Scunner 175
The Scunner 175 belongs to the hard swimbait family, and more specifically to the glide-bait family, with its two-part composition.
Originally fitted with two treble hooks. The first is mounted on a 360° rolling swivel, but the second is not. Sometimes, the first triple gets tangled up in the line when casting, or gets stuck on the hard pectoral fins. To reduce the problem, I've replaced this triple with a single in size 3/0, which means I don't have to deal with this tangle as often.
Its density and weight of 95 grams make it sink quite quickly, swimming at a depth of around 1 to 2 metres. The ring under its mouth can be used to increase this depth by adding a lead clip.
Finally, it is finished off with a supple, fairly thick tail that should resist the teeth of pike for quite some time. This tail makes for a more natural swimming action.
8 colors
Gunki offers this lure in 8 different colors. The classics include a natural color and a fire tiger. As for the other choices, these are things we're less used to seeing and they bring originality.
I chose gold because it's a color you don't often come across for this type of lure, although it works very well for pike in whisky-tinged waters found in Nordic countries such as Sweden, Ireland and Canada.
Use
The two-part composition gives the Gunki lure the S-shaped swimming action typical of this family of lures. During a linear retrieve, it draws an elongated S shape, following its retrieve line closely and not straying too far from it. This stroke is accompanied by a pronounced rolling action.
A stop-and-go retrieve accentuates this S, making the lure go further to the sides. Between these two animations, the second is clearly my favorite.
The Scunner 175 is less versatile than the 135 model. It requires a rod dedicated to the use of hard swimbaits, and is clearly intended for pike fishing in fairly large environments, while the smaller version, 135, is aimed at other species, such as black-bass, and is more at ease fishing small environments.
Pike fishing addicts will find it a good glide-bait, a little more complicated to master, and aimed at a discerning public.
3 spare tails
The good news is that this 175 version comes with the option of buying a pack of spare tails. The pack costs 4.95 euros and contains three tails, each in a different color: orange, red and black.
My opinion
Although aesthetically the model 175 appears to be a carbon copy, just larger, of the model 135, in practice they are not exactly the same lures. The swimming action is similar, but the retrieve speeds and swimming depths are not the same. This 175 version is more demanding: you need to find the right retrieve speed to get the best out of it.
There aren't many glide-baits over 17 centimetres for under 30 euros on the shelves, and it would be a shame to go without Gunki's lure. It offers excellent value for money.
For beginners or those looking for versatility, I recommend the 135 version. For initiates, this Scunner 175 is a great discovery that deserves to be added to the box!
