The front hooks are larger than
the back
There are two advantages to
this extremely tight vibration, first… it is more like a real life fleeing
baitfish, and second…the lure hangs up less when passing through tight cover.
When retrieving the TDV get creative, vary your retrieve, move your rod tip
around a bit. When fishing for stripers you can even accelerate the lure with
jerks and pauses to incite even more attention in what looks like fleeing prey.
The more creative you are, and the more you take time to understand the
structure the more effective the TDV is going to be.
After extended use only minor
scratches littered our lures surface, this image is an extreme macro
Durability:
Bump, thump, strike…that’s
the drill whether you are targeting fish in structure or right on top of it.
Unless you only use the TDV for burning over grass beds the lure is going to
take damage. Luckily the finishes on the TDV are outstanding, and they can
really take quite a beating. The lures will scratch after time but we didn’t see
any flaking at all, a common problem with some other Japanese foil laid lures.
Largemouth will come right out of
structure to hit the TDV
The lures will actually
take more of a beating in your tackle box from contact with hookpoints than in
the field. Daiwa actually sells hook protectors to protect both you and your
lures. Overall the TDV was just as good if not better in terms of durability
than any other Japanese lure out there.
One of the many bass that just
couldn't resist the TDV's tight wobble and loud rattle
Price & Applications:
Fished creatively this lure worked for me in both shallow and deep water, in and
around structure, and over weed beds. Fished with a faster reel it is
unquestionably easier to bring the lure to life, and still stay out of snag
trouble. If you are retrieving over weed beds and are pulling up too much
vegetation, simply crank down on that 6.3:1 or use a 7.1 burner type reel. When
it comes to price the TDV is pretty much what you would expect in a premium
lure, they are not cheap but they are priced in parity with Lucky Craft and
Megabass offerings.
At the end of the test I was
hooked. Here a tired 5lb bass waits on the surface as JIP goes in for the net
The smaller
sizes cost $12.95, the mid sized baits cost $13.95, and the largest 3 ¼ inch
lures cost $14.95. It is easy for me to spend a lot of money for jerkbaits
because I rarely lose them, but lipless cranks are somewhat different. Because
they are fished assertively around structure casualties to snags are not
uncommon. With these lures I think it definitely makes sense to use Ultimate
Luresavers, or carry a reliable lure retrieval system at a minimum.
Ratings:
|
Daiwa TD
Vibration Ratings (?/10) |
|
Construction/Quality |
Excellent build quality and detailing. The
lures are built as good as competitor premium offerings, and the finishes
are downright spectacular. In this category this lure surpassed our
expectations |
10 |
|
Performance |
This lure runs well and delivers an ultra
tight wobble. To some this is a positive and to other is can be viewed as a
negative since the lure may not appear as flashy as some lipless cranks that
move side to side more aggressively. This lure moves through structure well
and performs just as Daiwa designed it to |
9 |
|
Price |
In terms of import lures this is considered
reasonably priced, but the competitors do have a head start and a strong
brand out there...especially Lucky Craft. Are you willing to pay almost the
same amount for a TD lure? We think Daiwa fans will |
8 |
|
Features |
The finishes are striking and the lure's
unique profile coupled with the "stabilizer spot" make this among the more
feature rich lipless crank baits out there |
9 |
|
Design |
Excellent detailing, the chrome finished lures
look outstanding and are very durable as well. The rattles are loud and this
lure comes in 30+ patterns to choose from |
9.5 |
|
Application |
A very effective search bait that can be used
at any depth. The tighter wobble helps it hang up less in tight vertical
structure....but it still will snag so keep that lure retriever handy |
9.5 |
|
Total Score |
9.16 |
Pluses and Minuses:
|
Plus Minus |
|
J
Awesome tight vibrating wobble |
L
Premium lure=premium price |
|
J Very
well detailed lure, and plenty of patterns to pick from |
L
Doesn't feel as lively as a LC LV500 |
|
J
Durable finishes |
|
|
J Good
at all depths, 3 sizes to choose from |
|
|
J Good
multi-species bait |
|
Conclusion:
Daiwa has a following
among reel enthusiasts that rivals any other, and are viewed by some as some of
the most refined products on the market. The addition of lures really comes as
no surprise. The TD Vibration was one of the first of the series, and proven
itself to be a worthy contender among the countless other lipless crankbaits out
there. It offers anglers outstanding finishes, exceptional durability, and a
unique ultra tight wobble. This vibrating bait can get in and out of structure,
and entice both bass and stripers to commit, and when they do they do so
aggressively. The eminence of this lure has certainly peaked our interest in the
TD lineup, and I can promise you that this certainly will not be the last TD
lure to be tested. The TD Vibration is one of those lures that takes a little
while to learn to fish, but once you have it dialed in, and add your own flavor
into the retrieve, it’s hard to put this lure down.
