Yo-Zuri is known for their hardbaits for both fresh and saltwater fishing. They make a wide range of baits that cover all sizes, depths and lure styles.
This year they introduced a whole new category of lures with their Knuckle Bait and also added an ultra-realistic color lineup for their tried and true bass hardbaits.
Yo-Zuri Knuckle Bait (Video Below)
Every once in a while a new lure style comes out at ICAST that is different than anything else out there. This year it was the Knuckle Bait from Yo-Zuri.
At first glance, it looks like a spinnerbait because it has the same head design and wire of spinnerbaits we have all fished for years. The difference with this bait is that there are no spinners and instead there is a plastic ball attached to the wire. This ball gives the Knuckle Bait its unique action under the water and it can be fished many ways.
The Knuckle Bait was in development for three years and the name comes from the Knuckle Ball pitch in baseball as it creates an erratic wobbling action underwater for something the fish are not used to seeing.
Yo-Zuri pros who were at the booth at ICAST explained their first impressions of the bait and said that the bait can be fished similarly to a spinnerbait, but their best success has come fishing it like a swim jig because of how well it comes through cover.
It has an aerodynamic head and casts extremely well as the ball on the Knuckle Bait does not slow down a cast like a blade on a spinnerbait will often do.
The Knuckle Bait is ½-ounce and comes in two different versions: rattling and silent. The colors Chartreuse, Pearl White and Red Crawfish are the rattling versions and are distinguished by their solid colors instead of the prism finishes that are non-rattling. These include Gizzard Shad, Shad, Tennessee Shad and Golden Shiner.
Retrieves for the Knuckle Ball include a standard cast and retrieve, slow roll, or ripping through the grass. It can also be waked on the surface or fished by ripping it and letting it flutter back. The ball on the Knuckle Bait will stand upright while on the bottom, which allows anglers to also fish it like a jig.
Read Related: Popper vs. a Prop vs. a Pencil with Brandon Card
Yo-Zuri 3DR Series Hardbaits
Currently, Yo-Zuri has a full line of hardbaits that includes everything from jerkbaits to topwater to deep diving crankbaits. The 3BD and 3DS series includes many different styles and the new addition is the 3DR series, in which the “R” stands for real because of the excellent colors available.
The 3DR series has a prism finish and look natural. They were designed for clear water and pressured situations because of the lifelike color patterns of the baits. All of them match the forage they are designed for and the subtle colors and should excel in clear water situations.
Yo-Zuri Crankbaits
There are crankbaits for everyone in the 3DR series. From squarebills to deep cranks to lipless cranks and wake baits.
The lipless crankbait is called the 3DR Series Vibe and it is available in a ½-ounce size and in the following colors: Real Bluegill, Real Brown Crawfish, Real Gizzard Shad, Real Glass Minnow, Real Golden Shiner and Real Perch.
The 3DR Deep Crank will get down to 15-feet deep.
The Mid Crank 50m dives to 6-feet and the Mid Crank 70m will get to 8-feet. The 3DR Series Shallow Crank dives down to 3-feet and the 3DR Series Squarebill will reach 5-feet deep. These cranks come in six different colors: Real Bluegill, Real Brown Crawfish, Real Gizzard Shad, Real Golden Shiner, Real Green Crawfish, and Real White Crawfish.
The Yo-Zuri 3DR Series Flat Crank has a wide wobble on the retrieve and comes in the following colors: Real Bluegill, Real Brown Crawfish, Real Gizzard Shad, Real Glass Minnow, Real Golden Shiner, and Real Rainbow Trout
One final crankbait is the 3DR Series Wake Bait. It is designed to be fished right under the surface or above the surface. It is a small profile bait and will dive between zero to one-foot and works great when fished above grass or other objects. It is available in the following colors: Real Bluegill, Real Gizzard Shad, Real Glass Minnow, Real Golden Shiner, Real Rainbow Trout, and Real Smelt.
Yo-Zuri Topwater
The new 3DR series includes the popular Yo-Zuri Pencil walking topwater bait, the 3DR Series Prop and Poppers. They are available in the following colors: Real Bluegill, Real Gizzard Shad, Real Glass Minnow, Real Golden Shiner, Real Rainbow Trout, and Real Smelt.
Yo-Zuri Jerkbaits and Shad Cranks
The 3DR Series Jerkbaits are 3.5” long and cast well and have an erratic action thanks to their internal weight system. It comes in six realistic colors including Real Gizzard Shad, Real Glass Minnow, Real Golden Shiner, Real Perch, Real Rainbow Trout, and Real Smelt. The 3DR Series LongBill can be fished like a diving jerkbait or cranked like a suspending shad crank. It comes in the same colors as the jerkbait. The 3DR Minnow comes in the same colors as the LongBill and 3DR Jerkbait and comes in two sizes, a 70mm, and 100mm version.
The 3DR Series Shad comes in the same colors and can be fished like a crankbait or jerkbait. The difference between this and other shad-profile baits is that it is not made of balsa and can be cast much easier than other baits in the category.
Yo-Zuri added a whole new line of colors to their existing and highly popular hardbaits. They also created a whole new bait, unlike anything else on the market with the new Knuckle Bait.
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