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Lure Review


Get Your Bass Fix With DUO's Realis Vibration 68 G-Fix Crankbaits

 

Date: 3/10/15
Tackle type: Lure
Manufacturer: DUO Realis
Reviewer: Wolbugger






Total Score: 8.07 - GREAT

Introduction: Lip-less crankbaits are highly-effective hard baits that should be included in the arsenals of every bass angler. To say that I am confident in these baits would be an understatement, as I have caught literally thousands of striped bass and largemouth while using various brands and styles of these cranks. While the old-school Bill Lewis RattleTrap is still a veteran fish catcher, there's a plethora of other lip-less cranks on the market nowadays that come in an array of styles and finishes. Available in two sizes, DUO's Realis Vibration G-Fix lip-less crankbaits (that's a mouthful!) are some of the most up-to-date offerings. Let's see if they work as good as they look!

DUO Realis Vibration G-Fix Specifications

Type Lip-less Crankbait
Length

Size 62 - 2 1/4 inches
Size 68 - 2 5/8 inches

Weight

Size 62 - 1/2 ounce
Size 68 - 3/4 ounce

Hooks

Size 62 - #8
Size 68 - #6

Colors 12
MSRP $13.99


These DUO baits are very eye-catching!

Quality/Construction: As with all DUO baits I've handled, the G-Fix lip-less crankbaits are put together with a seriously impressive and beautiful level of quality. The body is precisely shaped and boasts excellent detailing of the scales and head/gill area. The finishes are not only flawless, but realistic as well. Each bait comes equipped with sturdy split rings and a matching pair of sticky-sharp Japanese Kishida trebles. I cannot come up with one gripe within this category!

Quality Ratings for DUO Realis Vibration G-Fix

Finish (1-5)
Detailing (1-5)
Hardware (1-5)
Craftsmanship (1-5)
Total
Possible
Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10)
5
5
5
5
20
20
10


The bodies are detailed sharply for added enticement.

Performance: DUO currently makes the G-Fix vibration crankbaits in a 62 and larger 68 size. I was given a pair of the 3/4-ounce, model 68 baits for on-the-water tests. Pretty much all of my lip-less crankbait fishing here in Florida revolves around shallower water, so throwing such a heavy bait was definitely something different.

 
The DUO is more compact than a 1/2-ounce Strike King Red Eye Shad.

The Vibration 68 G-Fix is the lure you want to be throwing if you need to get down in a hurry. Thanks to heavy, precise weighting and a slim profile it sinks rapidly and with a distinct nose-down attitude. While the sink rate is indeed fast, I did not observe much or any swimming action on the drop, but rather a tendency to plunge in a lazy spiral.

 
The difference is apparent in the thickness of the baits as well.

Not only does the weight and trim figure of this bait allow it to be thrown an absolute mile, but those attributes also give it very little resistance when reeling in. The slim design also helps it knife through weeds and seems to stay a bit cleaner than lip-less cranks with thicker, flatter tops. Even at extremely high speeds or when vigorously pumping/ripping during a retrieve, my G-Fix baits track superbly and the internal 3.0-millimeter tungsten balls emit a loud sound. Something worth mentioning is that there's pretty much zero action at lower speeds—this is a bait that needs to be reeled at a moderate to fast pace. At those faster speeds, the shimmy is quite tight.


Held up to a light, the internal rattles and weights become visible through the ghost minnow color.

Next Section: Taking it in the chin

 

   

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