The Art of DUO’s Custom Baits on Full Display at ICAST

Introduction: When it comes to Japanese baits DUO is pretty much as respected as they come. The company has consistently delivered premium designs for two decades. The main reason for this consistency is that the company is helmed by Masahiro Adachi, who is not only the company’s CEO but chief lure designer. Mr. Adachi is known for his detailed designs that not only look good but also deliver excellent swimming action. Mr. Adachi’s philosophy of “functional beauty” means he is trying to create lures that both unify in form and function.

DUO will soon launch the first "Project Prometheus" swimbait

How does he do this? While many companies are touting their use of technology and especially CAD design he has stayed true to his roots, and every one of his lure creations begins not as a digital rendering but as a carving. He envisions the swim action of the lure and begins carving a design from ABS plastic, in what he considers a much more “organic” process. As you might expect this is not a quick process and sometimes requires many iterations and even months to perfect. Only when DUO reaches the final phases do these creations move on to precision digital prototyping and final production.

The first bait is called the "Onimasu"

We have seen some great DUO creations to date including the G87 crankbait and Spinbait Series, and this ICAST the company prepares to introduce their latest creation that has been years in the making, all the way back to 2013 to be exact. DUO calls this the “Prometheus Project,” in which Mr. Adachi sought to create a swimbait that blended his understanding of “S-Curve” swim action with high resolution imaging and painting technology.

Each bait starts not as a digital 3D model but as a hand carved prototype by Mr. Adachi himself

The first lure to be introduced under this project will be a single jointed swimbait called the Onimasu. The goal was to achieve an S-Curve action that was different than current glide baits on the market. The lure’s action is driven by the lure’s unique profile and especially the fore-region. While traditional glide baits are able to sway a certain amount that is close the centerline of travel the Onimasu is designed to come back with an ultra-wide swing and gait as it is retrieved. DUO describes the total glide distance of the Onimasu to be nearly up to three feet! This significant swing is described as “evasive behavior” and is intended to keep the bait in the strike window longer.

The finishes on the Onimasu will be photo realistic

The Onimasu was born from Mr. Adachi’s hand carved creations but inside the ABS body this lure is all tech. In the front of the lure is an angled ballast which allows the lure to be twitched without surging upward. Behind this in both sections are a fixed ballast system which keeps the lure perfectly balanced and the two sections are joined by single swing hinges that provide sturdy body alignment and tighter joint tolerance. There are many arms throughout the bait that reinforce the Onimasu, and careful attention was paid towards enhancing durability by eliminating internal crush zones, but not at the expense of balance.

The next bait to be released will be a still to be named kickbait

The finishes are photo-realistic and make use of a blend of scanned imaging and painting to create a genuine looking meal for big fish. The Onimasu will be available in multiples patterns including Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Gizzard Shad, and even Salmon. The end of the bait is finished with a functional and matching soft plastic tail.

David Swendseid, DUO's R&D Specialist, shows us a near final Onimasu in the bass pattern

At the show David Swendseid, DUO Realis R&D product Specialist, showed us near final baits as well as the prototypes. The baits look ready for primetime and will finally be available as a Fall-Winter release in just a few months for $45 dollars each. The Onimasu will be the first bait released under the Prometheus Project but the company is already working on a follow up three piece sunfish shaped kickbait.

Mr. Adachi surprised us by personalizing two of his prototypes

Before we left the booth the team at DUO stopped us and out came Mr. Adachi himself. He said that he would like to present us with something and proceeded to personalize two of his Onimasu prototypes and handed them to us. It was a very kind gesture and for tackle junkies it simply doesn’t get much better than this.

Cal is plenty excited about the Onimasu prototype

Anglers may wonder why DUO doesn’t crank out lures at a furious pace like so many other lure manufacturers. The Onimasu is a great example of a bait we have watched over the last few years and only now is moving onto final production this year. The laborious process that Mr. Adachi undergoes to create each functional work of art is a laborious one, and yet is something that helps set the company’s offerings apart, and will remain an integral part of DUO’s offerings in the future.