Lucky Craft Real California 128

Lucky Craft Real California 128 mm – The Versatile Swimbait for Big Predators

If you’ve always wanted to fish with swimbaits but have been held back by the thought of buying a dedicated rod and reel, the Lucky Craft Real California is the answer to your prayers. With an overall length of 128 mm (5") and a weight of 28 grams (1 oz), this lure fits perfectly into the compact swimbait category, allowing you to comfortably cast and manage the action with a standard Medium-Heavy rod.

Designed and manufactured in Japan, the Real California combines Lucky Craft's legendary build quality with incredible versatility.

The Secret? Two Tails, Two Different Swimming Actions

The real standout feature of this lure lies in its interchangeable tail system (included in the package), which allows you to adapt to the fish's mood in seconds:

• Gel Tail (Soft Plastic): For a sinuous, natural, and extremely realistic swimming action, ideal for tricking the most wary fish.

• Blade Tail (Metal Blade): A spinnerbait-style blade that generates strong vibrations and flashing lights, perfect for stimulating predator aggressiveness or for fishing in stained water.

How to Fish It: Strategies and Action

The Real California is a Floating class lure that works in a water column ranging from the surface down to about 70 cm (2' ¼”) in depth (by keeping your rod tip low during a steady retrieve). It is deadly when used:

1. As a Search Bait: To quickly cover wide areas of water looking for active fish, without changing your usual fishing style.

2. In Dead-Sticking: Left motionless on the surface near heavy cover or structures, letting the subtle water movements do the work.

3. During the "Golden Time": At dawn and dusk, when big fish move near the surface to hunt efficiently.

Thanks to its medium size, it represents the perfect compromise for Black Bass: a meal big enough to move the real trophies (attracted by the excellent calories expended vs. calories gained ratio), but not so oversized that it scares off medium-sized fish. Perfect for both large reservoirs and wild lakes.

Pro Tip: Use the recommended line range (15-20 lbs) to best manage the lure around cover. A 20 lbs nylon line will help keep the bait higher on the surface, while a 15 lbs fluorocarbon will allow you to reach its maximum swimming depth of 70 cm.