Some of the most effective and unique American lures come from Japan, and many excellent brands have become mainstream here. Several have been in the United States for decades, and there are always more on the way to making it big here, such as Valley Hill and the sister brand Whiplash Factory.
The brands make unique baits designed to excel in the ultra-pressured fisheries in Japan and work just as well here in the States. Here's a short rundown of some of the baits available here now and what makes them so unique.
Valley Hill LV 500GP, Tungsten LV 500GP, and LV 200GP
The "LV" name is synonymous with lipless crankbaits and catching big bass. The Lucky Craft LV series has been a staple for bass anglers for years and is a must-have bait for places like Clear Lake. The Valley Hill version is a collaboration with Lucky Craft and comes in three different versions.
What makes it different from the tried-and-true Lucky Craft LV is the addition of a blade at the front of the bait. Besides adding some flash and vibration, it also changes the bait's action. With each movement and spin of the blade, the bait causes slight misdirection or "slips," as they describe it. This change of direction is when many bass are forced to bite, making this version very unique.
The three sizes are the 500GP and 200GP and the Tungsten 500GP, which has a tungsten rattle that creates a thunderous single knocking sound.
Soft Plastics: Giver and Indy Stick
Besides just hard baits, Valley Hill also produces unique soft plastics. While they fit into certain categories, they are not just copies of other baits and have a different look.
Take the Indy Stick, for example; it's a 5-inch soft stick bait style bait that has been popular for years but has tapered ends that give it a completely different look and feel. The rear section is slightly thicker, so it has great action when fished on a Neko, wacky, or Texas rig.
Another twist on an old favorite is the Giver, a minnow-style bait with a unique tail section. The thin pintail on the rear also has little bulbous balls that make the bait look very different. This gives the bait an irregular rolling action and a great look as it falls. It also uses the popular SAF material, which is very durable.
Terminal Tackle: Bone Joint and Trebling Thru Pipe
If you like fish soft plastics, these tools are very good and solve problems with rigging. The Trebling Thru Pipe is a simple way to turn any soft plastic into a line-through bait. This is very handy when fishing soft jerkbaits or swimbaits, so you can rig them properly with a treble hook to get a better hook-up percentage. Many anglers have found other ways to do this with rivets and straws, but these were made for it and are very easy to use. The three spikes on each side will help keep the Thru Pipe secure in your bait and are much better options than homemade versions.
The other terminal tackle item is the Bone Joint, a great idea that allows you to turn your favorite soft bait into a jointed bait. You can cut your bait wherever you like and insert the tool. The spikes on each side are then inserted into the bait. This is one way to make a soft jerkbait, or any soft plastic, have more action. It's a great idea and shows the fish something completely different.
Whiplash Factory Swayward 16 Glide Bait and TBR 107 Jerkbait
The Whiplash Factory lineup includes hard baits, like a glide bait, and jerkbait. Custom limited-run colors were designed for California anglers and are available at Fisherman's Warehouse for both baits. One is California Kokanee, and the other is called Clear Lake Hitch. Each was designed especially for the area's lakes.
The Swayward 16 is a reasonably priced glide bait that is 6.5 inches long and weighs in at 1.4 ounces. It comes stocked with significant components like Owner ST-46 hooks. It will dart quickly from side to side but can also be fished with a wide glide to both sides at slower speeds.
The TB7 107 is nearly the same size as the popular 110-sized jerkbaits but has a slightly thicker profile. It will dive down 3 to 5 feet deep and perfectly suspends at rest. It also comes with quality ST-46 treble hooks.
The Valley Hill and Whiplash Factory baits are unique spins on some of our most popular bait styles and inventive terminal tackle items. They feature Japanese-quality design, features, and quality and are destined to become one of America's next big Japanese bait companies.
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