Power. Sky. Dance. Splash.
Translated from Japanese, those are the names of the four new hard bait models Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits will introduce at ICAST next month in Las Vegas.
The longtime maker of soft-plastic baits has developed a handful of basic shapes – a topwater popper bait, a minnow-shaped jerkbait, a walking bait and a shad-shaped crankbait – that will surely create some buzz, especially among those loyal to Yamamoto's innovative soft baits.
The Chikara ("power") is a compact-bodied crank that will appeal to anglers who fish laydowns, riprap banks, river ledges or edges of grass. They'll be available in 16 colors and three models – a 100, 200 or 300 that will dive to 4 feet, 8 feet or 10 feet, respectively.
To satisfy the jerkbait anglers, Yamamoto developed the Tenkuu ("sky"), which can glide through the water or with an effortless, snappier retrieve it can be made to rhythmically walk under the surface. The three available sizes (76mm, 100mm, 110mm), represent the most common baitfish profiles and can dive up to 4 feet, 8 feet or 10 feet, respectively. These figure to be a stout option during the pre-spawn, but will likely trigger strikes year-round. The two smaller sizes will be available in 17 different colors and the 110 comes in eight patterns.
For walk-the-dog fanatics, the Tate’ (pronounced tah-teh, “dance”) is a classic topwater with more character and zip than its counterparts. It's proven to bring strikes from fish in just inches of water to those swimming the depths. It'll come in two sizes and nine color options.
The Shibuki (“splash”) is a concave-faced popper that spits water like a squirt gun with a simple twitch of the rod. With a subtle action, you can make it just barely disturb the surface but with a downward yank it'll spray water a long distance, creating enough of a disturbance to attract a bass' attention. It'll be available in two sizes and seven color patterns, making it ideal for imitating a fleeing baitfish of any species or drawing cautious fish out of the gnarliest cover.
The baits will retail for $7.99. To learn more, click here.
