Ima
Ima is a Japanese lure brand, which began distributing its products in 1998. The name Ima corresponds to the first three letters of the English word "imagination". The brand's slogan was to respond to anglers' imaginations, by offering them lures that respond to what they want.
Ima's history in France goes back over fifteen years. At first, it was distributed by the Sakura company and had unfortunately disappeared from the shelves.
Fortunately, Way of Fishing took over distribution of Ima a few years later, and in all honesty, I find it one of the most interesting brands distributed in France, for the following six points:
1) Greater strength
Ima lures are solid in every way. Whether it's the paint, the frame, the eyes or the body of the lure, everything is solid and made from excellent materials.
The majority of Ima lures are designed for use in salt water, with the use of rust-proof metals guaranteeing long life.
2) Original colors
The colors offered by Ima are generally intended for sea fishing, but for freshwater fishing, the choice may seem less suitable.
However, all natural colors are excellent, whether you're fishing for bass or asp in clear water.
What's more, Ima offers a number of its lures in chartreuse, which is close to the fire tiger (if not more versatile).
We don't get lost in endless color charts, but the brand refocuses on the essentials, even if we can deplore the lack of colors with patterns, like the perch.
3) An accomplished design
When you fish with an Ima lure, you can feel that it has been tested and retested for many hours, and it's almost impossible to find a fault with it. The swims are good, the densities mastered, the lures are well balanced and always cast well. What's more, some models include top-of-the-range features such as mass transfer.
4) Solid weaponry
The point that makes the difference with the majority of other brands, is the solidity of the snap rings and hooks that come with the lures. Many manufacturers skimp on the quality of their tackle to increase their profit margins, but not Ima.
The broken rings and hooks supplied with the lures are of good quality, and allow you to tackle large predators without unpleasant surprises.
5) A competitive price
The prices at which Ima lures are sold are simply super competitive, and I honestly believe that they offer the best value for money, especially in view of the quality of the lures and their armament.
Ten years ago, Ima lures were sold at a similar price to today. The only increase is consistent with inflation over the years. On average, they cost between ?20 and ?40, depending on the model.
6) Silence
Finally, the majority of Ima models are silent and beadless, and this is much appreciated. Beads are often found in hard lures, but their effectiveness remains uncertain, even harmful in some cases.
Ima and its silent models offer a decisive alternative for certain species, such as asp.
Ima specializes in the design of hard lures, mainly stickbaits, minnow jerkbaits and crankbaits. Its expertise lies mainly in lures between 8 and 14 centimetres, and it's a brand that deserves to be better known.
