Deep Thoughts on Heavy Worms- Remembering the Berkley Powerbait Heavyweight Worms
(Lindner’s Angling Edge, 2009)
Here is another example of a conversation centered around baits with who remembers these? I can’t be the only one!
The Berkley Powerbait Heavy Weight Series were not standard softbaits- if anything, they might have been ahead of their time. Released at iCast 2008, the material for this lineup was more dense and heavier for maximum action and ability to get deeper quicker. In its short run on the shelves and in the injection dept., only two shapes were available, a thump worm with a disc-style tail and a stick bait known as the sink worm. Both had size and profile variation, especially with the sink worm with a fat edition that was designed to compete in the wacky rigging craze of the 2000s.
Making their debut at iCast 2008, the Heavy Weight series worm was a new approach to a concept in the developing material science behind softbaits. (Tackle Tour, 2008)
So what happened? Well, it was a mix of reasons. First off, with a more dense material than regular baits, they tore rather easily. They did not hold up very well and would sometimes come off after one fish or during a cast. Berkley’s big selling point is scent dispersion, and these worms were challenged due to the minerals that were blended into the plastisol and how they would essentially clog the pores in the plastic to hinder the release of scent. With this line coming out in 2008, the economic recession had a major impact on the world and was not merciful to the tackle industry. Retailers were more cautious on inventory risk, petroleum and material cost were rising, and it was a challenging time with high-concept, premium softbaits. $6 was a lot of money for a bag of plastics that did not last long. Sometime in 2011, they began filling the clearance bins at the local Gander Mtn and tackle shops where they met their retail defeat, but this was not the end of their story..
It wasn't for nothing, though. This is a great example of a company taking a chance on experimenting to develop a product where the idea can always be revisited when material science and other factors support it. The Berkley line of softbaits was followed by Havoc that focused on action of baits, the Powerbait expansion with more shapes and colors, the creation of Maxscent, and the current Lab Series. Even though the iCast debut was 18 years ago, bait designers adapt and innovate forward, while sometimes going back to build off of previously used molds. When you look at the new Maxscent Wag Worm, it shares a similar shape and design with the Heavy Weight Sink Worm with minor differences.
(Lindner’s Angling Edge, 2009)
Finding photos of them can be a challenge, and if we come across them in the Foresight Fishing tackle vault, we will include them in the future!
Don’t look at these baits for being dust collectors in the bargain bin, but acknowledge them as a growing stage or stepping stone for the future of softbaits we see now.