Z-Man Launches New, Pro-Designed Products for 2012

August 18, 2011

Z-Man Fishing Products, Inc. (Z-Man) introduced several new products at ICAST 2011 to enhance their proprietary ElaZtech soft plastic bait line. These new ElaZtech products are the result of Z-Man’s comittment to working with top professional B.A.S.S. and FLW anglers and utilizing the most innovative techology available. These new designs have been custom tailored to fit specific fishing situations and techniques. All of these new, non-toxic products will deliver lifelike action, incredible durability and outstanding fish-catching performance.

Z-Man’s proprietary ElaZtech material is remarkably soft, pliable, and 10X tougher than traditional soft plastics. ElaZtech resists nicks, cuts, and tears better than other soft baits and boasts one of the highest fish-per-bait ratings in the industry, resulting in anglers not having to waste time searching for a new bait when the fish are biting. This unique material is also naturally buoyant and floats up off the bottom, creating a more visible, lifelike, and attractive target to game fish. Unlike most other soft plastic baits, ElaZtech contains no PVC, plastisol or phthalates, and is non-toxic.

“The Z-Man team is thrilled to be working with our Pro Staff to create bait designs that will benefit them in tournament settings, and our everyday customers as well. Our new bait designs take full advantage of the unique properties of our ElaZtech material—its 10X Tough durability, buoyancy, and softness—to produce baits unlike any on the market today,” said Z-Man General Manager, Daniel Nussbaum, about the new products.

Z-Man assembled a premier pro staff at the beginning of 2011 consisting of Bassmaster Classic and Forrest Wood Cup champion, and current FLW Tour angler, Luke Clausen, B.A.S.S. Elite Series angler and 2011 Elite Series tournament winner, David Walker, and Elite Series angler and 2012 Bassmaster Classic qualifier, Stephen Browning. Z-Man has worked closely with all three anglers to develop new bait and terminal tackle designs to continue to enhance its proprietary line of ElaZtech soft plastics.

“Elaztech has revolutionized the fishing world. With the input from myself and the other pro staff members, these new products will further grow the awarness and productivity of these baits. They’ll catch a lot of fish . . . Big ones,” said Clausen, who won the FLW Tour Major on the Potomac River earlier this season. Clausen employed one of the new ElaZtech baits, the Flappin CrawZ, along with ElaZtech Finesse WormZ en route to the victory.

“I’m really looking forward to these new baits. The pro staff really had a lot of input in their development process. I know it’s going to be a money maker for me in the future,” said Walker, who finished in third place at the Elite Series tournament at Toledo Bend, won at Lake Wheeler this season, and qualified for the 2012 Bassmaster Classic.

“I really like the Flappin’ CrawZ and the Punch CrawZ. I think it’s the most versitile bait that we have as far as being able to Texas rig or put a big weight on and punch through thick cover. I think there are unlimited applications for both of them and they will play a big role in the outcome of my events next year for sure,” said Browning, who nearly won the 2011 Harris Chain Elite Series event by flipping ElaZtech ZinkerZ. He also recently qualified for his 8th Bassmaster Classic.

2011 New Products Lineup:

Punch CrawZ

Punch CrawZ’s streamlined, compact design is ideal for effortlessly penetrating grass mats and other thick surface cover without hanging up. An ideal finesse jig trailer, it really shines when pegged on a heavy gauge flipping-style hook. Their buoyant claws float up to mimic the defensive posture of a crawfish at rest, driving bass crazy.

Size/QTY: 4 inches/8 per pack
Colors: Green pumpin, Okeechobee Craw, Black Sapphire, EZ Money, Green Pumpkin Blue, Black/Blue Flake, Blue Sapphire, California Craw

Flappin CrawZ

Superb as jig trailers or fished Texas style, Flappin CrawZ produce an enticing action and vibration, both on the fall and retrieve. At rest, their claws float up off the bottom to realistically mimic a crawfish’s natural defensive position. These versatile, heavy cover baits are ready for battle in the harshest conditions.

Size/QTY: 4 inches/8 per pack
Colors: Green pumpin, Okeechobee Craw, Black Sapphire, EZ Money, Green Pumpkin Blue, Black/Blue Flake, Blue Sapphire, California Craw

Grass KickerZ

Salt-impregnated Grass KickerZ sport an oversized paddle tail that creates an aggressive swimming action, and tapered nose and slim profile ideal for fishing over and around heavy surface cover. Featuring a hook slot for easy rigging and hook sets, they’ll stay on top of the slop, and won’t tear upon attack.

Size/QTY: 5 inches/4 per pack
Colors: EZ Money, California Craw, Pearl, Smokey Shad, Houdini, Redbone, Junebug, Opening Night, Electric Chicken, New Penny

PaddlerZ

A segmented body and thin paddle tail allow PaddlerZ to be fished as twitch-, wake- or swimbaits, at both fast and slow retrieve speeds. The 5-inch version is perfect for slow rolling on a weighted weedless hook, while the 4-incher excels when hopped along the bottom on Z-Man’s JigheadZ.

Size/QTY: 4 & 5 inches/5 per pack
Color: Pearl, New Penny, Shiner, Smoky Shad, Rootbeer/Gold, Electric Chicken, Houdini, Redbone.

Finesse ShadZ

The slim, shad-shaped body, thin tail, and superior action of 4” Finesse ShadZ make them ideal for drop shotting, small jighead rigs, and other finesse applications. Tested on largemouth nationwide, they’re a proven performer when the bite gets tough.

Size/QTY: 4 inches/8 per pack
Color: Green Pumpkin, Junebug, Watermelon

Shaky HeadZ

Ideal for use with Finesse WormZ and CrawZ, Shaky HeadZ’s MustadÂ® UltraPoint™ flat-eye hook design and keeper system hold traditional plastic and ElaZtech baits securely on the hook shank.

Size/QTY: 1/8 OZ, 3/16 OZ, 1/4 OZ / 3 per pack
Colors: Green Pumpkin, Black

Z-Man Apparel

Over the past couple of years you may have noticed a change in Z-Man’s overall look. Our new apparel also reflects our new look. We’ve designed high quality shirts and hats for our loyal customers to sport on the water and around town.