The Japanese lure brand Whiplash Factory has begun introducing hard baits to the American market and has also developed some special run colors specifically for anglers here. Although they may be new to most in the United States, they have a long history of developing baits under the Whiplash and ValleyHill lineup.
Among those baits from Whiplash Factory is the SWAYWARD 16, a glide bait and the first swimbait in the company’s history. It’s a unique bait to catch big bass and predatory fish. It’s built tough and has great action that has proven itself with fish catches across the world. Here’s more about the bait from the lure designer, Mr. Kuni Niinomi.
Designing Lures for Global Fishing
Like other baits from the brand, the SWAYWARD 16 was made to withstand the abuse from big fish. It’s a heavy-duty lure with everything thought through during the development. In addition to having beefed-up components, the plastic used is also thicker. The bait is made with a 1.5mm plastic wall, which allows them to use reinforced metal eyes, thicker hooks, and larger hook sizes without the fear of damage from monster fish. All of these extra steps to strengthen the bait are by design and ensure that you land your next giant fish.
The designer of the Whiplash Factory and ValleyHill lures, Mr. Kuni Niinomi, has used the SWAYWARD 16 and his other lures worldwide. He reports that his fishing trips have included everything from Australia and Indonesia to Brazil and Kazakhstan, with many more trips in between. He’s a trophy hunter and likes catching the biggest and meanest fish each country offers. Because of this, his baits are all built to withstand the pressure of hard-fighting fish.
The origins of the bait go back several years, and it has caught fish in many countries, including in Europe, and it is beginning to gain traction in North America. Niinomi recalls a trip to Spain and the success he found on a lake that he had never seen.
“In June of 2023, I visited Spain, a country known as the top destination for European bass fishing,” he said about his trip to the Cordova region. “Most places were very deep with steep banks, and most local anglers were using baits to fish along the bottom. I started fishing with our jerkbait, the TBR-93 SP, and caught several small bass before picking up the SWAYWARD 16 glide bait.”
Niinomi and his guide changed locations and started fishing an inlet. “This change in baits hit the bullseye, and I was able to catch several nice bass my first time visiting the lake,” he said. “This shows how effective the SWAYWARD 16 can be for catching bigger fish even on unfamiliar waters.”
The SWAYWARD 16 comes in two versions: a floating and sinking model. The two models are the FLS (Floating Swimmer) and SKS (Sinking Swimmer). The FLS is a slow float similar to a conventional swimbait and stays subsurface, while the SKS can be fished 3 to 4 feet under the surface and will keep the same depth during the retrieve. Both lures swim with an “S” motion with a standard slow retrieve, and the FLS will glide with a slight rod twitch.
Finding Success in America
Since the baits recently became more available in America, anglers here have already been finding how effective they can be. Mason Chapman, son of professional angler Brent Chapman, loves JDM lures and spent time in Japan and returned with Japanese baits such as the SWAYWARD 16. He works with the brand and has already found success with it in America, including during a trip to Arkansas.
“In May, Whiplash Factory’s support angler, Mason, caught bass with the SWAYWARD 16 in the California Kokanee Color,” said Niinomi. “Even though the kokanee does not live there, the color will work well in other conditions, such as the cloudy conditions he was fishing. The lure darts with short twitches of the rod, and a stronger twitch and pause make it swim with a short gliding action. This is very effective for triggering fish.”
The SWAYWARD 16 and Thunderbuck Ram TBR 107 are available in the limited-run California Kokanee color and available at Fisherman’s Warehouse stores and online. The other custom color, Clear Lake Hitch, is also available now.
The Whiplash Factor and ValleyHill lure brands may be new to some American anglers, but they both have a long history of catching big fish worldwide. The SWAYWARD 16 glide bait is a proven lure already gaining popularity in America with custom colors designed for waters in the United States.
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