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Lure Review


The patented "automatic set hidden hook" distinguishes the LockJaw from the competition
 

Date: 9/25/05
Tackle type: Lures
Manufacturer: LockJaw
Reviewer: Zander






Total Score: 8.58

Introduction:
How frequently is a lure introduced that can really be considered a “new” conception? Not often. Usually what manufacturers deem a “new” lure is simply another size, shape, or color of an existing product. The LockJaw bucks that trend with an innovative design that creates new opportunities for anglers to fish in and around some normally very hard to access sweet spots.
 

LockJaw Specifications

Type Lipless crank + Blade bait
Material Metal alloy
Colors/Patterns 3 available
Weight .4oz
Size 2in (3.5in including blade)
MSRP $6.95

   
Impressions:
When I was younger and just learning how to fish lures I was often frustrated by how often my lures would hang up in submerged trees or rocks. I was told something from a tournament fisherman that I never forgot, he simply stated “no snags, no fish.” Since then imposing structure has become my friend. These once imposing structures seem to have a magnetic attraction not only for fish but also my bass boat. The problem is that I overly depend on plastics for these scenarios. I am positive that I could catch more fish in and around structure if I could run a crankbait or speed trap in and out of the structure, and often times I have been lucky enough to not only evade the nasty snags, but also pull out a fish from the heavily wooded or vegetated prime spot. But more often than not I end up pulling up a “stickfish” or hydrilla salad.

 

The LockJaw lure is only available in one size, but does come in three different patterns


The Lockjaw is specifically designed to target these prime, but not so easily accessible fishing spots. When I initially looked at the lure’s design the first thing that came to mind was “mousetrap.” Here was a lure with a 100% hidden hook sandwiched between the body of the lure. I originally thought that once the fish bit the lure a spring would drive the hook upwards. In actuality the design is much cleverer than that. Rather than have a potentially dangerous mechanism eject the hook upwards it is the simple pressure on the line during the retrieve that exposes the hook on contact. The Lockjaw doesn’t really fit into any one lure category. Unlike a lipless crankbait the lure has no exposed hooks, weights to shift movement side to side, or rattles to generate noise. The best way to describe the Lockjaw is a combination of a lipless crankbait with an in-line spinnerbait, all rigged like a weedless plastic.

   

Exactly what type of lure is the LockJaw? A cross between a lipless crank, an inline spinner, and a weedless rigged plastic


Field Tests: To test the LockJaw we searched for heavily weeded areas in local lakes and on the California Delta. We found a number of lakes that had recently experienced great reductions in capacity, resulting in the exposure of once completely submerged trees. These tree graveyards were the ideal testing ground for this new lure.
 

Complete test Rig for fishing the LockJaw

Rod Kistler Crank Bait Composite KCBCM7
Reel Daiwa TD-X
Line 12 lb. Trilene Big Game
30lb. Power Pro Braid

 

We decided to fish the LockJaw with both mono and braided lines to see if there was any difference in terms of operation of the hidden hook design. For all tests we used a Daiwa TD-X paired with a Kistler Crank Bait composite (KCBCM7) rod.

 

A spring on the outside of the lure releases the hidden automatic set hook when a fish strikes the lure

  
Casting: The LockJaw is available in three colors (Green-Orange, Silver Shad, & Brown-Gold) and all three are the exact same size and weight. Weighing in at .4oz this lure is easy to cast a good distance with a simple flick of the rod tip. We found it equally as easy to cast the lure with both mono and braided lines. Since the lure is primarily designed to target heavily weeded areas it is more important to achieve casting accuracy to target specific areas rather than focus on long distance casts.

 

A underbelly view of the lure shows the spring loaded hook holder

Retrieving: Once you have cast the LockJaw it is during the retrieve is where all the fun begins. When we first started fishing the lure we had to get it out of our head that this lure wouldn't snag up like a normal lipless crank. The first few retrieves we held our breath as we cast into some extremely crowded wooded areas. Sure enough the lure would come right through the structure each and every time. It would occasionally bump into branches or stumps, but rarely did the line ever go dead for more than a second. We wondered if the lure's hook could be triggered by driving it into a series of branches repeatedly, but throughout our tests we were unable to trigger the hook as a result of impact with structure.

Next Section: Retrieve continued, Applications, and Ratings

 

   

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