The Field Tests: The good thing about the EsDrive is that even though it is somewhat long at close to seven inches, it only weights in at just under one and half ounces. Therefore, just about any heavy powered rod (or even some medium heavy sticks with extra-fast tips) can be used to fish this bait. One of my current heavy powered rods of choice? You got it, the Daiwa Steez Compile-X rod. Normally, we try to fish our baits on a couple different sticks to get a feel for them and also try different colors, but since I still have two of these STZ 711HFBA's, well, you get the idea.

Casting: Even with its rather long, gangly shape, the Evergreen EsDrive casts easily in virtually all conditions. It is just small enough, with some practice, to enable coffee cup accuracy (as opposed to pinpoint), and does a good job of not fouling on repeated, hard, overhand casts. After a while, it feel like any old jerkbait or crank at the end of your line. That's the great thing about these pseudo-swimbaits.

Retrieving: As the name implies, the EsDrive swims, or rather, glides, in a s-like fashion as you retrieve it back to the boat. Pause your retrieve and give the tip of your rod a soft pop downward and it really glides off to the side. Do it again and it turns to the other side gliding maybe two to three feet before coming to a stop. The action of this bait has "bite me" written all over it - very impressive. The only note of caution or criticism here is that on those soft jerks, when letting the bait glide side to side on slack line, the front hooks will on occasion wrap around your line. An inconvenience to be certain, but a small price to pay just the same for the excellent action this bait demonstrates in the water.
 

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