The family of SPRO BBZ-1 lures is now complete with the birth…release of the SPRO BBZ-1 Baby Shad.  Now no matter what size baitfish the fish are foraging on, there is a BBZ-1 lure to match it.  No one could be any prouder than the lure designer and professional angler Bill Siemantel.  In the beginning, Siemantel had a concept for designing swimbaits that correlate with his theoretic philosophy on the behavior of bass.  In other words, Siemantel design lures the right size for any game fish that would stay in their strike zone.  In the strike zone, in this case meaning top, middle, or bottom.  You present a lure correctly and you catch a fish.

The first SPRO BBZ-1(www.spro.com) was the granddaddy.  It measured 8-inches and sported 1/0 Gamakatsu treble hooks coming in three models: floating, slow sink, and fast sink.  The BBZ-1 Jr. came in at only 6-inches with #2 2X Strong Gamakatsu treble hooks.  Like granddad, it comes in floating, slow sink, and fast sink.  Next was the BBZ-1 Shad.  It was only 4-inches long and sports only one #2 Gamakatsu treble hook.  Again it comes in floating, slow sink, and fast sink.  Now, Siemantel has taken swimbaits to a whole new level.  He has designed a hard bodied, multi jointed swimbait that is only 2.5-inches long with a #8 Gamakatsu treble hook.  It was built to represent the “no see-um” baitfish.  The BBZ-1 is the perfect lure to complete the family of swimbaits.

“I wanted to build a lure that would target the time of year when you have all the forage anglers refer to as no-see ums. At first, it was only going to be built to make a V wake when on a moderate to fast retrieve; now, I have three standard techniques that I use to catch fish with,” explained Siemantel.  The first is stroking it off the bottom.  To do this, anglers cast out and let the lure fall to the bottom then begin to make soft strokes popping the lure off the bottom, allowing it to fall to the bottom after each stroke.  “I like to fish this early in the year around humps, transition turns, and other structure in 20- to 60-feet deep; especially when big bass are eating smaller baits,” said Siemantel.  The next technique is casting out and reeling it straight back in on a moderate to fast retrieve.  Siemantel prefers to us this technique in 0- to 60-feet.  He will count down the Baby Shad to the depth the fish are holding or suspending, give the lure a pop and then reel it in.  “This is an excellent retrieve when the fish are holding out in open water or suspending,” explained Siemantel.  The last presentation is around busting fish.  “I typically cast past the schooling fish reeling the Baby Shad back just under the surface with a medium to fast retrieve and the rod tip high; sometime, I will also reel fast then stop and begin to reel fast again.  Most the time the fish will hit the lure as it falls or when I start reeling again,” said Siemantel.

Siemantel designed the BBZ-1 Baby Shad around this rod, reel, and line setup: Lamiglas XPS 702X Drop Shot Special II, Shimano Stradic 2500, and 5-pound Maxima Fluorocarbon line or 4-pound test diameter/15-pound test Power Pro braid line with 6-pound Maxima Ultra Green.  To join the braid and mono, Siemantel uses a double Albright knot.  “It’s easy to tie and stays together,” said Siemantel.  Using the lighter line allows for a longer cast and better hook ups.  Interestingly, Siemantel has lost few fish even with the lighter equipment.  “The key is to have the drag set correctly and play the fish; a lot like catching fish on a drop shot,” explained Siemantel.

What else can you say to the SPRO BZZ-1 Baby Shad?  Welcome to the family.  I hope you have a great time with the rest of the family.  Do not get upset if granddad or the rest of the family goes out on the lake without you… you will get your chance after awhile.