Crankbait engineering beyond barriers, beyond frontiers, beyond belief
To set yourself apart from the herd in the crankbait market, a company has to take serious its understanding of hydro-dynamics, materials and components. It must also have excellent balance, castability, defection, unique yet proven vibration and low line-tension during retrieves. In 2014, DUO exceeded these challenges and set a bench mark in the process with Realis Crank G87 20A, a true super crank and a true pinnacle of lure engineering.
G87 20A’s crank development was carefully put into motion by DUO’s R&D team. The need for a crankbait that could truly dive beyond the 20-foot mark and accurately reach its target has been deeply desired by professional anglers. To make a lure dive deep is not a huge challenge. But to make a lure dive and remain balanced, travel (like an arrow) through the air minimally influenced by cross winds and stay within strike zone longer with minimal reeling tension requires precise engineering. DUO’s chief designer, Mr. Masahiro Adachi has exceeded expectations.
“During the two year project, our R&D results set the bar for floating deep diving cranks. While most anglers are happy if their deep crank can make a 130 feet cast and blown away when they reach 150 feet, G87 20A consistently hit 200 plus feet with 12 pound test. Testing against some of the top deep cranks presently used by touring pros, we outdistanced some of them as much as 80-feet. Although our lure is advertised at 20 feet, Mr. Adachi’s efforts pushed our lure to surpass 27-feet deep in a single cast and retrieve on 12-pound test”, says Swendseid.
This superior diving ability can be attributed to the most advanced weight transfer system in deep diving cranking soon to be used on the professional bass circuits. G87’s enlarged magnetic ballast carriage hides the casting bearing outside the body cavity, where it`s held by a magnet made of Neodymium, a material considerably stronger than the usual magnesium, necessary due to the size of the bearing.
The 20A’s body is approximately 3 inches in length and weighs at 35 grams (1-1/5 oz), with a heavy weight appearance you would think heavy resistance and heavy line tension (during the retrieve) would be apparent traits but it’s the opposite. Mr. Adachi was able to reduce hydrodynamic drag from the bait. Mr. Adachi was seeking to create a vehicle that could be pushed distance and driven deep into the darkest abyss without a hint of labor.
The G87 was created for B.A.S.S. Elite, FLW and JB Tour anglers seeking the most efficient deep cranking tool invented. When the professional angler actually fishes the G87 it will nothing like they ever experienced.
The G87, has walked right through what most have called the final barrier in crankbaiting and pioneered a new one. Not only is it the first of its kind in the world -the G87 created a new pinnacle, a new frontier in crankbait engineering.
Japan brand
DUO was established as a fishing tackle distributor in the year 1995 when president Hisahiro Matsushita went independent and started his own company. The lure business of the 90''''s was severely influenced by the Japanese recession. However, never compromised its principles and did not give up on the initial concept of making products of the highest quality. -Adhering to this principle, even at a time when the majority of companies switched to foreign factories for cheaper labor cost, did not abandon the production in Japan for the inferior production in the overseas market.
Two years after the launch of the company, sales revolving around products created at the hands of Mr. Masahiro Adachi, one of the most acclaimed young designers in the country, were commenced.
Now in its third decade, is widely considered one of the top brands of the industry in Japan, a country widely seen as the pinnacle of lure manufacturing.
Chief designer of DUO and current CEO, Mr. Masahiro Adachi is well-known for keeping true to the height of basic performance and also has a world reputation for producing magnificent lures in which simple beauty is combined with outstanding performance.
By the year 2016, range of products includes over 300 models and the amount of lures sold has reached over 20 million units. In addition, since 1999 the company has also been active in the field of OEM, supplying products to some of the top brands in Japan, as well as enjoying its own success.