MIKECATTS

Hi all.. Used the "banger" lure today.. Still works. Got my for dinner.. Im happy.. Plenty small ones interested in it.. 

Had the chance to run a couple of these in my last two session and below are some early thoughts. I'll also continue to post back in here as the summer goes on.
To start with, im coming from a view where the Sugarpen is the gold standard in my eyes. The Pen casts like a bullet, skips across the water beautifully, is quite a flexible lure in terms or its applications and has a success rate that is widely accepted as high. So every commen / view I have on sBT's stick bait will be relative to the Pen.
That being said.
1st impressions:

On the RHS are the 4 "Bangas" as I have affectionately named them. On the LHS are the same 4, mixed in with 4 Pens to give you an idea.
- the blank is almost exactly the same. Same length, same profile/shape. The only differences I can ascertain are (1) a small "scale" finish as opposed to the Pen's lateral dots, and (2) the casting weight is marginally further back in the Pen.
- the blank has a rattle, where as the 70mm Pen doesn't. This appears to be due to the blank having the casting weight in the "chamber" as oppsoed to right at the tail end of the lure like the Pen does.
- the assist hooks they come with look good. Size wise they are maybe a #6 equivalent, possibly even a #4. The braid / assist robe used actually glows bright orange under black light/UV
On the water:

- the blank sits differently in the water at a stand still. Where as the Pen sits almost 45 degrees (head up, tail down), the blank sits realtively flat with no discernable difference in buoyancy between any end of the lure. One of the blanks sat upside down at rest - maybe it was just a dud - but the others seem to be fine.
- casts well, much like the Pen does. To be honest cant tell the differece in that regard.
- seems to swim fine. Ever so slightly different action to the Pen, but this could also be due to the lack of belly trebel on the blank. Might pull the trebel off one of Pens then compare like for like.
Importantly - Results:
The plan I have used is - find the fish with my normal toys, then throw the "Bangas" in and see if they bite.
Trip 1 was pretty tough, nothing in my kit bag really got the job done. However the blank did seduce a couple of roughly 24 models.
Trip 2 was also tough, the wind was up and I wasn't confident the blank would create the water disturbance I needed. Normally in these conditions I would be throwing the larger 95 Pen. However I persisted and nailed an early to mid 30s!
RHS is Trip 1 (~24cm), LHS is Trip 2 (30+cm)
Note - I have cut the dangly bits off. I found they looked like weed and once I removed them I got more engagement for the fish.

@southie THE BANGA overall a good blank and very comparable to the Pen.
More feedback / photos to come over the remainder of summer.
Cheers
TL

Hi all..
Recieved some lures in the post.. Nicely done and with assist hooks as well.. Couldnt ask for more.. Top bloke.
I had to go and see how they worked. I went this morning ( see my other write up).
They work well.. As good as the sugarpens do, basically the same action etc.
I only had the one on me.. Red head, green stripe underneath, some sparkles and stripes..
There were only small ones around today wanting lures..  This lure got the fish of the morning @24cm... They were smashing this, But being a lot of small ones about.. Was hard to get the bigger ones.
I used it for a bit and it held up well to the abuse..
Done well my friend. Im happy..
ALL CATCH AND RELEASED
Mike
 

Hi all..
Recieved some lures in the post.. Nicely done and with assist hooks as well.. Couldnt ask for more.. Top bloke.
I had to go and see how they worked. I went this morning ( see my other write up).
They work well.. As good as the sugarpens do, basically the same action etc.
I only had the one on me.. Red head, green stripe underneath, some sparkles and stripes..
There were only small ones around today wanting lures..  This lure got the fish of the morning @24cm... They were smashing this, But being a lot of small ones about.. Was hard to get the bigger ones.
I used it for a bit and it held up well to the abuse..
Done well my friend. Im happy..
ALL CATCH AND RELEASED
Mike
 

Hi all..
Recieved some lures in the post.. Nicely done and with assist hooks as well.. Couldnt ask for more.. Top bloke.
I had to go and see how they worked. I went this morning ( see my other write up).
They work well.. As good as the sugarpens do, basically the same action etc.
I only had the one on me.. Red head, green stripe underneath, some sparkles and stripes..
There were only small ones around today wanting lures..  This lure got the fish of the morning @24cm... They were smashing this, But being a lot of small ones about.. Was hard to get the bigger ones.
I used it for a bit and it held up well to the abuse..
Done well my friend. Im happy..
ALL CATCH AND RELEASED
Mike
 

Hi all..
Recieved some lures in the post.. Nicely done and with assist hooks as well.. Couldnt ask for more.. Top bloke.
I had to go and see how they worked. I went this morning ( see my other write up).
They work well.. As good as the sugarpens do, basically the same action etc.
I only had the one on me.. Red head, green stripe underneath, some sparkles and stripes..
There were only small ones around today wanting lures..  This lure got the fish of the morning @24cm... They were smashing this, But being a lot of small ones about.. Was hard to get the bigger ones.
I used it for a bit and it held up well to the abuse..
Done well my friend. Im happy..
ALL CATCH AND RELEASED
Mike
 

Hi all..
Recieved some lures in the post.. Nicely done and with assist hooks as well.. Couldnt ask for more.. Top bloke.
I had to go and see how they worked. I went this morning ( see my other write up).
They work well.. As good as the sugarpens do, basically the same action etc.
I only had the one on me.. Red head, green stripe underneath, some sparkles and stripes..
There were only small ones around today wanting lures..  This lure got the fish of the morning @24cm... They were smashing this, But being a lot of small ones about.. Was hard to get the bigger ones.
I used it for a bit and it held up well to the abuse..
Done well my friend. Im happy..
ALL CATCH AND RELEASED
Mike
 

Hi all..
Recieved some lures in the post.. Nicely done and with assist hooks as well.. Couldnt ask for more.. Top bloke.
I had to go and see how they worked. I went this morning ( see my other write up).
They work well.. As good as the sugarpens do, basically the same action etc.
I only had the one on me.. Red head, green stripe underneath, some sparkles and stripes..
There were only small ones around today wanting lures..  This lure got the fish of the morning @24cm... They were smashing this, But being a lot of small ones about.. Was hard to get the bigger ones.
I used it for a bit and it held up well to the abuse..
Done well my friend. Im happy..
ALL CATCH AND RELEASED
Mike
 

Hi all..
Recieved some lures in the post.. Nicely done and with assist hooks as well.. Couldnt ask for more.. Top bloke.
I had to go and see how they worked. I went this morning ( see my other write up).
They work well.. As good as the sugarpens do, basically the same action etc.
I only had the one on me.. Red head, green stripe underneath, some sparkles and stripes..
There were only small ones around today wanting lures..  This lure got the fish of the morning @24cm... They were smashing this, But being a lot of small ones about.. Was hard to get the bigger ones.
I used it for a bit and it held up well to the abuse..
Done well my friend. Im happy..
ALL CATCH AND RELEASED
Mike
 

Hi all..
Recieved some lures in the post.. Nicely done and with assist hooks as well.. Couldnt ask for more.. Top bloke.
I had to go and see how they worked. I went this morning ( see my other write up).
They work well.. As good as the sugarpens do, basically the same action etc.
I only had the one on me.. Red head, green stripe underneath, some sparkles and stripes..
There were only small ones around today wanting lures..  This lure got the fish of the morning @24cm... They were smashing this, But being a lot of small ones about.. Was hard to get the bigger ones.
I used it for a bit and it held up well to the abuse..
Done well my friend. Im happy..
ALL CATCH AND RELEASED
Mike
 

Just a quick update. 
Been trying my best to pump a few out over the last week... 
Works been a pain in the arse. Will pump a few more out before i start to give a couple out.... but heres some I've done so far..

Ill put my hand up.... Im up North and chase them often..
Mike

Hey all as the title states I am looking for a handful of people that Regularly chase YFW on Top water lures....
I have sourced and custom painted a few and would like a couple people to test them out. As well as getting opinions and  feedback on them....
If interested let me know.
Conditions of getting your hands on one are:
You must actually chase Yellowfin Whiting on Lures
You must be able to give me feedback on them and pictures of the lure catching fish.... 
Im not going to release anymore information as of yet until I get some feedback and see what hardcore Lure Fishos think as if they seem like an popular item i will be putting these up for sale.
If interested hit me up.... I will leave this here until next Wednesday and will select 5 people from who ever has applied. As i have limited quantities at the moment...

I have used plastics and hardbodies. What gets to me is being told only use motor oil when I ask what do you use when that stops working their answer it’s you it doesn’t stop working . I’m afraid I found it did stop working so I adapted and tried different Zman colours was using grubs . Stopped changed to Zman slim swims . Then I went back to hardbodies been using double clutches for years I find these great cast pretty well . One thing I look for in hardbodies is distance when casting and lures with red eyes ( I have lures with and without red eyes). Sometimes distance doesn’t matter but if the fish won’t hit any lure nothing helps .
from me try anything and everything you can 

Here's a short video from a trip a few days ago to a small tannin stream on private property close to home..
It wasn't a long spin session, one that lasted just on an hour.. Still had a good time in the small stream catching a few wild browns..
cheers
Adrian
 
 

I have the Diawa Laguna 7ft 2-4kg.... With sienna 1000 with 6lb braid.... Works well for the price.. Cast's light lures no probs... On special both for under $100... Cant go wrong..

No worries at all Mike, sounds like a plan when this wind calms a little. I had a look at the Ugly Stik bag, looks like a sturdy unit so I’ve snapped one up.


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tackle world port rd.... a little dearer than the others.. But I liked it... and if you want a fishing partner for thompsons.. drop me a line and well organise a fish.. Wanting to try some new lures I have..

I have the "ugly stick" bag.. Why? I liked the little pocket with the box for lures.. and the material looked a lot tougher than the Alvey one..
Thompsons is my local.. Been there a few times last/this year.. always get one or two silvers with lures and always lots of undersized ones.. You can thank the local Pro Fisher for raping the area.. I wish they ban them in metro...... Great spot for it..

I have the "ugly stick" bag.. Why? I liked the little pocket with the box for lures.. and the material looked a lot tougher than the Alvey one..
Thompsons is my local.. Been there a few times last/this year.. always get one or two silvers with lures and always lots of undersized ones.. You can thank the local Pro Fisher for raping the area.. I wish they ban them in metro...... Great spot for it..

I use the Knot Assist 2.0.. Works really well... Cost $45 from japan.... I know you can do it by hand.. But the knot assist makes life easier.. It holds my 6lb brad well..

burley up and they will come.. Yorks beach..
video-2018-11-16-16-13-38.mp4

Ray Annes, when I lived in the suburbs they never failed me. They should have all those worms, don't know about nightcrawlers though.
You're better off learning to get you're own bait though, buying worms becomes expensive very quickly. It's also very satisfying when you learn how to obtain a new bait source, it's like learning to catch a new species of fish

I bought some live beach worms.. wont say where.. only got 10 for $10 in the tub and they were tiny/some dead.... wont be buying them again.. salted pillies/fresh squid always work for me and will stick to that.