Fishing Resources

  HQ Guide Service

Data for Review

Date – Summer, 2008
Manufacturer – Bearpaws Handpoured Baits
Reviewed by - Andrew Ragas owner, www.fishing-headquarters.com

About Bearpaws Handpoured Baits B-Bug:

Hand-poured baits have been sought-after by tournament and regular anglers. The action, colors, size and texture can be custom-made to match the forage of your favorite gamefish species. Bearpaws baits, designed and created by John Olson, have great floatation quality along with a soft texture that gives each bait a lifelike action when presented properly. These baits are specifically designed for the angler to keep the bait in the strike-zone.

Bearpaw is an all-customized company which allows the angler to choose whichever color he/she desires. There are about 150 creative colors/ patterns that can be chosen from to form your special bait that will match the water & forage base. Bearpaws are created by slowly heating a batter of customized plastic, to let the ingredients maintain their consistency.

The Bearpaw process allows scents to soak into the plastic, rather than evaporating into the air. Each batter is slowly poured into its mold to prevent any air pockets and deformities. Once the cooling process is finished, each bait is hand-trimmed to rid any excess plastic and is inspected for any deformities.
 

The B-Bug Creature bait is a 4-inch bait that is unmatched by few. The bottom segment of the bait is similar to the Zoom Brush Hawg with mantis wings and thin-like antennas. The top segment has alien-like features that invites the fish to strike with power. The B-Bug is thin in the middle for the hook to penetrate faster through the soft lifelike plastic which enables the angler to get proper and deeper hook-sets.

When the fishing gets tough, throw on this creature bait to give the fish a different presentation. You will be surprised by the results. Like all of Bearpaws Handpoured Baits, the B-Bug is fortified with Megastrike and comes in all of the available Bearpaw colors. Without a doubt, the B-Bug is the creature feature of freshwater sport fishing.

Like what Bearpaw owner John Olson says; “If I won’t fish with it, you won’t fish with it.”

Impressions:

Upon inspection, the first time I put my hands on the B-Bug, my feeling was that it was nothing different than the infamous Kinami Baits Nories Bug, winner of the 2004 Bassmaster Classic by Takahiro Omori. Besides the extra set of appendages and thicker tail segment, there is not much of a difference in terms of look. However, being an avid user of Bearpaws Handpoured Baits, there is a sense of uniqueness relating to these handpours due to the texture, feel, and performance of the bait.

When I first began using these creatures in summer of 2008, my objectives were to primarily use these for Smallmouth Bass. The procedure called for fishing hard-bottomed areas comprised of sand, rock, and wood, and in order to entice any fish, I was going to crawl these baits along the bottom; A presentation that is effective for fishing baits of similar style.

By the end of day-1 of this review period, which was the first day I had ever used these baits, I was rewarded with some nice catches of Smallmouth Bass, two fish at 18-inches and about 4-pounds apiece.

When using the Bearpaw B-Bug, expect to make some big catches with both Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass.

Within my first ten minutes of angling with the B-Bug, I had already caught my first significant fish pictured above.

On the water uses (Casting, Durability, and Presentation)

Casting & Retrieving.

Creature baits are primarily used for shallow water and bottom-oriented applications. In regard to the B-Bug, the bait itself is not best suited for long-distance casting but rather for flipping and pitching to shallow water cover and structures. This type of fishing may be done with both casting and spinning gear. If I had to chose whichever option I would fish with these baits with, I recommend using a baitcaster if flipping and pitching is the game. If extra casting distance is needed and of your desire, you cannot go wrong with a spinning set-up.

As previously stated, the best way to fish the B-Bug is to crawl and hop it slowly along the bottom. This type of fishing requires lots of patience and very little physical effort. When fishing this way, be sure that your reel has a slow gear ratio which will consequently allow for slow retrieval speeds.

B-Bug is the name, and fished slow is the game.

Durability

As a bait with numerous appendages, durability was an issue throughout the season. It seemed as if for every one or two fish that were caught, the bait would get torn and in result be ruined.

The worst aspect of the poor durability lies in the fact that the main body segment frequently tears from the hooks while in the process of landing the fish as well when ripping it through heavy cover. In addition, the rear appendages are prone to being ripped off from light-biting fish.

When all is said and done, the durability factor is poor. If you can afford using one bait per two fish at most, I suggest for you to use these baits as they catch fish with great success. If not, you can find better alternatives.

Presentation.

Creature baits are plastics that are good for bottom-oriented presentations, and for shallow water applications as they resemble crayfish, a favorite forage for both Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass.

Throughout the season, my favorite method for fishing the B-Bug was to pitch it into shallow water and then slowly crawl it along the bottom and back to the boat. This type of fishing usually called for the usage of weightless and weedless worm-hooks as well as the Texas rig. In addition if finesse was needed, I would use the B-Bug under a split shot rig, and even as a light Carolina rig with spinning gear.

Construction & Quality:  Being a hand-poured plastic, the construction is rather impressive and along the same lines as the more popular creature baits by Zoom and Kinami. However, the durability factor of this lure is rather poor, and the worst aspect of this bait.   5/10

On The Water Uses:  An exceptional bait when slow-paced angling is called for: During cold fronts; When sight fishing for Bass; Shallow water angling; etc. Worked best for bottom-oriented applications.   10/10

Design (ergonomics):  Similar to the Kinami Nories Bug. Good design for a bait when a different look and approach is needed for catching the fish.   8/10

Presentation:  Only good for fishing with slow presentation or when fishing shallow water. If this is not your style, I would look elsewhere for a bait.   8/10

Price:  If you use up a full bag in one outing, each fish you end up catching will probably value at $.60 cents apiece.  6/10

Average Final Score = 7/10 

Positive:

- Available for custom pours and angler requests.

- 150+ colors available - can match the color of any forage species.

- Fortified with Megastrike Attractant.

- Gives pressured fish a different look and approach.

- Can be purchased in bulk.

- Excellent customer service and fast shipping!

Negative:

- Poor durability.

- Angler will not get enough value from price of 1 bag.