HOME | TACKLETOUR FORUMS  | EDITOR'S CHOICE | REVIEW ARCHIVE | ABOUT US | 

Reels | Rods | Lures | SwimbaitsBFS Lines | Term. Tackle | Tools | Storage | Apparel | Enthusiast | Watercraft | Interviews | Events | Autopsy


 


 

 


Lure Review


Still Not Sold on Big Baits? How About a Hybrid? : Deps Highsider
 

Date: 9/28/09
Tackle type: Lures
Manufacturer: Deps
Reviewer: Cal



 

 

 

Total Score: 7.4 - GOOD

Introduction: Most of the worthwhile big baits for bass have been coming out of the West Coast of the United States. While into the big bait game for a number of years, traditional black bass tackle manufacturers in Japan have been playing catch-up in terms of size and realism of their baits. One of the few manufacturers in Japan to get a good foothold in this big bait arms race has been Deps. Last year, we looked at their oversized shad imitator, the Realizer. Today, we look at the Realizer's longer, sleeker sibling, the Highsider.
 

Deps Highsider Specifications

 
Highsider
Highsider Jr.
Type
Floating
Floating
Depth
0-4 ft
0-4ft
Weight
2.4 oz
1.6 oz
Size
6.75 inches
5.66 inches
Colors/Patterns
12
12
MSRP
$46
$43

   
Impressions: The Deps Highsider comes in two sizes and approximately 12 different colors. Over half of the baits' patterns feature photo-realistic finishes, many of which are the same or similar to those we saw on the Realizer. However, unlike the Realizer, the Highsider features a profile many big bit throwers will enjoy. It is a long, sleek, multi-jointed bait with a dressed rear treble.

 

Introducing the Deps Highsider.

The Field Tests: Thanks to the bait's long and sleek profile, yet overall, light weight, I was able to fish this bait on some of the lighter big bait sticks in my arsenal, namely my Evergreen Ballista and Megabass White Python. Both rods were paired up with rather untraditional big bait reels as well specifically a Shimano Calais 201-5 and Daiwa Ito Monoblock 100XRL respectively.

This six and three quarter inch bait is about as large as they come out of Japan.

Casting: On these finesse style big bait sticks, the Deps High Sider is an easy bait to throw. Right in the wheel house of both sticks, it felt more like I was tossing a big crankbait more than anything else. The High Sider's multi-joint body sails effortlessly through the air and really, I experienced no inordinate amount of foul casts because of the bait's flexibility – a very pleasant surprise.

The Highsider features three joints ...

On the downside, because this bait lighter than other baits of the same length, and it has so many joints, it’s not as easy to launch to the horizon. Using a good casting reel, and adjusting the brakes and tension knob for optimum performance are the keys to launching this bait good distances.

... that gives the bait good flexibility ...

Action: On the retrieve, the baits resemblance to an oversized crank was even more pronounced as that's exactly how I fished it, like a big crankbait. Slow and steady was where I liked this bait the best. It has a very tight, s-like pattern and the faster you retrieve this bait, the tighter it seems to swim back, so while it runs true at all speeds, I feel it loses some effectiveness at higher speed retrieves.

... which translates into decent tail end action, but the body of the bait holds relatively still.

Whatever your preference, whether it be slow or fast, the Highsider dives below the surface as soon as you start cranking the handle. For some reason, I was expecting this to be a wakebait, but instead, it really does behave like a big, oversized, shallow running crank diving to about two or three feet on the retrieve.

The Highsider and Highsider Jr. come in approximately 12 different patterns some of which are photo-realistic finishes.

I imagine if you really slow your retrieve to a painstakingly slow crank, you can make this bait wake on the surface, but conditions have to be just right for this to happen, and on the days I threw the Highsider, the wind just would not allow for super slow retrieves.

On the downside of components is this uncharacteristically thin gauge snap.

Next Section: A closer look at the Highsider's components

 

   

Google
  Web
  TackleTour

 

 

 
 





 

 



Copyright 2000-2024 TackleTour LLC All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy information