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| Criteria | Score(highest: 5.0) |
| Bass caught | 116 Largemouth Bass |
| Innovation | 3.75 |
| Strength | 4.9 |
| Largest Bass Wt: | 8 lbs, 2.5 oz. |
| Overall | 4.35 |
StrikeWorks Jig |
The StrikeWorks Tackle Company Grass Jig, is a recently modified, addition to the market, of an already very popular bass lure, in all the popular colors. These jigs have a tapered head design which facilitates their movement and ease of fishing without fouling, through hydrilla, coontail moss, deertounge grass and pondweed, among other southern impoundment’s flora species. Review: The manufacture of this grass jig by StrikeWorks Tackle Co, is similar in head design, yet different, from a well known previous grass jig manufactured back in the 1980’s and 1990’s. A tackle company from the Sam Rayburn Reservoir region of Texas, by the name of All TerrainÒ Lures made a true grass jig for about 7-8 years, but for some reason the company disappeared in the early 1990’s. Many of the shallow, southern lakes in the US are choked full of various flora grass species, such as hydrilla, coontail, pondweed, lily pads, deertounge, duckweed, etc. Fishing for bass in this type of lake condition is more often done with spinnerbaits or Texas rigged worms that will come through the various grasses with relatively little snag-ups and fouling of the hooks. This particular review strives to differentiate between existing, on the market bass jigs, how the bass responded during the testing phase, the action and attraction of the StrikeWorks Tackle Company grass jig during testing, with various trailers and techniques used. During testing of this new lure, three manufacturer colors were chosen, which had previously been proven with other jigs well, in our home lake, Millwood Lake, in southwest Arkansas. The three colors selected for the purpose of this review were: 1. Watermelon-Red 2. Brown Pumpkin/Watermelon Rind (similar to our Texas Craw color) 3. White The StrikeWorks grass jig comes in various sizes; the 1/2 oz and 3/8-oz sizes were tested during this evaluation. Jig trailers were used from various manufactures, such as Gene Larew Hog Craws, Uncle Josh Pork trailers (#11A and #101), and Zoom Chunks. The action of these jigs appeared very similar in movements to most any other bass jigs. Or at least they did until we began actually fishing them where they are designed to be fished. The StrikeWorks grass jig, whether we crawled it on the bottom, hopped it or swam it through hydrilla, coontail, pondweed, lily pads and rootwads, as well as a host of other unknown species of water flora, really shined in these areas. The white jig we used with a white pearl ZoomÒ plastic chunk in tow, was as realistic, and natural in appearance as a swimming baitfish; and it performed through the weeds and vegetation flawlessly. Hopping and jigging as crawfish, we chose the brown pumpkin/watermelon rind color in tandem with the back-half, business end, of Gene LarewÒ pumpkinseed Hog Craw with the tips of the claws dipped 3mm in chartreuse dipping dye for visibility in 6-8” clarity, lightly stained water. We fished this color around hardwood and cypress stumps in 6-9 foot depths with hydrilla and coontail moss encompassing all wood. In similar fashion, the watermelon-red jig tipped with green pumpkin Zoom chunk, was hopped and jigged around timber and stumps, all in grass. All jigs tested here, were fished with 17-25 pound ExcaliburÒ monofilament fishing line, on a Lamiglas Certified Pro, 6’6” MH graphite rod, using Ambassador/Abu Garcia 4500CB or 4600C reels. Depending on wind conditions, we would switch back and forth from the smaller 1/2-oz to the 3/8-oz size. We used Bang Garlic spray on these jigs during the test period. Each size produced equally well. The brown pumpkin/watermelon rind color caught the most fish ranging from 1-1/2 pound bass to 4-1/2 pounders. The watermelon-red color caught the largest bass, weighed on our digital scales at 8 pounds, 2.5 ounces. This test was conducted over a non-consecutive, 38-day period. Conditions ranged from high barometric pressure days with bluebird skies, to pre- and post-frontal passages, overcast, and with rain showers. Water temperatures were recorded in the upper 70ºs to mid 50ºs from September to mid November. |
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The Breakdown: Fishing Styles utilized: We fished these lures under a variety of ambient conditions, structure and cover. We began, as always, by doing what we love the most first, pitching to cypress tree bases, knees, standing timber, and stumps in grass, from depth ranges of 3 feet to 10 feet with the brown pumpkin/watermelon rind and watermelon red colors. This technique proved to be deadly for sheer numbers and quality of bass. The next most used technique we utilized, was swimming the white jig through stands of hydrilla, pondweed, deertounge and lily pad root wads with wood adjacent to, or surrounded by. This technique yielded good numbers of bass, as well, although overall smaller, in size. While similar to other jigs on the market, and with the narrow, arrow-head design not being truly innovative, these jigs did perform perhaps marginally better than some of the other grass jigs currently available. These jigs come pre-loaded with double-barrel rattles attached to the lower section of skirt collar. These jigs tested, right out of the package with no additional modifications necessary, did perform in various grass species with little or no fouling. Most of the southern impoundments in the US have sections of lake with various aquatic grass species and this jig, is right at home. The head design worked equally well swimming through these grasses, or jigging around lily pad root wads and stumps with very little grass fouling and snag-ups. Strength: As this test’s goal was to try and truly determine how strong a jig is; its hook-to-head & lead design, eyes, and hook sharpness and strength, all play a vital role in jig strength. Fishing this jig was truly a joy. In almost 40 days of fishing and almost 120 bass, no hooks failed, paint was only slightly scratched, and quality of skirt and skirt material chosen by the manufacturer were durable, and did not clump, stick together, or come apart. Overall: The StrikeWorks Grass Jig gets better-than-average marks. It catches good numbers of bass, and good numbers of mid-sized or larger, bass. This lure rates good to high marks in versatility, i.e., fishing through grass and pads, or pitching to stumps and trees. The sizes and colors available will hook most any fisherman (jk) and are most likely available in your favorite size and color for your body of water. A host of colors exist, from the old standbys of black/blue, black/chartreuse, black/red, to some of the newer colors to come along such as peanut butter & jelly and camo are listed on their website and literature. Some of the colors we would enjoy trying and feel may work equally as well or better on our home lake would have to include: Black/blue Black/pumpkin/chartreuse Pump/chartreuse Black/watermelon/pumpkin Brown/pump/chartreuse/orange Camo PB&J Sour grape Brown/pump/chartreuse Watermelon/pumpkin/orange Where to Purchase: The StrikeWorks Grass Jig can be found at nearly any sporting goods or tackle store. If not available in your local tackle shop, try visiting their website at www.strikeworks.com or email strikeworkstackle@yahoo.com for more information. By Mike Siefert |
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