The DUO Spinbait 80 and the Art
of Spybaiting

Date: |
10/13/13 |
Tackle type: |
Lures |
Manufacturer: |
DUO |
Reviewer: |
Zander |
Introduction: Every once in a while a new fishing
technique comes around that changes the very way people fish, just think about
techniques like drop shotting or shakey head for example. This season a
technique known as Spybaiting has gained attention here in the U.S. and leading
the charge is a company from Japan called DUO Realis. DUO’s Spinbait 80 is a new
twin propped hardbait designed specifically for this finesse technique.

DUO's new Spinbait 80
The Spinbait 80 was created by DUO’s top designer, Mr. Adachi, who we met a few
months ago at ICAST 2013. Like DUO’s other products the Spinbait 80 exhibits a
familiar styled fascia and plenty of attention to detail. We got the lowdown
about this bait and the spybaiting technique from David Swendseid of DUO
America.

The Spinbait 80 resembles a
jerkbait without a lip
The technique has been used on famous Lake Biwa for years but is not
exclusive to the lake, in fact there are reports of Japanese anglers throughout
the country modifying their existing baits with props during the infancy of this
technique.

The head of this lure ties it
instantly to the rest of the DUO family
Lures like the Spinbait 80 are designed to emit plenty of turbulence when fished
slowly and exhibit a very natural baitfish profile. Most of us here in the U.S.
see prop baits and think topwater but the Spinbait 80 is more like a bladed
jerkbait. Though it has a very small 3 1/8” length it is designed to cast very
far and weighs in at 3/8oz. and is designed to fall in a horizontal fashion.

This is not a big bait and is
designed for a finesse technique known as "Spybaiting"
After the bait is cast anglers can count down and start retrieving once the lure
has reached the desired depth. This lure is designed to be fished with
ultralight lines and anything larger than 5lb test is enough to drag the lure
downwards and alter the intended action. Retrieved slowly the lure will roll
slightly and tightly wobble as the blades rotate.

A look at the top of the slender
Spinbait 80
This isn’t a lure that will rattle loudly or sweep side to side aggressively to
call fish from afar, instead it is designed to draw strikes by fish that are
close by and can see it swimming tantalizingly in the water. The subtle action
is ideal for ultra-clear water where traditional techniques simply don’t work.
In our initial testing we found this to be true and the lure was effective in
clear Northern California lakes but we have not yet been able to catch fish on
this bait in heavily stained water.

The underside exhibits plenty of
angles
Though our field tests are not yet complete our initial inspection and bait
autopsy are. In the lab we found the lures were very consistent and regardless
of finish or whether the particular lure was transparent or opaque each and
every one of our test lures were all without blemish.

This bait sinks quickly and evenly
The attention to detail on these baits rivals other premium Japanese
lures and yet the company retails them for a reasonable $12.99 each. That may
sound like a lot for a lure of this size but compared to the competition this
price is quite competitive.

Each bait weighs in at 3/8oz.