HITS & MISSES
BOTTOM SIDE SHAVED FLAT :
About half of the elongated body is shaved flat on the bottom side to create resistance when the bait is in motion . This helps drive the nose to the surface and creates a radical head up / tail down walking action on a steady retrieve . A counter-weighed ChatterBlade at the tail and a strategically located line tie help facilitate the erratic action .
PIVOTING TAIL SECTION BLADE :
The tail section is equipped with a 1 / 4 ounce counter-weighted blade that pivots on a wire shaft , creating gobs of flash , vibration and a chattering sound beneath the surface while aiding in bombing long casts . A No . 2 treble dressed with a feather adds to the appeal .
BLACK NICKEL TREBLES :
Fish that eat the bait are just about good as caught . The HellraiZer comes with a pair of nasty black nickel trebles , a No . 2 on the tail and a No . 1 on the belly . Both hooks are submerged just beneath the surface when the bait is in motion .
The HellraiZer doesn ’ t just look different than any other bait . It behaves radically different , too .
beneath the surface . A small piece of trash can foul the action .
Blow-Ups and Hook-ups : I missed the prime widows for Texas topwater fishing during field testing but still caught enough bass to realize the HellraiZer is something special that ’ s sure to fool some big ones when conditions are right . Strikes were violent and the hook-ups were solid . A high percentage came on the rear treble — a good sign the fish were attracted to flash of the blade or the flutter of the feathered trailer .
Casts with Ease : Bombing long casts with a quality baitcaster is hardly a problem . With the majority of the
weight at the tail , it cuts the wind like as slab spoon .
Final Thoughts
There ’ s no such thing as a silver bullet in bass fishing , but this is one topwater lure sure to give the fish a look they ’ ve never seen before . In addition to its peculiar design and enticing action , the HellraiZer is built for distance and may be just the ticket for drawing explosive strikes when the conditions say topwater , but the fish seem reluctant to commit to a buzzbait or other walking-style stickbaits .
Applications
› Cast long range to schooling fish
Fish it over grass flats
› Around stumps , docks or grass edges
› Around bream beds or shad spawn Open water
› Clear or pressured water
Performance Tips
The bait sinks fast when it idle , so it ’ s not a bad idea to use a reel with a fairly high gear ratio of 7.1:1 or higher . A faster gear ratio helps get the bait up and running quickly while allowing for a burning retrieve with less effort if the need arises .
Fish it on 7- to 7 ½- foot medium / heavy rod in combination with 12- to 15-pound fluorocarbon for solid hookets .
HITS & MISSES
+ Unique action + Stout hooks + Casts a mile + Large profile + Rattles built in + Runs true , slow or fast + Simple to use + Works fine with fluorocarbon + All stainless components – Sinks when idle
DETAILS
Length : 5 inches Weight : 5 / 8 ounces Colors : 10 Trebles : 2 BKK , No . 1 and No . 2 Feather Teaser : Yes Rattles : Yes Floats : No MSRP : $ 14.99 Contact : zmanfishing . com n
JUNE-JULY 2023 | MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM 53