|
Trophy
Sticks, custom design, clever hydrodynamics, and a little art all rolled in one
(continued)
 Casting:
The Trophy Sticks are easy enough to cast but don't cast as far as some of the
branded plastic jerkbaits, especially ones from Lucky Craft and Yozuri that have
a weight shifting cast control system. Though as little shorter in distance the
lures are large and heavy enough to get pretty far out with any rod over 6'6" in
length. We did all our fishing with 12 and 14lb monofilament, so downsizing your
test will increase casting distance though we wouldn't recommend it... after all
with this lure your going for a trophy fish.
Each lure is coated with a thick
layer of gloss to protect the finish
Retrieve: Once in the
water we began to examine the Trophy Stick's unique retrieve. At first we
struggled to see how the bait worked as it exhibits a very different slow
rolling action rather than an erratic side to side swim so often found on other
jerkbaits. The action is tight, and even when ripped this lure will surge forward
relatively straight rather than dart side to side aggressively. At first this
puzzled us, as we wondered if the lure would even garner attention from big
fish. It was only after we began trolling the lure close to the boat that the
bait's action really started to shine.
The Trophy Sticks make use of a
extra thick diameter bill for added durability
At a medium to constant
retrieve the bait swims in a slow wobbling movement that looks much more
lifelike that other stick baits that whip back and forth. Never judge a book, or
lure for that matter, by its cover... and as we have found out in the past what
anglers and fish see are two completely different things.
During the tests we found many bass and
stripers eager to pursue the subtle action the Trophy Sticks exhibited. The
scale pattern looks even more authentic in the water, and flashes like a live
minnow as it flees from predators.
From all angles the "scarred" eyes
look realistic, and they too are coated with the same thick layer of gloss
Durability:
Stickbaits take most of
their abuse from fish rather than structure, so the vulnerable points are
typically both the finish which often comes in contact with the hooks, and the
durability of the hooks themselves. Anyone that has fished Lucky Craft Pointers
can attest to the arc shaped scratch that forms on the side of the lure after a
few trips. Trophy Sticks make use of Daiichi hooks and rings and to prevent
scratches the lure is coated with a serious amount of gloss, honestly the gloss
is so thick that it actually looks wet at all times. Striper
after striper the Trophy Sticks held up to the abuse, the scaled finish was well
protected beneath the gloss and looks as good as the day we started fishing the
lures. Stripers over 10lbs in weight are known to bend out hooks, but the
Daiichi hooks held up well. They opened up just a bit but were easily bent back
with pliers.
A striper caught with the Trophy
Stick
Price & Applications:
Though we were not able to test the Trophy Sticks on giant Brown
Trout...yet, we did pit the lures against some decent sized striped bass. This
lure is designed to attract and get big fish to commit and will work well on
bass, stripers, muskie, pike, and we intend to try the lure on salmon and trout
in the coming weeks.
When it comes to price the
Trophy Stick is by no means a cheap bait, and retails for $15.99 to $16.99
depending on size. The lure has a completely different appeal to many of the
lures currently being mass produced. The Trophy Sticks look real down to the small scale pattern, and "scarred" 3D
eyes. They may not swim as aggressively as other lures, but they do swim
realistically. Whatever the formula is, fish seem to like the Trophy Sticks, and
especially if you're trolling, this bait can call in the big ones.
Ratings:
|
Trophy
Sticks Ratings
(?/10) |
| Construction/Quality |
The
Trophy Sticks exhibit a quality of construction and design once found on
handmade balsa lures in the past but features new materials and design mixed
in |
9 |
| Performance |
The
lure didn't attract as many bite from smaller schoolies which seemed to
prefer lures with a more aggressive side to side action. The Trophy Sticks
did catch both medium and sized fish though, while the numbers were not as
high the quality was good |
9 |
| Price |
This isn't the cheapest lure out there but it is inline with premium
Japanese offerings |
8 |
| Features |
The
strength of this lure is not rattles or a cast control system but a return
to the basics. The lure makes use of a balsa design, unique finish, quality
Daiichi hooks, and a shield of gloss thick enough to protect the lure's
finish over twice as much as the average stickbait |
8 |
| Design
(Ergonomics) |
The
lure design is the converse of many Japanese mass produced lures... and sometimes
variety can be a really good thing. The Trophy Sticks do not have a cast
control system but they make up for it with a different looking lifelike
finish |
9 |
| Application |
The
Trophy Sticks are not a hard ripping lure, instead they are fished best with
a medium to slow retrieve or even trolled. They can catch a wide range of
large fish species |
9 |
|
Total Score |
8.66 |
Pluses and Minuses:
|
Plus
Minus |
| J
A unique subtle action |
L
Not for aggressive jerk/ripping |
| J
Good for a wide range of species |
L
Not the cheapest price |
| J
Good trolling lure |
|
| J
Big fish eat it |
|
The Tasty Tui Trophy Stick lure is
great for stripers, and we landed numerous double digit fish with this pattern
Conclusion:
The Trophy Sticks are a breath of fresh air. Just when
everyone else is going for more aggressive retrieves, or analogous styles of finishes, Trophy Sticks break
that mold by evolving a design that has proven to work for
them out in the field. These lures may not cast as far as the competition, nor
do they swim with an aggressive side to side darting pattern, but what they do
is catch fish with a combination of an artistically realistic finish and convincing
side rolling action. This is not a lure that you go
out and start ripping away on, it is far better retrieved at medium speeds
or trolled. One of the best things about the Trophy Sticks is the lure'
s versatility in terms of targeting a wide range of species, though there
are only three patterns currently that's all most freshwater trophy hunters
really need. Which brings us back to the question, does the world need another
minnow bait, the answer is a "yes" in the case of Trophy Sticks.
|
