Date: |
11/13/05 |
Tackle type: |
Lures |
Manufacturer: |
Lucky Craft |
Reviewer: |
Cal |
Total Score: 8.83
Introduction: Late in 2004, we reviewed the Specialty Tackle Big Bite, a large bodied shallow crank offering wide wobbling, heavy thumping action. Since that time, the popularity of these types of baits has continued to grow. In response to the demand, there are now several similar baits on the market all offering their unique twist to this large profile shallow crank presentation. Enter Lucky Craft. Perhaps one of the most aggressive lure manufacturers in the world, Lucky Craft is certainly not one to miss out on a growing trend. Fueled by the success of their reputable list of Pro-Staff Bass Anglers including 2004 Classic Champ Takahiro Omori and rising star Skeet Reese, this Japanese Lure
Manufacturer has fine tuned the art of lure design. We take a look at their offering in this now hotly contested crankbait niche with the Lucky Craft Big Daddy Strike 4.
Lucky Craft BDS4 Specifications
|
Type |
Crankbait |
Depth |
0-4 ft |
Class |
Floating |
Size |
3 1/4" (3/4 oz) |
Colors/Patterns |
Approximately 36 different colors |
Hook Sizes |
#2 front & rear |
MSRP |
$15 |
Impressions: When we first looked at the Lucky Craft Big Daddy Strike (BDS) series of baits, our assumption was these baits would offer the same type of action as the Specialty Tackle Big Bite only in the traditional myriad of different Lucky Craft finishes. Pulling one of these baits off the peg board in our local tackle shop revealed, while the BDS shares a similar profile to the Big Bite, the BDS is a silent runner with no rattles. Indeed, the model for the BDS series are the traditional hand carved balsa wood baits such as those produced by H&T and Bagleys,
only in
a more
consistent
"carbon
copy" plastic body.
|
Introducing the Lucky Craft BDS4 crankbait
|
As we've come to expect from Lucky Craft, the number of finishes in which this lure is available is dizzying. We counted no less than 36 different hues and really had to sit there, concentrating long and hard, to decide on just two for our purchase or run the risk blowing our crankbait budget for the year! These baits are fantastic at catching anglers.

|
As we've come to expect from Lucky Craft, craftsmanship and finishes are exquisite.
|
The Field Tests: We took our BDS4 to some of the clear water reservoirs of Northern California as well as the California Delta with the goal of introducing it to some of our local bass populations. Our rig of choice for these trials was a 7'0" medium action Kistler Helium LTA (He70MC) paired with a Shimano Conquest 51 reel. For line, we spooled our Conquest 51 with 12lb Yozuri Hybrid.
Complete test rig for Lucky Craft BDS4 Field Tests
|
Rod |
Kistler Helium He70MC |
Reel |
Shimano Conquest 51 |
Line |
12 lb Yozuri Hybrid |
|
Lucky Craft leaves little doubt for the angler as to which bait they just tied on offering big, public transportation serial number type identification markings at the top of the bait
|
Casting/Pitching: We've yet to come across a 3/4oz crank that didn't cast like a rocket. The BDS4 is no exception taking off at times, with the wind at our backs, so precisely we felt in danger of spooling our Conquest 51. This of course never happened. However, one item of note was the fact, on some particularly long casts, our aftermarket LureSavers allowed the belly and tail hooks to become entangled resulting in a fouled bait and
wasting our casts. If you, like us, prefer to use these aftermarket split rings to guard against losing your expensive lures to snags, one way to mitigate against these tangles with the BDS4 is to replace the rear size #2 hook with a #4 or #6.
|
Shown here is the MS MJ Herring finish of our BDS4
|
Presentation: Lucky Craft does a fair job of mimicking the action of a hand carved wood bait with the plastic body of the BDS4. Fished side by side with a wood, hand carved H&T crank to compare actions, both baits felt the same in the water but visually, the H&T definitely had more wobbling
craziness. The issue with wood, many feel, is that different densities of wood emit different frequencies of sound through their vibration in the water. This variance exists even within the same species of wood and is the reason why two identical wood baits may not be equally effective. This can be frustrating beyond belief. With the plastic molded body of the BDS4, Lucky Craft's goal is to bypass this inconsistency and provide a more consistent, repeatable action. We feel they've succeeded as each of our baits ran straight and true out of the box and were effective at enticing bass to strike.
|
The very
realistic eyes
of the BDS4 |
Next Section: Losing a bait
to the Delta and Ratings
