WILD SIDE Rods

Before founding Legit Design, Iitaka Hirofumi and Onikata Takeshi had already created some of the industry’s most iconic rods. WILD SIDE was their first collaboration, and they set out to make an exceptional series of bass rods that were capable enough for the professional, but with a price point that would appeal to the amateur angler. 

The Overall Philosophy
Lightness and sensitivity have become signals of a high-quality rod. But there are more questions to answer in rod design than just how light and sensitive it is. How well does it cast? Does it present the bait well? Do you have enough power for the hook set and to lift the fish? Does the line stick to the blank or does it flow smoothly through the guides? Does the grip feel just as great after a thousand casts as it did when you first put the rod in your hand? Does it work for every type of grip? To design a truly great rod, you must answer all these questions and more.

The Blank
In many ways, the blank is the spirit of the rod. Hirofumi and Takeshi studied all graphite materials when developing WILD SIDE, and the pair use 30T and 40T graphite as a fundamental material in most of their rods. They use 46T high modulus graphite for certain models, and also use 24T graphite for making specific features.

Aramid Reinforcement
Aramid fiber (also known as Kevlar) is a strong, heat-resistant material most often used in aerospace and military applications. LEGIT DESIGN applies aramid technology to their rods using a technique called “Aramid Reinforcement”, which strengthens the rods while still keeping them flexible. The result is a rod with enhanced action, improved tenacity, and a longer lifespan.

Guide Settings 
LEGIT DESIGN carefully designs guides for each rod depending on the specific rod type. For example, the WSC72H+ is intended for heavy cover and big fish. They use double-foot guides for the whole rod and smaller size guides to keep the line as close to the blank as possible reducing the impact of wind, grass, and other elements. Guide information for each rod can be found in the product description and technical specifications sections.

Reel Seat
WILD SIDE casting models use the Fuji ECS reel seat. While this isn’t FUJI’s latest model, LEGIT DESIGN found it to be the most effective and the most comfortable after extensive testing. Regardless of your casting style, this ECS is the best choice for every angler.

Spinning models use the Fuji VSS reel seat. On the VSS, the hood is 10mm longer than on the ECS, which enhances rod stability regardless of casting style. LEGIT DESIGN also surrounds the reel seat with high-quality cork, which helps anglers feel bites that they might miss on other rods.

 

Spinning reel seat
Baitcasting reel seat
End Cap
On many rods, we use a fine EVA grip and comfort rubber end cap. EVA is light, durable and performs well when wet. For bigger rods, LEGIT DESIGN often uses a combination of EVA with a rubber-cork butt end. This provides better sensitivity when fighting the fish. They also carefully consider the rod balance and handling comfort to decide the position of the reel seat and the shape of the foregrip.

Butt Joint
For longer rods, LEGIT DESIGN employs a butt joint that separates the rod handle from the rest of the rod for ease of transport. While butt joints on many rods are notoriously difficult to separate, our design is solid during fishing but easily removed with a firm twist.

Sinker & Hook Keeper (Spinning Model)
All spinning models have a sinker and hook keeper, which is positioned on the back of the rod to reduce the chance of tangling.
Solid Tip
Solid tip rods have many advantages, helping anglers search for inactive bass and better reflecting the bite signal of softer hits. LEGIT DESIGN uses a 30T carbon-graphite mix to make the tip section. They also add a hi-vis marker to the tip of each rod, which keeps users aware of where their rod tip is at all times.