A Collaboration Between Two of Japan's Finest, Ito & Imae - The IxI Shad

Total Score: 7.83 - GOOD

Introduction: In this era of elevated branding, partnerships between rival factions are almost unheard of - especially in the fishing industry. It would seem most are intent on finding success on their own or riding the coat tails of another's success through imitation. So when we heard of a budding partnership between JDM legends Katsutaka Imae of Imakatsu and Yuki Ito of Megabass, we were anxious to see what fruits such a collaboration would bear. Introducing the I by I (IxI - for Ito x Imae) Shad Type 3 Crankbait.

Yuki Ito & Katsutaka Imae collaborate to create the IxI Shad

Impressions: I must admit, when I heard of this potential collaboration, I was imagining a bait of much greater proportions. Instead, the IxI Shad is a two and a quarter inch (2 1/4") mid to shallow water crankbait designed to cast far and be worked in depths from four to ten feet of water. As its name would suggest, it has an elongated, shad like profile instead of the usual tear drop shape of most shallow water cranks. It is, in all honesty, quite unremarkable inside and outside of its packaging. It of course has the usual detailing and finishes from Megabass, but because of its size and shape, this bait can easily be overlooked.

This is a one quarter ounce crank that casts easily

That's likely part of the strategy. Few are going to suspect the potential of this bait simply viewing it on the tackle store peg-board. They're going to see this tiny little bait and think #1, it's too small and #2, because it's so small and light, it won't be very easy to cast. The IxI Shad gives you the impression it should be fished on spinning gear, but what they don't realize is this is the perfect bait for finesse enabled casting reels and even those on the border between finesse and standard applications.

On board Daiwa's Millionaire SV70 & a Megabass Tomahawk F3 1/2-65GTC Hien Type-S