[Rob F]

Before the season gets under way I'm looking to get a few more surface lures. The Z-Claw has always been missing from my armoury as to me it doesn't "look" right, BUT I've heard they work so...

What are the better colours to go for?
What conditions do they fish best in? and
In what areas or over what kind of ground do they work best?

 

[Dave Irving]

Z Claw is a favourate of mine, I find it even easier to work than the might Patchinko.
as for colour the Mullet has been my most successful colour, although I have been looking at the 500G colour. The tight action, and ability to dive it just subsurface seems to work very well in tempting takes. It casts well (better than it's shape might surgest) Conditions wise, it seems to work best when there is a bit of wave/chop running, works a treat popping it into a small wave and then letting it "bob" up after the wave has passed.
The Z Claw is my most successful top water lure this year, just ahead of the Super Spook Jnr, then the Patchinko, then Yo-Zuri Mag Popper (105mm)

 

[Alex Jordan]

I took some advice last year and its a great lure - not caught on it yet as its had only one outing in the cold but can't wait to put it through its paces - I went for Mullet colour too ...

 

[Simon L]

Z-Claw is an awesome lure, and accounted for some lovely fish for both Luke & I this season. If i was only buying one Z-Claw, i'd buy the Mullet . . . . but the 'Pink Lady' has served us very well too . . . . . . these are some Z-Claw moments . . . .

Mullet:

Mullet:

Pink Lady:

Pink Lady:

I like to work the Z-Claw slowly. Twitching & stop-starting. My ideal ground would be shallow kelpy ground with plenty of boulders/structure to work the lure around. But i know that others have had success in different scenarios.

Happy hunting. Wonderful lure !!!

 

[Nathan Bell]

Some cracking fish and pics. there Simon.
I got two z-claws for crimbo after hearing good things and can't wait too try them, i love surface fishing.
I choose the 500g colour and the clear with yellow back(don't know the code). It looks like my favorite colour patchinko
so couldn't resist, it also stands out on dull days so easier too keep your eye on it.
Cheers Nath.

 

[Keith White]

I know my advice often seems controversial but...

get a black one for coloured water or those early mornings before the light breaks the horizon.

Night too of course but most of you will be in the pub then or hoovering at the command
of the missus.

 

[Simon L]

Don't get a black one - or customise one - they are far too pretty as they are !!

Also worth considering is this one . .

I havent used it yet - but i just know that it's gonna nail a fair few Shirleys !! It's not on Mick's website - it's in the dirty porn kleenex box under the counter. Just need to say the pass-word to get one !!

 

[Mick Ward]

Don't get a black one - or customise one - they are far too pretty as they are !!

Also worth considering is this one . .

I havent used it yet - but i just know that it's gonna nail a fair few Shirleys !! It's not on Mick's website - it's in the dirty porn kleenex box under the counter. Just need to say the pass-word to get one !!

That one is the colour Si, my favourite, did well on it towards the back end of last year and cant wait to have it out again. I do like to use them in calm/flat water with tide or swell. I know they do work well in chop too but I prefer (personally) to use a louder or more violent lure in choppy seas.

 

[jamo]

i saw on a jap site the z claw dead fish, the lure was dark to black with a silver belly. the interesting thing about this lure was that it had white eye's. would this work in our waters. have heard stories of old boys bate fishing with obviously dead fish and coming up trumps with some good size bass, but with lure fishing could you use a dead fish lure, because dead fish don;t move. so how would you use this lure?

 

[Simon L]

Yeh, i've seen them (along with some mad-coloured ones). Presumably, the way to work that lure, as it's meant to be dead . .. is dead slow ?? Couple of little twitches here & there, but otherwise . . .. . i wouldnt do much with it. Maybe seek out some current to run it through ??

 

[Rob F]

Thank gents! I think if I'd seen the Mullet version I would have had it by now. To me, the Pink Lady just looks like cheap lump of plastic and some of the other colours I'd seen it in were, well, frightening!... Lol! Shows what I know, I have a lot to learn....!

Oh and Keith I know what you're saying about black, I've just resprayed a couple of tatty topwater lures (Patchinko and Mag Popper) into a really deep dark red for some of those dawn raids. Roll on spring!

 

[Simon L]

Thank gents! I think if I'd seen the Mullet version I would have had it by now. To me, the Pink Lady just looks like cheap lump of plastic and some of the other colours I'd seen it in were, well, frightening!... Lol! Shows what I know, I have a lot to learn....!

I know what you mean about the Pink Lady. To be honest, i never would have chosen it . . but i was chatting to Mick about the Z's one day, and he'd had it highly recommended by the French, and had done well on it himself - i nailed a fish on it the 1st time i used it - so that was pretty much it for me !!

 

[Dave Irving]

I have a Z Claw in the pink lady colour, caught some on it. Including when the mullet was getting boils but not takes. White/pearl seem to be very popular colours with french bass pluggers.

 

[Nick Phillips]

I know my advice often seems controversial but...

get a black one for coloured water or those early mornings before the light breaks the horizon.

Night too of course but most of you will be in the pub then or hoovering at the command
of the missus.

I have a can of Halfords 'Matt' black that I use for 'improving' some of my plugs.

I love to give some minnow type plugs (pike) black stripes about half inch apart.
This DOES make a difference with pike but havn't tried it with saltwater fishing.

 

[Simon L]

I'm gonna start a "SAVE THE Z-CLAWS" campaign . . to save them from you lure-spoiling hethens !!!!!!

 

[Rob F]

Oh come on Simon, you know the Pink Lady "needs" a neon pink back..... It's just asking for it........

 

[Simon L]

Oh come on Simon, you know the Pink Lady "needs" a neon pink back..... It's just asking for it........

Rob - step away from the neon spray can !!!!

 

[Steve Lewis]

I have 2 myself, 1 in Mullet and 1 in Pink Lady and looking forward to using them in anger. Cracking casting lures as well !!

 

[edgar b]

Got one in ayu colour,can't wait to use it!Hope to get few silver bars on it later in the year!

 

[Dave Irving]

Yeap the mullet works OK!!