I was flipping through the new issue of bass times this morning (which was way late, again) and I saw a full page ad for a new lure named the BBZ-1 Shad, by Spro. The ad said it is "the most realistic swimbait on the market." It is a hard plastic bait with four jointed segments that supposedly swim very naturally.

That got me thinking to when I just got started bass fishing. It was five years ago, and I was twelve years old. I was reading one of my issues of bassmaster and I came across a lure called something like the kick tail minnow. From the same company that makes the walking worm. It had four segmented joints and swam naturally. I was young and naive and didn't know a thing about bass fishing at the time so I bought two. :-[ After talking to some more knowledgeble fisherman at some lakes and ponds, and after doing some research on it for fisherman's opionions via the internet, I realized I'd been fooled and that this lure was not worth throwing. Its sat in my old tackle box next to old rusty hooks and other things I do not use ever since.

Then I come across this ad by a respected company (Spro). With basically the same lure as this company chock full of lures that are not at all respected and basically just fool beginner fisherman into buying them. So, will this infomercial-like lure thats been in my old tacklebox for five years catch fish?

Good question! The spro looks sweet though.

On a side note: The floating kicktail is a pretty gnarly lure. I have done okay with it.Never bought one,have just used my friends.With all the new advancements in swimbaits and wakebaits these days there are better options.

The spro looks sweet though.

Yes it does but I cannot see any difference in the kicktail and the Spro other than the paint job.

I keep the Kick-Tail (all 3 versions) in my tackle box to remind me

to NEVER buy an informercial lure that "out fishes live bait 4 to 1" or

"might be banned from tournament fishing".

I did catch a couple of "nothing fish" on the lures which broke

them! Just to be an ***, I have had them replaced twice, but

I don't fish the lures anymore.

STAY CLEAR, the Kick-Tail is not something you need to waste

any money on, trust me...

>

STAY CLEAR, the Kick-Tail is not something you need to waste

any money on, trust me...

>

I completely agree, but do you think that Spro's new lure would be any better?

I have no idear....that's Southern for "idea".

8-)

Spro is  a quality company. It may look similar but it's almost certainly not.

i believe the main problem with the kicktail was the quailty not so much the action. I too bought a set of them and used them for a little while and did catch one nice fish, read ONE. They do seem like they swim good- but a couple in the set didn't swim at all. I think the difference is going to be the quality and the time put into researching what the fish want to eat as opposed to what the fisherman wants to hear.

The spro BBZ has no place being mentioned alongside the kicktail,....2 completely different products.

Spro is a reputable company with lots of solid products.  

I hear people say "They look the same" all the time when referring to hardbaits......here's a bit of info.  

LOOKS WILL NOT TELL YOU HOW EFFECTIVE A HARDBAIT'S ACTION IS - and THAT'S what matters.    

There are a lot of minute details that go into a hardbait's balance and action characteristics.  

You could make a lure that LOOKED just like another......but

move the line tie 1/16" up or down

move the ballast weight a tiny bit forward, up, or back

change the lip angle 10 degrees

change the density of the material used

etc.etc.etc.etc.etc. and it is a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BAIT.

 

My best friend's wife bought a set for him and a set for me about five years ago. It took all the strength I had not to laugh. I just thanked her and put them away.

Falcon

With basically the same lure as this company chock full of lures that are not at all respected and basically just fool beginner fisherman into buying them. So, will this infomercial-like lure thats been in my old tacklebox for five years catch fish?

The only thing that looks similar between these two lures is the fact that they are both segmented hard body lures.