Duel is a Japanese brand known for their high-end products with great actions and the most realistic colors you will find. Professional angler Bobby Lane relies on the Duel products as he travels across the country fishing the Bassmaster Elite Series.
“The Duel baits are so detailed and the colors are just phenomenal. The other thing I really like about them is you can just take them out of the package and fish them, you do not need to do anything with them and they will all swim true,” says Lane. “The baits are great, the actions are great and the hooks are super sharp.”
TAKING FROM LAST YEAR
The 2015 Bassmaster Classic was held in frigid conditions at Lake Hartwell, SC. Florida pro Bobby Lane used a type of bait known for their success in cold conditions, a shad profile crankbait. His lure choice was the Duel Hardcore Shad +2 and the Japanese crankbait was the reason he was able to finish in 2nd place in the biggest bass tournament in the world.
He predicts that this exact bait will once again help him in the 2016 Bassmaster Classic and also added two more lures that he expects to rely on at Grand Lake, OK. Lane says in cold water, the Duel Hardcore Crankbait +3 and the Hardcore Minnow Flat SP in both the 95 and 110 sizes.
WHERE THE SHAD WILL GO
The Hardcore shad comes in three different options and each dives to a different depth. The +1 will dive to 3-ft; the +2 will dive to 6-ft and the +3 to 9-ft. Each of them have a similar size and weight, but Lane believes the +2 will once again help him contend for the Bassmaster Classic title.
He will fish the Hardcore Shad +2 around shallow rocks and boulders in 3- to 6-ft of water and transitions where the rock turns from rock to bluff walls. “The Hardcore Shad works great in cold water because it has a tight wobble and just swimming through the water with a steady retrieve works, but I will sometimes let it bounce into cover to get a reaction bite,” adds Lane.
His color selection will vary based on the water clarity, but he finds himself coming back to the Shad and Crawfish patterns most early in the year. “It all depends on the water, but the Chartreuse color is another one that works great when the water is dingy.”
HARDCORE CRANKIN' TARGETS
Like the Hardcore Shad, the Hardcore Crankbait comes in different size options depending on diving depth. For the upcoming Classic, Lane plans to utilize the +3 size that dives between 9- to 12-ft.
Even though it is a deeper diver, he likes to crash it into structure like he does with a shallower diving squarebill. “I fish this one around deeper laydowns, wood and chunk rock. The key is to hit structure and keep it in the strike zone as much as possible,” believes Lane.
There are several different colors Lane plans to use at Grand Lake and it is dependent on the water clarity. “I like the shad pattern a lot this time of year and these Duel baits have a cool holographic finish to really help get some added flash to attract bass. I’ll also use the crawfish pattern anywhere I go in spring and switch to the chartreuse with black back for stained and dirty water.”
RETRIEVING A MINNOW
A jerkbait is a must for cold-water bass anglers and Lane believes they will play a key role in his 2016 Bassmaster Classic. “Duel has two sizes of the Hardcore Minnow Flat SP, a 95 and 110 size. I plan to use both and let the fish and size of baitfish tell me which one I should be throwing,” says the Elite Series pro.
The Hardcore Minnow Flat SP suspends and darts quickly side-to-side. It also has a internationally patented magnetic weight transfer system that allows for better casting and balance on the retrieve. Jerkbait retrieves vary based on the angler, but Bobby Lane is one who seldom pauses for long periods of time. “I fish it fast and keep it moving. I’ll start with six or seven quick jerks to get it all the way down and then use a ‘twitch, twitch, twitch, pause’ retrieve, but I will only pause it for a very short time,” adds Lane. He also likes to mix up his retrieve and try to make it look erratic. “I’ll pause it longer when it is very cold, but most of the time I like to keep it moving and allow for that bait to flash.”
The Bassmaster Classic kicks off the season each year for the Bassmaster Elite Series pros and the early spring setting makes it perfect for a variety of reaction baits. Bobby Lane had an excellent finish at the 2015 edition and plans to use three Duel hardbaits this year to try to win it all.
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