|
Topwater Action with the Live Target Sunfish
(continued)
  Performance
cont'd: Two questions
with baits like this has to do with the hookup ratio and durability. For me, the
hookup ratio was fair. The Sunfish got bit a ton and I hooked into a good number
of fish, but also missed a modest amount as well. Durability could be rated fair
to average, as the paint became faded/worn after a good bit of usage but the
plastic held together nicely.
Performance Ratings for
Live Target
Sunfish |
Castability (1-5) |
Ease of Actuation(1-5) |
Quality of Movement (1-5) |
Position at Rest (1-5) |
Durability (1-5) |
Total |
Possible |
Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10) |
4 |
|
|
|
3 |
20 |
25 |
|
The Sunfish lays flat on the water's surface.
Features:
Live
Target was pretty generous with the number of color choices available in this
series. With a whopping twelve different patterns available, it can make
choosing one a bit tough. They are all extremely life-like representations of
sunfish.
|
Features Ratings for Live Target Sunfish |
|
Internal Harness(1–3) |
Weedlessness (1–3)
|
No. Finishes (1–3) |
Misc
(1–3) |
Total |
Possible |
Rating(= Tot/Pos *10) |
|
N/A |
3 |
3 |
2 |
8 |
9 |
8.88 |
A small, unpainted weight diminishes the realism a bit on the bait's bottom
side.
Design and
Ergonomics:
My two test
baits had the same impressive finish and build quality. The weight and compact
nature of these baits allows them to be cast accurately and quite a great
distance. There's two sizes available (3 and 3 1/2-inch) so they aren't huge by
any means. It would be interesting to see a big size of, say, 5-inches.
Design & Ergonomics Ratings for
Live Target
Sunfish |
Bait to Bait Consistency (1-5) |
Weight (1-5) |
Realism (1-5) |
Available Sizes (1-3) |
Total |
Possible |
Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10) |
5 |
|
|
|
16 |
18 |
|
The smaller bait was
by far the most used
and definitely
showed some battle
scarring.
Application:
As a
topwater lure, the Live Target Sunfish is quite versatile since it works so well
in both vegetation and open water. I was pleased with how it was both
easy-to-use and received lots of attention from the bass. While I wasn't
fortunate enough to get a real big bite on the Sunfish, the number of bass that
showed interest made me want to throw it often.
Fishing the Sunfish around some shoreline weeds and slop.
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):
|
Live
Target
Sunfish
Ratings
(?/10)
|
|
Construction/Quality |
Impressive
detail
and
coloration...these
are
quality
baits! |
8.5 |
|
Performance |
A very
easy
bait to
cast and
walk. |
8 |
|
Price |
At
$12.99
these
don't
come
cheap
but the
quality
is
certainly
there. |
6 |
|
Features |
I'm a
big fan
of the
twelve
awesome
colors
to
choose
from. |
8.88 |
|
Design
(Ergonomics) |
Great
proportions
and
consistency. |
8.88 |
|
Application |
Versatile
as far
as
topwater
baits
go. |
7 |
|
Total
Score
|
7.87 |
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
|
|
+
Natural
colors/detailing |
- Hookup
ratio |
|
+
Castability |
- Cost |
|
+ Sharp
and
strong
stock
hooks |
|
|
+ Can
fish in
cover or
open
water |
|
|
+ Great
action |
|
This fish was HUNGRY!
Conclusion:
The Live Target Sunfish is a bait that I find myself constantly wanting to
throw. Not only is it a blast to fish because it's so easy to use and can be
tossed in so many areas, but I always love fishing with a bait that's just
different. I can see why it took home the 2015 ICAST Best Soft Lure award.
Want to add something new and exciting to your topwater box? Give one of these a
shot!
Looking for the Live Target Sunfish? Try
Tackle Warehouse
|
