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Lure design theory with Morizo Shimizu

Get inside the head of Elite Series pro and lure designer Morizo Shimizu.

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<p>Morizo Shimizu is arguably Japan’s best-known and best-loved angler. When he’s not fishing the Bassmaster Elite Series, he’s back in Japan fishing tournaments and filming his television show, <em>Burning Heart</em>. In Japan, Shimizu’s celebrity is almost on par with that of Mike Iaconelli in the United States, partly because of his on-film antics and charisma, and partly because of his work in the lure design market. He’s added his input to dozens of baits and now Evergreen International, a Japanese luremaker, has given Shimizu his own line of bait dubbed MoDo. In general, any bait with MoDo on it sells like hotcakes in Japan. Why? Fishing tackle designers in Japan are likened to fashion designers in the US; in other words, if a bait has a certain designer's name on it, his following will snap 'em up. Every designer's works catch fish, but Shimizu has the added benefit of wetting his plugs in both Japanese and American waters in front of both Japanese and American cameras. Even if you aren't familiar with Morizo, here’s a little insight into his design and creative process, as well as a few of his favorite plugs.</p>
Morizo Shimizu is arguably Japan’s best-known and best-loved angler. When he’s not fishing the Bassmaster Elite Series, he’s back in Japan fishing tournaments and filming his television show, Burning Heart. In Japan, Shimizu’s celebrity is almost on par with that of Mike Iaconelli in the United States, partly because of his on-film antics and charisma, and partly because of his work in the lure design market. He’s added his input to dozens of baits and now Evergreen International, a Japanese luremaker, has given Shimizu his own line of bait dubbed MoDo. In general, any bait with MoDo on it sells like hotcakes in Japan. Why? Fishing tackle designers in Japan are likened to fashion designers in the US; in other words, if a bait has a certain designer’s name on it, his following will snap ’em up. Every designer’s works catch fish, but Shimizu has the added benefit of wetting his plugs in both Japanese and American waters in front of both Japanese and American cameras. Even if you aren’t familiar with Morizo, here’s a little insight into his design and creative process, as well as a few of his favorite plugs.
<p><strong>B.A.S.S.: When designing/testing a lure, what trait or characteristic is most important? Action? Color? Sound? All of the above?</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Shimizu: The most important thing is catching fish. But one other thing is what I want the most at the moment, and I’ll keep working on it till I am satisfied.</p>
B.A.S.S.: When designing/testing a lure, what trait or characteristic is most important? Action? Color? Sound? All of the above?
 
Shimizu: The most important thing is catching fish. But one other thing is what I want the most at the moment, and I’ll keep working on it till I am satisfied.
<p><strong>B.A.S.S.: How do you know when an action is perfected?</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Shimizu: When you catch bunch of fish, especially in a tournament!</p>
B.A.S.S.: How do you know when an action is perfected?
 
Shimizu: When you catch bunch of fish, especially in a tournament!
<p><strong>B.A.S.S.: What’s the longest you’ve ever worked on a single bait?</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Shimizu: I spend at least three years on most of them; right now I am working on lipless crankbait that I’ve been tinkering with for more than five years.</p>
B.A.S.S.: What’s the longest you’ve ever worked on a single bait?
 
Shimizu: I spend at least three years on most of them; right now I am working on lipless crankbait that I’ve been tinkering with for more than five years.
<p><strong>B.A.S.S.: What do you enjoy most about designing lures?</strong></p> <p>Shimizu: When you catch lots of fish with your new ideas.</p>
B.A.S.S.: What do you enjoy most about designing lures?
Shimizu: When you catch lots of fish with your new ideas.
<p><strong>B.A.S.S.: What bait is your proudest achievement?</strong></p> <p>Shimizu: All of them!</p>
B.A.S.S.: What bait is your proudest achievement?
Shimizu: All of them!
<p><strong>B.A.S.S.: What was the first bait you designed ever, not necessarily for Evergreen?</strong></p> <p>Shimizu: D-Zone, the spinnerbait.</p>
B.A.S.S.: What was the first bait you designed ever, not necessarily for Evergreen?
Shimizu: D-Zone, the spinnerbait.
<p><strong>Evergreen Bubble Tornado</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>B.A.S.S.: What did you want to achieve with this buzzbait?</strong></p> <p>Shimizu: I wanted to make a buzzbait that threw well and also tracked straight on the retrieve.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>B.A.S.S.: In what conditions will it work best?</strong></p> <p>Shimizu: Clear water in spawning season.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>B.A.S.S.: Why did you design it the way you did?</strong></p> <p>Shimizu: Compact design to match the Japanese field, but also I wanted the blade to have a high-pitched sound.</p>
Evergreen Bubble Tornado
 
B.A.S.S.: What did you want to achieve with this buzzbait?
Shimizu: I wanted to make a buzzbait that threw well and also tracked straight on the retrieve.
 
B.A.S.S.: In what conditions will it work best?
Shimizu: Clear water in spawning season.
 
B.A.S.S.: Why did you design it the way you did?
Shimizu: Compact design to match the Japanese field, but also I wanted the blade to have a high-pitched sound.
<p><strong>Evergreen D-Zone spinnerbait</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>B.A.S.S.: What did you want to achieve with this buzzbait?</strong></p> <p>Shimizu: I wanted to make the most productive actions with a high hookup ratio and good castability. It’s realistic-looking, too, so it’s good for clear and stained water.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong><span style=
Evergreen D-Zone spinnerbait
 
B.A.S.S.: What did you want to achieve with this buzzbait?
Shimizu: I wanted to make the most productive actions with a high hookup ratio and good castability. It’s realistic-looking, too, so it’s good for clear and stained water.
 
B.A.S.S.: In what conditions will it work best?
Shimizu: Surface retrieve in spawning season or slow rolling in grassy areas.
 
B.A.S.S.: Why did you design it the way you did?
Shimizu: After a long period of testing, I designed this bait from scratch. The combination of the lower centered head, irregular wire arm and the original blade shape gave me the results I was looking for.
<p><strong>Evergreen One’s Bug</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>B.A.S.S.: What is your favorite way to retrieve this?</strong></p> <p>Shimizu: Fast action or walk the dog.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>B.A.S.S.: Why did you shape the mouth like you did?</strong></p> <p>Shimizu: You can make big bubble, or make a big splash toward front by using different retrieves. </p>
Evergreen One’s Bug
 
B.A.S.S.: What is your favorite way to retrieve this?
Shimizu: Fast action or walk the dog.
 
B.A.S.S.: Why did you shape the mouth like you did?
Shimizu: You can make big bubble, or make a big splash toward front by using different retrieves. 
<p><strong>Evergreen Wild Hunch</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>B.A.S.S.: When is the best conditions to use this crankbait?</strong></p> <p>Shimizu: I like it best in tough conditions  in cold water.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>B.A.S.S.: What color is your favorite?</strong></p> <p>Shimizu: Clown and blue back chartreuse.</p>
Evergreen Wild Hunch
 
B.A.S.S.: When is the best conditions to use this crankbait?
Shimizu: I like it best in tough conditions  in cold water.
 
B.A.S.S.: What color is your favorite?
Shimizu: Clown and blue back chartreuse.
<p><strong>Evergreen Wild Hunch (deep)</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>B.A.S.S.: How did you know when this was perfected?</strong></p> <p>Shimizu: After working on the prototype for three years, I caught lots of fish in a Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open event.</p>
Evergreen Wild Hunch (deep)
 
B.A.S.S.: How did you know when this was perfected?
Shimizu: After working on the prototype for three years, I caught lots of fish in a Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open event.
<p><strong>Evergreen Reaction Football Jig</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>B.A.S.S.: What different about your jig than others?</strong></p> <p><span style=
Evergreen Reaction Football Jig
 
B.A.S.S.: What different about your jig than others?
Shimizu: It snags less than other football jigs.
 
 
B.A.S.S.: What trailer do you like best?
Shimizu: A twin-tail grub.
 
 
B.A.S.S.: Do you modify this at all, like trim the weedguard or skirt?
Shimizu: I’ll usually take a few strands of the weedguard off, sometimes I’ll cut some skirt.
<p><strong>Evergreen Faith</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>B.A.S.S.: What are ideal conditions to use this?</strong></p> <p>Shimizu: Cold water in winter time. It suspends.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>B.A.S.S.: How did you know the design was perfect?</strong></p> <p>Shimizu: I caught bunch of big mamas in cold winter in Japan when I was filming my TV show!</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>B.A.S.S.: How did you manage to make the markings say your name? Do Japanese anglers notice since it’s in English? (it's mirrored in this image)</strong></p> <p>Shimizu: I explained that lure is just a lure, so I wanted to play with it.</p> <p>I am sure they can read, but I tried to make it not easy to read.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>B.A.S.S.: What is the best retrieve for his bait?</strong></p> <p>Shimizu: Rip then pause, that’s the best.</p>
Evergreen Faith
 
B.A.S.S.: What are ideal conditions to use this?
Shimizu: Cold water in winter time. It suspends.
 
B.A.S.S.: How did you know the design was perfect?
Shimizu: I caught bunch of big mamas in cold winter in Japan when I was filming my TV show!
 
B.A.S.S.: How did you manage to make the markings say your name? Do Japanese anglers notice since it’s in English? (it’s mirrored in this image)
Shimizu: I explained that lure is just a lure, so I wanted to play with it.
I am sure they can read, but I tried to make it not easy to read.
 
B.A.S.S.: What is the best retrieve for his bait?
Shimizu: Rip then pause, that’s the best.

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