Ladson, SC (July 8, 2025) – Mere days into testing the new wave of “Fuzzy” ElaZtech® baits, a single prototype had already been chowed by well over one-hundred largemouth and smallmouth bass, plus oodles of bonus walleye, trout and slab crappie. Despite sustaining countless body blows, bites and ferocious headshakes, the bait remained—and remains—nearly package-fresh, ready for another 100. Equally impressive as the buggy bait’s resilience, however, were the all-out aggressive nature of the bites—as if the bass genuinely thought they were gobbling live bait.

By now, almost everyone knows the story of so-called “Fuzzy” style softbaits—a super-secret bass trick of Japanese origin; cube or creature shaped profiles imbued with hyper-active silicone or PVC tentacles; radically effective on a dropshot, Neko or Ned rig; packed with all kinds of crazy, subtle action; imitative of goodness knows what (zooplankton, insect, crayfish, freshwater jellyfish?); and until now, prohibitively expensive, with price tags routinely exceeding $5 for a single softbait.

Beyond their obvious attraction and maxed out fish-per-bait ratio, the other key disparity between the new Z-Man Fuzzy system and others on the pegs distills down to dollars and common sense . . . $20 per pack and $5 to $10 per bait, or less than half as expensive AND ten times more durable at the same time.

New for the 2026 fishing season, the new Z-Man Fuzzy bait system features three essential, silicone-skirt implanted profiles, each one built upon Z-Man’s ElaZtech formula and ready to produce heavyweight bass in extreme conditions—clear water, coldfronts, excessive fishing pressure or any time you simply need to get bit.

Fuzzy BugZ™ – Injecting whole other dimensions of bait movement via quivering silicone appendages, the creepy, crawly Fuzzy BugZ empowers new levels of Ned, Neko, dropshot or weighted wacky rig action. A segmented 1.75-inch invertebrate profile body is composed of 10X Tough ElaZtech for all-day durability and lifelike buoyancy. The bait’s narrow midriff can be cut to create two finesse-sized Fuzzy baits in one, doubling its value. Fuzzy BugZ are compatible with Z-Man Finesse ShroomZ™ jigheads and Rattle-Snaker® Tungsten SpikeZ™. Pure silicone skirt strands are hand-threaded and color coordinated to create eight pro-selected bait patterns. MSRP $9.99 per 4-pack.

Fuzzy NuggetZ™ – Suggestive of pelagic prey, such as zooplankton, insect larvae and microcrustaceans, the Z-Man Fuzzy NuggetZ remains active and vivacious at all times; even when deadsticked on a dropshot rig, the Fuzzy NuggetZ continues triggering bites from the most selective bass. Featuring a 12-sided dodecahedron shape for countless hooking options, the bait’s ElaZtech body assures each Fuzzy NuggetZ will dramatically outlast any similar bait. Hand-threaded premium silicone skirt fibers stay put, fish after fish, offering continuous tantalizing tentacle action. Fuzzy NuggetZ are the best value in dice baits today, priced at $9.99 per 4-pack. Six pro-selected patterns cover all water conditions and bass preferences.

Fuzzy TRD™ – Imagine the next-level fish appeal of the classic Finesse TRD endowed with third dimensions of bait movement via fine quivering silicone appendages. Z-Man’s Fuzzy TRD has creatively raised the bass-catching bar for Ned, Neko, dropshot or weighted wacky rigging, adding hand-threaded premium silicone skirt strands for tireless pulsing action—reminiscent of zooplankton and other invertebrates. The Fuzzy TRD features a 2.75-inch body composed of 10X Tough ElaZtech for maxed out durability and the TRD’s famed ‘stand up’ buoyancy. The Fuzzy TRD’s pre-marked midriff can be cut to create two finesse-sized Fuzzy baits in one, doubling its value. Fuzzy TRDs are compatible with Z-Man® Finesse ShroomZ jigheads and Rattle-Snaker Tungsten SpikeZ. Pure silicone skirt strands are hand-threaded and color coordinated to create eight pro-selected bait patterns. MSRP $9.99 per 4-pack.

Strikingly similar to the experiences of the Z-Man field test team a month earlier, Bassmaster Elite Series angler Seth Feider expressed amazement over the power of the Fuzzy NuggetZ while facing a challenging smallmouth bite. “I had some doubts about these Fuzzy baits until a recent trip to Minnesota’s Mille Lacs,” recalls Feider, a longtime fan of Z-Man ElaZtech baits. “We couldn’t get bit by any of the standard dropshot stuff. Even struggled with hair jigs, which is unheard of. But something about the silhouette, buoyancy and tireless quivering motions of the Fuzzy NuggetZ . . . this weird little morsel produced bites immediately and in super tough postspawn conditions. With three new Fuzzy Z-Man profiles now available, anglers are going to start catching a lot of the big smallmouths that don’t seem to bite, otherwise.”

More proof positive: At a springtime photoshoot, Feider’s buddy and fellow Z-Man pro Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson put on a Fuzzy catching clinic. During brief interludes, Gussy broke free from the film crew to fire casts and catch bass after bass, as well as walleyes and crappies in abundance. Every few minutes, the Bassmaster Classic winner’s rod was doubled over once again, hooked up on yet another big fish.

“It’s an after-dinner mint,” observed Gussy, during the epic day of fishing. “The baits’ action is next level. Add secondary breathing, pulsing, quivering, undulating motions to that proven ElaZtech glide and you’ve got something way different down there. The fish probably see these as familiar, like something they’ve eaten during their lifetimes, so it’s a totally natural reaction to bite. Smallmouths especially, who already like to bite things out of curiosity alone, just can’t seem to say ‘no’ to them.”

“No doubt, Z-Man Fuzzy baits will take your dropshot, Ned and Neko rigging to new levels of success. No matter your skill level, you can catch a ton of fish with these cool little baits. And if you hook over 100, don’t say we didn’t warn you!”