Testing Booth: Tackle Tactics

Plenty of NEW things from Tackle Tactics

As you read this, most likely you have had some time to relax and enjoy everything that the Christmas/New Year period has to offer. It certainly feels like some form of normality has returned, so I hope you have had a great Christmas and New Year.

For me it certainly felt like Christmas had come early when I went and picked up an array of products for this testing booth from the team at Tackle Tactics. They have certainly come a long way from the small shed, office space and the specialty range of jigheads and lures they had, when I met them many years ago. Their portfolio of brands has expanded well beyond the name Tackle Tactics (TT’s as we all know it) and includes brands we all know like ZMan, Platypus, Okuma, Pro Cure, Toadfish and a number of others. So, as you can imagine they had plenty of new product hitting the shelves in late 2022 and early 2023. You will find an image within this testing booth that shows you the products that I picked up to be used and tested. The one thing missing is the Okuma Ceymar HD spin reel. It has arrived now, but I will test it individually, as I want a bit more time to put it through its paces.

Let the testing begin.

Just a few of the new releases from Tackle Tactics in 2023. FYI the Okuma ITX reels are an old favorite. The new Okuma Ceymar HD reels will be tested in a future issue of the magazine.

This Enoggera Reservoir bass couldn’t resist a ST GrubZ slow rolled through the lily pads in the image. a slightly different way using the TT tournament series HWS (Hidden Weight System) jigheads, which makes the lure sink in a horizontal position and offers a weedless presentation, perfect if your fishing areas that are structure orientated. There will be a picture within this test showing this rigging option.

Although there are many species you can target and will catch with either of these two lures, I believe bream anglers will love them. The colour options are spot on and the different presentation and retrieve options will excite many anglers. Scent is another component that many anglers like to use, so the ribbing on the ST GrubZ may tip a few people towards it, as the ribs hold plenty of scent to add a bit more attraction to your lure.

A small warning with these plastics and ZMan plastics in general is to store them correctly. I tend to keep them in their original packaging, which keeps them out of harms way. They do react with other plastics and if left out the sun can change shape, so store them correctly and you will have plastics that last longer than most in the market.

TT BLACK MAMBA FISHING RODS

Tackle Tactics recently added a rod range into its portfolio of products. There are three ranges within this portfolio ranging from the entry level Copperhead series,

Most fish love eating prawns, so the new ZMan 2.5” PrawnZ will be a good option for any number of species.

medium price point Red Belly range and then finally the Black Mamba range. All have spin and baitcast options. I was given a couple of the Black Mamba spin rods to try (the 7’ 1-3kg and 2-4kg rods). I matched them with a couple of the Okuma ITX reels (a 1000 on the 1-3kg rod and a 2500 on the 2-4kg rod) and them with 6lb Platypus Pulse X8 braid and 8lb Platypus Bionic X9 braid. In my mind great set ups for our saltwater bread and butter species, bream and flathead. As already

ZMAN ST GRUBZ AND ZMAN PRAWNZ SOFT PLASTICS

Two new shapes have been added to the extensive range of ZMan soft plastics in the form of the 2.5” ST GrubZ and 2.5” PrawnZ. They are available in 12 and 15 colours respectively, including some twotone laminate options and a number of new colour releases for the new season like Dirty Oil, Laguna Shrimp, Slam Shady and Blood Oil which has a great story behind it. Motor Oil and Blood Worm have always been some of the most popular colours within the ZMan range and within that group of anglers, there were many that liked to place the two colours together in a tackle tray to let the two colours leach together forming a hybrid colour. Tackle Tactics have saved anglers that effort with the Blood Oil colour as it is the combination of the Bloodworm and Motor Oil colours.

These two soft plastics are at the finesse end of the scale, when it comes to soft plastics, but that is where their similarities end. The PrawnZ requires the angler to impart the majority of the action (it does have a nice little tail flip) while the ST GrubZ with its split tail design and body micro ribbing offers maximum action with minimal movement of the lure. In simple terms an angler new to fishing with soft plastics will find the ST GrubZ a little easier to use.

As far as rigging each of them, the TT Lures HeadlockZ range is your best option. The design of this jighead assists the plastic to hold position if you are getting tentative bites, minimising the plastic from being pulled from the grub keeper. Having said that I have always loved rigging a prawn style plastic in The three rigging options the author used with the 2.5” PrawnZ. A weedless presentation using a TT HWS jighead (top), a standard TT HWS jighead presentation (middle) and a TT HeadlockZ finesse jighead (bottom).

mentioned I had planned to use the Ceymar HD reels, but they hadn’t arrived at this point in time.

The Black Mamba range is at the top end price point of the three ranges, but are still what I would consider great value for money as they retail from $179.00. Each of the set ups mentioned would cost approximately $400 as a well balanced outfit. Both the reel and the rods have plenty of features that belie their price

These two lines are part of the new stable of lines that tackle tactics introduced when they took over the brand, the other two to look out for are Pulse 4 carrier braid and Bionic 8 carrier braid (this is the current version of the original Bionic braid with the addition of 6lb, 8lb, 10lb,12lb and 15lb breaking strain options).

Getting back to the two lines mentioned, both offer the increased strength that higher carrier braids provide as well as the

The author believes bream anglers will love the two new plastic options from ZMan. This one ate a PrawnZ first cast at the Logan River.

point. With the rods in particular you have full Fuji components which include the reel seat and Tangle Free Alconite guides built on a 36/40T Toray premium carbon fibre 1 piece blank, While the reels have 7+1 high performance bearings, significant drag for reels of this size (3kg and 8kg) and all housed in a lightweight carbon fibre body. In summary a lightweight outfit that will suit those that are tournament fishing orientated or those that enjoy the benefits that a quality graphite outfit offers.

PLATYPUS PULSE 8 CARRIER BRAID AND PLATYPUS

BIONIC 9 CARRIER BRAID

The iconic Australian fishing line brand Platypus has continued to thrive since being purchased by Tackle Tactics. Eight additional machines have been added to the line up so production can increase and so that lines like the much loved Bionic braid can be produced in smaller breaking strains. Although the above lines have been around for a little while, they were new to me, so I was keen to see what they offer.

A better quality flathead from the Logan River that the author caught using the 2-4kg TT Black Mamba outfit.

At around $400 rrp, each of these outfits are well worth a look in the authors opinion. A great combination of products from Tackle Tactics. I have said numerous times in these testing booths that the reason you use braid fishing line, a fluorocarbon leader (Platypus Stealth fluorocarbon in this case) and a graphite rod is so that you can feel what is happening at the end of

Since purchasing Platypus, Tackle Tactics has added extra machines so they can produce new products like their Pulse and Bionic (9 carrier) braids.

finer diameters anglers now expect, even as the line breaking strains increase.

As mentioned, I spooled the lighter outfit with 6lb Pulse (8 carrier) and the heavier outfit with 8lb Bionic (9 carrier) braids. My key target species being bream, flathead and Australian bass, however these are just a few of the species these outfits would be suitable for.

PUTTING ALL THESE

THINGS TO GOOD USE

I have always found that first impressions are one of the most important things when doing these testing booths. Although over time things can grow on you, when you have gone out, purchased an outfit and then don’t like something straight away, it is almost like the fish know it and they bite on your mates line rather yours. Maybe that’s just me, but that hasn’t been the case during the short time I have been using the products in this testing booth.

First and foremost, I have really been impressed by the feel/sensitivity this combination of products has provided. your line. The things that improve this feel or sensitivity are the quality of the material the rod is made of, the components used and the type of line you fish with (I find that the higher carrier braids provide more feedback through the rod and reel). I would be happy to recommend this outfit just on this feature alone.

Also, for light line fishing the taper of the rod is important, I have always loved a fast taper rods and the Black Mamba is that. The tip of the rod does a lot of the work whether it be allowing you to cast lightweight lures or to absorb the lunges the fish you have hooked, while the butt section provides the power to bring the fish to the net. The reel obviously plays a big part, with a smooth drag being important to avoid line breakages. I have always been a set and forget type of person when it comes to the drag. I don’t like playing with it when fighting a fish, so the smooth drag the Okuma ITX reels have was another tick for me.

As far as the two new plastics go, I am sure they will quickly find their way into many peoples tackle bags. As mentioned storing them correctly is important and I also found taking the time to rig them straight on your jighead was a must (especially the PrawnZ). You will find a guide to the correct hook sizes and jigheads on the Tackle Tactics website to assist with this. Once you have this right they are pretty deadly.

The new colours are bound to be a hit. Like many people I love the Motor Oil colour and the new version thereof are a good variation of that theme. The blood oil was the stand out for me as well as the Laguna Shrimp colour, but I think everyone will find a favourite within the colours available.

Last but certainly not least is the Platypus braids. They are a good contrast depending on what you are looking for in a braid. The Bionic (like its predecessors) is a slightly thicker more robust line, while the Pulse is a little more refined or finesse orientated. Which one you like will depend on your personal preference. For me I was drawn to the Pulse braid, however my regular fishing companion Nicholas, instantly preferred the Bionic, so only you will know where you sit.

As far as knot tying, knot strength and castability they were very similar (very good) so ultimately, I would be happy to use either.

CONCLUSION

The new products from Tackle Tactics are well worth checking out at your local tackle outlet or online at www. tackletactics.com.au. They also have newsletter that you can subscribe to, that has plenty of information about their products and how to use them. I know I have enjoyed my introduction to their new lines for 2023 and look forward to using them some more with the Okuma Ceymar HD reels attached.