Owner of Teckel Lures, Kideki Maeda is the original designer of the vixen. He used to make lures for other companies. He started Teckel 9-10 yrs ago and the EXACT SAME MOLD is used for Terkel Kicknocker but with different sound.
Another really effective walker is a 4" Yo-Zuri Pencil 3DB Series Pencil in bone. The fish really smash it hard!! It has slight serrations on the belly which help slow its glide which is great. I want to try the 5" version sometime too. In the States they are relatively cheap compared to some of the other brands
Yo-Zuri Pencil 3DB is easy to walk, used the blue-back herring pattern on Lake Lanier. The spotted bass were not interested in a zoom fluke but they smacked the pencil. Easy to cast, noisy, easy to walk and lower cost.
My all-time favorite top water is still the Jitterbug still waiting for you to release a video about fishing a vibrating blade. Much respect matt keep up the good work.
I had one of those experiences last week where you have about 5 blowups on a single retrieve. I kept stopping & starting the retrieve until a 3 lb largemouth FINALLY got it. I do switch out my walking baits, but I'm still partial to the chug bug (as it landed a 4.3 pounder on Saturday).
Was on the TW mail list for this and was still sitting on the fence because of concerns that it wasn't as good as the original. i just ordered 2. Thanks. Great video.
Thanks for sharing your topwater and your story about your lure getting stolen. A friend of mine were walleye fishing and went to have lunch with my buddies parents. The boat was out of our view. It was raining pretty good and we needed to eat and warm up. I beached my 17 foot alumacraft boat and threw out the anchor onto shore. We were gone about 1 and a half hours. When we went to get my boat it was gone. I checked a dock about 50 yards away and it wasnt there. We then went to another dock that had about 10 boats tied up. As we walked down the dock we passed 4 teens, 2 girls and 2 boys. We spotted my boat so we take off fishing wandering what had just happened. As we are heading to our fishing spot i noticed i was missing 2 fishing rods. Then i remembered the teens that we met walking down the dock looking for my boat the 2 boys were each carrying a fishing pole and didnt have any rain gear on nor were they carring anything else. We had passed the robbers on the dock and didnt know it at the time.
I was able to order three Vixens about a month and half ago, I got three in the Bone color from TW and 24 hours later they were out of stock. I waited three years to order them. I watched Jamie Hartman win the Guntersville Elite Series in 2019 using that lure in that color. Been waiting ever since to get em. Awesome lure
If you dont order them when they are in they will dissappear and you never know when they will be back in stock. i have heard they make really small runs of a few colors at a time.
You know the story of the old wiggle wart, right? Back in the early 70s, Storm was just a local company that didn't have a lot of money. When they had the molds made for the wiggle wart, they did it on the cheap. Those old molds were nasty and messed up, especially for the bills, which were always crooked. That's what gave them the erratic action and made them dart to the left or right suddenly at random times. As our favorite painter would say, it was a "happy accident." Fast forward a few years and Rapala ends up buying Storm and the first thing they did was "fix" those old molds. Gone was that random action and it ain't ever coming back. If you can get your hands on an original wiggle wart, hold on to it! I have several and they are just way better than the new ones!
I've had great success with the silver/blue chug bug (either walking or popping). I'll just tap my rod on the retrieve. And the largemouth don't always get it, but once hooked they usually stay hooked.
Wow thanks for the heads up! This bait is really the deal!! Just put my order in on your link! I had to get me one!! Only got one color left I think but o well I can repaint it if I needed
Yo-Zuri and Lucky Craft also make that style of lure and they are both great lures. I have caught quite a few bass with those lures made by both companies. I have even caught a large northern pike with the Lucky Craft Sammy 5" model that I bought from a discount outlet store. It was the only northern pike I have ever caught on a lure because catching northern pike in the Baltimore metro isn't easy because there aren't many of them around here so for me to catch one on a lure says something about the quality of that lure! Both the Yo-Zuri and Lucky Craft lures are two of the easiest walk-the-dog lures I have ever used.
My favorite soft plastic worm that I can’t find anywhere was a ribbon tail work that has a hammered texture or golf ball divots all down both sides of the ribbon tail. I would use a red shad color
The vixen seems better when fish are keyed up. That or the evergreen showerblows are my first choice. If theyre not biting one of those, i go for the lucky craft sammy 100. I feel sometimes they just prefer that quieter, subtle, skittering kind of action on the lucky craft.
I was very happy to see that Heddon finally made a Zara spook in between the puppy and the junior , they suppose to be saltwater colors but that’s fine by me they needed to make this for years to me , same junior rattle too click click boom
I own several Repo mans and I won money in a tournament with a bone one just like yours. I really like them. I own a Vixen and have caught fish on it too.
🍺. Great topic. Topwater walking baits is one of my confidence baits. Vixen is a good bait but for me the Original Heddon Zara spook and the Megabass Dog X Diamanté are better and here is why. The Zara spook hook hanger mounting gear is unique and patented along with their long shank hook it does not allow the hook points to come into contact with the bait. Therefore it doesn’t carve into and ruin the paint job. I can completely ruin the paint job of other baits in a day and completely carve holes in them in a week👎. It’s also less expensive. The salt water Super Spook version visually is a Vixon. The Dog X Diamante also has perpendicular hook eyes, has much more detailed molds, superior paint scheme’s, and a more tapered backend which helps with cast ability and hook ups with short strikes from the rear of the bait. I would also choose the Evergreen SB-125 for its amazing sound, cast-ability, and flash/glitter side profiles, it also has the perpendicular hook eyes Matt mentioned about the Vixon which for me comes in 4th place. All the colors of Vixon baits should be available before Halloween on Matt’s TW link.
Thanks Matt. Wiggle warts were and still are a favorite of mine. They still slay large and smallmouth. Saturday caught a key largemouth in a tournament off a WW in watermelon, the new ones work just fine. The bait that's changed over the years for the worst are Manns 1-. The old ones are tidal water terrors especially the baby 1-. Walking baits I gotta go Sammy.
I prefer the heavy top water baits, you can cast them farther and I like making more of a commotion when I walk a top water to get the fishes attention. I will check it out 🎣
Sorry,I stopped the video and went and ordered one to give them a try, I have buddys that swear by them but I didnt know they are back, thanks for the tip!!! I finished the video though😁
Stupid snake head got my last Vixen. I do have the Teckel bait. It's okay. I like the Savage walking bait with the wings that turn it into a buzz/plopper bait. That bait walks well. Thanks for the information.
I don't know what good means as I have never had it up until now. I've used it in boilings and a few occasions and it didn't do well as I thought but none of the others lures work anyways. As for my opinion after the fact, it seems to work great. I was at a shallow sandbar and had to go into the algae bloom to get casting distance or reach my intended target. I said to my brother and student, I was gonna go in and catch one out there. The thought I was crazy. First cast and a bass came up and missed it. They were amazed and clowing me at the same time. Then right after that my legs were burning and I had to get out to wash my legs. They were concern about my legs more than anything as funny as it was. I was just concerning myself with the thought of how effect this Vixen is or did I just get lucky? It was one of those difficult skunk days in the scorching CA sun, which I can rate this lure higher than I initially thought. The overall performance of the lure is straight terrible. There's nothing I like about it other than it seems to work. All the other ones in its class like the Livingston, Rover, Spook, Dogmas, so forth and so forth perform much better in that regard (not that they are better in catchability). To me the flaws outweigh the lure's ability to catch given the short time I had to work with it. If I to give it a score, 6 stars out of 10 only bc it seems to work. Could being higher if there are but a few flaws. There's too many flaws. Could also be like a 4 out of 10 stars if you really want to be honest and factor in all the flaws associated with this lure. For recommendation, I would have to be honest and say 5 stars out of 10. 1. They have better brands. 2. You don't need it, but it's good to have. Like it's not going to hurt you or kill you not having it. 3. It's overrated for those reasons and overpriced. My two cents.
@@MattStefanFishing If I had to guess, its just as good based on seeing that fish hit it in the hot sun, and not being a prior owner. Good as in catchibilty, quality, sound, paint, design, etc. Like I keep drilling, performance is near garbage if I may be honest. The lure is not perfect and it needs to address all the issues. It ciuld be perfect with a guy like me working for them and offering inputs. No offense. Just my opinion. I'm sure everyone don't see it that way.
You should before they are gone. They can be impossible to get. Only two colors left and both happen to be ones I love! www.tacklewarehouse.com/Reaction_Innovations_Vixen/descpage-RIV.html?from=MSFG
Matt, the original Zara has the 2 screw straps that effectively makes the hook hangers perpendicular like this bait. The 1 knocker has the round screw in hook hanger like most other walking topwaters
@@MattStefanFishing Haha. Anyway, I’ll have to give this lure a go. Maybe this will be the walking bait that gets me that too water bite I’ve been trying all year to get. 🤣
Matt, really? you can't think why transverse mounted hook hangers would be better for a bait who's essential aciton is side-to-side? If it's significant, well, I doubt that. The hooks and the bait body would have so much resistance that the orientaiton of a tiny part couldn't be that much.
I love the vixen definitely great walking bait but for those who dont know if you cant get your hands on the RI.V. dont hesitate to buy the KVD sexy dawg and/or sexy dawg jr. Strike King did a👌job on em you wont be disappointed if your looking for a walking cigar bait
I enjoy watching the video, and I am very happy to know you love my original design. It's my honor. You may talk about anything you feel, but please don't spread a lie. I have owned the original mold, and I have never sold and bought it before. Reaction Innovations and Paycheck Bait have never had the original mold before. I just made the bait to them before. It's OK you like "Vixen", and I am not sure 2nd Gen and 3rd Gen is good or not, and I have no idea where they are made. Anyway, 2nd Gen and 3rd Gen is a kind of knockoff of mine.
I apologize for not knowing the full history of the bait. I just shared the story I had heard through the years. Its a great bait and one I love using.
If the sideways hook hangers are the “magic”, then it might be worth trying adding a small split ring between an inline hook hanger and the existing split ring on a traditional walking bait. I’d be curious to hear your thoughts or results if you try it. I’ve been using sk sexy dogs lately with good results so I might try an additional split ring for myself, just to see after seeing your video. I’ve long ago added split rings to the screw-in hook hangers on all my old Zara spooks - also with good results. Just recently lost my favorite yellow shore minnow Zara when it broke in two. ☹️
Hey stop catching all those bass on that boat your making me jealous just kidding Mr stafan pyl drive them set the wood to them. Hey Matt that video was an interesting one going back in time and telling us about an old bait that's back . Cool one bud thanks for the tip about the old bait that's back. God bless you and your family your pal fisherman Mike.
Great video! About to buy the Vixen. Any other lures you'd suggest that are rare or hidden gems? I'm a tackle junky, so there isn't too many I haven't tried lol. Thanks!
@@MattStefanFishing I like to bass fish more often. But so many pikes around my area. So I wanted to see if you compromise with the leader while fishing for bass and not use steel leaders or thick leaders and just risk if a big pike gets the lure
I find they're the easiest to walk across all the lines. It's the bait I learned to walk the dog on. I may have to sell some if I keep betting against the Packers!!
Today, we went fishing, specifically for stripers. On our way, I says to the student, I need to poop. Told them to pull over and they can try to catch fish while I do squats and funny business. This place is a place known for being Skunk City. I gets back and the student with elite brother were smelling skunks. I suggested they use this particular magical lure. They refused bc nobody wants to be told what to do. I went and got my generic oddity and quickly caught 3 bass, two back to back. Hence, first fish in the book. Look, to be elite, you almost have to be a mystical oracle like that. You call it first, then it happens. Then the brother copied me fishing in the flood gate's tunnel with the original lure of this oddity and instantly caught a bass. I followed suit. I threw mine into the same opening and bam! A giant striper over 30 inches. I caught so many bass after that, I stopped counting at 22. All this in a matter of like 2 hours. My record stands as undisputed Champion. I should have documented my great adventures on videos. They would never believe me. Fishing in Central CA is no joke. If Uncle Neng was there and signed that $1,500 for first fish, big fish, and most fish, he would have coughed up that easy money. I put them two guys with me on 3 stripers seemingly over 30 inches. Never measured em. They're too big. It's truly difficult for 3 people to catch 4 stripers over 30 in CA in that span of time. Heck, it's truly difficult to catch 4 over 30 any given day by any group. We had to leave after like 2 hours since we wanted to get to our destination where there are potential boilings. Nothing was over there. The bass there were extremely hard to catch at the first spot. The second was even worse. I had to resort to dropshot. Sincerely Yours does not dropshot. You know this. I tell you I dropshot with three baits on my line. Sometimes we catch three bass at once. Several times today I had two bass on the line at the same time when the fishing was too damn hard by definition. It was like every cast for me and the brother. We got tired and move to another running Aqueduct. Oh we killing it wherever we go. Last time the student skunked bc he dissed me to go with my other brother. I told him before this trip that if he takes me, he won't get skunked. You can't predict the future like Sincerely Yours. He is the best of the bestest. Even my elite brother, the best fisherman I know still lost to me today in the numbers department. He must have caught just about the same amount of fish about 40. He did catch two of those 4 giant stripers and several others. My count is unrivaled. My record cannot be trumped. My hands smelled like fish. They were bloody. My foot was bloody. Sometimes people want me to take photos to prove myself. I just tell them they can smell my hands. Nobody can do what I did today. Nobody can do what I do. They can write this epic day down in the history books again. Epic days are common when you are the best at what you do and no one can get on your level. You get on the water and your team or you catch the most fish on that particular water than any team there that day. This is too common theme.
It was a musky at the end ? They can cut fluro so easily! Last saturday we caught a nice pike with a megabass jerkbait ( pro blue ) , he had the whole bait in is mouth , as soon as i put my hand on top of is head the line snap , i was able to recuperate my jerkbait , i was lucky this time, they are so slimy 😂😂😂
the old Rebel jumpin Minnow the ones that had a square nose, two hooks with a rattle with a deep sound! not the plastic in cased ones! I'll put those jumpin minnow baits against any top water cigar shaped bait! even the old school Heddon Zara spook! the best colors were the silver plated with black or blue backs, the gold plated were good too! especially an 808 color blk top, gold, orange belly! the squared nose, two hooked (had to replace them with Galvanized VMC's) and ditch the stupid split ring! and tie onto the nose with a double improved clinch knot with the knot facing down, fished on a old 6' 6" Garcia Crossfire XT! like fishing with a pool cue! with a Garcia 5501 C3, whirls like an egg beater! (get a tube oil) but will cast a country mile with a educated thumb! with the knot down that bait glides like dying fish and that deep thump sound fish spank those old Rebel Jumpin Minnows! freshwater and especially saltwater Redfish & Trout eat'em up! and after the plate or G finish is knocked off there better with blank bone color! biggest mistake I've ever made? was at spring fishing show, Gorge R Brown, Cutrate was moving from their old locations into the big stores, they had a bathtub full of the old Rebel jumpin minnows for a $1.00 a piece! I bought 20! should've bought the whole tub! but stupid is! as stupid does! try buying them now??? old Rebel jumpin minnow vs the Vixen? then we'll really see whose is that top dog or the bitch??? dig the videos! Sinn Fein Byrne
Jon, how should we watch this? This channel is one of the very best out there! The advice Matt gives works even here in South Africa, so i would like read your respnse.
Vixens do catch bass. The performance is terrible. They're terrible in wakes or waves. They hung up on the cast or helicopter. The weight is not accurate. There's no weight transfer for the lack of words. They bounce when they hit the water, which causes even more severe tangles. It's a fooking headache to use. To me, the knocker is not loud enough. The front hook is too close to the front that it makes hanging up easier than normal. Many other lures have perpendicular eyes as well. Trust me that there are better topwater lures both in catch and performance. Yall have no clue. That's why I say 90% of anglers don't know topwater. That being kind. I should have said 99% like fighters not knowing how to fight.
Owner of Teckel Lures, Kideki Maeda is the original designer of the vixen. He used to make lures for other companies. He started Teckel 9-10 yrs ago and the EXACT SAME MOLD is used for Terkel Kicknocker but with different sound.
very cool! thanks for sharing that!
He's right. If you put both baits side by side you could tell they're out of the right same mold
By the way Matt if you aren't sold on the kick knocker I'm not sure why. It's straight up gets bit.
Another really effective walker is a 4" Yo-Zuri Pencil 3DB Series Pencil in bone. The fish really smash it hard!! It has slight serrations on the belly which help slow its glide which is great.
I want to try the 5" version sometime too. In the States they are relatively cheap compared to some of the other brands
thanks for sharing with us!
Not going to lie, the Yo-Zuri line of walking baits in general are pretty damn good.
Love that bait, but have trouble with it diving sometimes.
Yo-Zuri Pencil 3DB is easy to walk, used the blue-back herring pattern on Lake Lanier. The spotted bass were not interested in a zoom fluke but they smacked the pencil. Easy to cast, noisy, easy to walk and lower cost.
Your lure reviews are very good and also detailed. Keep sending these videos. They are a good reference for anglers looking to try different lures.
Thanks, will do!
My all-time favorite top water is still the Jitterbug still waiting for you to release a video about fishing a vibrating blade. Much respect matt keep up the good work.
Coming soon!
Matt, you have the best channel on You Tube. Thanks for all you do!
Glad you enjoy it!
Thanks for taking the time to make these videos for us.
My pleasure!
I had one of those experiences last week where you have about 5 blowups on a single retrieve. I kept stopping & starting the retrieve until a 3 lb largemouth FINALLY got it. I do switch out my walking baits, but I'm still partial to the chug bug (as it landed a 4.3 pounder on Saturday).
I had that kind of day yesterday
Hey mate !!! , What is the combination of your fishing equipment to take advantage of that vixen ? !!! Line , Rod reel
20 lb PowerPro, 7' Daiwa medium-heavy rod, Shimano 2500 spinning reel.
Was on the TW mail list for this and was still sitting on the fence because of concerns that it wasn't as good as the original. i just ordered 2. Thanks. Great video.
Hope you enjoy it!
Thanks for sharing your topwater and your story about your lure getting stolen. A friend of mine were walleye fishing and went to have lunch with my buddies parents. The boat was out of our view. It was raining pretty good and we needed to eat and warm up. I beached my 17 foot alumacraft boat and threw out the anchor onto shore.
We were gone about 1 and a half hours. When we went to get my boat it was gone. I checked a dock about 50 yards away and it wasnt there. We then went to another dock that had about 10 boats tied up. As we walked down the dock we passed 4 teens, 2 girls and 2 boys. We spotted my boat so we take off fishing wandering what had just happened. As we are heading to our fishing spot i noticed i was missing 2 fishing rods. Then i remembered the teens that we met walking down the dock looking for my boat the 2 boys were each carrying a fishing pole and didnt have any rain gear on nor were they carring anything else. We had passed the robbers on the dock and didnt know it at the time.
oh man total bummer
Thanks for everything Matt!
you bet!
I don't know about this bait, but you are spot on about the wiggle-wart.
thanks!
when you jump in to get your lure back 2x, that's a lure worth loving. sometimes, you can get another but they'll never quite swim the same.
agreed!
I was able to order three Vixens about a month and half ago, I got three in the Bone color from TW and 24 hours later they were out of stock. I waited three years to order them. I watched Jamie Hartman win the Guntersville Elite Series in 2019 using that lure in that color. Been waiting ever since to get em. Awesome lure
If you dont order them when they are in they will dissappear and you never know when they will be back in stock. i have heard they make really small runs of a few colors at a time.
You know the story of the old wiggle wart, right? Back in the early 70s, Storm was just a local company that didn't have a lot of money. When they had the molds made for the wiggle wart, they did it on the cheap. Those old molds were nasty and messed up, especially for the bills, which were always crooked. That's what gave them the erratic action and made them dart to the left or right suddenly at random times. As our favorite painter would say, it was a "happy accident." Fast forward a few years and Rapala ends up buying Storm and the first thing they did was "fix" those old molds. Gone was that random action and it ain't ever coming back. If you can get your hands on an original wiggle wart, hold on to it! I have several and they are just way better than the new ones!
i love the old warts!
Have you tried filing down one side on a new one to make it crooked?
I've had great success with the silver/blue chug bug (either walking or popping). I'll just tap my rod on the retrieve. And the largemouth don't always get it, but once hooked they usually stay hooked.
Awesome
I absolutely kill it with a chug bug over a Zara spook. I'm gonna have to try this vixen tho.
Vixen got to try em , thanks for sharing
so good!
Wow thanks for the heads up! This bait is really the deal!! Just put my order in on your link! I had to get me one!! Only got one color left I think but o well I can repaint it if I needed
Right on! Thanks for the support!
Yo-Zuri and Lucky Craft also make that style of lure and they are both great lures. I have caught quite a few bass with those lures made by both companies. I have even caught a large northern pike with the Lucky Craft Sammy 5" model that I bought from a discount outlet store. It was the only northern pike I have ever caught on a lure because catching northern pike in the Baltimore metro isn't easy because there aren't many of them around here so for me to catch one on a lure says something about the quality of that lure! Both the Yo-Zuri and Lucky Craft lures are two of the easiest walk-the-dog lures I have ever used.
sounds great!
My favorite soft plastic worm that I can’t find anywhere was a ribbon tail work that has a hammered texture or golf ball divots all down both sides of the ribbon tail. I would use a red shad color
interesting!
The vixen seems better when fish are keyed up. That or the evergreen showerblows are my first choice. If theyre not biting one of those, i go for the lucky craft sammy 100. I feel sometimes they just prefer that quieter, subtle, skittering kind of action on the lucky craft.
Thanks for sharing
Thanks for the heads up!! Good stuff Matt👍👍👍
You bet!
Had a Gar destroy mine on the James River. Enjoyed the video good stuff
glad you enjoyed it
my all time favorite, I have a few of the old ones that are still going strong
Nice!
I had to go swimming in February for a lure. Man, that was cold. Lol. Great video, Matt
ive done it before haha lots of times!
I have the version 2 and the v3 are exactly the same. Another very good lure, pretty identical to this one is the xcite Heckler for 15 bucks.
thanks for sahring
great update, i need to try this one out!
You should!
I was very happy to see that Heddon finally made a Zara spook in between the puppy and the junior , they suppose to be saltwater colors but that’s fine by me they needed to make this for years to me , same junior rattle too click click boom
thats a good one!
The pike and musky in my waters love these things. I always make sure to run a strong leader for that reason lol
Pike eat everything
What color?
Thanks for the tip!
you bet!
I love top water walking bait I use the kvd sexy dog a lot but I will be on the look out for that one
awesome!
Just was recommended your page by a mutual friend Eric Porterfield!! Ill be coming to the river in october!!
Awesome! Tell him thanks!
The best walking bait I’ve used is a water wood smooth criminal, I’ve caught giants on it but I’ve never used a vixen so might have to try one.
I’ll check it out
I just purchased 5 vixens at Mark’s outdoors in Birmingham, Al.
Very cool
Great looking bait and nice musky as well!
Thanks 👍
🙌🏽 love when I catch a fresh upload! Always great info and entertainment! 👊🏽 🙏🏽 thanks
I appreciate that!
Great vid, thanks! Ordered a few from your tackle warehouse link, maybe I’ll actually catch something on top water with these 😂
I bet you will!
The lucky craft gun fish n strike king sexy dawg have been best for me this year. I will give these baits a try now too!
both good baits!
I just picked up a Lime Ice and Black Chrome one.
nice!
Your videos are very educational … Keep up the great work
Thanks, will do!
I own several Repo mans and I won money in a tournament with a bone one just like yours. I really like them. I own a Vixen and have caught fish on it too.
they are great!
I had a couple, lost both to fish. I was bummed when I couldn't get anymore..gonna get some now
awesome!
🍺. Great topic. Topwater walking baits is one of my confidence baits. Vixen is a good bait but for me the Original Heddon Zara spook and the Megabass Dog X Diamanté are better and here is why. The Zara spook hook hanger mounting gear is unique and patented along with their long shank hook it does not allow the hook points to come into contact with the bait. Therefore it doesn’t carve into and ruin the paint job. I can completely ruin the paint job of other baits in a day and completely carve holes in them in a week👎. It’s also less expensive. The salt water Super Spook version visually is a Vixon.
The Dog X Diamante also has perpendicular hook eyes, has much more detailed molds, superior paint scheme’s, and a more tapered backend which helps with cast ability and hook ups with short strikes from the rear of the bait.
I would also choose the Evergreen SB-125 for its amazing sound, cast-ability, and flash/glitter side profiles, it also has the perpendicular hook eyes Matt mentioned about the Vixon which for me comes in 4th place. All the colors of Vixon baits should be available before Halloween on Matt’s TW link.
great info thanks for sharing!
Thanks Matt. Wiggle warts were and still are a favorite of mine. They still slay large and smallmouth. Saturday caught a key largemouth in a tournament off a WW in watermelon, the new ones work just fine. The bait that's changed over the years for the worst are Manns 1-. The old ones are tidal water terrors especially the baby 1-. Walking baits I gotta go Sammy.
thanks for sharing!
I prefer the heavy top water baits, you can cast them farther and I like making more of a commotion when I walk a top water to get the fishes attention. I will check it out 🎣
Right on
Sorry,I stopped the video and went and ordered one to give them a try, I have buddys that swear by them but I didnt know they are back, thanks for the tip!!! I finished the video though😁
haha!
i would love to see some more wisconsin river fishing video.
More to come!
Stupid snake head got my last Vixen. I do have the Teckel bait. It's okay. I like the Savage walking bait with the wings that turn it into a buzz/plopper bait. That bait walks well. Thanks for the information.
dang snakeheads
@@MattStefanFishing they are ugly but taste good
I love the Vixen. I’m so glad Reaction Innovations brought it back. I’m glad to hear it’s just as good as the original.
i think its everybit as good!
I don't know what good means as I have never had it up until now. I've used it in boilings and a few occasions and it didn't do well as I thought but none of the others lures work anyways. As for my opinion after the fact, it seems to work great. I was at a shallow sandbar and had to go into the algae bloom to get casting distance or reach my intended target. I said to my brother and student, I was gonna go in and catch one out there. The thought I was crazy. First cast and a bass came up and missed it. They were amazed and clowing me at the same time. Then right after that my legs were burning and I had to get out to wash my legs. They were concern about my legs more than anything as funny as it was. I was just concerning myself with the thought of how effect this Vixen is or did I just get lucky? It was one of those difficult skunk days in the scorching CA sun, which I can rate this lure higher than I initially thought. The overall performance of the lure is straight terrible. There's nothing I like about it other than it seems to work. All the other ones in its class like the Livingston, Rover, Spook, Dogmas, so forth and so forth perform much better in that regard (not that they are better in catchability). To me the flaws outweigh the lure's ability to catch given the short time I had to work with it. If I to give it a score, 6 stars out of 10 only bc it seems to work. Could being higher if there are but a few flaws. There's too many flaws. Could also be like a 4 out of 10 stars if you really want to be honest and factor in all the flaws associated with this lure. For recommendation, I would have to be honest and say 5 stars out of 10. 1. They have better brands. 2. You don't need it, but it's good to have. Like it's not going to hurt you or kill you not having it. 3. It's overrated for those reasons and overpriced. My two cents.
@@MattStefanFishing If I had to guess, its just as good based on seeing that fish hit it in the hot sun, and not being a prior owner. Good as in catchibilty, quality, sound, paint, design, etc. Like I keep drilling, performance is near garbage if I may be honest. The lure is not perfect and it needs to address all the issues. It ciuld be perfect with a guy like me working for them and offering inputs. No offense. Just my opinion. I'm sure everyone don't see it that way.
Wow! I gotta get a couple of those. You sold me 👍
You should before they are gone. They can be impossible to get. Only two colors left and both happen to be ones I love! www.tacklewarehouse.com/Reaction_Innovations_Vixen/descpage-RIV.html?from=MSFG
Matt, the original Zara has the 2 screw straps that effectively makes the hook hangers perpendicular like this bait. The 1 knocker has the round screw in hook hanger like most other walking topwaters
interesting!
Hey Matt, what's the difference between the vixen and the rover. Please respond if you can. Thank you
im not familiar with the rover
4:00PM came and went, and I didn’t see a video. Forgot you’re central time. 🤣🤣
haha
@@MattStefanFishing Haha. Anyway, I’ll have to give this lure a go. Maybe this will be the walking bait that gets me that too water bite I’ve been trying all year to get. 🤣
Matt, really? you can't think why transverse mounted hook hangers would be better for a bait who's essential aciton is side-to-side? If it's significant, well, I doubt that. The hooks and the bait body would have so much resistance that the orientaiton of a tiny part couldn't be that much.
ok
Never tried one but I’ll have to. If I can ever find one
they still have some at tackle warehouse! www.tacklewarehouse.com/Reaction_Innovations_Vixen/descpage-RIV.html?from=MSFG
I love Teckel's kicknocker. But if you Vixen is better, I must try Vixen!
i think they both are good baits!
used your link and
ordered a couple 😁👍
Awesome thank you for the support! Youll love'em!
I love the vixen definitely great walking bait but for those who dont know if you cant get your hands on the RI.V. dont hesitate to buy the KVD sexy dawg and/or sexy dawg jr. Strike King did a👌job on em you wont be disappointed if your looking for a walking cigar bait
thanks for sharing!
I enjoy watching the video, and I am very happy to know you love my original design. It's my honor. You may talk about anything you feel, but please don't spread a lie. I have owned the original mold, and I have never sold and bought it before. Reaction Innovations and Paycheck Bait have never had the original mold before. I just made the bait to them before. It's OK you like "Vixen", and I am not sure 2nd Gen and 3rd Gen is good or not, and I have no idea where they are made. Anyway, 2nd Gen and 3rd Gen is a kind of knockoff of mine.
I apologize for not knowing the full history of the bait. I just shared the story I had heard through the years. Its a great bait and one I love using.
@@MattStefanFishing No need apologize. I just want you to know the true story.
What colors do you recommend? Everywhere I look and bone is out of stock.
I like bone, sexy Shad and black
If the sideways hook hangers are the “magic”, then it might be worth trying adding a small split ring between an inline hook hanger and the existing split ring on a traditional walking bait. I’d be curious to hear your thoughts or results if you try it. I’ve been using sk sexy dogs lately with good results so I might try an additional split ring for myself, just to see after seeing your video. I’ve long ago added split rings to the screw-in hook hangers on all my old Zara spooks - also with good results. Just recently lost my favorite yellow shore minnow Zara when it broke in two. ☹️
I always add split rings to the original zara spooks. Makes a HUGE difference in the number of lost fish.
good suggestion!
Repo man badass lure
its a good one!
A Vixen é uma cópia da Teckel Kicknocker?
thanks for watching
Nice fish!
Thanks!
Matt, have you seen the new Limited Edition Vixen Blackout?
yep and I got one!
Well you sold me on it. Just spent over $200 on ebay on a few of them. Lol. Personally I use the Heddon Super Spook Jr
Haha it’s a good one
@@MattStefanFishing Looking forward to trying it out.!
Hey stop catching all those bass on that boat your making me jealous just kidding Mr stafan pyl drive them set the wood to them. Hey Matt that video was an interesting one going back in time and telling us about an old bait that's back . Cool one bud thanks for the tip about the old bait that's back. God bless you and your family your pal fisherman Mike.
thanks for watching!
Matt what mhx blank are you using to to walk that bait with?
MHX MB843
Which bait are u talking
reaction innovation vixen
Great video! About to buy the Vixen. Any other lures you'd suggest that are rare or hidden gems? I'm a tackle junky, so there isn't too many I haven't tried lol. Thanks!
im sure there are lots more. maybe ill make a video on it!
@@MattStefanFishing great idea. Thanks!
@@MattStefanFishing have you tried or heard of the Xcite Heckler? It's a little cheaper and is compared to the Vixen...
How many pounds test do you put on to combat Pike muskie and do you just risk lower pound test
if im fishing for pike/miskie i use 65lb braid. if im bass fishing 14 or 17 lb mono
@@MattStefanFishing I like to bass fish more often. But so many pikes around my area. So I wanted to see if you compromise with the leader while fishing for bass and not use steel leaders or thick leaders and just risk if a big pike gets the lure
What is your favorite color? They're expensive but i need to get me one
I love the chartreuse shiner, but also really like bone, bluegill and lush
They should have asked what color you don't like.
I think you're crazy. Spook is king . If you want i will repaint it for you . I have the pearl bone paint. Thanks Matt
i like spooks as well but i have seen some crazy things with the vixen
I find they're the easiest to walk across all the lines. It's the bait I learned to walk the dog on. I may have to sell some if I keep betting against the Packers!!
its a good one!
Now. I gotta buy more baits. 😳😳😆😆😆
Today, we went fishing, specifically for stripers. On our way, I says to the student, I need to poop. Told them to pull over and they can try to catch fish while I do squats and funny business. This place is a place known for being Skunk City. I gets back and the student with elite brother were smelling skunks. I suggested they use this particular magical lure. They refused bc nobody wants to be told what to do. I went and got my generic oddity and quickly caught 3 bass, two back to back. Hence, first fish in the book. Look, to be elite, you almost have to be a mystical oracle like that. You call it first, then it happens. Then the brother copied me fishing in the flood gate's tunnel with the original lure of this oddity and instantly caught a bass. I followed suit. I threw mine into the same opening and bam! A giant striper over 30 inches. I caught so many bass after that, I stopped counting at 22. All this in a matter of like 2 hours. My record stands as undisputed Champion. I should have documented my great adventures on videos. They would never believe me. Fishing in Central CA is no joke. If Uncle Neng was there and signed that $1,500 for first fish, big fish, and most fish, he would have coughed up that easy money. I put them two guys with me on 3 stripers seemingly over 30 inches. Never measured em. They're too big. It's truly difficult for 3 people to catch 4 stripers over 30 in CA in that span of time. Heck, it's truly difficult to catch 4 over 30 any given day by any group. We had to leave after like 2 hours since we wanted to get to our destination where there are potential boilings. Nothing was over there. The bass there were extremely hard to catch at the first spot. The second was even worse. I had to resort to dropshot. Sincerely Yours does not dropshot. You know this. I tell you I dropshot with three baits on my line. Sometimes we catch three bass at once. Several times today I had two bass on the line at the same time when the fishing was too damn hard by definition. It was like every cast for me and the brother. We got tired and move to another running Aqueduct. Oh we killing it wherever we go. Last time the student skunked bc he dissed me to go with my other brother. I told him before this trip that if he takes me, he won't get skunked. You can't predict the future like Sincerely Yours. He is the best of the bestest. Even my elite brother, the best fisherman I know still lost to me today in the numbers department. He must have caught just about the same amount of fish about 40. He did catch two of those 4 giant stripers and several others. My count is unrivaled. My record cannot be trumped. My hands smelled like fish. They were bloody. My foot was bloody. Sometimes people want me to take photos to prove myself. I just tell them they can smell my hands. Nobody can do what I did today. Nobody can do what I do. They can write this epic day down in the history books again. Epic days are common when you are the best at what you do and no one can get on your level. You get on the water and your team or you catch the most fish on that particular water than any team there that day. This is too common theme.
thanks for sharing
I bet it's a berkley. Wow I was wrong!
nope
It was a musky at the end ? They can cut fluro so easily! Last saturday we caught a nice pike with a megabass jerkbait ( pro blue ) , he had the whole bait in is mouth , as soon as i put my hand on top of is head the line snap , i was able to recuperate my jerkbait , i was lucky this time, they are so slimy 😂😂😂
35" musky...just glad i got my bait back!
the old Rebel jumpin Minnow the ones that had a square nose, two hooks with a rattle with a deep sound! not the plastic in cased ones! I'll put those jumpin minnow baits against any top water cigar shaped bait! even the old school Heddon Zara spook! the best colors were the silver plated with black or blue backs, the gold plated were good too! especially an 808 color blk top, gold, orange belly! the squared nose, two hooked (had to replace them with Galvanized VMC's) and ditch the stupid split ring! and tie onto the nose with a double improved clinch knot with the knot facing down, fished on a old 6' 6" Garcia Crossfire XT! like fishing with a pool cue! with a Garcia 5501 C3, whirls like an egg beater! (get a tube oil) but will cast a country mile with a educated thumb! with the knot down that bait glides like dying fish and that deep thump sound fish spank those old Rebel Jumpin Minnows! freshwater and especially saltwater Redfish & Trout eat'em up! and after the plate or G finish is knocked off there better with blank bone color! biggest mistake I've ever made? was at spring fishing show, Gorge R Brown, Cutrate was moving from their old locations into the big stores, they had a bathtub full of the old Rebel jumpin minnows for a $1.00 a piece! I bought 20! should've bought the whole tub! but stupid is! as stupid does! try buying them now??? old Rebel jumpin minnow vs the Vixen? then we'll really see whose is that top dog or the bitch??? dig the videos! Sinn Fein Byrne
that was a good bait!
The Teckel is the most like the original vixen
In my opinion. Also Teckel makes the pup version for a smaller profile
thanks for sharing!
I think teckel is the God father of the vixen. Might be wrong but I think he made them for RI.
interesting
What are your favorite colors?
Lush, Bone, Bluegill and chartreuse SHiner
Most colors sold out!!!
surprised they have any in stock. they make them on very small batches
Kind of ridiculous they went up to 24.99 from 14.99.
they were going for $100 on ebay
Yeah I can definitely remember seeing them for that much on Ebay. I definitely just bought way to many of them last night. Lol
All out of stock no back order
I just checked and they have two colors in stock. you might need to scroll to the right on your phone.
Yup. My bad.
too many hooks, Id remove the center hook
thanks for watching
90% of you guys are watching these videos all wrong.
haha
This is one of my top 5 fall vIdeos!
That's what she says
That's a riot!
Jon, how should we watch this? This channel is one of the very best out there! The advice Matt gives works even here in South Africa, so i would like read your respnse.
Kick Knocker
thanks for sharing!
Kick knocker and shower blows for me.
stick with what you have confidence in!
👍👍👍
thanks for watching!
You have to go back out and show it walking!!!!
I just did this video with it walking th-cam.com/video/85uADGk8uSQ/w-d-xo.html
Vixens do catch bass. The performance is terrible. They're terrible in wakes or waves. They hung up on the cast or helicopter. The weight is not accurate. There's no weight transfer for the lack of words. They bounce when they hit the water, which causes even more severe tangles. It's a fooking headache to use. To me, the knocker is not loud enough. The front hook is too close to the front that it makes hanging up easier than normal. Many other lures have perpendicular eyes as well. Trust me that there are better topwater lures both in catch and performance. Yall have no clue. That's why I say 90% of anglers don't know topwater. That being kind. I should have said 99% like fighters not knowing how to fight.
thanks for watching
Could you share your favourite topwater? Thanks
@@toptoad7149 No, bc I need to think about creating my channel. If I teach you, you can become an elite overnight.