The Pike Team Six
B52 doesn't look
like other swimbaits
Impressions:
There are a lot of
good mass produced
swimbaits on the
market but when it
comes to throwing a
big bait that is
exclusive, unique,
and even one of kind,
there isn't anything
quite like a custom
made swimbait. The
majority of these
custom swimbaits
come from small
businesses based in
the U.S., or equally
small operations in
Japan. These custom
bait manufacturers
take pride in
creating something
that is truly
handmade, and their
offerings are
usually a
combination of both
design and artistry.
The B52 looks like a
cross between a goby
and a trout and
features a large
head design that
tapers down towards
the aluminum tail
Pike Team Six (PT6) is one
such manufacturer,
and is homegrown swimbait
manufacturer based
in Charlotte, North
Carolina. Created by
a band of brothers
the team had been
fishing swimbaits
for years, and like
many of the truly
afflicted started
thinking about
elements in big
baits that didn't
exist. They took
their ideas to the
drawing board and
developed a new
wakebait that targeted
big game fish, and
even designed to hold up to the
Pike, as indicated
by the company's own
name.
At rest the bait has
a boomerang shape,
but in the water it
sits more level and
the tail's tip
protrudes out of the
water
The company's first
offering is the
subject of our
review today, the
B52 Wake, a topwater
swimbait designed to
target aggressive
top of the food
chain freshwater
fish. This bait is
constructed out of
resin and features
three sections, two
joints, and a
semi-free moving
aluminum tail.
The Pike Team Six B52 has a unique
profile consisting
of a compact
body, large head,
and is fitted with oversized eyes.
It does have a
small top fin and looks like a cross
between a goby and a
trout.
The tail is one of
the most
distinguishing
features of this
bait. While most
custom baits either
go with a molded
plastic or lexan
tail PT6 cuts their
tails of out
aluminum then scores
the tail with a fin
design or gives them
the hammered blade
treatment. The tail
can be painted to
match the pattern
and is then marketed
"PT6" on one side of
the bait. It is a
nice reminder that
each bait is truly
hand-made.
On the California
Delta getting ready
to toss the B52 the
first time
Real World Tests:
As with most
custom swimbaits
that arrive here at
TackleTour they only
sit for a short
period before we get
them into the water.
Nothing gets us more
excited then seeing
how new custom baits
swim, and even more
importantly, how
fish react to them.
I wish that I could
put the B52 in front
of more species,
especially the Pike
and Muskie that this
bait is designed to
stand up to, but
this year's travel
plans were cut
short. Instead I
focused on putting
the B52 up against
largemouth bass and
striped bass in the
Northern California
Delta, and other
regional lakes.
Casting the B52 is
really easy,
especially with any
true swimbait rod
B52 Reporting for
Battle:
Measuring in at 6.5
inches the B52 is a
mid sized swimbait
and because it
weighs only 2.15oz.
it is pretty easy to
throw with even
light swimbait
setups. That being
said I learned
pretty quickly that
it is a good idea to
use a full heavy
powered rod when
slinging this bait
as strikes are
explosive right on
the surface and you
will want a rod that
reacts quickly and
has the backbone to
control fish.
Some of my favorite
rods to fish the B52
with are the G.Loomis
IMX-Pro 965SWBR and
966 SWBR sticks
