Retrieve: The first few times I cast the lure I couldn’t help but simply reel the bait back much like a traditional swimbait, suffice to say the lure doesn’t do much on a straight retrieve. It was only in very clear water where I finally “got” what the PTLP was all about. When allowed to sink after the lure hits the water the lure immediately descends in a circular motion in what the company describes as the “death spiral.” It is here that a mono line gives the bait a more realistic appearance of a wounded fish. Pull the line slightly, but not completely taught, and the lure will rock back and forth in a side by side gliding motion, here it seems more alive and can mimic a fleeing baitfish.

As the lure hits the bottom it is possible to hop the lure upwards and repeat these patterns, doing so on or nearby bass beds drives lunkers insane. While the lure is moving downwards in the water column the fins are vibrating as well, only further adding to the illusion. Once you start thinking of this bait as an ultra-realistic jig it becomes a whole lot easier to both wrap your head around the applications for this lure and start fishing it effectively.

Stroked or hopped around structure or simply during the fall this lure can be deadly. We observed the greatest number of strikes when the lure is fished right alongside heavy structure and in shallow water. This bait is harder to fish than traditional jigs in deep water as it is more difficult to perceive exactly what the bait is doing and what structure it is in contact with, though the very large 1oz. sizes do make it possible to target depths just under 30 feet, anything more than that and a big football head jig is still your best bet.

Price & Applications: While the PTLP is a very realistic looking jig it doesn’t replace normal skirted jigs, instead it represents a new type of jig that mimics a baitfish instead of a crawfish in both profile and action. This lure is a nice addition to the bass angler’s arsenal and requires no learning curve at all if you are used to pitching baits, though to maximize the lure’s effectiveness a little observation in clear shallow water to really conceptualize the death spiral is a good idea.

While pinpoint casts and pitching are how we caught most of the fish with this bait during testing it also is effective for crawling and hopping over rocky structure. The flat profile and robust weedguard prevents the lure from easily hanging up or getting wedged in between rocky structure or grass.

The PTLP retails for $12.99 each and anglers can find the more realistic “Naturals” painted versions for just a dollar or two more online. While this is a whole lot more expensive than a traditional skirted jig the PTLP really is whole different “creature,” and makes use of a lot of the same elements within more costly soft bodied swimbaits.

They hold up reasonably well over time and while not cheap they are reasonably priced for what you are getting. Power Tackle does sell extra tail trailers should you lose one or it gets too beat up, but throughout our testing we found the tail section to be surprisingly durable, the only area where there was damage was on the soft dorsal and pelvic fins where small chunks were taken out from strikes.

Conclusion: Power Tackle demonstrates they are more than just a rod manufacturer with the introduction of the Lateral Perch. This lure exhibits notable detail in design and an action that sets it apart from other jig baits. The smaller weighted lures below 3/4oz. are good for most situations and while I still prefer to use this bait as a shallow water lure the heavier ¾-1oz. sizes can be employed for working mid-depths between 15-30 feet depths and can be effective when targeting fish off deeper rockpiles.

Once you wrap your head around the fact this is a jig the Lateral Perch is a fun lure to fish and can deliver strikes off a variety of structure types

The one other thing that this lure is downright deadly for is when targeting bedfish that are weary of sunfish invading their space. While very realistic in appearance the key to this bait is the unique death spiral action, and probably more than just mimicking a wounded fish, this action is something that fish simply don’t see on a regular basis and in a sea of sameness a distinctive approach can often make all the difference. 

Looking for the Power Tackle Lateral Perch? Try Tackle Warehouse