Bass lure fake?

I’m always trying to learn more about lure casting for bass. Sometimes this involves watching what others are doing, following trends; and sometimes I like to trail blaze. Not always easy this as there are plenty of better brains than mine putting some serious time, and sometimes serious money, into lure casting. One way that I try to take the lead is through research. The cold winter months bring ample time and opportunity to dig into the ether through the www. I focus my efforts not on whom is doing what at home - no mindless UK forums for me – no I look east, more specifically to the Far East.

I’ve written before about the Japanese and the Koreans, rod angling mad countries that lead the world in lure casting skill and tackle development. They know their stuff and it is their stuff that we eventually get. The supply chain of quality lure casting tackle to the UK is steadily improving but what arrives here is already dated there. Our ‘band wagons’ are old hat to Mr Yamimosho. Yes we may think we are at the height of lure casting fashion because we buy a red rod for silly money but we are wrong. We are buying something that has already trended months, if not years ago, in Asia.

Our tackle trade suppliers spend time and money trying to convince us of a new need, a new must have that only they and their paid consultants have access to – and you can have too, at a premium price. But I tell you this - they are selling Asia’s old hats. They are TK Max and you’ll only go there if the misses makes you! If you are serious about your lure casting for sea bass then look into Asia. And I do, all through the winter.

This lure I’ve just got hold of out of Thailand. Its wickedly clever, great casting ball bearings running smoothly down its centre line as you would expect, floating but 18g of casting weight, VMC trebles (very nice). Like the colour too (it is trending at the moment – so bare that in mind for your winter stock up). But it’s a fake... well sort of anyway. It is made in China, not Japan or Korea and because of this it costs the equivalent of £6. But this is not a cheaply made lure. It mimics the build quality of the best. No this is another Chinese master class in product manufacturing. Do it the same, just do it cheaper. Haryu – remember the name because in a year or two’s time (late again) we’ll see it in on our favourite retailers’ shelves.

And that’s the point. Don’t wait for others get out there, start looking now. The internet allows us world wide access to what others do. I know that I will keep looking and buying from the Far East. If you’d like to learn where to start looking then do submit a comment and I’ll share some links.