Nate Lambrecht has been making some mondo-sized trout hardbaits for 6 or 8 months now. You might recognize them from some of Greg's pics last year. I got in touch with a couple of these handmade beauties a few weeks ago and have to say - very nice.

These baits are big, they're shaped right (not too wide to deter hookups), and they move with beautiful trout like action at all speeds. This is a bait where you'll want to consider your 7'11" XH Okuma and perhaps even going up to 30lb test. It's a bomber.

The baits Nate did up for me are a light trout pattern with a silvery overall look. I wanted these for bright sunny days and to match some of the pale trout we see in the lakes up here. I'm 100% stoked on the paint jobs. Nate does a variety of other patterns which you can check out on www.natesbaits.com

I have not been a huge fan of the baits with 3+ joints in the past. Too often you wind up with a snake like action that doesn't look much like how a trout moves. This bait is different though because the head section is large enough to steady the bait and let the tail pieces move in a way that looks trout-like. Slow wind this bait back 4' below the surface and it just looks "right".

Price tag is $85. Coming in under comparable hand-made hardbaits but still pricey. Time will tell for me on issues of durability, but what I've seen so far looks strong. I hope some of you guys who are fishing the bait will take a moment to leave a review comment. This lure will be in the boat with me this spring.


http://www.calfishing.com/files/Images/lures/trout_plugs/nates_baits_trout/nates_baits_trout_side.jpg

hey Rob which bait did you get from Nate? The slow sink