Yo-Zuri Sashimi Minnow

Yo-Zuri America, Inc.
515 N.W. Enterprise Drive
Port St. Lucie, FL 34986
(888) 336-9775 • www.yo-zuri.com

By Ron Powers

Picture this: a striper rapidly closes in on a potential victim, but as it decides whether or not to pull the trigger, the prey does what it often does during a time of heightened anxiety – it changes color. This being a common occurrence in the realm of the linesider, its apprehension is mitigated, its killing instinct takes over, and the striper nails its quarry. However, this time the tables are turned: the “prey’’ is a plug full of hooks, and the hunter becomes the hunted! Does this sound like a scene out of a fishing show on the Sci-Fi Channel? Is it possible to have a fishing lure that changes color like a chameleon? Well, there is nothing fictional about this; the lure hails from the Land of the Rising Sun, it goes by the name Sashimi, and it’s made by Yo-Zuri.

   We can only hypothesize what really goes on in a predator’s brain as it stalks prey, but there are a number of stimuli that we know either allay suspicion or spook the would-be hunter. One obvious stimulus that predatory fish respond to is motion that indicates wounded prey. Another stimulus is the release of pheromones, chemicals that a fish produces to influence the behavior of others. One more stimulus to consider is a change in coloration that signals fear and distress, which could embolden the predator to attack. The first two elements – a wounded appearance and life-like chemicals or scent – have been well represented in the fishing industry for years, but developing a fishing lure that appears to change color while fleeing for its life would be something extraordinary.
   This challenge was proposed to the Yo-Zuri DUEL Research and Development team headed by Ryuji Sonoda. A tall order such as this one needed considerable resources, so Yo-Zuri teamed up the chief engineers from the freshwater and saltwater research and development divisions, Ken Watanabe and Mune Komatsu, to brainstorm the project. The first incarnation of their study was a full two years in the making, and this Sashimi squid jig quickly earned a reputation as a squid slayer. Now the team was prepped to unleash the Sashimi magic on a much larger scale – the saltwater plug market!
   The day I first held the Sashimi Minnow in my hand, my wife must have been ready to commit me. For the longest time, I turned, twisted and rotated that lure, mesmerized by its seemingly infinite shifting colors. Not only did the visual perspective change from nose to tail, but the layers of color shifted when viewed from the top and even the belly. Naturally my question was, “How the heck do they do that?” While my new friend from Japan, Ken Watanabe, was very forthcoming about many details of the lure, as soon as I asked about the patent-pending finish I realized that I stood a better chance of finding the Lost Ark than getting the full scoop on this closely-guarded process. But I did manage to solicit some “hints” as to how it’s done.
   We’ve all seen images on billboards that shift depending on the viewing angle. Kids are mesmerized by this – first there’s one image, then there’s another one, just like magic. We know that the billboard is composed of individual angled slats that have pieces of one image on one side and pieces of another image on the other, and these present a complete picture when viewed as a whole. When you see the billboard from one perspective, you see one image, and as your viewing angle changes, you see the other image.
   This is similar to how the Sashimi works. Depending on the model, there are nearly 100 or more tiny “ribs” on the surface that encircle the body in what Yo-Zuri terms its Pheromone Skin. A color scheme is first applied in one direction and on one side of the ribs, and another dose of paint is applied to the opposite side of the ribs. This methodology is part of the Sashimi lure from the top, sides and bottom. And just like our billboard example, the image changes depending on the view angle, or more importantly, the angle of the angler’s quarry! But this is where the comparison ends; even on their best day, a billboard designer could not likely match the layers and pearlescent hues on these lures.
   Of course, it doesn’t do us a bit of good if that dazzling finish out of the box has a two-bluefish shelf life. So the Yo-Zuri engineers were determined to develop not only a unique appearance but also an extremely durable one. “When the R&D guys from Japan sent us the first few samples, we decided to put them to the toothy test,” offered Dave Bertolozzi, who is with the marketing and customer relations arm for Yo-Zuri America. “In Florida, we have our share of wrecking-ball fish that we threw these lures at, and they held up remarkably well,” said Dave. “In fact, I have one Sashimi Minnow in my possession that has tallied 50 false albacores, and it still looks and fishes great!”
   What allows this lure to be more rugged than many others can be partially credited to those ribs. When the paint is applied, it settles in and sticks to all those ribs, preventing it from coming off in significant swatches. While a portion of the body may eventually succumb to abuse, odds are that there is enough finish remaining on the other 100 or so ribs to keep the overall color lustrous. The fact that Yo-Zuri uses a top-flight baked-on finish doesn’t hurt, either.
   The resiliency of the Sashimi can also be attributed to the composition of the plug body. This is no hollow-bodied plastic lure, according to Bertolozzi, but rather “a hunk of solid copolymer resin.” The body, which the engineers of Yo-Zuri refer to as a “Super Body,” is every bit as dense as wood, making it a hefty lure for its size (some 5-inch models weigh 2 ounces) capable of casting great distances. Unlike wood, however, it is somewhat malleable, meaning that upon impact the plug will bend rather than break.    Also unlike wood, the lure does not chip, is naturally water resistant, and does not need a sealant. Considering that Yo-Zuri has earned a reputation for creating plugs capable of handling all the punishment bluefin tuna can dish out, when they emphasize the durability of the Sashimi, you can be sure that it’s tough.
There is yet another advantage to the rib design, and it has to do with vibration. All those ribs generate a unique disturbance along the Sashimi that creates what Yo-Zuri engineers refer to as “backwash.” This backwash emits a signal that indicates distressed prey, and that signal is picked up by the lateral line of nearby gamesters, even when the lure is barely moved. Combined with Yo-Zuri’s built-in rattle chamber, the Sashimi is a multiple-front fish attractor.
   There is no skimping on the lure’s other goodies, either. Etched gill plates and other facial features, vibrant lateral lines and big, wet-looking eyes all point to the fact that nothing was left out when designing these lures. The underpinnings are professional grade, as you’d expect. Yo-Zuri uses extra-strong, extra-sharp VMC hooks, top-quality 100-pound-test stainless steel split rings, and a wire-through stainless steel design.
   The Sashimi lures come in several versions, each with a different mission. There is the Sashimi Minnow, which satisfies the shallow swimming plug category. Spook-type lure aficionados will fall for the floating Sashimi Slider, a walk-the-dog-style topwater lure.    There is also the slow-sinking Sashimi Slider, which allows anglers to achieve that same alluring retrieve motion of the Slider plug below the surface, where fish might be hanging deep when in a less aggressive mode. Then there’s the Sashimi Bull, a wake-the-dead-style popper for aggressive, large game fish such as alligator blues, moby stripers and bluefin tuna. Owing to the dense composition of Yo-Zuri’s ‘Super Body,’ all of these plugs are capable of punching through the strongest in-your-face wind.
   Be forewarned: Do not open the package of one of these lures in mixed company! As you gaze at the shifting colors, utterly entranced, those around you will undoubtedly be concerned. To truly appreciate the value of this lure, head to a beachfront, knot one up and let it fly. When you see what it does to the resident game fish, you’ll realize that the Yo-Zuri Sashimi is more than just a pretty face!

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