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Balam 300 F
At 168 grams for a length of 30 centimetres, the Balam 300 F is not so heavy compared to its long length. A 200-gram rod can cast it adequately.
The Balam requires a certain recovery speed to get going, and appreciates medium and fast recovery speeds.
When retrieved at constant speed, the lure remains on its retrieve axis, swimming with a body undulation similar to the movement of a flag in the wind, about 20 centimetres below the surface for this floating version.
There's also a sinking version of the Balam 300, which swims at around 60 to 80 centimetres below the surface.
If you have to choose between the two, I'd recommend the floating version, which can be plumbed in for deeper swimming and greater versatility.
It is therefore possible to add a lead-clip to modify its swimming depth. This lead can be placed on the head ring, to give it a diving action at the head, and use it as a puller, as you would with a soft lure mounted on a lead head.
You can also position this sinker on the ring of the first hook, to let it sink horizontally, favouring linear retrievals, while moving it to a deeper depth.
The lure is rigged with three treble hooks, but to comply with public domain regulations, one of the hooks needs to be removed. As for the hook to be removed, I recommend removing the middle one.
Unfortunately, there's more to pike fishing than just this hook. We recommend replacing broken rings with stronger models and increasing hook size. Broken rings in size n°5, as well as treble hooks in size n°3, or single hooks in size n°5 are therefore recommended.
It's a shame to have to make such modifications to a lure of this price. But don't forget that this lure is basically designed for black-bass fishing, so it's only natural to boost it for big pike.
Finally, another point to check, especially with lures of this price, is always to look into the possibility of buying spare soft tails, as a Balam without a soft tail doesn't give the same effect.
In the case of the Balam, tails are indeed available for purchase, individually, so in terms of the lure's durability, this is a good one. The tail is sold for ?14, and Ultimate Fishing, the distributor, always seems to keep a good stock, so it's easy to get hold of.
It should be noted, however, that no spare tail is supplied with the lure.
Madness or Evergreen?
The Balam 300 F is marketed under 2 brands, Madness and Evergreen, each in a different color. This variation is due to the fact that its inventor is a prostaff for both brands. As a result, two distributors share the distribution of the Balam 300 F in France.
On the one hand, Fish Connection offers the Evergreen version for ?165, while the Madness version is ?174.30 at Ultimate Fishing. I don't know what explains this price difference, but Ultimate Fishing offers a much wider choice of colors! What's more, some exclusive, limited, out-of-catalog colors make their appearance from time to time.
200, 245 and 350
Size 300 was the first available for the Balam. Since then, the lure has come in three other sizes: 20, 24.5 and 35 centimetres.
Use
Invented in Japan for black-bass fishing, in France the Balam 300 F is best suited to pike fishing.
My opinion
Very, or even too expensive for "just" a lure, the Balam 300 F has a real ability to bring out big fish!
It causes a lot of attacks and follow-ups, but its follow-ups are already a very good way of learning about the fish that populate a sector, and then trying different things to get hits. It's a lure you need to take time to understand and master, and don't hesitate to take it out - you'll be amazed at its effectiveness, which is very real.
Having one in your outfit is clearly a good investment that I recommend. It's sure to bring you some big fish!
Balam 300 F
- Brand = Evergreen and Madness
- Length = 30 centimetres
- Weight = 168 grams
- Type = Hard swimbait
- Swimming depth = 20 centimetres
- Density = Floating
- Price = ?165 - ?174.30
- Distributor France = Fish Connection and Utimate Fishing
