Donkey Slayer bladed jig review. Giant bladed vibrating jig fishing lure #donkeyslayer

Lure Review

A Big Bladed Kick in the Bass : The Donkey Slayer (continued)

Impressed by the overall construction of the Donkey Slayer I probed further to understand John’s design methodology. I learned that John’s background involved teaching photography at the Academy of Art for decades; all while fishing local Delta tournaments in his spare time for years. Later, I discovered that he had personally won many tournaments, often using early prototypes of the yet-to-be-named Donkey Slayer.

Another custom Donkey Slayer, a black blade, head and skirt with silver highlights getting it done with a swimbait trailer

This experience was the catalyst for leaning on his creative background to create something different that he could personally use. He still credits Dean Yoshizumi for teaching him the art of working with metal and wire. Speaking to him, I see parallels in their shared desire to continually hone their craft. After learning more about John’s background, I gained insight into why the Donkey Slayer is designed the way it is, with meticulous attention to detail in every aspect of the bait, showcasing the artistry of wirework, paint, and skirt tying.

Fishing the Donkey Slayer on many different bodies of water in both warm and cool conditions I continued to learn different ways to fish the bait, and also found it to be very effective with forward facing sonar

Price and Applications: Since the Donkey Slayer has not been widely available to the public; until now, only a select few anglers who learned about this big-bladed bait through word of mouth or direct interactions with John have had access to his prototypes or custom builds. However, that is all about to change as John prepares to make the Donkey Slayer available to the public via limited drops, starting with the ever-versatile polished blade and white powder coated head and white/chart skirt colorway, a pattern John has codenamed “Ivory Thrash.”

While comparing baits and the bite I landed a fish on an Illude Rad Rat swimbait at the same time John was working the Donkey Slayer. There are some parallels between the handmade nature of the Donkey Slayer and custom garage built swimbaits

Similar to many garage-built swimbaits, the availability of the bait is currently limited by the number that John can personally construct. Now that I understand the painstaking detail that goes into the creation of each bait, I also understand why he simply cannot produce hundreds of these baits, as hand polishing blades and twisting heavy wire by hand takes a toll.

Doubling up on white with a white blade, head, and skirt. While the Donkey Slayer can be fished without a trailer I personally never would. This bait is at maximum effectiveness with a trailer that accentuates both the profile and action

Which brings me to the biggest downside of the Donkey Slayer: the cost. Each Donkey Slayer will retail for $39.99 (excluding tax and shipping), which is a considerable investment for a bladed jig. Many mainstream anglers may struggle to justify spending $40 on a vibrating bladed jig, even one of this size. By comparison, a Z-Man Chatterbait EVO is only $9.99, and a 1/2 oz. Z-Man Evergreen Jack Hammer is $15.99.

A sneak peek at another yet to be named Donkey Slayer prototype. Notice the bronze wire used in this build to reduce the shine

When it comes to applications, I do not believe the Donkey Slayer flat out replaces traditional bladed jigs, especially the ever-popular Jackhammer. The Donkey Slayer is significantly larger and possesses a different level of thump, making it an excellent addition to the arsenal - a kicker bait for enthusiasts.

The first public drop will likely consist of the polished blade and white head combo, a pattern called Ivory Thrash. I have personally had some really good days with this pattern on the Delta

So, who should consider the Donkey Slayer? For starters, similar to custom-made swimbaits, availability will be limited, and demand will likely far surpass supply, at least initially. Just as mainstream anglers may have difficulty understanding why some anglers are willing to pay $200 or more for a swimbait, the same rationale applies here. However, for anglers seeking a custom-made offering that balances function and form, the Donkey Slayer delivers. Tournament anglers looking for a bridge between traditional baits and swimbaits will find this lure offers a balance of versatility and performance. Enthusiast anglers, or simply those who prioritize throwing something fish do not see as often, will find the Donkey Slayer both effective and surprisingly enjoyable to fish with.

It was clear after talking to and fishing with John that he is takes his builds very seriously. The attention to detail and nerding out on something as specific as wire types and polishing compounds reminded me of how swimbait builders approach their craft

Ratings

Donkey Slayer Bladed Jig Ratings (?/10)
Construction/Quality	There are a lot of parallels between the Donkey Slayer and garage built custom swimbaits. This giant blade is hand crafted down to the polishing and twisting of wire and blades and hand tied skirts. The bait's overall construction quality is excellent	9.5
Performance	The Donkey Slayer can pique even the most loyal bladed jig fans with the bait's larger profile and hard kicking action. I initially was interested in seeing what a larger bladed jig could do but quickly learned that fish of all sized really seemed drawn to the Donkey Slayer's unique action	8
Price	While expensive for a bladed jig the Donkey Slayer blurs the line between traditional vibrating jigs and custom made big baits. The quality of components within this bait are better than most jigs and the handcrafted elements from the plated blades and skirts help justify the cost of entry. The reality is demand will be greater than supply based on the current garage-built nature of the bait	7
Features	The best features of the Donkey Slayer stem from the wire construction of the bait itself which is hand wound to all critical components. Top notch tungsten weight and Gamakatsu Aaron Martens series hook hold up well and the giant blade and skirt design look and hold up great. This is the most robust bladed jig I've ever thrown	9.2
Design (Ergonomics)	Though very large for a bladed jig it is not intimidating or difficult to throw with the right rod setup. the Donkey Slayer is easier to throw than most swimbaits and still offers the possibility of catching bigs.	8
Application	The Donkey Slayer doesn't flat out replace traditionally sized bladed jigs and proven baits like the Jackhammer in my opinion, and instead is a great complement to the arsenal. This bait is a great kicker option that is fun to fish and can deliver both numbers and quality. The larger profile and fast sinking characteristics make it good for fishing at multiple speeds, in a wide range of water clarities, and is absolutely deadly with forward facing sonar	8
Total Score		8.28
Ratings Key: 1 = terrible : 2 = poor : 3 = lacking : 4 = sub par : 5 = mediocre : 6 = fair : 7 = good : 8 = great : 9 = excellent : 10 = unbelievable! For More Details of the updated rating system visit our explanation here

Pluses and Minuses:

Plus	Minus
+ Something different, and at times feels like a meta breaking design that can deliver numbers and quality fish	- This giant bladed jig is a great addition to the arsenal but doesn't flat out replace traditional bladed jigs
+ Handmade custom quality and design. Feels like a custom garage bait swimbait mentality applied to a bladed jig	- Handbuilt quality and artistry comes at a price
+ Kicks hard and pairs well with big trailers. Well suited for work around cover and in both clear and dirty water	- Best fished with a rod with some backbone. Well suited for glass/hybrid rods
+ Excellent durability. The blade, head, and skirt hold up to strikes
+ Gamakatsu hook is proven and offers the right gauge for penetration and durability
+ A good complement to traditional bladed jigs, offering a larger profile and more aggressive action
+ An extremely fun bait to fish that has the potential to catch big fish at all times

Conclusion: After fishing with the Donkey Slayer and experiencing personal success with the bait, I transitioned from being a "Jackhammer guy" to eagerly pleading with John to sell me more baits. My confidence in these vibrating jigs grows every time I fish it, and while I still love the Jackhammer for everyday applications, there are situations where the larger profile and robust kick of the Donkey Slayer elicits extra strikes, consistently presenting the opportunity to land the biggest bass of the day.

I describe the Donkey Slayer’s action as controlled chaos, and it is this frenzied, wounded action combined with the sheer amount of vibration and water displacement that this magnum vibrating blade generates, which makes the bait so captivating to fish. There are times when bass simply want to annihilate it.

The Donkey Slayer was born on the California Delta and has thus far only been fished by a very limited number of anglers across the country. That is all about to change

Similar to fishing with a swimbait, slinging the Donkey Slayer embodies some of that "go big or go home" mentality, yet it is easier on both your wallet and casting arm. Three of my top five largest Delta bass last season were caught on the Donkey Slayer, and it is the first bait I consider tying on instead of a hard-bodied swimbait, both for its effectiveness and sheer fun factor.

If there's one thing I've learned after fishing with and writing about lures for over two and a half decades, it's that there is no silver bullet. There's no magic bait that always produces results, but whether we're discussing a trusted plastic or a full-sized swimbait with indescribable mojo, certain baits simply exude fishiness. Lures like the Donkey Slayer possess the right combination of design, versatility, and performance that can inspire confidence after just a few sessions.

The Donkey Slayer is an handmade enthusiast class bladed jig that complements existing arsenals well. It kicks hard, offers fish a very different action and profile, and it flat out catches bigs

Despite the Donkey Slayer's seven-year journey to this first official release, the bait's story is just beginning for most anglers. While we never imagined considering giving our Ultimate Enthusiast Award to a handmade vibrating bladed jig, here we are. The Donkey Slayer has already produced serious bass for those fortunate enough to have acquired previous examples, and we eagerly anticipate witnessing its impact in the hands of many more anglers nationwide after this first drop. I'll continue to fish with my traditional-sized bladed jigs, but moving forward, I'll always have one Donkey Slayer at the ready in my boat - heck, I want a stable of them.

Looking for the Donkey Slayer?
Check out the Manufacturer's Website and Instagram for latest information and drops