Usage note
He says "you can cast it": ML power that covers a wide range of hard baits
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-05-07
🎣
Rod
Roadrunner Voice Hardbait Special HB660L glass
Nories
Usage note
Recommended as castable and usable: soft glass for bite-drawing presentations
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-05-07
🎣
Rod
Roadrunner Voice Hardbait Special HB680M
Nories
Usage note
The standard model; he says "the one I use most is the 680M"
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-05-07
🎣
Rod
Roadrunner Voice Hardbait Special HB680MH
Nories
Usage note
He says "for 3/8 oz and up I use the 680MH or heavier": for slightly heavier baits
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-05-07
🎣
Rod
Roadrunner Voice Hardbait Special HB660H
Nories
Usage note
A heavy-class hard-bait rod he says he uses
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-05-07
🎣
Rod
Roadrunner Voice LTT6100H
Nories
Usage note
A long heavy model he says he uses, often going up to the 6100
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-05-07
🎣
Rod
Roadrunner Voice LTT690PH
Nories
Usage note
He says he uses it and calls it "a good rod": the most powerful class in the LTT series
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-05-07
🎣
Reel
Calcutta Conquest 30
Shimano
Usage note
An ultra-compact baitcaster he calls "the Conquest 30". Used for light spinnerbaits and similar
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-05-07
🎣
Reel
Calcutta Conquest 100DC MG
Shimano
Usage note
The model with DC braking he names as "the new 100 DC, the MG one"
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-05-07
🎣
Reel
SLX BFS
Shimano
Usage note
He names "the SLX BFS" because "it comes in a normal gear ratio": bait finesse for light baits
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-05-07
🎣
Lure
Crystal S Deeper Range 1/4oz spinnerbait
Nories
Usage note
A light spinnerbait he nicknames "Shibu-ichi" and "Ko-bait". Slow-rolling in tough conditions
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-05-07
🎣
Lure
Crystal S Deeper Range 3/8oz spinnerbait
Nories
Usage note
A mid-weight he nicknames "the Deeper Shibu-san". An all-purpose spinnerbait
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-05-07
🎣
Lure
Crystal S Super Slow Roll spinnerbait
Nories
Usage note
He mentions "doing slow rolls": a spinnerbait specialized for slow retrieves
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-05-07
🎣
Lure
Crystal S Single Colorado spinnerbait
Nories
Usage note
Single Colorado blade version he nicknames "Shin-koro". Specialized for slow-rolling
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-05-07
🎣
Rod
Roadrunner 76L
Nories
Usage note
The old Roadrunner 76L series, mentioned as a long rod ideal for the Deeper Range 1/4 oz
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-05-14
🎣
Reel
Metanium DC 100
Shimano
Usage note
Mentioned as the Metanium DC: a DC-brake reel for the 3/4 oz Power Roll
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-05-14
🎣
Lure
Power Roll 3/4oz spinnerbait
Nories
Usage note
Used for a double-digit hard-bait day at Lake Sugano. A heavy spinnerbait
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-05-14
🎣
Lure
Crystal S 3/8oz spinnerbait
Nories
Usage note
The standard Crystal S he used for a double-digit hard-bait day at Lake Sugano
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-05-14
🎣
Lure
Crystal S spinnerbait
Nories
Usage note
He says it's the first thing he ties on when he starts fishing: a search bait for reading conditions
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-05-19
🎣
Lure
Escape Twin
Nories
Usage note
A soft bait he named as one he wants to use depending on conditions
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-05-19
🎣
Lure
Big Escape Twin
Nories
Usage note
The big worm he actually used to catch a 50 cm-plus bass
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-05-19
🎣
Rod
Roadrunner Voice
Nories
Usage note
The rod he named himself when landing the 50-plus: the Roadrunner Voice
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-05-19
🎣
Reel
Calcutta Conquest DC 100MG
Shimano
Usage note
Named in his choice of Shimano reels: a DC-brake model that combines control of light baits with casting distance
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-05-26
🎣
Reel
Calcutta Conquest DC 200
Shimano
Usage note
Named in his choice of Shimano reels: uses DC-brake stability for mid-weight to heavy moving hard baits
Where to Buy
Info as of: 2026-05-26
🛒 Find all of Norio Tanabe's gear on Amazon.com
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