A watermelon/chartreuse Power Lizard affixed to a red 1/32-ounce mushroom-style jig.
June 04, 2019
By Ned Kehde
A four-inch soft-plastic lizard has been a potent springtime tool in the repertoire of some Midwest finesse anglers for many years.
Thus, when Berkley introduced 44 new and modernized PowerBaits to the angling world at the 2018 International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades show on July 10, it caught the eyes of several of these lizard devotees. And one of these anglers, who is a contributor to the Finesse News Network, suggested that we should publish a gear guide about the four-inch Berkley’s PowerBait Power Lizard.
We immediately agreed with his suggestion.
To facilitate this endeavor, Hunter Cole of Columbia, South Carolina, who is Pure Fishing’s media and public relations manager, sent us a package of them to work with and examine.
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Here is what our examinations revealed.
It is 4 1/4 inches long when its tail is curled, and it is nearly six inches long when its tail is fully extended.
It is endowed with what taxonomists would describe as an arrowhead-shaped head or elliptical-shaped head. The head is three-quarters of an inch long and a quarter of an inch wide at it is widest spot with a circumference of fifteen-sixteenths of an inch. It is faintly adorned with two eyes, and except for the eyes, the head’s epidermis is smooth. Its ventral area is flat, and the dorsal area is convexed.
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From the junction of its head to the junction of its tail, its torso is 2 3/4 inches long. At its widest area, it is five-sixteenths of an inch wide with a circumference of 1 1/8 inches. The dimensions of the anterior and posterior portions of its torso are smaller than its middle portion. The torso’s dorsal area is convexed with a smooth epidermis. Its ventral area is flat, and except for the area that is embossed with the word Berkley, its epidermis is smooth.
Two dainty legs radiate from each side of the torso. The front ones extend from the sides that are immediately adjacent to the junction of the head and torso. Each leg is curled, exhibiting the motif of the tail of curly-tailed grub. When they are fully extended, they are 11/2-inches long. They are flat and three-sixteenths of an inch wide at their widest spot.
The two back legs possess the same characteristics and dimensions of the front ones. They are situated seven-sixteenths of an inch above the junction of the torso and tail.
The epidermis of the four legs is smooth.
At the junction of the head and torso, it is a quarter of an inch wide with a circumference of about eleven-sixteenths of an inch. At the junction of the torso and tail, it is three-sixteenths of an inch wide with a circumference of about seven-sixteenths of an inch, and the dorsal area is slightly convexed, but it becomes flat as it emerges with the tail.
Like its legs, its tail exhibits the characteristics of the tail of a curly-tailed grub. When the tail is fully uncurled and extended, it is 2 3/4 inches long. It is 1 1/4 inches long when it is curled and at rest. It is flat, and it is five-sixteenths of an inch wide at its widest spot. Its epidermis is smooth.
The four-inch Power Lizard is manufactured in the following hues: Black-Blue, Cotton Candy/Chartreuse, Green Pumpkin, Pumpkin Chartreuse, Watermelon, Watermelon Red, and Watermelon/Chartreuse.
It is permeated with Berkley’s exclusive PowerBait formula, which, according to the folks at Berkley, is a scent that will provoke a black bass to “hold on longer – up to 18-times longer than with standard soft plastic baits.”
It is buoyant, which is an attribute that Midwest finesse anglers relish. They will, of course, affix it to a small mushroom-style jig with an exposed hook. What’s more, its flat ventral areas will accentuate the gliding portion of the Midwest finesse swim-glide-and-shake presentation.
A package of 15 costs $4.59
Endnotes
(1) Here is a link to Berkley’s website:http://www.berkley-fishing.com/berkley-bait-soft-bait-berkley-powerbait/powerbait-power-lizard/1454418.html .
(2) For more information about the scents that Berkley employs, see Steve Quinn’s insights in his article entitled “Berkley Takes New Soft Baits To The Max.” Here is the link to Quinn’s article: http://www.bassfan.com/reviews_article.aspid=257#.W6ew8PlRcdU#ixzz5RwIGYBHT .
(3) Here is a link to the Midwest Finesse column that describes how Midwest finesse anglers will retrieve the four-inch Power Lizard affixed to a small mushroom-style jig: http://www.in-fisherman.com/editorial/six-midwest-finesse-retrieves/153946 .
(4) Here are links to several recent Midwest Finesse gear guides about several of Berkley’s PowerBaits: http://www.in-fisherman.com/editorial/berkleys-powerbait-maxscent-flat-worm/328125; https://www.in-fisherman.com/editorial/midwest-finese-berkleys-lugworm/359492: https://www.in-fisherman.com/editorial/berkleys-powerbait-sick-fish/331696 .