Revenge
Baits Dart Hedz
Specifications |
Material |
Lead |
Diving Depth |
Any |
Weight |
1/2oz |
Colors/Patterns |
3
Available (shad, PMS, Craw) |
Color tested |
Shad |
Hook |
Mustad O Ultra Point Black Nickel |
Additional Features |
Lifelike 3D eyes |
MSRP |
$2.99 |
Impressions: I have always enjoyed fishing with jigs
due to their ability to target multiple depths with great accuracy. Most of my
jig fishing has been done with typical lead dart or football heads. The purpose
of these heads was primarily to weigh the attached lures down, and brandish the
actual hook. While pure lead jig heads have proven to be effective, anglers can
now add the extra element of a realistic looking dart head to their tackle
cache. Revenge Baits produces a wide assortment of lures ranging from
spinnerbaits to jigs, and the new Dart Hedz make it possible to add an extra
level of realism to plastic presentations.
Revenge Dart Hedz come in packs of
three, and are available in 3 patterns and 4 weight variations
When I first examined the Dart Hedz I couldn't
help but notice the attention to detail in not just the profile of the heads,
but the painting as well. While traditional jigheads are cone shaped the Dart
Hedz are shaped like real baitfish, complete with a extruding gill plate. The
Dart also features enlarged three dimensional eyes and a metallic pigment that
shimmers in the sunlight, creating that extra flash. Finally there is a barb on
the midsection of the jig head to hold rigged plastics securely in place.
Complete Rig
for Revenge Baits Dart Hedz Tests |
Rod |
Kistler Custom "Drop Shot" Rod |
Reel |
Quantum PTi 20 |
Line |
8 lb Trilene XL |
Real
World Tests: I tested the Revenge Baits Dart Hedz with plastic paddle tail
worms and single tail grubs on two local lakes. One of which offered crystal
clear water, and another which was green with vegetation.
Casting: Casting depends on a number of factors including the
weight Dart Hedz you choose, the lb. test line you make use of, and the actual
plastic you select to rig. While these lures can be used with baitcasting
outfits, I had the most success finesse fishing with spinning gear. By using a
spinning rod I was able to put smaller plastics on the heads and toss them a
good distance when paired up with 8lb line. One of the key advantages of fishing
with darts is the ability for pinpoint precision. I could cast the rigged Dart
Hedz with great exactness. Because the Dart Hedz is rigged with an exposed hook
this is not the technique you want to employ when in very weedy and heavily
structured areas. Cast the rigged Dart Hedz over points, rocky drop off's, and
deeply sunken structure, then begin one of various retrieve methods to bring the
plastic to life.
The realistic jig is a complete
departure from the traditional lead head
Retrieve: With the Dart Hedz you will find yourself doing a lot of
casting and retrieving, and this lure is one of the better baits for covering
large amounts of water quickly. I was pleased to see that even though the Dart
Hedz was shaped like a fish it still maintained a very even and balanced
retrieve. This also makes it easier to anticipate exactly where your lure is
positioned in the water column. After the cast allow the lure to sink to your
desired depth and begin applying action. Often times fish will zone in on the
lure during the fall and commit to a strike. Always be prepared, as a strike
often less like a tick and more akin to a slight tug. Anglers that desire to
isolate targets will want to choose a plastic that is more buoyant, and exhibits
a slower fall rate in the water, thus holding longer in the strike zone.
The lure can be retrieved quickly in the water to generate reaction strikes, or
search for fish, but I found that slower finesse techniques generated the
greatest retort. Here is where the benefits of spinning gear really come into
play. Once cast you can choose to swim the lure back or you can work the lure by
either lifting the tip causing the lure to lurch forward then fall again, do
this all the way back in. The second way to take advantage of spinning gear is
to hold the rod securely and retrieve slowly as you shake the tip of the rod in
a tight motion. Keep your line tense enough so the vibration translates all the
way down your line and creates a fanatical dance below the surface. You can
shake side to side or up and down, either way make sure to pause every so often.
When bass strike it is often a subtle tug, so be ready to drive that hook. Often
anglers will miss strikes because they are too occupied shivering their rods.
The Dart Hedz can be rigged with
rubber worms or grubs
(Here we utilize a Yamamoto Single tail grub)
Durability: The nice thing about tossing
plain lead dart heads is that they are cheap and anglers usually don't feel all
that much loss when they become damaged or are lost to structure. The Dart Hedz
are more expensive than traditional jig heads, but they augment realism to your
plastic presentations. The Dart Hedz are coated with a chip resistant coating
that proved to be quite durable. We deliberately dragged the heads (unrigged)
over rocky outcroppings and the lure sustained only minor scratches...no chips
at all. At the end of our stress tests we rigged the head back up and found it
just as effective as ever. The hook is the most likely to be damaged component,
and can be bent if accidentally snagged on rocks.
|
While not
intended for fishing in heavy cover the Revenge Dart Hedz are accurate
enough to run alongside structure and can often draw aggressive fish out |
Applications: If you haven't fished with swimming grubs or dart rigged worms
then you are missing out. This technique is proven effective in cold and clear
water, but during our field tests we experienced a high level of success with
the Revenge Dart Hedz even in warm murky water. This bait can be used to target
both largemouth and bronzebacks with a assortment of retrieves. With just a
little practice anglers can catch fish by dropping, swimming, darting, and
shaking.
Ratings:
Revenge
Baits Dart Hedz
Ratings (?/10) |
Construction/Quality |
The
Revenge Dart Hedz are a high quality product and even though they are a tiny
piece of tackle the paint and finishing is top notch. The Mustad hook is
both durable and sharp, and much better than the hooks used on most
traditional lead darts |
9 |
Performance |
The
Dart Hedz can be deadly when fished correctly, and when paired with spinning
gear it truly can catch a lot of fish. Because the Dart Hedz is just 50% of
the actual lure the performance does heavily depend on the plastic as well,
but the realistic looking head delivered better performance than standard
jigs |
8.5 |
Price |
At
around 1 dollar a piece the Dart Hedz are a lot more expensive than standard
jig heads but they add effectiveness to the lure |
6 |
Features |
There are few features possible with a simple dart, but Revenge puts
together the right components with a nice hook and quality finish |
8 |
Design
(Ergonomics) |
The
Dart Hedz are easy to rig and the barb effectively holds plastics on even
when repeatedly struck |
8 |
Application |
This lure can be used in many more conditions than most anglers realize and
is one of the lures best suited for light spinning gear |
9 |
Total Score |
8.08 |
Pluses and Minuses:
Plus
Minus |
J
Multiple techniques possible |
L
Significantly more expensive than
traditional lead jig heads |
J
Accurate and easy to use |
|
J
Sharp durable hook |
|
J
Great lure for spinning gear |
|
Conclusion: Anglers usually make use of Texas and Carolina
rigs more than anything else, but many have found that a swimming grub can also
produce great results. Revenge Baits Dart Hedz can be fished with many different
techniques, but few anglers actually will employ them all. You can be quite
successful by just mastering one or two of the techniques made possible with the
Dart Hedz. These convincing looking dart heads did improve our total number of
strikes, and the durable Mustad hooks stuck more fish than the low quality
generic hooks found on most basic lead jig heads. When fishing pressure is at
its highest the added realism of the Dart Hedz can make a difference in your
catch, and maybe even help you exact revenge on that big fish that got away.