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The Terminator T1 is still among the best when it comes to
Titanium Spinnerbait Design
| Date: |
7/07/03 |
| Tackle type: |
Lures |
| Manufacturer: |
Terminator |
| Reviewer: |
Zander |
Total Score: 8.0
Introduction:
Spinnerbaits are among
the most flexible lures when it comes to targeting bass at varying depths and
structures. In the past spinnerbaits were relegated to only shallow water
applications, but today anglers are discovering a much greater range of
applications where a spinnerbait is equally as effective. Terminator makes some
of the most premium wire baits on the market, and is actually the company
credited by many anglers as the pioneer of the titanium revolution.
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Terminator
T1 Titanium
Spinnerbaits |
|
Colors/Patterns |
15+ |
|
Blade Shape |
Willow, Oklahoma |
|
Blade Colors |
Gold and Nickel combinations (Painted blade available) |
|
Weight |
1/4, 3/8, 1/2oz. |
|
Features |
Titanium wire, interchangeable skirts, realistic head design, modified
willow and Oklahoma blades |
|
MSRP |
$8.99 |
Impressions:
Spinnerbaits in design are
simple, and yet use of new alloy and silicon materials have created a wide
variation in spinner design. The Terminator is truly an execution of all the
latest technology into traditional spinner design. While the spinner still uses
a main wire, two blades, and a skirt…the similarity to spinners of old stops
there. Upon initial inspection the Terminator uses uniquely shaped blades that
are very shiny, thanks to use of actual gold plating! The normally steel wire
has been upgraded to flexible titanium and all the moving parts are bolstered by
high quality bearing based swivels. The head of the spinner is a very detailed
fish head, complete with scales and a mirror painted finish. To top it off T1
includes two silicon skirts with each spinnerbait so you can change the color of
the lure quickly.
With so many spinnerbaits
available the T1 was one of the first that attempted to offer truly new spinner
design
Casting: Spinnerbaits tend to be well weighted baits, and
the Terminator is no exception. This lure sails through the air with ease when
rigged with 10 or 12lb line. The best way to fish spinnerbaits is with a nice
baitcasting rig, as you will have more control over placement. Because the
Terminator is a medium sized spinner with a flexible titanium wire it is an
excellent choice for fishing in and around structure. Placing the spinnerbait
into open pockets of water is key when initiating retrieves over and around
heavy vegetation and submerged trees
The T1 (below) has a much more
realistic shape and textured head then the lower end T2 (above)
Retrieve: The unique
shape of the blades on the T1 are meant to augment the range of motion in the
water upon retrieves and increase the number of angles on the blade, generating
more flash. When the Terminator is burned close to the surface of the water it
truly does flash vividly with each turn of the blade, and is an excellent choice
for slightly stained to clear water on bright sunny days.
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The T1 features a quick change
skirt system, simply pull of the skirt and change |
Another great way to fish this spinner is slow and deep rolling
the lure. When you reach a steep drop off simply toss the lure towards your
vertical structure and allow the Terminator to helicopter down. At this point
you can keep your rod tip down and retrieve and stop, wait, and retrieve again.
Its amazing the strikes you can encourage as the spinnerbait flutters to rest
between retrieves. Another trick I like to employ is to kneel down and put my
rod tip a few feet below the surface of the water, effectively bringing the
maximum spinner depth a few feet down on your retrieve. By keeping the
Terminator low you can put this spinner in strike zones other anglers may not
normally target with wire baits.
The silicon skirts are held on
with pure tension
One of the nicest things about the T1 is the ability to change
the silicon skirt in seconds. Rather then strap the skirt on it is held on the
body simply with pressure behind a molded hump. During our tests I was fishing
with a white and pepper skirt with no success. After a quick change to the
supplementary blue and black skirt I quickly hooked up on two keeper bass.
Sometimes the most subtle changes can make a difference, and it’s nice to have
the additional flexibility that the Terminator offers.
The Titanium wire can be bent,
twisted, and even completely rotated...and it will always return to it's
original shape
Durability: The soft
Titanium wire on the Terminator serves many purposes aid anglers. First of all
the bait is a lot more durable and will always remain in perfect shape after
hanging on structure or landing a big fish. Second the titanium actually is
adjusted so that the hook is positioned closer to the blades; this ensures that
any fish that attacks the blade portion of the spinnerbait will still have a
good chance of hooking up.
High quality bearing swivels help
the upgraded blades spin with ease
Unfortunately the durability
of the mirror finish of the Terminator needs improvement. After short periods of
use, and just a few strikes we began to notice some flaking on the head. After
prolonged use the mirror finish shed off completely, exposing the lead core.
This is disappointing considering many more affordable lures have tougher
finishes available. Even the lower end Terminator T1 lures have a more durable
finish, granted that the detail is no comparison.
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The one
major flaw of the T1 is that the mirror finish is easily damaged, and can
completely peel away with extended use |
Price: If
you like the features that the Terminator T1 has to offer, then you will have to
pay for them. Terminator positions these lures in the premium spinnerbait
category, and the prices match. Ultimately anglers will have to decide if they
prefer the standard design of conventional spinnerbaits or the "race tuner"
package that the T1 offers.
Ratings:
|
Terminator
T1 Ratings
(?/10) |
| Construction/Quality |
Good quality all around except for the finish which needs additional
protection for increased durability |
8 |
| Performance |
This spinnerbait is among the best we have ever tested. Very many hookups, a
very nice sharp hook is very good at riving the hook during sets. |
9 |
| Price |
Yikes. at a price of near 9 dollars this is one expensive spinnerbait. There
is a lot of competition out there, many of which are 20-40% cheaper. |
6 |
| Features |
Tons of features, still among the most souped up spinnerbaits available. The
interchangeable silicon skirts is a great added value! |
9 |
| Design
(Ergonomics) |
Easy to use system, and the titanium wire make this a problem free lure to
fish every time |
8 |
| Application |
A
good lure to use is almost any situation. Once again a slight deduction here
because of the weak mirror finish which doesn't hold up when fishing rocky
outcroppings |
8 |
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Total Score |
8.0 |
Pluses and Minuses:
|
Plus
Minus |
| J
Tons of features |
L
Price is high |
| J
Very high quality components |
L
Finish not durable enough |
| J
Switchable skirt design |
|
| J
Titanium design still a winner |
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Conclusion: With options and features a-plenty the Terminator T1 is able to
deliver good performance for a variety of applications. Options like the
interchangeable skirts are a big plus for anglers seeking more flexibility from
their spinners. The only major flaw to lure’s design is the easily damaged
mirror finish, which we believe should be anodized, or at least sport a heavy
coat of gloss finish. While I continue to have great success with these lures
they may not be for everyone, as traditional spinnerbaits can function just as
well in many of the same applications, often at half the price of these flashy
lures. Like exotic cars, buying a T1 is more expensive at the get go, and it
will cost you more to maintain the lure's original striking finish. The
Terminator is indeed a premium spinner, and still among the best when it comes
to titanium design....but there are many other spinners that will work just as
well, with a lower cost of ownership.
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