Impressions: The Specialty Tackle Big Bite lives up to its namesake - this is a big crank and follows closely what seems to be a trend these days of large bodied shallow crankers. The Big Bite, in particular, is very wide and tall at the head and mid section of the bait, but then tapers quickly and suddenly at the back providing a distinct contour at the rear. There’s a small bump on the head across and between where the eyes are placed almost like an eye socket. These irregularities in the body would appear to serve the purpose of creating more disturbance in the water than a usual, smooth contoured bait while at the same time, not affecting the action of the lure overall.

The Big Bite is chock-full of tiny details, including fine contours, an internal rattle chamber and a large lead bearing that serves as both a counterweight during casts and a rattle during retrieves

The Big Bite comes in many colors, making it possible to utilize in varying applications and conditions

   
Field Tests: In our lab tests, the Big Bite weighed in at .8 ounces (23 grams), slightly over its 3/4 oz (21 grams) rating. This weight test really has no other bearing than to be certain the rod you choose to sling this bait can handle its significant weight. For our tests, we matched up an Airrus CoMatrix 457 6’6” medium heavy weight rod with a Daiwa Alphas spooled with 15 lb Seaguar Carbon Pro and headed out to determine the appeal of this bait to our local black bass population in Northern California.

Casting: The weight of this lure makes casting a breeze. The only difficulty we found in our field tests was the tendency to outcast our marks because the lure travels through the air so efficiently. An interesting discovery we made while fishing this lure though is the ease by which you can pitch this bait. Normally, the arrival of a crankbait this size is announced by an unceremoniously loud and large splash, but by pitching, one can minimize this clumsy delivery and perhaps entice an otherwise spooky fish to strike instead of run. Even with a 6’6” stick, the Big Bite can easily be made to glide inches above the water to a target forty to fifty feet away. With this lower trajectory of travel, the bait stays out of the wind, can be delivered underneath fish holding structure, and can be placed much more precisely. This is an important advantage to those fishing stickups and laydowns with this bait.

We tested the Big Bite in a number of different bodies of water, including the
California Delta

Retrieving: The Big Bite is large on versatility as well. Many shallow crankbaits will either foul if retrieved too quickly or not offer enough vibration if retrieved too slowly. This bait accommodates both presentations surprisingly well. Due to its size, our inclination with this lure was to slow our retrieve and let the slow, wide wobble of the bait work its magic. Through experimentation, we were pleased to discover that, not only can this bait be retrieved quickly, it can be ripped beneath the surface to trigger some amazing strikes! As if that weren’t enough, the Big Bite’s angle of retrieve lends itself well to placement and retrieval in the midst of some pretty extreme structure. The head of this lure points down the moment you begin your retrieve and serves as a nice buffer between the number 6 hooks and any branches or other items that might serve as a potential snag. We were able to work this lure through many laydowns and submerged structure with minimal hang-ups, but as an added measure of security, we complimented our stock #6 hooks with LureSaver split rings, just in case! Note that the #6 hooks are smaller than the typical size you might find on a lure of this stature, but the intent here is to provide a measure of weedlessness that an otherwise larger hook might not allow.

A surprising number of bass quickly committed to the Big Bite

Durability: During our casts, we reluctantly, but intentionally served up these lures to various rip rap and other visible structure to test the baits longevity. The finish of these lures held up surprisingly well and not one of our lures showed any signs of cracking or breaking during these tests. The bills of these baits do eventually show signs of wear when retrieved over rocky surfaces, but that’s to be expected. The hooks provided with the bait are not of any known, name brand manufacturer, but the tips are very sharp and durable after several months of continued use.

Structure and fish didn't do any damage to these high quality lures

 
Applications: Shallow crankers should find solace in this bait. As described above, it can be retrieved at a variety of speeds and lends itself well to otherwise unfishable structure. Of particular importance is this lure’s applicability to shore anglers. Because of its castability and shallow nature, this lure is amazingly effective when fished from shore and because of its weedless nature, it avoids many of the obstacles presented to fisherman when retrieving the lure close to shore. A dedicated shore fisherman can cover a lot of ground using this lure as a search mechanism.

Pluses and Minuses:

Conclusion: With the success of Takahiro Omori at the 2004 Bassmaster Classic, the crankbait is going through a revival of sorts. From custom, hand carved manufacturers to exotic, foreign market imports, each company has their self proclaimed, unique value-ad feature to this tried and true bass lure. Specialty Tackle is no stranger to any of this. Having featured and continuing to market many of the same lures they now compete against, they know, first hand not only what the professional bass fisherman seeks, but also how the recreational bass fisherman can benefit from a high quality, versatile, feature laden fishing lure. The Z-Series Big Bite is one such offering. Whether retrieved at a slow crawl or ripped just beneath the surface, the strikes this lure elicits are unmistakable. It is effective as both a search tool and a finesse bait and can be fished in both open water or in amongst the branches and limbs of a submerged tree. If your search is for a bait to help revive a little of your fishing confidence, you might do well to sample a taste of the Big Bite.