One of the most sought-after brands, especially when it comes to big baits, is Deps. In America, Optimum Baits brings the Japanese lures here and supplies dealers throughout the country. This year they have brought a large selection of new soft plastics, hard baits, and more.
Frilled Shad
The Frilled Shad is a streamlined baitfish imitator that is 4.7-inches long. It has a unique fan-shaped lip that sits vertically on the bait's head and is key to the way the bait swims through the water. It gives the bait a trembling action and also slows the bait from moving too quickly while also helping to protect the hook from snags.
Cover Scat
The Cover Scat is a finesse soft plastic available in 2.5, 3.5, and 4" long and is designed to be fished weightless with a unique horizontal fall. It can also be fished with an underwater "walk the dog" action.
The baits are small but have extensive features packed inside of them. There is a small opening for the bend of your hook and a hook point guard to keep the bait weedless. It also has a stabilizer fin and dimpled rear section for better water flow and action.
Bull Flat and Bull Slide
These two flat-sided bluegill imitating soft plastics are unique and can be rigged in various ways.
The Bull Slide can be fished where it will slide backward when rigged correctly and can be fished around docks and other cover where this can make a huge difference in reaching far under overhanging cover. It slides because it has a unique plastic density that is heavier in the front.
The Bull Flat has a segmented tail that gives it a lifelike swimming action and makes it a perfect trailer for swim jigs and vibrating jigs. You can also fish it solo on a Texas-rig or drop-shot. They are available in sizes ranging from two inches to a 5.8" length.
Sakamata Shad
This soft plastic jerkbait may seem like all of the rest on the market, but it has some unique features. It is available in five sizes ranging from a finesse four-inch version to a jumbo eight-inch size.
One of the most intriguing parts of the Sakamata Shad is the various plastic densities available for the baits with different mixtures of salt or salt and sand. This gives the bait different fall rates and actions. The "heavyweight" versions include 65 to 75-percent salt or a mixture of salt and sand.
The Sakamata Shad can be fished weightless or on a split shot or Carolina-Rig and more. It has a unique keel design that allows it to dart with a unique action that is unlike other soft plastic jerkbaits.
Barbute
The Barbute is a compact soft plastic that can be fished solo or on the back of a jig. It has two tails that add a great action and a center appendage that adds even more vibration.
It comes in a 3.5 and 4-inch size and is made with a soft plastic material with a higher tensile strength to last through many fish catches.
Brachiostick
The jumbo Brachiostick is a jumbo walking topwater that is 147mm (5-3/4") long and 31g (1-1/8oz) and casts extremely. It has some unique features inside it, including a special spring weight inside of it that helps the bait walk easily and adds to the sound and vibration.
The bait has three trebles and walks with a unique action thanks to the cupped mouth. The cup is faced downward to create a bubbling, splashing action like a baitfish. The bait sits in a diagonal position with half of the body under the water as the lure rests.
Wakasagi Bait
This is an i-shaped lipless minnow that imitates an escaping baitfish. It comes in both a sinking and floating model, and both are finesse baits that are 65mm long.
The floating version creates a waking action on the surface with great fluttering action. The sinking version has a darting action and is best when it is just a little too cold to throw a topwater lure. Each of the models has a tinsel tail section for added attraction.
Matsubuzz
This buzzbait has a unique squealing sound thanks to a large rivet and oversized blade that you can alter for different sounds. You can adjust the flaps on the blades to get the sound you need for each situation.
It is a ½-ounce buzzbait that casts very well due to the rear center of gravity with weight further down the shank of the stout 4/O hook. Another cool thing about the bait is that it comes with weight stickers that you can add to the blade to change the action even more and add even more vibration.
Advertising