Z-Man TRD Gobyz

The NEW Z-Man TRD Gobyz is a fish catcher for smallmouths in goby and sculpin populated fisheries. At 2.4 inches, it reinforces Z-Man’s trend-setting finesse bait lineup with a naturalistic, adaptable shape.

Recently having one hell of a day catching several smallmouths on one single bait, the verdict is in.

You should want the TRD Gobyz not only for your seasonal finesse applications, but for late season pursuits like it was just utilized for.

Prioritize bottom baits like this one, if pursuing smallmouths late in the season. Smallmouths can be concentrating heavily in some wintering sites.

The TRD Gobyz is a great little bait that gets immediate feedback as soon as it lands on the bottom.

The inland lakes of Wisconsin do not contain gobies, but what some of them have lots of are sculpin. These bottom dwellers thrive in clear, cold, rocky lakes with a lot of rock substrate. With no signs of craws or cisco anywhere around me, I have no doubts whatsoever that the fish I was targeting in 20-30ft depths on this day were feeding on sculpin.

After some initial difficulty in locating adequate size & length jig heads to accompany this 2.4-inch offering (this was mid-October), it was quickly suggested that this bait requires specialty terminal tackle. Two specific jig heads will work for this size, and they are Z-Man Nedlockz EWG and Football Nedz. I like heavy heads to get my baits down there and for maintaining bottom contact while dragging – 1/4 ounce.

My strategy atop the wintering areas was simply casting and slow-crawling across bottom. Sculpted with a flat underside, the TRD Gobyz traverses its way across sand and rocky substrate like a 4×4—buoyant ElaZtech body halting its rate of fall while keeping it free from snags. The bait’s flat belly also allows it to nap comfortably on the lake floor, just like a goby does. True-to-life anatomy also includes protruding eyeballs, elongated pectoral, dorsal and anal fins and a flattened, round caudal fin/paddletail that delivers subtle, natural swimming motions at any retrieve speed.

One bait captured over a dozen smallmouths. There was absolutely zero conditioning occurring, which is very common this time of year and as fish concentrate together in wintering sites and can educate themselves quickly.

Bites were instantaneous, rapid, and occasionally on consecutive casts.

Z-Man TRD Gobyz

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Poured from extra-malleable 10x-tough ElaZtech, this little guy is soft and juicy just like the real deal. Smallmouths slurp, and won’t let go. One single bait is capable of exceeding a full day’s use – that’s Z-man’s advantage – separating the TRD Gobyz from all other goby-imitating swimbaits in existence.

Currently only one size is offered, a 2.4-inch model, which for us might be too small and puny. It was suggested to marketing director (Cory Schmidt) that we consider a 3.0 to 3.5 inch range with a larger wider tail segment too. At that length, this bait has wider application and purpose. As you know, gobies can get big too. Maybe?

Despite its smaller size, the tail kicks around with the most minimal movement. The durability is excellent. Color selection is adequate. I’m very pleased with this little guy despite being unable to fish it with my other jigs – all of which are much too large for this bait.

Enabled by its ultra-soft ElaZtech body, the Ned-rig-friendly TRD GobyZ swimbait matches the texture and action of a live round goby, while also mimicking other bottom-dwelling forage. Available in ten potent colors, that could see further expansion.

For your ned rigging, finesse applications, drop-shotting, and any other weird rigging you do, you should want this little guy for 2024. Now available at retailers everywhere.

BUY Z-MAN TRD GOBYZ  – https://zmanfishing.com/products/trd-gobyz#