The lures are available in an assortment of patterns, many of which are just as brightly colored as the fish they are designed to target. There are also a number of sizes to choose from and in the case of the Amazon Ripper there are both two hook and three hook versions. Some of the finishes are simple and straightforward like the orange bellied "Rocky" while others are very detailed and look custom painted like the "Speckled Peacock."

Real World Tests: I’ve caught Stripers on the White/Red head Big Game Woodchopper in the past but have never reviewed the bait simply because the test wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the Amazon. Last week I finally got the chance and was able to put both the Big Game Woodchopper to the test against some Peacock Bass deep in the Amazon Rainforest.

Casting: The full sized Big Game Woodchopper weighs 2.4oz. while the largest Amazon Ripper (612 size) only weighs 2.2oz., both lures are extremely easy to cast, just bring a reel that has plenty of capacity both for those extra long casts and just in case you hook into a big fish. Casting distance is a no brainer and casting accuracy is also very good with these baits.

Though far from finesse fishing an accurate cast down a narrow cut with overhanging foliage or pinpoint drops in between downed trees or flooded mangroves will definitely reward you with more fish. Both the BGW (Big Game Woodchopper) and AR (Amazon Ripper) sail through the air predictably but casting is the easy part...

Retrieving: Once the lure is in the water it is time to go to work. Some will argue that there are multiple ways to fish these lures using a variety of retrieve speeds. At home on the California Delta I’ve used everything from a quick rip to a jerk jerk followed by a pause to get Stripers to bite. In the Amazon the guides have only one speed and that is MAXIMUM SPEED. Think pulling as hard as you can and then tack on another 20%. When you do this the lure stops just churning and spitting water and puts out a very audible “choooomph-choooomph” sound that the guides say call to the fish. It works. The minute I started kicking it into overdrive the strike frequency and ferocity quadrupled.

The Peacock Bass here like to chase bait and you can see and hear them waking up behind baitfish chasing them clear out of the water. The large baitfish actually resemble the cigar shaped Woodchopper as they flee outside the water, sometimes travelling five to eight feet in an effort not to get eaten.

This is the similar to the distance your BGW will travel if you’re ripping hard enough. The guides have a saying here that if your arms and shoulders are not burning your simply not working the lure hard and fast enough. They couldn’t be more right, though you will sweat more than a serious cardio workout you will be rewarded with some of the most intense topwater strikes possible. I’ve never quite seen anything like a 15 plus pound Peacock absolutely crush one of the big baits.

Next Section: Standing up to Atomic Strikes