River2Sea
Nest Raider 190
Specifications |
Type |
Sight fishing, sinking |
Colors/Patterns |
4
available |
Size |
7.5
in |
Weight |
2 oz |
MSRP |
$9.99 |

Introducing the River2Sea Nest
Raider
Impressions:
If you’re sight fishing
for bedding bass you’re most likely fishing in pretty clear waters. The more
realistic the lure, the more likely the big female bass will see it as a threat.
The Nest Raider is as real as it gets. This lure resembles a waterdog
(salamander) or lizard that’s ready to clean out all the eggs in the nest. The
River2Sea Nest Raider is seven and a half inches in length and has a profile
similar to the real thing. The two ounce lure has a weighted head design that
makes it appear as it was robbing the nest as the air-filled tail raises the
rear of the lure. The Nest Raider has realistic eyes, legs, and even external
gills. The lure also includes a sharp hook, weed guard, rattles in the tail, and
it is available in four different patterns.

One size and four patterns
available
Complete Rig
for Nest Raider Tests |
Rod |
St. Croix Tournament Bass Swimbait
TackleTour SuperTTuned |
Reel |
Abu
Garcia Revo STX
Daiwa Bay Casting Special |
Line |
25
lb Berkley Trilene Fluorocarbon
20 lb Shooter Fluorocarbon |
Field Tests:
Though the Nest Raider is primarily designed to mimic a four legged creature
raiding the nest of a bedding bass, but it can be fished throughout the season
as well. At this time of the year in California, the fish are either moving up
or already in beds. I fished Nest Raider in different bodies of water at all
depths including deadsticking it around bedding bass.

The lure comes in a good packaging
Casting:
If you’re sight fishing on beds you’re most likely going to short cast or
pitch/flip the Nest Raider into position which comes easy with this lure as long
as you have the right rod. Weighed with a two ounce head the Nest Raider flies
through the air when you want to go the distance. Just make sure your cast
control system is adjusted correctly and thumb the spool to ensure your hard
whipping cast won’t turn out into a nasty birds nest.

Look how realistic the head is
compared to a waterdog
Retrieving:
Most plastic lures can be
worked many different ways and the Nest Raider is just as versatile. River2Sea’s
realistic Nest Raider can also be fished at all levels. Cast and let this
waterdog bait drop to the bottom then walk it back to the boat while varying
speed and even add a pause or two to the retrieve.

Designed for
sight fishing for bedded bass but can be fished elsewhere with different
techniques
Another effective method
is to deadstick it near the bedding bass. With the Nest Raider’s size, tail-up
posture, and appearance any slight movement from the current will draw strikes
from aggressive females.

A view of the
underside of the Nest Raider
Work the Nest Raider like
a plastic jig with a trailer, just think jumbo size. Using the rod tip jig the
lure up and let it drop. Jig it at various speeds depending on the activity
level of the bass. According to River2Sea if you jig the Nest Raider up and let
it drop down, it’s supposed to do a big loop and come back near the starting
point. I wasn’t able to witness this but River2Seas has a video that demonstrate
this on their website.

River2Sea
explains some of the ways you can work the Nest Raider