Egi

The key to a great egi is the balance between sink rate and action. A precise sink rate — expressed in seconds per meter — ensures the egi reaches the target depth in the water column where squid are holding, while the dart-and-fall action on the upstroke mimics the escape response of the shrimp species that squid naturally target. Japanese egi manufacturers offer sink rates across a spectrum from slow-sinking floating models for shallow water to fast-sinking deep models for water over 15 meters.

Color selection is equally critical. Japanese egi makers have developed an entire color science around squid behavior, water clarity, and light conditions — UV-reactive colors for night fishing and deep water, natural shrimp imitations for wary fish in clear water, and high-contrast patterns for stained or turbid conditions.