New Stuff You Can Use
New Sizes and Colors: Berkley Hollow Belly Swimbait

Photo: BassFan Here's a shot of two of the four new colors in the 4-inch size: bluegill on top and purple tiger on bottom.

The Berkley PowerBait Hollow Belly swimbait was released at the Bassmaster Classic this past February. Up to now the very serviceable 5-incher was the only size made, but soon you can both downsize, and upsize, as the prevalent forage dictates.

There are four new colors to help you match the hatch, too.

The Specs

To recap, the Hollow Belly is a hollow-bodied shad-shaped lure with a big wobbly paddle tail. It is made of Berkley's PowerBait plastic, and was available initially in six colors. The oversize paddle tail causes the whole bait to 'swim' or wobble, and the hollow body allows the bait to collapse when a fish bites to enhance the hook-up.

The 5-inch size is packaged in kits that include a size 2 treble hook, size 5 swivel, split ring, 3/32-ounce weighted 6/0 wide gap hook, and three 5-inch Hollow Belly bodies. That way, anglers have the option of rigging for open water or weedless for fishing through cover.

Baitfish in your lake running a good bit larger or smaller than the 5-incher? Well, make room in your tackle box for the bigger 6-inch and the smaller 4-inch sizes. They are also packaged three baits to a clamshell container, with appropriately sized hooks, weights, and swivels. (If there's a bass that can straighten that big honking hook on the 6-inch Hollow Belly, we want to see it.)

Fill-er Up

As FLW Tour and Series pro Jay Yelas pointed out to BassFan readers before, one of the best things about the Hollow Belly (besides the great fish-catching action) is that it can be produced in large quantities, and so is readily available everywhere Berkley lures are sold. Sure, the first shipment of the new sizes may sell out quickly, but they can be restocked just as fast.

Photo: BassFan Here's one of the author's fish-abused 5-inch baits sandwiched between the new 6-inch Hollow Belly on top and the smaller 4-incher on bottom.

"Unlike most other swim baits on the market, the body is truly hollow from nose to tail, and easily collapses around the hook when bit to insure a solid hookset. Its oversized paddle tail creates an unbelievable, natural swim bait action. With its realistic eyes, lifelike colors, and soft texture, the Hollow Belly truly mimics a live baitfish swimming in its natural environment."

With three sizes and 10 colors, you may want to set aside a whole box in your tackle bag just for these tournament-proven swimbaits. When bass are feeding in the upper part of the water column, whether in the jumps, around docks and grass, or early and late in the day, you'll want to be ready with a swimmer they can't turn down.

Notable

> New colors: bluegill, pearl white, purple tiger, and firetiger

> Previously released colors: ayu, blueback herring, gizzard shad, hitch, Tennessee shad, and trout

> Color patterns are covered with a clear coat finish that magnifies the natural image on the baits.

> Suggested retail price is expected to be $9.99 per kit, including rigging instructions, the same as the 5-inch size.

> The new sizes and colors of the Hollow Belly swimbait will be officially introduced at ICAST this summer, along with a ton of other new baits and line products.