|
Criteria |
Score |
# Bass caught |
43 Largemouth Bass |
Innovation |
3.9 |
Strength |
2.9 |
Overall |
3.4 |
Kinami Palm Tree Lures |
Description: The Kinami Palm Tree lures, recently introduced to the market, are short, fat, and solid tube-of-sorts, in all the popular colors. Salt encapsulated, these lures are a change from the every-day hollow tubes the majority of fishermen are using on your home lake. Review: Hollow body tubes or "gizits" and grubs work very well on the vast majority of most southern lake impoundments due to the similarity of the bait's shape and size to the baitfish and crawfish the bass feed on. The manufacture of this new grub-like-solid-tube, Kinami Baits, is also a well renowned and popular division of the successful Yamamoto Enterprises venture, by Gary Yamamoto. Review: This particular review strives to differentiate between existing hollow body tubes, or "gizits" and grubs, with the new Palm Tree solid body grub with tube tail, how the bass responded during the testing phase, the action and attraction of the Palm Tree Lure during testing, rigged by various methods. During testing of this new lure, four colors were selected, which had previously been proven with other similar soft plastics well in our home lake, Millwood Lake, in southwest Arkansas. The four colors selected for the purpose of this review were: 1. Baby Bass 2. Natural Shad (smokey-gray) 3. Black/Blue Tail 4. Christmas Pumpkin (a green pumpkin-type color w/ red & various glitters) The Kinami Palm Tree is approximately 4" of solid, slightly "ribbed" body, with a tube-like, frayed, multi-split tail. Salt is impregnated into the plastic for "taste" (or cover scent) of human or other malodors which have been proven to reject bass, such as oil, gasoline, tobacco, or sunscreens. The action of these new lures appeared similar in movements as most other grubs and tubes. The Palm Tree soft plastic baits do appear as realistic swimming baitfish, or hopping and jigging as crawfish. Fish did eat them on numerous occasions. All four colors tested here, were fished with 17-20 pound Excalibur monofilament fishing line, on a Lamiglas Certified Pro, 6'6" MH graphite rod, utilizing an Owner 3/0 Rig-N-Hook with bullet weight ranging from no weight (weightless) to 1/8 oz and � oz, and depending on wind conditions. Each produced equally well. The black/blue tail color caught the most fish. The Natural Shad color, we dipped only the last 3-4mm of the tail in chartreuse dip-n-dye for color, due to stained water clarity. This effort succeeded in catching the largest Largemouth Bass, which weighed in, on our digital scales at 4 pounds, 11.5 ounces. This test was conducted over a non-consecutive, 17-day period. Conditions ranged from high barometric pressure days with bluebird skies, to pre- and post-frontal passages, overcast to rain showers. Water temperatures were recorded in the mid 70�s to lower 80�s. |
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The Breakdown: Fishing Styles utilized: We fished these lures under a variety of conditions and riggings. We began by doing what we love the most first, pitching to cypress tree bases, knees, standing timber, and stumps in depth ranges of 2 feet to 10 feet. This proved to work equally as well as other grubs and tubes we had used previously under similar conditions. The second most-used technique we fine-tuned as we experimented, was discovered quite by accident. As we were pitching the lure around cypress trees and grass, lily pads covered most of the immediate area. During more than one occasion, as we were pitching, occasionally, the lure/line would drape over a lily pad. As we would attempt to bring the lure over the pad to the base of a cypress tree, several bass would leap up and out of the water to crash this lure on top of the lily pad. We further refined this method, to rigging weightless around hydrilla and lily pads - like baitfish scurrying or fleeing their predators, yet trapped out of the water on top of the pads. Surprisingly, our largest fish of the entire 17-day test period was taken in this manner, a healthy 4-3/4 pound Largemouth! We did several attempts at Carolina rigging this lure without much success. When rigged weightless, either Texas or Carolina styles, the weight of this lure and density of the plastic is such that a slow fall is inevitable. We believe that is the reason the Carolina rigging of this lure was not as successful as perhaps other "floating-density" soft plastic lures such as lizards or french fries. Innovation: Although similar to other hollow body tubes, and solid body grubs used across the country for bass fishing, this match up of grub body and tube tail is very similar to hula-tailed grubs, but still quite unique, in itself. The slightly ribbed body, and salt impregnated plastic was very evident when biting the head of the lure off due to ripping of fighting fish. These lures are LOADED with salt. Strength: Testing and fishing of most soft plastic lures normally require hundred count bags of samples. However, we only had a few samples of each of the colors. As such, we tended to be rather conservative when setting the hook at first, to see how they would hold up over repeated strikes and landings. Some of the bass literally inhaled these lures, almost down their throat, while others set the hook almost by themselves while swimming away with it, which is to be expected. We averaged 2-4 fish per lure before it became unusable due to tearing. This plastic is a rather soft formulation, & loaded with salt, but is a good combination of softness and durability, as to not reject fish. Overall: Kinami Baits Palm Tree, Freshwater Series gets good marks. It catches good numbers of Largemouth Bass, and good mid-sized bass. The one main drawback we noted is, due to the solid body, placement of a typical loud, brass, steel, or round tube rattle is impossible. The availability and use of long, thin glass rattles could be utilized, with a coring tool. This lure rates good to high marks in versatility, i.e., fishing weightless around grass and pads, or weighted for pitching to stumps and trees. Our understanding is that this lure is (or shortly will be) available in a multitude of various colors, including most likely your favorite for soft plastics. Where to Purchase: Kinami Baits, and Yamamoto soft plastic lures can be found at nearly any sporting goods or tackle store, including Wal-Mart, Bass Pro Shops and Cabella's. The company also has additional information and possibly can be ordered at their website, http://www.baits.com/ that has a complete selection of sizes, colors, and patterns available. By Mike Siefert |
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