THE LATEST NEWS
Ima Introduces Little Stik 135, Skimmer Grande 125 and Lower-Prices
Ima Lures, one of the most prestigious and renowned Japanese manufacturers of hard baits for both saltwater and freshwater species, has previously produced genre-defining, technique-specific topwaters for tournament anglers. In response to those anglers’ requests, at the 2014 ICAST show the company will reveal the Ima Little Stik 135 and the Skimmer Grande 125, and will also introduce the Ima Select Series, bringing over several models previously only available on the Japanese market. Additionally, as a result of new manufacturing efficiencies, the company will be able to lower the cost on eight existing items while retaining the existing high level of quality.
The company’s US pro-staff expressed excitement about the new sizes of topwaters:
“I can’t wait for that Little Stik 135,” said Elite Series pro Fred Roumbanis. “I love the original, but it’s too big for many places. This one will be more of a tournament-sized bait. You’ll be able to use it coast to coast, from brim beds to the shad spawn, and of course the blueback lakes are where it’ll really be a big deal.”
Bill Lowen is most excited for the larger Skimmer Grande 125. “The original is a true finesse topwater,” he explained. “This one will have that same great action but it will move more water. With more water displacement, you’ll be able to fish it in a chop when it’s windier.”
Since developing a United States office in 2007, Ima has been the leader in bringing innovative, imaginative and realistic pro-inspired lures to the American Market. Ima products are marketed and distributed in the US through Optimum Bait Company in Temecula, California. This year Ima will bring over additional items that up until now have exclusively been in the Japanese lineup, to be known as the “Ima Select Series.” At the same time, the prices of other products previously available in the US will be lowered in order to make them available to a wider range of anglers worldwide. This has been accomplished by changing the location of our production facilities. With its enhanced manufacturing technologies, lures will now be less expensive with no drop-off in quality whatsoever.
We will be at Booth 1318 throughout ICAST. If you would like to schedule a meeting or interview a pro- staffer, please contact Matt Paino. Available slots are going fast.
For more information about Ima Lures, go to www.imalures.com
Rapala BX™ Baits Are Making Waves — LITERALLY
MINNETONKA, Minn. (June 23, 2014) — A surface-waking bait that swims with incredible, strike-inducing performance has to be built tough. Enter the new Rapala® BX™ (Balsa Xtreme) Waking Minnow.
True to the BX Series blueprint, the BX Waking Minnow boasts a balsa core encased in a durable copolymer shell for unrivaled toughness.
“The balsa cores gives you the buoyancy you expect in a Rapala bait and the shell gives it the durability to get hammered all day long,” says Rapala Bass pro Bernie Schultz, a shallow-fishing specialist who loves catching Bass on or near the surface.
“Like topwater fishing, throwing sub-surface baits like the BX Waking Minnow delivers some of the biggest thrills on the water,” Schultz says. “When big bass key on its unique, broad waking action, they’ll chase it down and you’ll often see them coming, waking right behind it. And when they hit it, hold on!”
Weighing 3/4 of an ounce, the BX Waking Minnow casts a mile. Schultz suggests launching it as far as possible and retrieving it slowly and erratically along fish-holding cover like brush, laydowns, weedlines, docks and the edges of lily pad fields.
“With its dynamic flashing, rolling action, it will pull fish out of the cover,” Schultz says. “It’s a great search bait. And not just for Bass — it’s a great multi-species bait, too.”
Combine those qualities with artful finishes and masterful action, and the result is beautiful and brawny bait that can handle a beating from the toughest of fish across the board.
The BX Waking Minnow features lifelike 3D eyes, finite scales and gill detail paired with an internal holographic foil for ultimate attraction. It comes equipped with three tough No. 5 VMC® Black Nickel Round-bend Treble Hooks that hold true and tight.
Measuring 5-1/4 inches long and weighing 3/4 ounce, the BX Waking Minnow reaps all the great benefits of the BX Series in the most common prey baitfish profile. It’s available in six color patterns: Blue Back Herring, Firetiger, Gold Shiner, Shadow, Smelt and Yellow Perch.
Rapala introduced the BX Jointed Minnow and BX Jointed Shad last summer after releasing the BX Minnow and BX Swimmer earlier in the year. Soon thereafter, Field & Stream magazine named the BX series a “Best of the Best” new lure for 2013.
Suggested retail price: $12.99
Happy 4th of July
Happy 4th of July everyone, take a moment and reflect upon the meaning of what our forefathers accomplished and how fragile individual liberty and the pursuit of happiness is in our own time. God Bless the United States of America. Thank you to all who make this country great: our Military, Police, Firefighters, teachers, and their families. We are the greatest country in the world – we should not forget that or what was required to earn that status.
Swim Jigs Class with Fred Roumbanis
Swim jigs are great versatile baits that allow you to cover water and search for bass. Fred’s swim jig techniques have accounted for many big bass in his livewell on the Bassmaster Elite Series and FLW Tour. A variety of tactics coupled with balanced tackle, will have you adding swim jigs to your arsenal as well!
Click here to watch the full class —> http://bit.ly/BassUTV
SFT’s 4th of July Sale
Susquehanna Fishing Tackle is having a huge online 4th of July sale!
Place an order on our website now through Monday, July 7th and save 15% off your entire order! (Some exclusions apply, all exclusions are listed on our website)
This is another great chance to save big and stock up on tackle for the rest of summer! Don’t miss out!