|
Warbaits Puts a Spin on Swimbait Jigheads
| Date: |
1/2/19 |
| Tackle type: |
Terminal
Tackle |
| Manufacturer: |
Warbaits |
| Reviewer: |
Zander |
Total Score: 8.41 -
EDITOR'S CHOICE AWARD
Introduction: Warbaits is known for their extensive line of jigheads and
swim-jigs by both freshwater and saltwater anglers. The brand has a very strong
following among bass fishermen but also inshore anglers targeting Calico Bass as
well. We have been utilizing the company's jigs and swimbait heads for
years and the subject of the first review of the new year, the Warbaits Underspin jigheads,
is designed to offer anglers a little more
flash while targeting suspended fish.
|
Warbaits
Underspin
Heads Specifications |
|
Type |
Jighead/Blade
Bait |
|
Weight |
1/4, 3/8,
1/2, 3/4
ounces |
|
Material |
Lead/Powder
Coated |
|
Hook |
Mustad Ultra
Point Heavy
Wire |
|
Swivel |
SPRO ball
bearing |
|
Patterns |
10+ (Offered
with both
gold and
silver
willow leaf
blades)
|
|
MSRP |
$8.99 |
Impressions: Warbaits already offers some of my
favorite terminal tackle and I've always liked the overall design of their
jigheads with
the line tie in just the right position as well as the excellent durability
that comes with their powder coated finishes. Warbait jigheads also come in
a large variety of finishes and sizes, making it very easy for anglers to match
a wide range of swimbaits.
Have you ever used an underspin? Warbaits now offers their popular jighead
design with an underspin design
It wasn't until I started doing research for this
review that I started to really delve into the hybrid style bait that underspins
represent. For the most part I've either used a swim-jig or inline chatter style blade versus underspins, but have spoken to many pro-anglers that talked about the
effectiveness of underspins for targeting suspended fish in clear and heavily pressured water.
No shortcuts here. Warbaits uses a Mustad Ultra Point heavy Wire hook and a SPRO
ball bearing swivel in their design
Warbaits offers their underpins with a similar
head design as those found on their normal jigheads and positions the blade in the lower section of
the head via an angled wire. As we have come to expect from the company's
other terminal tackle offerings, the components on this head are top notch, and include
a Mustad Ultra Point Heavy Wire hook and a SPRO ball bearing swivel attached to
a willow leaf blade.
I was more familiar with the company's classic jigs and jighead design
Operation: One of the great things about
underspins, like the Warbait offering, is the ability to rig whatever plastic
bait that you choose. Different sized and weighted jigheads allow you to not
only pair plastics of similar dimensions, but also enables anglers to target
fish at multiple depths and via a variety of retrieve rates.
I already had confidence with the traditional jighead/swimbait tail combos
and at first fished the underspin the same way with limited results. These baits
need to be fished differently but offer anglers a very effective weapon for
targeting suspended bass
My favorite baits to fish with the Warbaits
ultimately turned out to be 3.8 or 4.8 Jackall Rhythm Wave lures or similarly
sized Keitech Swing Impact and Swing Impact FAT swimbaits. These plastics are
both very soft and will swing aggressively as they retrieved. The Warbait willow
blade also rotates quickly, even during slow retrieves, thanks to the quality
SPRO swivel, and I like how the angled wire positions the blade closer to the
center of the plastic.
One of my favorite combos was pairing the Warbait head with a Jackall
Rhythm Wave swimbait
While I found the combined
baits to be relatively effective in shallow water where baitfish were present,
one of the very best uses of these baits is to target bass that are suspended.
Even in cold water conditions where I would normally resort to a drop shot rig,
the Warbaits underspin was able to deliver strikes, as long as I experimented
with my retrieves.
I would typically start with a straight retrieve,
then vary the speed, and if that didn't work would proceed to shift to pauses
and jerks. Once I was able to entice a fish to bite that same retrieve usually
worked for the rest of the day.
Like drop shot fishing use your electronics to find the suspended bass and put
the bait into the baitball or right on top of the fish
Much like drop shot fishing I found the fish
finder extremely useful when targeting suspended bass with this bait and
technique. If you have a Hydrowave turn it on as well! Yes, this is the very
definition of "video game" fishing, and once you determine where the fish are
holding proceed to cast the rigged Warbait Underspin past those suspended bass,
and retrieve over them, or directly through any bait balls.
If a straight retrieve doesn't work then don't be afraid to vary that
retrieve or pause the bait allowing it to sink and flash more erratically, this
sometimes can trigger strikes
Next Section: Not just for
clear water... |
