Durability: The Zillva comes with a soft plastic tail that appears to be replaceable. I am not aware, however, of the sale of replacement parts for this bait. I'm sure a source could be found with little difficulty, but I did not fish the bait long enough during the course of this review to need replacement parts. Otherwise, the Zillva's finish holds up no better or worse than say a Lucky Craft Pointer 100sp. The hooks and split rings of this bait are all solid.
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Here's a
close-up look at one of the other finishes this bait comes in, Devil Black
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Note the way the color transitions from black to purple - seamless
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And the incredible crackle detail on top
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Application: Fish this bait anywhere and anytime you would throw a regular jerkbait. In and around docks, at the edge of weedbeds, out around rocky points or submerged islands are the places I fished the Zillva and was met with consistent results. The smaller, 140 size is an easier bait to throw when it comes to gaining confidence, but the 160 is an equally effective producer.
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Here's another, more traditional bait fish color
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Another view of this same color from the side
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Ayu (on the left) and Trout (on the right)
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Availability: The FLT Zillva is yet another JDM bait that has not quite made it out of Japan in large quantities. It is available through online retailers based in Japan and willing to ship internationally as well as through other typical sources of JDM product. Is it worth the hassle of procurement? If you're constantly on the hunt for something different than what everyone else is using, it can be.
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This fish decided to join in the fun as I was testing out the lure to see what it could do... apparently it can catch fish like this!
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Ratings:
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FLT Zillva Ratings (?/10)
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Construction/Quality |
Another solid product |
9 |
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Performance |
Crazy action that at times, might be a little too crazy |
8 |
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Price |
Considering the intended market, quite affordable |
8.5 |
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Features |
Good finish, sharp hooks, realistic eyes |
8 |
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Design (Ergonomics) |
Some of the finishes are really outstanding |
9.5 |
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Application |
Think of it as an oversized jerkbait |
8 |
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Total Score
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8.58 |
Pluses and Minuses:
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Plus Minus
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| J Easy to cast |
L Can be prone to fouling underwater |
| J Nice, erratic action |
L Can be hard to find |
| J Sharp, stock hooks |
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| J Some incredible finishes are available |
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Conclusion: The 120 sized version of this bait looks to be new for 2007 and could really be something to check out. Judging by the ability of its larger siblings, it almost seems like a can't lose proposition. The Zillva baits from FLT are a very fine product and only one of several baits they offer. Naturally, after my success with this bait, I have a few others from this manufacturer that I cannot wait to try out and now that the tests are done on the Zillva, I can work the other baits into my rotation - maybe. This is all assuming I can bear to set the Zillva aside for a while. The more I think about it, the harder it will be to actually follow through. Get one or two, tie them on, and see if you don't agree.
