A silent topwater that’s perfect for pressured bass in clear water
Silence is golden, and often very much necessary for a topwater artificial lure on a very clear and/or heavily pressured body of water.
Dustin Elder of Hot Springs, Ark., proved that time and time again after he redesigned an oldie but goldie for Heddon Lures, which put the new look Super Zara Spook on the market in mid-October 2024. For a “silent” topwater, it has sure made a lot of noise in the bass fishing world from skilled weekenders to seasoned pros.
Elder, a 30-year-old brand manager for Heddon Lures and War Eagle Custom Lures and an eight-year veteran with PRADCO Outdoor Brands, grew up tapping the bass population in central Arkansas from late April through November on the old tried and true ¾-ounce Heddon One-Knocker Spook as well as the original, ultra-silent ½-ounce Zara Spook first introduced in 1939.
Improvements
Extra-wary bass on challenging lakes were part of the reason he decided to retool the venerable Spook in early 2023. While Elder loved working the original across the surface, there were some upgrades he believed needed to be made.
“I like the old standard original Spook but it was not always ready for a tournament situation,” he said.
To say he was made painfully aware of that is an understatement. The avid bass tournament angler realized it could use a change of hooks, modern internal hook hangers, a feathered rear treble hook and a split ring on the nose. He was making his own adjustments one night before a major bass tournament a few years ago when he accidentally buried a treble hook into his palm. That motivated him to redesign his favorite topwater.
After approximately 1 ½ years and very few prototypes, the Super Zara Spook was ready – armed with black nickel BKK treble hooks, internal hook hangers ready for split rings, a split ring on the nose to help it walk better and, as a critical asset, a fixed weight in the tail that emits no sound but helps a bass angler sling it a long way. Oh. And the tail hook is adorned with a feather for added attraction.
“It’s a silent take on the plastic Spook that hopefully anglers (and bass) will love forever. Sometimes, they’re just wanting a silent bait. It was really simple to create, similar to a Spook. It’s just silent and has better components,” Elder said, noting he has caught many bragging-sized bass on the 4 ½-inch long, ¾-ounce (same weight as the One Knocker Zara Spook) Super Zara Spook.
“My experience with it is it’s a great option to have in the boat year-round,” he said.
Top colors
There’s one more seductive touch to the new model, Elder said, adding he’s excited because it has some of what he has called the “best clear-water paint schemes in the fishing world.” The TK Hammer (translucent with a gray body and chartreuse belly) and bluegill fry have been popular since its introduction. However, Elder’s No. 1 color remains the clear minnow model.
“Clear,” he said. “Clear is always the best.”
Bassmaster Elite Series anglers Jason Christie of Welling, Okla., and Stetson Blaylock of Benton, Ark., are among the pro staffers consistently walking the dog and otherwise fooling bass with the new Super Zara Spook. And bass are responding by eating the new topwater lure.
“They both love throwing a Spook,” Elder said.
Based on customer feedback the past six months for the Super Zara Spook, so do many other bass anglers who enjoy catching bass by walking the dog with the new topwater.
“It’s been very well received … people just love the shape and the action,” Elder said, noting the new model glides seductively across the surface.
For more information on the Super Zara Spook and other Heddon Lures products, go to www.lurenet.com, email contact@theheddon.com or call (312) 478-2956 or (475) 839-1472.
The post “Heddon Super Zara Spook” first appeared on LouisianaSportsman.com.
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