Zipbaits Fakie Dog DS

ZIPBAITS FAKIE DOG DS Topwater Walk the Dog Surface Lure

INTRODUCTION: Zipbaits Fakie Dog DS is an extension of the rapidly popular Zipbaits lure range that has taken our breaming circuit by storm. With the popularity of lures like the Khamsin JR and Rigge minnows, the Fakie Dog DS is a must to your topwater artillery. Our market is flooded with several ‘walk the dog' style lures, so choosing the right one is essential or this fad can become an expensive one.

SPECIFICATIONS:
Type : Topwater
Depth : Surface
Size : 70mm
Weight : 8.2g
Colours : 781, 333, 021, 298A, 617A
Colour Tested - 781
Hook Size : #8 Owner treble
RRP: $23.95

IMPRESSIONS: Out of the box this lure has really good weight distribution via three separate ball bearings embedded in it's underbelly, which are not only the essence to it's walking action, but add a unique rattle to keep pursuing predators interested in their fleeing prey. With two small ball bearings on the front and back and a larger one in the middle, this should balance the Fakie Dog DS nicely and give it good cast ability when chasing fish in shallow water or on long weedy flats where long casts are essential to reduce spooking the feeding fish.

FIELD TEST: Our arena for our field test is the notorious shallows of the Moreton Bay Islands. These islands have been known to make grown men cry when fishing topwater as it's the home of many trophy size Yellowfin Bream who have a great love for any surface action.
My rod of choice is a 7" Samurai Reaction 201 with a very fast taper which ideal for giving the Fakie Dog DS a precise side to side action when worked with a fast twitch action. The rod is matched with a TD Sol 2500 spooled with 8lb Unitika PE and my choice of leader is 6lb Yamatoyo Harris Fighter. I chose a 5ft long leader to be careful not to spook the fish and to give me a little stretch to set the hooks when the lure is struck. The choice of a 6lb leader is to ensure you can make long casts without snapping the line due to the weight of the lure.

APPLICATION: The Fakie Dog DS is an ideal choice of lure when fishing up in the shallows to entice fish out of the structure and the comforts of deeper water. It is also an ideal searching tool to see if fish are holding in an area and not too shy to feed off the surface. We used the Fakie Dog in both shallow (1-3ft) and deep (4-7ft) water with a combination of rubble and weedy bottoms which gave us an indication of it's effectiveness.

EFFECTIVENESS: My first few casts immediately confirmed to me the Fakie Dog DS was going to be a great ‘go to' lure. With a great walk the dog action, this lure takes nice long side to side swoops when worked with slow twitches of the rod making it very enticing to nearby predators. It didn't take too long for me to hook onto my first bream, as after a few hits the ultra sharp Owner trebles did their job to seal the deal. I believe the action of this lure combined with the rattle of the ball bearings, is an awesome recipe for not only attracting timid fish but keeping them intrigued while chasing their next meal. The use of a pause in my retrieve let the Fakie Dog DS lie perfectly vertical giving the impression of an injured baitfish flawlessly. On our field test day this proved to be the gun method as the fish initially chased the lure, then hung back to watch it's progression but absolutely smashed the Fakie Dog DS once paused for even up to 10 seconds at times. We ended our field test by pulling eight bream in total ranging from 20cm to 29cm, several pike and a small squire which succumb to the lure's mysterious ways.
If I had one absolutely tiny gripe it would be, due to the lure's 8.2gram body and a 10kt wind behind me, this lure can be cast like a rocket out of site but you and I both know this isn't a manufacturer's fault but merely an eyesight issue!!

RATINGS KEY: 5xbream= Awesome > ½ x bream= Find another product.

Construction/Quality: A brilliantly constructed lure 5 bream
Performance: Excellent castability, easy action 4.5 bream
Price: Competitive pricing against similar quality lures 4.5 bream
Features: Top quality hooks and split rings 4.5 bream
Design: Good shape, size and weight 4 bream
TOTAL: 4.5 bream

CONCLUSION: As my review shows the Fakie Dog DS is an awesome choice for a topwater lure. With it's great action and superior castability this lure is another hit out of the Zipbaits stables. I have no doubt it will be one of those lures that will be sold out at stores more regularly than gathering dust like it's counterparts. So if you do see one, grab it, you will not be disappointed.



TESTER: Grayson Fong

SPECIAL THANKS: To the team at www.fishin.com.au for providing our test products. Check out their website for specials on the ZIPBAITS range at competitive prices.

4Breamin copyright 2009

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