Dowz Swimmer 220 SF
The Dowz Swimmer 220 SF is a hard swimbait measuring 22 centimetres and weighing 102 grams.
It's made up of three parts, but its swimming action is deceptive: it's that of a glide bait and not that of a three-part hard swimbait, as you'd expect. In fact, at constant retrieve, this lure makes a large S, typical of glide baits, accompanied by a pronounced rolling action.
This particularity is given by the ample articulation located between its first and second sections.
The first section of the lure has hard fins on each side, giving it its pronounced rolling action.
Other fins are also positioned on the lure to add realism. Aesthetically, they are indeed very beautiful, but they are made of a kind of hard resin that breaks on impact, so care must be taken.
Its slow floating density makes it swim to a depth of around 1 metre. There's a ring under the head to hold a sinker clip and vary the swimming depth, but this ring doesn't protrude far enough to hold a sinker clip, or even the John Weight, from the same brand as the lure...
If necessary, place a lead clip on the ring of the first hook.
The final section and flexible tail give you the same fluidity of movement as a conventional hard swimbait.
To make the Dowz Swimmer's swimming action more unpredictable and jerky, it's quite possible to give light blows with the scions, which immediately causes the lure to react and move off in a different direction.
Regardless of the animation chosen, it is designed for slow animations, and does not tolerate being brought back too quickly, nor the presence of current.
Illex offers the Dowz Swimmer in 6 colors, three realistic with a successful "real type" and 3 fancier, more pike-oriented colors.
The lure is armed with two treble hooks, mounted on rolling swivels to reduce the risk of stalling during the fight.
This is a good thing if you want to stay with trebles, but if you want to pass the lure with single hooks, it's less effective than having a fixed ring, as the hooks don't end up positioned correctly.
Last but not least, the only major fly in the ointment is the new price tag.
In 2020, it was priced at ?49.90. Today, in 2024, that price has doubled to ?99.95. If we compare this price with equivalent lures from other brands, the Dowz Swimmer is above the competition, whereas before, we had a great lure at a decent price!
I don't know what accounts for this increase, but it's a shame that this reference has become less affordable. Especially as Illex is able to offer a Freddy of superb quality at an unbeatable price, which makes this increase incomprehensible!
Use
The Dowz Swimmer 220 SF was originally designed for black-bass fishing in Japan. In France, it can also be used to fish black-bass, but its preferred target is clearly pike, in lakes and slow rivers.
My opinion
Having left the Illex catalog in a hurry in 2021, I was really looking forward to seeing the Dowz Swimmer 220 SF reappear, especially as some of the colors, such as Aurora Bleak or Muddy Roach, are very relevant for pike research, and rather unique.
Unfortunately, the price tag and its considerable increase spoil the pleasure, and this return is not as good as hoped.
While this price doesn't detract from the lure's excellent performance, it does limit its acquisition, especially if you want to buy it in several colors.
