Quality/Construction: The quality and finish of the S-Caper is simply top notch. From the eyes, to the finely-sculpted head and scale pattern, to the excellent hardware and coloration, this topwater will not disappoint. Out of the box this lure looks ready for battle and with the stock #2 Owner treble hooks, it IS ready for battle, too!

The S-Caper sits in a distinct tail-down position.

Performance: The S-Caper weighs in at a stout 1-1/16 ounce. Far heavier than most standard topwaters, it takes a relatively stout rod to comfortably heave this thing into the strike zone. I used a Powell Max 3D 734CF with a 13 Fishing Concept C reel spooled with 40-pound braid (along with a 17-pound mono leader) and found it to be a pretty good combo for fishing this bait in the open, clear waters of local lakes. It's not difficult to launch the Gan Craft long distances thanks to its precise and robust weight.

The walking action leaves an attractive wake that fish can find easily. 

At rest, the S-Caper sits with its tail down about 2-inches under the surface. This is a very enticing position as it looks more natural than simply floating flat on top. I found walking the bait to take a little more concentration than with smaller topwaters I'm used to throwing, but with a couple minutes of practice I dialed in the retrieve pretty well. Depending on how you move the rod tip, the S-Caper can dart back and forth quickly or make wide, smooth sweeps from side to side. Overall I am happy with the action it provides and even happier about the strikes it draws!

The bait is beautiful from all sides, but take note of the battle scars left behind by angry bass.

Durability on my test bait is about average or slightly above. After catching a number of 2–5 pound bass and accidentally smacking it against a few hard objects, the S-Caper showed some marks but nothing really serious.

A recent foggy morning produced a ton of action that started with this fish. 

Next Section: Silent or Noisy?