Baitsanity’s Most Technical Glidebait Yet – The Antidote
TUG (continued)
 Real
World Tests: I have been fishing the Antidote TUG
first run baits for just over six months now but my first experience with the
TUG was over a year ago when Fahad and I fished together prior to the launch of
the Explorer Gill. At the time we were fishing early mass production gills, and
it was the first time that I got to experiment with the funky looking HatchMatch
Atom Tail. It was also the first time that Fahad and I had ever fished together
and after a few hours he asked if I was interested in checking out a prototype
which he was currently developing.

A year ago Fahad showed me the
first handbuilt prototype of the Antidote TUG
That prototype was the first
Antidote TUG, and while it still had several 3D printed elements the bait’s
internal spring-loaded weight system was functional. Fahad explained the
Glide-Leap concept to me, and that this bait was a prototype that he had
assembled to test the weight system. While this bait didn’t have the final
finish it was a good example of where he was going with the new series.

This prototype features a much
less detailed finish and still had printed elements and was pieced together with
super glue
Fahad tied the bait on to
demonstrate the action and I was able to see the bait’s wide glide movement when
cranked with the rod tip down, as well as the surface breaking action when the
bait is fished with pauses and accentuated with rod twitches.
While
demonstrating the diverse ways to fish the prototype Fahad’s line suddenly went
tight and as the rod loaded up, I saw a combination of surprise and panic emerge
on his face.
“That looks like a pretty
good fish,” I exclaimed. “It feels like a solid one, I sure hope the glue I used
holds up,” Fahad responded as he desperately tried to guide the fish towards the
boat. “Glue, as in super glue?” I inquired. Fahad nodded as the fish pulled
drag.

Fahad unexpectedly catches a tank
while demonstrating the TUG's various retrieves. How is that for a bait
audition? Glad that glue held up!
The next minute was tense as
the fish went on another run and Fahad tried to get both the fish and his
hand-glued prototype to the surface. As I netted the five-pound fish Fahad
finally let out a sigh of relief. “Super glue is my best friend today,” Fahad
shouted as he held up the fish and then inspected the TUG for any leakage. “This
is the first fish that I have ever caught on the prototype. I am so glad it held
up. It would have been embarrassing if it blew apart,” Fahad joked.

Under the semi-translucent head
the red object is the spring supported Glide Leap System weight
Over the next few hours, I
learned more about what Fahad was looking to accomplish with the TUG but I had
to wait a few more months before I was able to get two of the first production
baits to start experiencing what the TUG was capable of for myself.

Baitsanity has always focused on
delivering a complete experience for anglers...
Operation:
Before delving into my personal fishing experience I have to comment on
Baitsanity’s continued effort on delivering an entire experience to anglers.
This starts with the packaging on all their higher baits and accessories,
including the TUG. The Antidote TUG comes in a high-quality foam padded box with
a graphic that pays homage to comics and the bait’s custom features. The
original concept art was created by Fahad, and the high-quality packaging is
more like something you would find guarding a smartphone than a swimbait.

...and that starts with high
quality packaging. The TUG features a more whimsical design that hints at the
mad-scientist design in this technical bait
Over the last few years
Baitsanity has really stepped up their game when it comes to finishes. Some of
the most intricate are highlighted on their Explorer line, and they have even
partnered with different e-tailers both in the US and Japan to create some
unique exclusives. The TUG’s finish isn’t quite as detailed as some of the
painted examples on those Explorers but it makes up for it with a combination of
both 3D scale elements, integrated carbon fiber components, and paintwork on top
of the semi-translucent injected resin body. The result is a bait that shares
both elements of the company’s Explorer and Antidote lines.

The weight moves back and forth as
the bait is cast and retrieved
As I started fishing the TUG
I quickly learned that there were many ways to impart action on the lure, and it
wasn’t always intuitive. On most of my swimbaits I like using split rings or
snaps to add that extra pivot point to the bait. Doing so on the Antidote TUG
significantly changes the ability to impart lure movement, and especially if you
are trying to generate the surface breaking action.

A look at the Bass pattern
If the fish are extremely
aggressive, or there are signs of trout boiling, various surface or waking
retrieves with the TUG can be deadly. To impart this surface or near-surface
action, I found it best to use braided line with a direct tie. I prefer using 50
or 60lb. braid without a leader here for the most direct connection. Fished in
this configuration there were three distinct ways to impart action on the lure,
the easiest being a straight retrieve which will cause it to act like a
subsurface wake right underneath the water. This requires a brisk and constant
retrieve for the bait to sweep and you can mix in a few rod pops which can cause
it to behave more erratically like a panicking trout.

The Antidote TUG comes with
rotating hook hangers
The second action is a
traditional topwater glide. To create this, I yo-yo the rod and crank in between
this motion. Let the rod do the work and the TUG will glide with each surge and
settle on the slack line as you pause between reel cranks.

Carbon fiber is also used for the
pectoral fins. They not only look cool but also help reduce hook rash
The most challenging retrieve
to generate but also the most effective when fish are actively feeding is the
busting fish action. To create this top water popping action you need to move
the rod more aggressively with an up and down motion as you crank, this will
cause the bait to slide on top and even break the surface. The key to this
action is maintaining speed and line tension to keep the head popping outside of
the water. It is in this style where I could see, and feel, the sliding glide
leap weight system come into play. The weight will move on the jerk causing a
more aggressive action and a thumping sound. When fish are aggressive, this
causes the bass to get really fired up and I’ve experienced multiple strikes,
with fish hammering the bait and even witnessed wolfpacks competing for it. I
had a few fish hit the TUG twice on hot summer days, and how they struck the
lure so hard without getting hooked boggled my mind. But in most cases when fish
bump the TUG I was able to convert them.

While the Surface Fish Busting
action is great for days when fish are feeding up on top I also found the bait
very good for subsurface retrieves with fluorocarbon lines. (Notice the hooks
bending after extended use. I do recommend swapping out to premium Owner hooks)
One thing I did observe was
that after a few good fish the hooks on the TUG would bend out. I never
experienced a clean break, but there were numerous bent hooks on all the TUGs
that I fished. I think the stock hooks are decent, but for those concerned about
losing fish I would recommend switching them out to Owners right out of the box.
The reason that I think the hooks face so much stress is due to the busting fish
retrieve style. This particular retrieve puts a lot of impact stress on the
hooks because you are often applying a lot of pressure to the line tight at the
same time the fish hit the bait. Strikes and hooksets when fishing this retrieve
usually occur simultaneously simply because the bait is being retrieved so
quickly and are usually explosive, jarring, and very memorable.

An integrated magnet in the tail
section positions the hook closer to the tail for rear strikes and also helps
with reducing resistance when fishing surface retrieves
While the busting fish
technique is one of the most interesting ways to fish the TUG I feel like it is
also the most difficult to master. I have been fishing the bait for months and
it still takes me time to get the cadence right to the point where I feel like I
am delivering a more genuine feeding or fleeing action. It takes time to learn
this technique, and I think this may be frustrating for some anglers that may
desire a more straightforward retrieve and resulting lure action.

When fishing on the surface I like
to tie directly to the bait with braid. When fishing subsurface I like to add a
split ring and use a fluorocarbon leader and even adding tungsten weights
Next Section: Unlocking the TUG's potential.... |