THE NEXT BIG THING
The growing popularity of fuzzy dice and urchin baits is taking the bass-fishing world by storm. But will it last?
Advertisement
More and more pro boats have urchins rigged and ready (photo: B.A.S.S.)THE FUTURE
So, where do we go from here with this latest bass-fishing craze? Johnston, Teofilo and DiCienzo are three of the most accomplished bass anglers in the country and they all looked at the same facts, but came to different conclusions. Johnston is the most direct about the future of these baits. “I think you’re going to see them go away fairly quickly, in like one to two years,” he says. “I think it’s a fad. Once the fish see it, I think they’re going to get used to it and not eat it anymore.”
His conclusion is not without precedent. The same baits dominated Japanese tournaments for four or five years, then faded as the fish acclimated to them. Similarly, other Japanese baits imported to North America have since worn out their welcome. The most recent example is the small jighead-minnow presentation; it still works well, but no longer completely dominates.
Advertisement
Teofilo and DiCienzo see a different arc. They’re not arguing the bait will keep dominating at its current level, but they also believe it won’t disappear. “I think it’s here to stay,” DiCienzo says. “I think it’s something where actually more baits are probably going to come around to this style of fishing.”
Teofilo compares the category to the Senko, the tentacle-free soft-plastic stickbait that’s been a permanent fixture in bass fishing for more than two decades, despite going up and down in popularity. “You might see variance in terms of how many people are going to be fishing it versus the reaction of the fish,” Teofilo says. “I still believe it’s going to be very Senko-esque, where you’re going to have to have it tied on all the time just to make sure you’re either ruling it out or ruling it in.”
In the end, what Johnston and the two Joeys differ over is the magnitude of the fad’s fade. Johnston is predicting the end of its dominance phase, while Teofilo and DiCienzo see the baits surviving as useful tools. Both predictions could be correct: the urchin and the fuzzy dice stop winning every major event in two to three years, then settle into the rotation as something serious anglers keep tied on for the right conditions, as is now the case with a jighead and minnow.
Advertisement
Where it gets genuinely interesting is what comes next in the short term. Dedicated terminal tackle is appearing. Hook designs specific to these baits are showing up at retail. More lure manufacturers are entering the category every few months with their own bait designs. One thing is for certain, though: we are watching a category being built in real time.