The Versatile G-Flag 150 by Grow Design Works (continued)

Weighted: You can get the G-Flag 150 to be more of a subsurface bait by sliding a nail weight or two in its underside. There are some suggested points of placement, but obviously, since the bait is soft plastic, you can place these weights where ever you please. I chose to stay with the suggested placements and actually preferred the bait's action subsurface more than on the surface.

Damper: Add the accessory red dampers at the joint in either configuration above and the G-Flag 150 swims in a tighter pattern but dashes further to either side when you stop your retrieve. At first, I preferred the bait with the damper installed, but after fishing it more, I think I'm back to fishing it without. It's a subtle change either way. Oddly enough, that damper is easily lost when a fish hits. I don't know how or where they go, but they do break off rather easily.

Bill: This is where it gets really interesting. Sold in a pack of two, each bill is slightly different in material makeup. One is flexible while the other is rigid. The action is the same with either installed, but each have their strengths depending on the cover you're fishing. I'm not smart enough to understand where a flexible bill would be the better choice, so I stuck with the other.

To install either bill, you need to first remove the hook harness because the bills slip over both the line tie and hook loop under the bait's chin. After installation, simply reattach the hook harness and use a snap to attach to the bait instead of tying direct. Attaching via snap helps to ensure the bill stays in place.

From there, simply cast it out and crank it up. The G-Flag 150 is transformed to a crankdown. However, if you hold your rod tip up, it will stay on top and give off a bigger wake than when fished without the bill. In my opinion, this is a must have accessory for this bait. Only thing to be cautious of is that split ring attaching the wiring harness to the bait. It's not very heavy duty so it's easy to deform. That's what happened to me installing the bill for the photographs prior to use.

Design/Ergonomics: Grow Design Works's G-Flag 150 is small by big bait standards and very easy to fish for extended periods of time or even all day long. It is equipped with subtle swim fins to stabilize the bait during the swim. The greatest challenge with this bait is deciding upon a configuration that speaks to you. It can be fished on top, subsurface, and if weighted just right, it will even suspend. It is offered in at least four different colors, but in true big bait fashion, the real trick is landing one.

Price & Application: Regular retail price in North America is $52. You can find it for considerably more through that auction site from predatory resellers seeking to take advantage of the bait's popularity. The more scarce the bait becomes, the higher the price on sites like that will climb until eventually, similar baits will show up on the market. It is the inevitable cycle of a popular and difficult to source bait, and especially true when that bait is of the soft plastic variety.

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