Donkey Slayer bladed jig review. Giant bladed vibrating jig fishing lure #donkeyslayer

Lure Review

A Big Bladed Kick in the Bass : The Donkey Slayer (continued)

Operation: Once in the water, I noticed that the Donkey Slayer really thumped hard, and the skirt flared dramatically, exaggerating what looked like erratic, but surprisingly organic, behavior. I did not have to wait long to see the fish's reaction, as a two-pounder crushed the white-headed Donkey Slayer midway back from the bank.

I didn't have to wait long to see the white and chartreuse "Ivory Thrash" pattern deliver

We fished several different sloughs and caught twelve more fish on the Donkey Slayer. I was quickly becoming a believer that this bait had a good amount of drawing power. Unlike many other bladed jigs, the Donkey Slayer's use of a tungsten versus lead head gives it a more compact head profile for such a large bait. I also found that the oversized blade design was able to sweep through vegetation remarkably well.

In the water the Donkey Slayer's large blade sweeps aggressively and the bait vibrates and even bounces out only to return to a true. The action moves a lot of water, generates plenty of flash, and draws fish in a variety of water conditions

Combined with the compact tungsten football head, this made it a deadly weapon for fishing around cover. Much of the inner Delta water can get very stained, and sometimes after heavy rains, it can even look like chocolate milk. In these lower visibility conditions, the Donkey Slayer’s vibration, large profile, and flash seemed to not only draw fish to examine the lure but also to strike.

We headed deeper into the Delta to find stained water and the Donkey Slayer's hard kicking vibration performed well in these conditions. It also is a good option for getting down fast and working around vegetation and other cover

To determine if my success on the Delta was simply due to a hot bite, I have since fished the Donkey Slayer in different parts of the Delta on cooler days, as well as in a number of different lakes in Northern California. There are many times when fish prefer a smaller bait, but other than very cold conditions when the fish are lockjawed on the bottom, there was rarely a time when a quality fish wouldn’t eat the Donkey Slayer.

As I fished the Donkey Slayer more on different bodies of water I found the Evergreen Brett Hite Combat Sticks very good for slinging these baits

Over time, I started to refine my setups for the Donkey Slayer. While it can be fished effectively on Heavy Action sticks or even flipping rods, what I prefer to use for these large bladed jigs are glass rods. In fact, my favorite rods for fishing Donkey Slayers come from Evergreen. The Brett Hite Combat sticks sometimes feel like they are too much for smaller Jackhammers, but they are perfect for the Donkey Slayer.

The Evergreen Super Combat Stick has the right amount of power and moderate action to sling the Donkey Slayer and keep fish pinned

The enthusiast-class Evergreen Brett Hite Super Combat Stick, with its Heavy power and Moderate Slow action, combined with a lightweight fiberglass blank and graphite core, makes for a near-perfect swing. Once fish strike the Donkey Slayer, this hybrid rod delivers excellent power while being forgiving enough to keep even the most stubborn fish pinned. These rods are much lighter than the normal Combat Sticks at 6.9 oz, and while the carbon grips can be a little slippery when wet, the trade-off for sensitivity and weight are acceptable to me, making it my go-to rod for both larger Jackhammers and the Donkey Slayer.

A closer look at the Daiwa, Evergreen, Donkey Setup

I’ve also experimented with a number of different trailers, and the Donkey Slayer seems to pair better with larger trailers. Smaller and lighter trailers like the Z-Man Baby Goat seem to get lost in the Donkey Slayer’s massive skirt. I prefer to use trailers with more mass, including full sized Strike King Rage Tail Craws, Reaction Innovation Beavers, and the Berkley Pit Boss. It also pairs nicely with larger paddle tails, including Keitechs and Jackall Rhythm Waves, when baitfish are on the menu.

The Evergreen Brett Hite Super Combat Stick has the enthusiast vibe that matches the Donkey Slayer. This is a great hybrid stick for both Jackhammers and Donkeys

Another interesting effect of having such a large blade and skirt profile is that the Donkey Slayer is very well-suited for fishing with forward-facing sonar. It tracks brightly on the screen, and because it can be worked at various speeds and can get down quickly, it can be run exactly where the fish are. Watching the fish chase and eat the Donkey Slayer on Livescope is a blast, though nothing beats watching fish dart up and smash the Donkey Slayer near the surface. This is a bait that you can fish in so many different speeds and depths successfully.

After seeing what the Donkey Slayer generates in terms of both numbers and quality fish over the span of nearly an entire season and on multiple different fisheries, I ultimately believe it comes down to two things: size and action. Of course, matching the hatch with some great patterns rounds out a very solidly designed bait.

Pulling another bass out of the soup that is the California Delta. As usual white or red patterns performed well. The large blade on the Donkey Slayer also cuts through all but the thickest vegetation

I believe that the sauce behind the Donkey Slayer is its erratic, almost unpredictable action, all while maintaining the ability to hold a straight line. The action is virtually as unpredictable as I can imagine while still being completely under control of where you want to wind it. At times, it looks wounded, and the large flare of the skirt really accentuates this action. I have found that adding different trailers changes the profile, but rather than muting the action, they seem to enhance mass and vibration, as the large blade keeps the bait kicking and the skirts are so large they seamlessly flare around larger trailers.

I wouldn't rule the Donkey Slayer out for numbers, and I was surprised by the number of mid-sized fish that were willing to take it on, but it is a good bait to tie on when your searching for kicker fish

Durability: After fishing with the Donkey Slayer and achieving success in multiple different bodies of water, I meticulously examined the three baits that I had consistently used. To my satisfaction, all of the baits still retained their skirt strands, the powder-coated heads and blades appeared virtually unscathed, and the hooks were also in good condition. Most notably, the wire that holds the entire bait together remained true, exhibiting no visible corrosion or damage whatsoever.

A closer look at the wire bait keeper on the earlier prototypes. This worked but the final version which includes a shrink tube wrap does a much better job keeping trailers from sliding or rotating

Initially, when I scrutinized the Donkey Slayer’s design, the wire twisted neck section above the tungsten football to the blade intrigued me, as it allowed for a wider blade swing and resulting action. However, I questioned just how durable it would prove to be over time. Months later, I can confidently affirm that the Donkey Slayer is the most robust bladed jig I've personally ever fished.

Blades are hand polished, as is the wire. One of the most interesting elements of the Donkey Slayer is the twisted wire connection which allows the blade to swing freely and kick the bait out aggressively side to side

Critical to the Donkey Slayer’s exceptional durability are its individual components and bait construction. Upon closer inspection, the bait’s magnum blades and powder coating are chip-resistant, the wide-gap hook is a trusted Gamakatsu offering, and the wire used throughout is corrosion-resistant stainless steel with a test strength exceeding 300 pounds. The reason I experienced no skirt damage is that John employs four distinct methods to attach the skirt to the bait, ensuring it remains secure, preventing rotation, or sliding down the hook shank.

The Donkey Slayer accommodates both creature bait and paddletail style trailers equally well

Next Section: The Donkey Slays, but at what price?