Heddon Sonars vs Generics

Does the original outperform Sonar replicas. Any output or conclusions on this?

I hate these lures except when I am Lake Trout fishing. I would much prefer a good plastic or fat minnow….Back when I used them, I saw no difference with “Kit” Blades, or the real deal.

Tuck

I rarely use them as well, but I did have an opportunity to compare the “Zip” lure and the Heddon SOnar while ice fishing on the Turtle Flambeau. Within five minutes of puttin’ on a Zip I caught a walldog, then I lost the lure, by foolishly tieing it directly to the lure(lazy and impatient at times). It was my last Zip, so I purchased some heddons. To make a long story short, I preferred the action of the Zip over the “sonar”, better vibration as well.

my 4 cents

Jim W

You can use a zip as a lure that will cast out over sand flats and pump it off the bottom back to the boat, absolutely killer at times for wally’s or smallys. Way better and more versital than snagging with a sonar

I have great luck with the Sonars for lake trout in deep water humps while fishing in Canada. Lately we have been using Gitzu’s which are a tube jig. They are with out a doubt the most productive for lakers.

I think that the rep. for snaging is unfortunate. If your snaging fish your not using them right. They only need slightly more action than a jig. The Heddons are best but way to costly. Of the generics I’ve used the Taylor tackle ones seem the best.

“hit em hard make em hurt”

I use the Do-It-Mold 3/4 oz and lighter models. I dont use it as a conventional jig. Primary use is longline trolling with the belly hook removed. Also use them for long cast to surface feeding stripers and casting them so the current swings them along the base of wingdams. You use the 3/4 oz. with a bait casting reel, spooled with 10# FireLine, that sucker casts a mile!!!

Piscator is dead right about the reputation sonars have as a snagging lure…. it need not be so. I love casting them as well and swimming them back off sandflats with gentle rod pumps mixed in to trigger strikes. Walleye wolf these suckers down when used right. Its the guys that vertical jig these babies with that quick, exaggerated 3 foot upward rod sweep that have given this lure such a bad reputation…. heck, it looks like those guys are trying to start an old pull-start lawn mower! Too be honest, I don’t know where they get the stamina to do that all day….

Practicing for carp snagging season!

Ya Hey-Hybes, Sonars are situational and effective. Have you ever used ’em for big Flatheads ! Fantastic and talk about sport ! Jig ’em in a deep river hole this summer when

the walleyes slow down in the warm water. You won’t regret it!

Now to answer your question. The basic stamping form is slightly different do to Heddon patents. But the performance difference comes from how you paint your homemade blades. Airbrushing as opposed to paintbrushing by hand makes a big difference. Hand paint application is not uniform and basically leaves your home made bait unbalanced, thus and uncharacteristic wiggle !!

Gofish

Kensyl Reading——–EFN ProStaff

Ol’ Miss Guide Service