Tackle Tactics » Tips-Techniques » Pro-Lure-Fishing-Tips » New Kid on the Block - TT SwitchPrawn+

New Kid on the Block - TT SwitchPrawn+

By Dale Lucas

Dale Lucas gets his hands on the TT SwitchPrawn+ metal vibration blade and shares his initial thoughts and experiences fishing this assist hook rigged prawn blade.

Over the years many of us have known and loved the humble TT Switchblade for its versatility and the number of species that eat this presentation. However, there’s a new kid on the block now and let’s just say I’ve had some fun “switching it up”.

The new TT SwitchPrawn+ has now hit the market and it has taken anglers by storm. This much anticipated lure was released in 3 sizes and 16 colours. Available in 37mm 5.5g, 44mm 8g and 50mm 13g, there is a size and weight to suit almost any application and fishing style, from the freshwater lakes to the river, estuary, and shallow reef.

The range of colours is also impressive! There is a nice mixture between natural and more stand out colours, that won’t just catch the angler’s eye but also the eyes of the fish. I’ll point out a few favourite colours of mine, just to get you started. Greenback Ayu is the first tied on as it’s always been a staple colour for me in any conditions. Onyx Tiger is an interesting colour and I’m seeing plenty of fish being caught on it. With its half natural, yet almost holographic finish, this lure will fish well in super clear water, right down to the darkest dirty water. Finally, Blacktrueuse, and for all you freshwater guys this lure will be the first in the box. Whether it’s rolling trees for yellowbelly or deep water Vibing for bass, this colour will catch fish!

Coming up to the release I was super excited to see a new vibe come onto the market as they can be the most versatile lure fished at any depth when fished correctly. Now, there was some talk that this lure was similar to others out there and I’m here to say it’s really not. For starters, the wide design of the lure weight allows for it to almost stand up on the bottom. This gives the fish more of a chance to eat the bait on the pause. The hooks are placed just right, so that they are snag resistant enough and don’t spin and catch the leader all the time. The SwitchPrawn+ has a vibration that mimics a prawn’s panicked movements in the water, and I can truly see this lure quickly becoming a favourite in lots of tackle boxes Australia wide.

Vibes were once thought to be a winter only lure for fishing deeper water, with most people thinking that, due to the quicker sink rate, they are difficult to fish in shallow water. One tip that I can give is to let the lure sink to the bottom under a tight line when fishing edges or shallow waters. This slows the sink rate down and gives you the best bite detection. I’ve fished this lure in two feet of water for flathead and bream with great success. With a little patience and practice, this technique will catch you a lot of fish that you may not catch on a plastic. This is due to the fact that a vibe will draw fish in from a greater distance and in some cases trigger a reaction bite.

So far, I’ve had my best success on the 37mm version. It seems that at this time of year the jelly prawns are running on the edges and this profile is similar in size. I have caught good numbers of bream, bass, flathead, and even a few grunter, jewfish and trevally. I have been simply hopping the bottom in deep water, while varying the retrieves, with good success. Slow rolling shallow flats or hopping the edges and bottom, while allowing the lure to sink under a tight line, seems to catch most estuary species.

If you haven’t tried the TT SwitchPrawn+ yet, then you need to grab one and just give it a go. They are a great beginner lure, that takes minimal work on the part of the angler, with so much in-built vibration. This makes them great lures for kids to learn with also, with those sticky Owner assist hooks finding their mark on most fish. The weight and action make them fun to use and easy to cast, even in a head wind. They are priced well and have quality terminal tackle. The single assists hook fish well, come out of fish a lot easier then trebles and do less damage to the fish, which is always a good thing. These quality assist hooks are also sold separately, so when the time does come that you need a new set, there is no guess work in terms of what to put back on.

As I said at the start, I’ve always been a fan of the TT Switchblade, BUT the SwitchPrawn+ will have its place in a lot of different situations. It is honestly one of the best, well built vibes, that I’ve used in a long time.

Cheers MAV