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Event Article:
2006 ICAST Lure Coverage |
ICAST Coverage Day 3 (Lures) - Who's the Mac Daddy of fishing lures?
(continued)
Daiwa: Whatever
it is that Daiwa engineers are drinking to stay up late at night and maintain
this extreme surge of exhilarating new products, they sure must have a big
supply of it! The slew of new products from Daiwa seems to encompass every
category. Thus far we've already seen enthusiast class reels, the very refined
Steez rods, and were just getting into Daiwa's baits. At the show Bryan Yamane,
Assistant PM, showed us an assortment of new lures, some of which were among the
most novel at the show. To help widen the brands appeal to all types of anglers
the company will be differentiating their lure lineup for 2006. The TD (Team
Daiwa) series will continue to be the company's premium offerings, but new
"Daiwa Lures" will be positioned towards more mainstream anglers and will retail
in the sub 10 dollar range.
Bryan shows Zander the wide array
of new Daiwa Lures
Dead or Alive: What
a name...."Dead or Alive." When we first heard it we were at a loss exactly what
Daiwa intended to convey with the peculiar moniker, but once we actually got to
check out the lure it all came together. The DoA is a topwater swimbait quite
unlike traditional offerings. and features a side mounted diving bill that gives
the lure a side swimming action to imitate a mortally wounded baitfish.
Did Daiwa mount the lip on the
wrong side? No, its the new Dead or Alive side mounted diving bill
It takes a second to get used
to the design, but it does make sense. Action is generated with a double jointed
wooden body and the tail features a spinner buzz blade tail for even more
vibration and flash. The hooks are mounted inline with the diving bill and come
out of the side (or bottom, depending how you look at it) of the lure.
The hooks are positioned inline
with the side mounted bill
The theory behind the design
is that big fish will see a easy target when they catch sight of the lure
flailing on it's side. The DoA will be available in two sizes (5 and 6 inches)
and all will be floating so they can be twitched on the surface. Four colors
will be available, Rainbow Trout, Ayu, Fire Tiger, and Baby Bass.
The Dead or Alive has a rear
mounted spinner buzz blade tail for extra vibration
Shad Master:
Anglers looking for a great fish searching lure will like the new Shad Master,
which features a classic shad profile complete with a longer more narrow body.
These lures are designed to have a wider wiggle and can be fished in the
murkiest of water. When retrieved slowly the lure gives a wider rolling action.
These lures are very detailed and feature new 3-D eyes.
The Shad Master is designed to be
a mainstream crankbait
Spinnerbaits: Daiwa
proves their lures aren't all just about crankbaits. At the show the company
introduced us to a new lineup of spinnerbaits as well. These lures feature the
same level of detailing as Daiwa's cranks, but the most interesting thing about
them is the placement of the smaller blade on a fixed anchor point right above
the bait's head.
That's right...Daiwa has
spinnerbaits too
These spinnerbaits will be available in sizes
ranging from 3/8 to 1/2oz, and four colors will be available (white shad, chart
shad, chartreuse, and midnight. All of the baits feature a red Mustad hook and
ball bearing swivels.
Saltwater anglers have a new
choice, the Saltiga Sacrifice Jig
Saltiga Sacrifice Jigs: Last year
Shimano introduced us to their butterfly jigs, and this year Daiwa showcased
their own version....the Saltiga Sacrifice Jigs. These jigs are good for both
bottom and surface fishing for a wide range of gamefish. Daiwa tweaked their
design with a "wing" shape so that it would create a slow fluttering action on
the sink. This is to create more flash on the fall, as well as help keep the jig
in the strike zone for a longer period of time.
The Sacrifice Jig features a
unique wave design that generates a slow fluttering pattern to help keep the jig
in the strike zone longer
But when the jig is retrieved it planes
hydro-dynamically to reduce overall cranking resistance. These jigs feature a
prism scale finish and 3D eyes, and will be available in sizes ranging from
3 3/4" to a lengthy 7 1/2" version. Daiwa also has their own translation of the
stinger hooks called "Saltiga Assist Hooks." They come rigged with Dyneema braid
over a monofilament core to help reduce the fish's ability to tear the hooks
loose during prolonged battles. These hooks are designed to attach to the top
eye of the jig, allowing the jig to be fished all the way at the bottom without
fear of hang-ups.
Bryan holds up the inventive Dead
or Alive topwater swimbait
Next
Section: Booster Tails & Knotty Girls
