Retrieve cont'd: Both models don’t present too much resistance when retrieved, as the lure swims back with a tight wobble which is just enough to get the lure to rattle. I would categorize both models as shallow crankbaits, and they will work where you might normally throw a spinnerbait. I had a lot of success with the smaller lipped model which dove down to about three feet. When fishing the lure I put it right into trees and rocks and the spots simply couldn’t resist hammering what looks like an easy meal. There were even times when I saw two fish chase up the lure, competing for the strike.

The only real issue I encountered was the hooks which were a bit thin

The longer lipped model reaches 5 feet in depth and I had little success with this lure in open water, but it performed well in areas where the water was about 6 feet deep. Here the lure would swim right above the bottom, occasionally striking a rock along the bottom. It was shortly after these contacts that I would get strikes. Which echoes the old saying about structure… “no snags, no fish.” Overall the Peanut proved to be a quality performer, and it delivered the strikes just as we would expect from its translation on a proven classic design. Did it outperform the competition? No. But it didn’t disappoint either.

A look at the Prizm Olive Shad's holographic scale finish. these lures feature traditional proven patterns rather than realism like the Team Daiwa lures

Durability: The Daiwa Peanut isn’t built with the same exacting standards as the Team Daiwa lures, and you can tell from the finishes. The finishes on the lures while reasonable in detail are not nearly as refined. There are rough edges, noticeable transitions, and occasional lumps and pitting in the clear coat. Does this affect the lure’s performance? Not noticeably, but the lures also do not hold up to abuse as well as their more expensive counterparts either. The bodies tend to scratch a bit more, and impacts with structure can cause small amounts of paint to chip off as well. Overall the body is able to stand up to a good amount of abuse, but the hooks are another story. While they stayed sharp through our tests there were a number of occasions where even two and three pound spotted bass would open the hooks up. These hooks are simply not as robust as what we have grown accustomed to with the Team Daiwa series. 

A Spot charges out from structure to grab the back of the Peanut

Price & Applications: Here’s where it starts looking a whole lot better for the Peanut. The lure is much cheaper than its more premium Team Daiwa siblings, and retails for a reasonable $4.99 per lure. This immediately puts the Daiwa offering at parity with the competition. The lure is available in all the standard colors and patterns like Chrome Blue, Matte Fire, Red Craw, Table Rock Shad, and even an Ayu pattern wannabe…Ghost Olive.

The eyes on the Peanut are painted on, and the entire lure is coated with gloss on all of the lures other than the matte tiger

So who should consider the Daiwa Peanut? Daiwa fans will be happy to have an affordable alternative to classic lures, but anglers that haven’t tried a Daiwa bait will also be “lured” to the Peanut as it addressed a large segment with a reasonable price.  

There is no doubt that the Peanut works, and at this price I wasn't as worried about tossing it into some serious structure

Pluses and Minuses:

Conclusion: If the Team Daiwa baits are the Lexus of the lineup then baits like the Peanut are the Toyotas. More people will buy the Toyotas, and they are a great way to get from point A to B. Will they inspire you? No. But will they perform as advertised? Absolutely. There is a place for the Daiwa Peanut even in this very crowded market. Priced reasonably the Daiwa Peanut is yet another option, and the spotted bass in our field test didn’t seem to care whether lures cost fifteen or just five dollars, like the Peanut. By simply being willing to throw the economical Peanut into the thick of things this lure proved it has what it takes to get the job done.