Impressions:
For an entire
generation of
anglers, the BBZ
name was synonymous
with SPRO’s
swimbaits,
especially their
iconic multi-jointed
trout swimbaits. The
mastermind behind
those designs,
award-winning lure
designer Bill
Siemantel, was
inducted into the
Freshwater Fishing
Hall of Fame in
2009. Now, he has
brought his
expertise and the
BBZ brand to
FishLab.
This latest BBZ is
available in two
sizes, neither of
which are very large
or hard to throw
Collaborating with
FishLab Product
Manager Mike
Bennett, Siemantel
introduced the BBZ
Hard Swimbait at the
last ICAST, where it
took home a category
win. The BBZ Hard
Swimbait (BBZHS) is
a meticulously
crafted four-piece
plastic swimbait
featuring a blend of
opaque and
translucent
elements, along with
realistic, sculpted,
and painted
protruding fins.
One of the most
interesting aspects
of the BBZ is the
hybrid tail which is
not hard injected
plastic. This allows
the tail to be
uniquely shaped,
painted, and still
have some
flexibility like a
real fin
Designed to mimic a
variety of forage
species - from
mullet to rainbow
trout - the BBZHS
delivers lifelike
swimming action in
both fresh and
saltwater. It is
available in two
sizes: a full-sized
6-inch model
weighing 1.5 oz. and
a compact 4.5-inch
version at 5/8 oz.
Swimbaits with four
segments naturally
have a lot of
articulation, this
created a smooth
swimming action
versus the harder
hitting S-glide
shape of single
jointed glidebaits
Right out of the
box, this new BBZ
swimbait is ready
for battle, equipped
with premium BKK
hooks and heavy-duty
split rings. It also
features a semi-soft
"hybrid tail,"
seamlessly painted
to match the body.
Unlike some
swimbaits, the tail
is not removable or
interchangeable, as
it consists of the
entire fourth
segment of the lure.
The carp pattern
does a good job
mimicking a variety
of "junkfish"
including juvenile
sunfish and suckers
Real World Tests:
For the past
three months, I’ve
been fishing the
FishLab BBZ,
targeting largemouth
bass and stripers in
the California Delta
and surrounding
waters. Compared to
the full spectrum of
swimbaits, both BBZ
models lean toward
the smaller side.
I’ve primarily been
using the larger
6-inch version,
testing it with both
monofilament and
fluorocarbon lines
to gauge performance
in different
conditions.
Operation: The first
thing anglers will
notice about the BBZ
Hard Swimbait is its
fluid, exaggerated
body-to-tail
slinking action on
the retrieve.
Generally, the more
joints a swimbait
has, the smoother
and more natural its
snaking motion -
versus the sharper,
more abrupt glide of
a single-jointed
bait.
One of the BBZ
Hard’s biggest
advantages is how
easy it is to fish.
Unlike glide baits
that require precise
reel or rod tip
input, this swimbait
produces lifelike
movement with a
simple straight
retrieve, making it
accessible to
anglers of all skill
levels.
The BBZ's head is
very realistic with
an open mouth, 3D
fins, and lifelike
eyes
There are times when
fish respond better
to the sharper
movements and longer
pauses of
traditional S-shaped
glide baits rather
than the fluid,
undulating action of
multi-segment
swimbaits. In my
experience, this
often comes down to
two factors: the
type of prey the
fish are targeting
and their level of
aggression. While
both bait styles can
trigger strikes from
opportunistic
feeders, the more
subtle, natural
swimming motion of
swimbaits like the
BBZ is particularly
effective at drawing
fish out from
structure, where
they likely perceive
it as an easy,
vulnerable meal.
Fishlab BBZ is
printed on the top
Both the 4.5-inch
and 6-inch models
feature an
ultra-slow sink
rate, which allows
them to hover higher
in the water column.
While not true
subsurface wake
baits, a brisk
retrieve brings them
close, making them
ideal for
shallow-water
fishing, working
over flats, and
navigating
subsurface
structure.
These baits are only
available in one
sink rate - super
slow sink
The BBZ Hard is
nearly silent in the
water, with only
subtle joint noise
and the natural
disturbance created
by its movement. Its
slow-sinking nature
makes it an
excellent search
bait for covering
large areas quickly,
while its
near-suspending
action allows for
strategic pauses
over structure,
keeping it in the
strike zone longer.
I found that adding
occasional pauses to
my retrieve often
converted follows
into strikes,
particularly when
fish were less
aggressive.
To help get the bait
down quicker anglers
can fish the BBZ
Hard with
fluorocarbon line,
or even add tungsten
adhesive weights to
the belly
Through our testing,
the BBZ performed
best in depths of 12
feet or less. While
it attracts fish
from deeper zones,
its buoyancy and
slow sink rate limit
its ability to reach
greater depths
quickly - unless
modified. Adding
tungsten adhesive
weights, such as two
0.72-gram Baitsanity
weights on the belly
of the first two
sections, helped me
fine-tune its sink
rate, allowing me to
target suspended
fish more
effectively in open
water. Using
fluorocarbon, which
sinks faster than
other lines, also
helps get the bait
down a little
quicker.
While some patterns
are translucent
others like the
Rainbow Trout and
Wakasagi are foiled
and exhibit a lot
more flash in the
water when retrieved
Another major
benefit of the BBZ
Hard is its ease of
use with standard
fishing gear. Unlike
larger swimbaits
that require an
extra-heavy rod,
this lure can be
effectively fished
on conventional
setups.
I found this bait
very effective for
fishing over large
shallow flats or
over submerged
structure
