Megastrike "Roland Martin" Big Bass Spinnerbait Review

[the reel ess]

I ordered one of these off Tackle Warehouse with a couple Cavitron buzzbaits. After a 2 week wait for the order to be assembled and shipped to me, they arrived. I got the golden shiner pattern double willow because it's what works best for me in the War Eagle series. This is the spinnerbait with a head on a swivel to help keep the fish from gaining leverage on the bait while you play it. They have a video on their website claiming there is less need for a trailer hook because a bass can easily suck on the bait because it's not stiff. I used it without trailer hook. When I got it I was disappointed in the color. It's much darker than any golden shiner I've seen-too much black in the skirt. But after two trips, I really like it. First, it has that swivel head design that also gives the skirt more action. And it's a heavier gauge wire with an actual eye to tie to. You could use it on straight braid, though I still use mono for this. It caught me two my last trip, including the best fish of the day. I would give it an A thus far, though it hasn't caught me any PBs yet. It does have a banded skirt, so I'll replace it with the War Eagle golden shiner shirt when this one comes off. They always do.

[michaelb]

Yes, this is case in which you can believe the hype. The swinging hook on the spinnerbait is a real difference and is worth it, both in initial hook up and in keeping fish on.

[Deleted account]

I'm sure it catches fish, but I want my hook to be fixed in relation to the upper wire, and I've never had a problem with either hook ups, or keeping them pinned when using a spinnerbait.

[the reel ess]

19 minutes ago, BassWhole! said:

I'm sure it catches fish, but I want my hook to be fixed in relation to the upper wire, and I've never had a problem with either hook ups, or keeping them pinned when using a spinnerbait.

More than the swivel head, I like the actual eye to tie to. And options for gold are a bit limited. I love War Eagle. I have a PB on one. But I've broken a couple at the line tie.

[michaelb]

37 minutes ago, BassWhole! said:

I'm sure it catches fish, but I want my hook to be fixed in relation to the upper wire, and I've never had a problem with either hook ups, or keeping them pinned when using a spinnerbait.

Just curious, but why? What possible advantage is there to having it fixed. Have you ever used a trailer hook or caught the fish on the trailer hook on a spinnerbait? When they hit the trailer hook and miss the main hook (which happens a lot if you use a conventional spinner) that is an example of missing the hookup. Back when I used regular spinners, and I used them a lot, I definitely lost fish trying to land them, some times when bass would jump, but more likely, when trying to land a pike, directly at the side of the kayak, and they would explode with fury. I am sure I will still lose fish with the strikeback spinner, but it also does seem better, possibly dramatically better.

[J Francho]

When you catch a fish on the trailer hook, 9/10 it's hooked weird and the fish crashed the blades. Short strikes are not common, especially with largemouth. 
 

I find the fixed main hook better for reducing snags when I'm fishing wood, which is almost always when there's wood in the water. 

[Deleted account]

1 hour ago, michaelb said:

Just curious, but why? What possible advantage is there to having it fixed. Have you ever used a trailer hook or caught the fish on the trailer hook on a spinnerbait? When they hit the trailer hook and miss the main hook (which happens a lot if you use a conventional spinner) that is an example of missing the hookup. Back when I used regular spinners, and I used them a lot, I definitely lost fish trying to land them, some times when bass would jump, but more likely, when trying to land a pike, directly at the side of the kayak, and they would explode with fury. I am sure I will still lose fish with the strikeback spinner, but it also does seem better, possibly dramatically better.

Like JF mentioned above, the safety pin design acts as a weed guard in addition to being a frame for the blades. When brought through cover, it will come through much better.

I don't use trailer hooks on spinnerbaits, If they are not committing to it, it's not the right spinnerbait, or spinnerbaits are not what I should be throwing. In sparse cover or open water, I doubt there will be a discernable difference with a swinging hook

[the reel ess]

After using this one twice, I didn't notice it being any worse for hanging up on wood. I target wood cover with any spinnerbait.

 

[michaelb]

Its never occurred to me to worry that the swinging hook would get hung up and I haven't noticed that either. It may be just as likely to be less likely to get hung up, since it may deflect away from an obstacle (not saying that; my guess is that it is the same). I troll spinnerbaits at times off my kayak, so that consists of flinging them backwards and then likely sinking to the bottom while I get set up to paddle, and then dragging them over and through and into whatever I am paddling (and I haven't had any trouble getting hung up).