Riser Bait
The special feature of Riser Baits is their metal lip, to which the line is attached by means of a broken ring or staple. It's important not to attach the line directly to the lure, as it will be cut on the metal edges.
This lip is not used to make the lure dive, as is the case with most lures, but rather to keep the lure on the surface throughout the retrieve.
When I bought this lure, I had my doubts about the strength of the bib, thinking it would be bent by the first fish. In the end, it's rigid and doesn't bend. I've had no problems with it after catching several fish weighing around 3 to 4 kilograms.
Illex offers three lures in this range. The 006, 16.6 grams for only 6 centimetres, is a real little missile that launches at a good distance - a rare thing for such a small lure! The 008 is 8 centimetres for 21.7 grams and the 009P is 8.5 centimetres for 22 grams.
Using Riser Bait
The lures in the Riser Bait range are to be reeled in continuously. A small ML or M spinning rod, depending on the model of lure used, is best for animating this lure. It's possible to reel it in gently at a constant speed, but I find that this lure really comes into its own when reeled in quickly, rod high, with a few light continuous strokes of the tip.
At this point, the lure will imitate a fish ricocheting on the surface, something we observe when hunting.
The first few times you try this animation, because it doesn't look like any other lure, you might not believe it and think you're using it wrong. However, it works well as an imitation of a small fish running away from a predator. It takes a little time to master this animation and get the lure to splash on the surface.
This is a very special lure, designed for summer fishing for perch, black-bass, asp and sea bass, when these fish are focused on very small fry and when it's difficult to catch them.
Last but not least, these internal beads are very discreet, which is a good thing when fishing for wary fish who know what they want!
My opinion
The Riser Bait range offers an original concept that may seem strange at first, but once you've mastered and understood the stroke, it really works!
It's a lure that responds to a very specific situation, when fish are feeding on fry. It's that special moment when you see a lot of hunting, but no matter how hard you try, the fish just won't bite. Riser Bait is the answer.
We don't often take it out of the box during the season, but if you're fishing for asp, perch or black-bass, you need at least one! We're glad to have it on hand when the time comes!