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Beyond
Spybaiting: DUO Realis Jerkbait 100SP
(continued)
  Ok, this IS a
jerkbait, so how does it act when fished in the customary way? First off, its
action kicks in with little effort. Whether you want to crawl the bait on a
steady retrieve or fish it with the typical jerk-jerk-pause type of cadence, it
performs. The action is similar to other jerkbaits, with an erratic darting
action that's easy to achieve. While it definitely looks appealing underwater,
it doesn't seem to cut or dart quite as sharply as some competing offerings.
Realistic eyes and head detailing draw in predators.
Durability:
Structurally, the 100SP held up just fine, but that's to be expected when
fishing for bass. While the body can take some punishment, it will scratch and
chafe when it makes contact with hard or abrasive surfaces. The finish of the
few other jerkbaits in my box exhibited the same durability, so I'd certainly
classify the DUO as average in this department.
The Owner treble hooks are VERY sharp!
Price &
Applications:
At an MSRP of $12.99, the 100SP costs less than other heavy-hitting jerkbaits
from Jackall, Lucky Craft, Megabass, and the like. This is a refreshing value
considering the beautiful finish, great hooks, and lifelike action that these
baits offer.
These baits come in at a lower price than other premium jerkbaits.
Jerkbaits are somewhat specialized offerings that will work best for shallow or
suspended bass. Occasionally in very clear water situations, they will also draw
up fish from much deeper water. Beyond its capability as a bass bait, this
jerkbait should also be a solid performer for saltwater species as well.
A head-on look at the small diving bill of the 100SP.
If
targeting meaner quarry, I would recommend upgrading the hooks to beefier
models, as the stock ones are plenty sharp, but lack the strength needed for
rougher applications.
Ratings:
(We've
re-calibrated our
ratings standard for
2008 and have
included a key at
the bottom of the
following matrix as
a guide):
|
DUO
Realis
Jerkbait
100SP
Ratings
(?/10)
|
|
Construction/Quality |
Beautiful
baits
that
exhibit
some
sweet
attention
to
detail. |
9 |
|
Performance |
The
100SP
performs
very
well,
but it
seems to
not dart
quite as
sharply
as some
other
jerkbaits. |
8 |
|
Price |
An
attractive
value
since it
comes in
at less
than
several
other
offerings. |
8.5 |
|
Features |
You'll
find
internal
rattles
and
fixed
weights
as well
as
sticky-sharp
hooks. |
8 |
|
Design
(Ergonomics) |
The bait
is a
nice
all-around
size and
sports
an
accurate
shape. |
8 |
|
Application |
Somewhat
of a
specialized
bait,
but it
can also
be used
for a
bunch of
saltwater
species.
If you
like to
troll,
it will
work for
that as
well. |
7 |
|
Total
Score
|
8.08 |
Ratings
Key:
1 =
terrible
: 2 =
poor : 3
=
lacking
: 4 =
sub par
: 5 =
mediocre
: 6 =
fair : 7
= good :
8 =
great :
9 =
excellent
: 10 =
unbelievable!
For More
Details
of the
updated
rating
system
visit
our
explanation
here |
Pluses and Minuses:
|
Plus
Minus
|
|
+
Gorgeous
finish |
-
Darting
action
not
super
sharp |
|
+
Excellent
stock
hooks |
|
|
+ Solid
performance |
|
|
+
Attractive
value |
|
|
|
|
Another fun pond bass taken on the DUO!
Conclusion:
Fishing the Realis Jerkbait 100SP has been my first experience with DUO baits,
and as you can see it has been a good one. These are quality made-in-Japan
jerkbaits that perform well at a price that's less than several competitors.
What's not to love about that? When you have a combination of quality,
performance, and price, it makes for a very tempting product. While DUO isn't
the first name that will pop into many anglers' minds when thinking about
jerkbaits, if they keep making baits like this the DUO name will surely continue
to gain notoriety!
Looking for the Duo Realis Jerkbait
100SP Try
Tackle Warehouse
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