ICAST 2020: Zman Wins ICAST Hard Lure Awards with JackHamer Stealth Blade

Placing a precious jewel in the crown of the bladed jig category it helped create, Z-Man recently won Best Freshwater Hard Lure at the fishing industry’s preeminent trade show, the 2020 International Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST). Among a multitude of new lures, the exceptional new Z-Man bladed jig garnered the winning votes cast by media and tackle buyers in ICAST’s New Product Showcase. Already renowned for its phenomenal run of fish-catching, tournament-winning success, the Z-Man / EverGreen ChatterBait JackHammer has now been joined by a subtler, ultra-refined bladed bass jig.

“The JackHammer StealthBlade is the antidote for bass that have seen endless parades of traditional bladed jigs,” divulges Brett Hite, pro angler and designer of the eminent ChatterBait JackHammer and its radical new finesse offspring, the JackHammer StealthBlade. The driving force behind the patented new ChatterBait design, a clear, finely-chiseled polycarbonate blade produces a totally different sound and vibration, but like its predecessor, starts thumping intensely with the first half-turn of the reel handle. “I’d say the vibe of the StealthBlade feels a little tighter, hunts with a slightly higher frequency vibration,” asserts Hite, who has won over a million dollars on bladed jigs. “The clear, covert blade is heard, but not seen by bass. It gives off a fresh vibration that hunts in evasive ways and gives the jig’s head a sweet rolling action. The StealthBlade’s compact size adds to its appeal in heavy pressure situations.”

JackHammer 2.0’ Resonates with Selective Largemouths, Smallmouths

Z-Man® / EverGreen International set to unleash new ChatterBait® JackHammer™ StealthBlade™ bladed jig

In a wink, it flashes and disappears underwater. Suggestive of a preyfish tail-kick, the luminous blade hums a subtle but palpable harmony; seems to be singing directly to the bass. As the thin-edged razor cuts water with the speed and precision of a Santoku, it vanishes and reappears in rapid succession. Inside the brains of bass, alarms bells toll. Although they can’t see it at first, predators in the neighborhood can feel its pulse—a sweet tune that pings lateral lines and incites mandibles to snap.

A valuable combination of refined energy, unpredictable action and visual stealth, the new Z-Man 

"JackHammer StealthBlade is about to add an exciting new chapter to the book of the bladed jig.

The StealthBlade is the antidote for bass that have seen endless parades of traditional bladed jigs,” divulges Brett Hite, pro angler and designer of the eminent Z-Man ChatterBait JackHammer and its radical new finesse offspring, the JackHammer StealthBlade. “Throw it in clear water. Skip it under heavily-fished docks and laydowns. Cast it for big smallmouths. Pitch it anywhere you want, and present bass with a totally different sound and cadence than other bladed jigs. We’re super pumped about the way this bait turned out; another fish catching collaboration by Z-Man and leading Japanese lure maker, EverGreen International.”

Back In 2017, no one could have anticipated the lure that would ultimately turn the pursuit of bass on its head, a bait that would go on to produce more giant fish and more tournament dollars than any other in recent memory. The Z-Man ChatterBait JackHammer created a singular subset of pro-grade bladed bass jigs—a lure anglers now bring to almost any lake with the assurance of big fish and mega limits in the livewell.