Three Crazy Fishing Lures of 2016
The 3D Suicide Duck, Flippy-Floppy, and an aerial attack—can these things really fool the fish?
A look at the craziest new fishing lures of 2016 leaves no doubt: anglers are not the most rational hobbyists on the face of the planet. Who else would want to mimic a panicked, fleeing duckling about to get eaten? What other segment of the population would create a flying squid in order to fool the fish into thinking they’re real… even though squid can’t fly? There’s always a fun new group of fishing lures to check out following the summer International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trade show (ICAST), and this year is no different. Here are our top three picks for zany new fishing lures that may or may not actually help you catch fish.
The 3D Suicide Duck
Yes, fish like largemouth bass and pike do eat ducklings. And it’s no wonder the new 3D Suicide Duck is made by a tackle company called “Savage Gear.”
The 3D Suicide Duck didn’t merely turn heads at ICAST, it won the award for the best new hard lure at the show. The flexible flippers really do flip and flap as you reel this little duckie in, so it leaves a bubble trail for the fish to follow. The hooks are hidden beneath tufts of feathers, and two different attachment points let fishermen decide if they want to mimic a duckling that’s trying to make a stealthy escape, or one that’s merely fleeing in panic. The 3D Duck even comes in different color patterns, one of which is “coot”. And just like the real thing, this lure always lands belly-down to prevent snags. Wait a sec—will the 3D Suicide Duck really catch fish? We suggest you doubters watch Savage Gear’s video. Although the production seem a bit overblown for a feature about a plastic duck, the fishing lure’s effectiveness is proven on film. Plus, nothing beats listening to a Germanic redneck say “suicide duck” over and over again.
Cost: $15 - $20.
Visit Savage Gear’s 3D Suicide Duck page for more information.
The Long Tail Flippy-Floppy
No, this is not the Y-Wing bomber’s replacement for the next installment of Star Wars. It’s the Squidnation Long Tail Flippy Floppy.
Another award-winner at the ICAST show was the Squidnation Flippy-Floppy. This lure attaches Squid A to Squids B and C with flexible arms, so as the rig is trolled, Squids B and C flip and flop back and forth, in and out of the water. The appearance is that of a pair of little squid flying through the air in short hops. Sideways. On each side of big-daddy Squid A. We will stipulate that in the real world, squid don’t fly. Especially not sideways. But the commotion this thing creates unquestionably raises the ire of predators like yellowfin tuna, marlin, and mahi-mahi. It also raises the eyebrows of many anglers who just can’t figure out why the darn thing works—but it does.
Cost: about $100.
Visit Squidnation for more information.
Splash Drone
Okay, this isn’t exactly a fishing lure, but it’s certainly of interest to anglers and it’s more than a little bit crazy: the Splash Drone is a waterproof drone from Urban Drones, which comes in a Fisherman’s model. It has a payload release system so you can fly your bait off the beach, around the bend, or into the bayou, and a “return to home” feature means it always comes back. That alone is pretty cool, but here’s where the Splash Drone leave other drones in its wake: it can land and take off from the water. Watch the video, if you don’t believe us. You’ll see a guy nonchalantly toss one into the drink, then fly it up into the sky.
Cost: $1,400.
For more information, visit Urban Drones.
