Equipped with a new mechanism! STUDIO OCEAN MARK OGM BLUE HEAVEN L100 【Ota Garage model BLUE HEAVEN L100】

The birth of a new size of OGM!

The Studio Ocean Mark (hereafter SOM) Blue Heaven is a lever drag reel that is very popular with anglers who have mastered, or are about to master, the slow pitch jerk. The line-up includes a variety of models in different sizes and types, covering a wide range of jigging scenes. The lever drag reel was originally one of the drag mechanism options for bait reels, but anglers who have mastered slow-pitch jerking have taken notice of the ability to precisely change the drag force by adjusting the lever during a fight. This reel is an indispensable reel for slow pitch jerking.

Slow pitch jerking is a fishing technique that requires anglers to grasp and control the posture of the jig. For this reason, the use of the thinnest possible line is often selected to suit the size of the target fish, as it is less susceptible to the effects of the tide, etc. This is where the performance of the lever drag reel comes into play, as the drag value can be precisely adjusted with the click of a lever in accordance with the movement of the fish. Of course, the drag adjustment function of the lever drag reel is a strong ally not only in slow pitch jerking but also in high pitch jigging.

One of the advantages of the lever drag is that the drag can be precisely controlled during a fight. By raising the lever, the appropriate value can be raised, allowing the angler to fight in accordance with the fish’s movements.

Takashi Otsuka, who has been working on the Studio Ocean Mark Lever Drag Reel Blue Heaven, and tester Yasuo Nishimoto were in Kawauchi City, Kagoshima Prefecture, at the end of May this year. They brought with them two final 100-size models: a mid-geared model of the Blue Heaven L100, which is already on sale (July 2024) (see address below for details of its performance), and a test of the OGM Blue Heaven L100. The OGM models have so far been the L30, L 50 and L80; four years have passed since the OGM Blue Heaven L80 was launched in 2020. In the meantime, there must have been a demand from users and testers for a lightweight, highly sensitive OGM model of the same size. The limited model No Limits L100 has already proven itself on many occasions when targeting bluefin tuna, and it is easy to imagine that anglers who fish more delicately for deeper water would want a larger size that is lighter and more sensitive. This time, the final sample reels will be used to exchange opinions and make final confirmations while targeting large-sized kampachi and large-sized root fish on the Uji Islands.

The OGM Blue Heaven L100 on the left and the mid-geared model of the normal Blue Heaven L80 on the right. 100 is wider, so the OGM Blue Heaven L100 is more compact than the normal model with a modified internal structure.

Blue Heaven L100 Mid Gear
https://anglers-time.com/4282/

Blue Heaven L100 Details
https://studio-oceanmark.com/products/blue-heaven-100-80-50-30/

What model is the OGM in the first place?

Blue Heaven fans may already know what the OGM is like, but some may not. Some are aware that it is a higher-end model than the normal model, but must be unsure about the performance in detail. So, first of all, we would like to explain the OGM.

First of all, OGM is an acronym for OTA GARAGE MODEL; OTA stands for Ota Ward, Tokyo, while SOM is located in Ota Ward. Ota Ward is home to a concentration of small factories, and in Ota Ward there is a factory that specialises in metalworking of difficult-to-machine materials. The spool shaft, handle shaft and knob shaft for the Blue Heaven normal model are machined overseas, but OGM uses titanium material (64Ti) for these parts, which are machined in the Ota Ward factory. The OGM is a completely ‘Made in Japan’ model, assembled in Japan. What is required of the OGM is lightness and sensitivity. The development of the OGM model started when tester Nishimoto asked SOM to make the reel lighter and more sensitive in order to realise more sensitive fishing. This reel is the culmination of Nishimoto’s obsession as an expert in slow-pitch jerking.

Lightness and sensitivity – these two elements are embodied in the titanium material and carbon parts. The 64Ti titanium used is rarely used in reels because it requires advanced cutting techniques and is expensive. However, OGM uses it for the main shaft, spool shaft and handle rivets. In addition, the surface of the spool shaft is treated with WPC (surface modification) + DLC (diamond-like carbide), a surface lubrication treatment that reduces friction. The handle bolt and reel foot are also made of titanium alloy.

In addition, carbon plates are used for the drag lever and handle arms. The handle plate arm, which requires particular strength, is made of 6 mm thick 36 tonne carbon, 1.8 times stronger than the aluminium arm. The drive gear, the most important component of the reel, is normally made of brass for a balance of strength and quietness, but OGM uses a high-hardness stainless steel material for even greater sensitivity. In addition to the lightweight titanium and carbon materials, the frame’s perming sides have been boldly machined to achieve a design that is both lightweight and highly sensitive.

The drive gear is made of high-hardness stainless steel in pursuit of sensitivity. The drive gear is made of hard stainless steel for greater sensitivity, which allows the angler to more clearly detect underwater conditions and bites transmitted from the line.

The perming cup is designed with boldly machined sides. Realised by a frame with increased strength. Lightweight for greater sensitivity. The photo shows the OGM Blue Heaven L80, but the L100 model has the same specifications.

Equipped with a 6 mm thick handle made of 36 tonne carbon. The handle knob is made of cork, which is lighter than EVA and provides high sensitivity performance.

New design, increased strength and better performance!

The L100 is not only a larger version of the L80, but also features new design features that are unique to the OGM and the L100 size. One of the things we wanted was more strength than ever before. One thing we wanted was more strength than ever before, and water resistance.
‘First of all, the shaft of the handle shaft used to be 10 mm, but we changed it to 12 mm. Until now, two clutches have been fitted to a 10 mm shaft, but this inevitably makes the width of the shaft wider. The narrower width is better for the reel’s operability, so we changed to a 12 mm shaft with a single clutch. This made it more compact and also 1.4 times stronger. The clutch was previously waterproofed with a rubber ring, but a new shield called an oil seal has been adopted to improve waterproofing performance. This has succeeded in providing a performance that prevents water from getting in even if the handle is turned in a bucket. The handle shaft is of course made of titanium because it is OGM, but the previous two-piece shaft was made of titanium and stainless steel, but this time it is a one-piece shaft with a new thickness of 12 mm. We had a hard time finding a place that would do the machining work, but we found a factory that could do it and made it. This has increased the strength and precision of the product, giving it even greater sensitivity.

We pursued ease of gripping while increasing strength. This was made possible by changing the shaft of the handle shaft to 12 mm. There was no place in the general manufacturing industry that could process it, so they finally commissioned a medical device processing company to complete the work.

The strength of the spool bearing has also been increased in this model. In lever-drag reels, the spool moves and connects to the drag disc when the drag is tightened, but at that time the bearing supporting the pinion gear is subjected to a lateral load. Some manufacturers use a double disc to overcome this load, but this inevitably makes the spool heavier, and SOM has responded by using a single disc and angular ball bearings to support the pinion gear, which are more resistant to load. However, there is a slight rattling. An additional bearing was added in parallel with the angular contact ball bearing to eliminate rattling. This has led to an increase in winding efficiency.
When developing the OGM Blue Heaven L100, we first tried simply converting the normal model to titanium and carbon, but when I held the finished product, I felt that it was very wide. So we changed the internal structure, made it more compact, and sought to improve its lightweight, waterproofing, sensitivity and winding performance.
(Otsuka) Incidentally, while the normal L100 model weighs 655g, the new OGM weighs 615g. This weight reduction brings increased sensitivity. Simple weight reduction can also reduce strength, but the OGM model uses materials and technology to improve this.

Along with sensitivity, the pinion gear’s shake has been eliminated to improve reeling efficiency. If you can reel up the lure smoothly, you can grasp various aspects such as changes in the water and fish coming close to the lure. This will naturally bring you closer to a hit.

Adoption of mid gear

In developing the OGM Blue Heaven L100, Mr Nishimoto suggested using a mid-gear with a handle speed of 1 m per turn.　He proposed the idea of a mid gear with one metre per turn of the handle.
It’s 100 cm per turn. When I tried it, I found it easy to use for various types of fishing. When I started jigging, reels with 100 cm per reel were common, but I think it is a well-balanced gear ratio that can be used for a wide range of applications. I think it is easy to adjust the movement of the jig and the amount of reeling, even when reeling fast or when you are trying to lure the fish with a big jerk.
This was to be incorporated in the normal Blue Heaven L100, for which final testing was completed earlier, and also in the OGM Blue Heaven L100.
The OGM L100 has a line capacity of 600m (No. 5), 750m (No. 4) and 1000m (No. 3) and is suitable for large yellowfin tuna, yellowtail, amberjack, large root fish, as well as mid- and deep-sea jigging. And the target for this test fishing trip was large-sized amberjack and large-sized root fish, kanagi.

Mid gear requested by Nishimoto for this model. It is between a high gear and a power gear, but can also move fast and wind up strongly. It is often thought of as ‘neither-way nor-neutral’, but it can handle both.

Nishimoto uses the OGM Blue Heaven L100, which is equipped with a mid gear that is easy to operate and has outstanding sensitivity, to grasp the changes in the water and skillfully manipulate the posture of the jig as he explores the water. The depth of the water was around 160m, using PE No. 3 and a leader No. 20. Otsuka then confirmed with Nishimoto the final comfort and performance of the OGM Blue Heaven L100, which had been developed and improved in response to Nishimoto’s requests. The angler and the designer worked closely together to create this reel. In the end, due to the poor tide and limited time of the day, the fishing trip ended in a small kampachi without encountering any large fish, but Nishimoto confirmed its good performance and gave Otsuka a ‘pass’ sign. The large fish were to be caught next time.

Although wider in width than the OGM Blue Heaven L80, the size and shape of the lure makes it easy to perch while ensuring a good line capacity.

Incidentally, I was on this fishing trip with a fishing buddy of Mr Nishimoto. Otsuka had them try out the new OGM Blue Heaven L100 tackle and asked them what they thought of it. On other fishing trips, we have seen Mr Otsuka giving his fishing companions a chance to try out the tackle he has brought on board. Incidentally, the first thing anglers say when they touch the OGM is how light it is. And when they try to shimmy it, they are surprised at the sensitivity, which is considerably higher than that of the normal model. You can feel this more by actually dropping a jig in the field and touching it. And its high performance makes it a strong ally for anglers.

Along with Nishimoto’s final tests, Otsuka also tested various items at the same time. Repeated testing in the field also leads to good products. Incidentally, this was the largest size caught by Mr Otsuka on this fishing trip. However, this area also has a track record of large fish. He and Mr Nishimoto will probably try again with the OGM Blue Heaven L100 or a newer product. The kanpachi caught by Mr Nishimoto was released without even being brought on board.

OGM Blue Heaven L100 details
https://studio-oceanmark.com/products/ogm-blue-heaven/

Summary & photos: Angler’s Time editorial department