Evergreen Eging & Light-Game Rods: 4 Series Compared

Evergreen’s Japanese saltwater lineup distinguishes Poseidon jigging rods from its squid-fishing and light-game ranges. This guide focuses on Imperial, Second Stage, Salty Sensation Superior, and Salty Sensation Neo, with selected models for shore eging, offshore squid fishing, and light-lure presentations.

The differences become clearest when you compare the intended presentation. A rod for working an egi from shore, a solid-tip boat-squid rod, and a rod for sub-gram jigheads have different jobs. The models below show how Evergreen addresses those jobs through length, tip construction, materials, and published working ranges.

Quick chooser

Fishing goal	Start with	Selection notes
Shore eging with slack-line jerks	Slack Master 86EX or Slack Jerk 88	Both cover egi sizes 2.5–4; compare blank character and rod weight
Offshore squid with spinning tackle	Sword Tip Master S70	30–150 g range, solid tip, and a 7'0" working length
Sub-gram jigheads	Fine Sensor or NEOS-60XUL-S	Both are rated from 0.1–2 g; the blank recipe and rod weight differ
Vertical boat Ajing	Deep Sense S or Deep Sense C	Select by reel type and maximum working load

These are starting points, not a ranking. Confirm the exact model's lure or rig range, line rating, tip, and reel configuration before choosing.

Understand the Four Series

Imperial: Shore Eging and Offshore Squid Specialists

Imperial includes shore-eging models such as Slack Master 86EX and Feather Jerk 77, alongside the Sword Tip Master spinning and casting models for offshore squid fishing. The series therefore spans more than one style of squid fishing: select the specific rod for the lure or rig you intend to use.

Eging uses a prawn-shaped egi to target squid; this catch shows the lure and target together. Source: Photo: Kevin Poh / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY 2.0

Second Stage: Dedicated Shore-Eging Rods

Second Stage is an eging series. Its SSSS-88L Slack Jerk 88 is designed for slack-line jerking, using the rod’s bend and recovery to dart an egi from side to side. It offers a separate shore-eging option alongside Imperial, with its own blank and component specifications.

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Salty Sensation Superior: Specialized Light-Game Designs

Superior was developed to advance the original Salty Sensation concept as light-game techniques evolved. Evergreen’s development account emphasizes more specialized lengths and actions, reduced weight, and precise lure control. The selected models range from very light jighead rods to Deep Sense models for vertical boat Ajing.

Ajing targets horse mackerel with compact spinning tackle and very light lures or jigheads. Source: Photo: Chorchetrachurus / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY 3.0

Salty Sensation Neo: A Standard Light-Game Series

Evergreen describes Neo as a standard series balancing sensitivity with broad ease of use. NEOS-60XUL-S focuses on light jigheads, while NEOS-610UL-S extends the stated range to heavier light rigs and small plugs. The series’ position does not define one universal power or lure range; those remain individual model specifications.

Materials and Tip Design: Compare the Actual Rod

T1100G and M40X Are Model-Specific Features

NIMS-86L-EX Slack Master 86EX uses Toray T1100G through its main blank, with M40X added through the center-to-butt region. Evergreen describes this arrangement as supporting reduced weight, recovery, and strength.

Other models use different combinations. NIMS-70ML-ST has a primarily medium-modulus main blank with T1100G reinforcing the butt. The two Neo models discussed here combine 24t and 30t carbon. These are distinct blank recipes, not one material package shared by every series.

Solid Tips Differ in Material Stiffness and Intended Use

A solid-tip designation identifies the structure, but the individual specification explains its character. Fine Sensor uses a 0.6 mm medium-modulus short solid tip; SPRS-63SL-S Superior uses a 0.8 mm high-modulus short solid tip. Evergreen associates the former with very light jighead control and the latter with a firmer, more responsive approach to working rigs.

The Sword Tip Master models use tough-type carbon solid tips with fluorescent pink and green markings. Their tip design emphasizes visible changes in load during offshore squid fishing.

Guide Specifications Also Vary

Feather Jerk 77 uses titanium-frame guides with TORZITE rings except for a SiC tip-top. Sword Tip Master S70 uses titanium-frame SiC-S guides, while Slack Jerk 88 uses stainless-frame Fuji K guides. Compare these as features of the named rods rather than assigning one guide package to the entire range.

Published Specifications for the Selected Models

The tables retain Evergreen’s published metric lengths, rod weights, and ratings. Egi sizes, offshore rig-weight ratings, and light-lure ranges are separate specification fields. PE sizes, MF pound ratings, and offshore gō values are reproduced in the manufacturer’s notation.

Shore Eging: Imperial and Second Stage

Model	Length	Rod weight	Power	Egi sizes	PE line rating
NIMS-86L-EX — Slack Master 86EX	2.59 m	93 g	Light	2.5–4	#0.5–1.2
NIMS-77SL — Feather Jerk 77	2.31 m	75 g	Super Light	2.5–3.5	#0.3–1.0
SSSS-88L — Slack Jerk 88	2.64 m	106 g	Light	2.5–4	#0.5–1.2

All three are two-piece spinning rods. Feather Jerk 77 is the shorter option in this selection and is designed around egi up to size 3.5. Slack Master 86EX and Slack Jerk 88 both extend their published egi range to size 4.

Offshore Squid: Sword Tip Master

Model	Reel type	Length	Rod weight	Power	Rig-weight range	PE line rating
NIMS-70ML-ST — Sword Tip Master S70	Spinning	2.13 m	99 g	Medium Light	30–150 g / 8–40 gō	#0.5–1.0
NIMC-611M-ST — Sword Tip Master C611	Casting / conventional	2.11 m	109 g	Medium	30–150 g / 8–40 gō	#0.5–1.0

Both are two-piece carbon-solid-tip models. They share the published load range, but differ in reel type, power, length, and component arrangement.

Light Game: Superior and Neo

Model	Length	Rod weight	Power	Lure range	Published line ratings
SPRS-60XUL-S — Fine Sensor	1.82 m	49 g	Extra Ultra Light	0.1–2 g	PE #0.1–0.3 / MF 0.8–2 lb
SPRS-63SL-S — Superior	1.90 m	50 g	Super Light	0.1–3.5 g	PE #0.1–0.3 / MF 0.8–2 lb
SPRS-66SUL-S — Super Twiggy	1.98 m	43 g	Super Ultra Light	0.1–4 g	PE #0.1–0.3 / MF 0.8–2 lb
NEOS-60XUL-S	1.83 m	57 g	Extra Ultra Light	0.1–2 g	PE #0.1–0.3 / MF 0.8–2 lb
NEOS-610UL-S	2.08 m	63 g	Ultra Light	0.1–4.5 g	PE #0.2–0.4 / MF 1.5–3 lb

All five are two-piece spinning rods with solid tips. These figures show differences in length and intended lure load as well as weight.

Super Twiggy is particularly worth separating from a jighead-only description. Evergreen lists light Carolina-style rigs and small hard baits, as well as jigheads, among its applications. NEOS-610UL-S likewise covers rigs and plugs within its 4.5 g upper rating.

Vertical Boat Ajing: Deep Sense S and C

Model	Reel type	Length	Rod weight	Power	Maximum load	PE line rating
SPRS-66L/M-S〈BOAT〉 — Deep Sense S	Spinning	1.98 m	60 g	Light/Medium	75 g / 20 gō	#0.3–1.0
SPRC-66L/M-S〈BOAT〉 — Deep Sense C	Casting / conventional	1.98 m	61 g	Light/Medium	95 g / 25 gō	#0.3–1.0

Both are two-piece solid-tip rods developed for vertical boat Ajing, using weighted rigs to reach deeper water. Their common length and L/M power label do not give them the same load limit.

Five Models in Focus

Imperial NIMS-86L-EX — Slack Master 86EX

Slack Master 86EX is built around the slack-jerk technique: loading and releasing the blank while using slack line to work the egi. Evergreen describes its T1100G/M40X construction as preserving the original design’s bend-and-recover character while reducing weight and strengthening the blank.

Its 93 g published weight, size 2.5–4 egi rating, and 2.59 m length define the comparison with the other shore models here. It is a focused option for shore eging, rather than a general-purpose saltwater rod.

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Imperial NIMS-70ML-ST — Sword Tip Master S70

Evergreen positions S70 particularly around omorig, while also listing it for ika-metal. Its 7'0" length is designed to provide working stroke on the boat while remaining manageable for underhand casts.

The fluorescent solid tip is intended to make small load changes visible. Titanium-frame SiC-S guides and a two-piece spigot joint complete the setup. The casting C611 provides an alternative for anglers using conventional tackle and includes a spiral guide arrangement; it should be selected as a separate configuration rather than treated as the same rod with a different handle.

Sword Tip Master S70 combines boat-squid working stroke with a high-visibility fluorescent solid tip for reading small load changes. Source: Image: Evergreen International

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Salty Sensation Superior SPRS-60XUL-S — Fine Sensor

Fine Sensor concentrates on very light jighead rigs, including sub-gram presentations. Evergreen describes its fine, medium-modulus solid tip as helping the angler track small changes in line tension and water resistance.

The published rod weight is 49 g, with a 0.1–2 g lure range. Its blank combines a flexible tip and belly with T1100G used farther down the rod. This is the specialist in the selection for anglers whose regular presentation is a very light jighead, rather than a mixed bag of plugs and heavier rigs.

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Salty Sensation Superior SPRS-66L/M-S〈BOAT〉 — Deep Sense S

Deep Sense S is designed to retain precise rig control in vertical boat Ajing, where heavier sinkers carry the presentation into deeper water. It combines a 0.9 mm high-modulus solid tip with T1100G used through the belly and butt.

Evergreen also identifies short underhand casts as a way to cover water beyond a strictly vertical drop. Its maximum listed load is 75 g / 20 gō. The Deep Sense C is the conventional-tackle alternative, with a 95 g / 25 gō limit and a longer grip designed for underarm support. Reel choice and working load distinguish these two models more clearly than their nearly identical rod weights.

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Salty Sensation Neo NEOS-60XUL-S

NEOS-60XUL-S is the 0.1–2 g jighead model in the Neo series. Evergreen describes it for controlling rigs of 1 g or less while sensing their presence and the surrounding current.

Its construction combines 24t and 30t carbon with titanium-frame SiC-S guides, a solid tip, and a two-piece put-over joint. Compared with Fine Sensor, it has the same published lure range but a different blank recipe and a 57 g listed weight. Neo’s stated emphasis is balancing sensitivity with ease of use.

The official NEOS-60XUL-S visual shows its compact grip, carbon-sleeve foregrip, blank, and guide layout. Source: Image: Evergreen International

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Match the Rod to the Presentation

For shore eging, compare the egi sizes you use, the working length, and the rod’s intended jerking style. In this selection, Feather Jerk 77 stops at size 3.5, while Slack Master 86EX and Slack Jerk 88 include size 4 in their published ranges.

For offshore squid fishing, start with the rig and reel type. Sword Tip Master S70 and C611 share a 30–150 g published range, but the spinning and conventional configurations address different handling preferences.

For light game, distinguish a jighead-focused rod from one intended to handle a broader lure selection. Fine Sensor and NEOS-60XUL-S concentrate on the lightest jigheads; Super Twiggy and NEOS-610UL-S add applications involving small hard baits and other rigs.

For vertical boat Ajing, keep the Deep Sense models separate from the shore light-game rods. Their stated role, rig loads, and grip arrangements are specific to boat use.

Choose the presentation first, then compare the exact model’s weight range, line specification, tip, and construction. That makes the differences between Imperial, Second Stage, Superior, and Neo useful without treating a series name—or a single power letter—as a complete specification.

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Key official references

• Evergreen saltwater rod categories
• Imperial NIMS-86L-EX Slack Master 86EX
• Second Stage SSSS-88L Slack Jerk 88
• Salty Sensation Superior development concept