SPRO

SPRO at Charlie's Fishing: jointed swimbaits, KGB glidebaits and the BBZ-1 Rat for pike

SPRO started in 1994 in Vianen in the Netherlands, founded by the Japanese hook maker Gamakatsu, and has grown into a family business with offices in the Netherlands, Germany and France and operations in the USA and Asia. It is the predator brand of a company that develops and distributes tackle in more than 40 countries, and it is also the European home of DSTYLE. At Charlie's Fishing we stock the SPRO lures we fish for pike and zander ourselves: the ready-to-fish SPRO Swimbait in four versions, the KGB Chad Shad, Lil Guy and K-Rig designed with swimbait builder Kevin Brightwell, the BBZ-1 Rat topwater, and two long pliers for unhooking big fish. Below you find what each one is for.

SPRO Swimbait: the ready-to-fish jointed swimbait

The SPRO Swimbait is a three-piece jointed hard swimbait with a soft tail and fins, an ultra-realistic swim that has caught fish for years, UV active colours and sharp Gamakatsu trebles. Fish it slow and steady with short twitches and pauses, and count it down over weed beds and drop-offs. The SPRO Swimbait 5" Slow Sink (12 cm, 24 g) matches small baitfish for pressured fish and lighter tackle, the SPRO Swimbait 6" Slow Sink (15 cm, 59 g) is the all-round size for big pike in clear water, and the SPRO Swimbait 8" Slow Sink (20 cm, 140 g) is the big profile that draws fish from a distance on open water. The slow sinkers drop about 30 cm every 2 to 3 seconds. For deep water, current and wind there is the SPRO Swimbait 80 Fast Sink (20 cm, 150 g), sinking about 30 cm per second with Gamakatsu 1/0 2X Strong trebles on SPRO Power Split Rings, and the SPRO Swimbait 80 Fast Sink Saltwater in mackerel and sardine colours for big predators at sea. More in Swimbaits & Glidebaits and Seabass Hardbaits.

SPRO KGB: Chad Shad 180, Lil Guy 120 and K-Rig

The KGB series was designed with American swimbait builder Kevin Brightwell. The SPRO KGB Chad Shad 180 is a single-jointed glidebait of 18 cm and 67 g: the hinge gives a wide, rolling kick instead of a tight wobble, it swims true from a crawl to a fast wind and keeps working when you stop reeling. It casts far, so you cover open water, weed edges and drop-offs for pike and zander. The SPRO KGB Lil Guy 120 (12 cm, 26 g) is the compact version with a natural rolling action and a balanced weight system for long, stable casts, for pike, zander and big perch. The SPRO KGB K-Rig is a heavy-duty multi-swimbait rig of 23 cm and 200 g with three independently moving swimbaits that imitate a school of baitfish, made for large pike in open and deeper water on heavy tackle. Read more in our blog SPRO KGB Chad Shad and SPRO KGB Lil Guy, and compare with our Zander Glidebaits and Pike Hardbaits.

SPRO BBZ-1 Rat: topwater rat for pike

The Spro BBZ-1 Rat 50 is a multi-jointed rat of 13.5 cm (25 cm with the tail) and 60 g that you fish as a wake bait, a popper or walk-the-dog. A slow steady retrieve pushes a strong wake that pulls pike from a distance, and short twitches make it change direction. It shines in calm water, at dawn and dusk, along margins and around cover, and an extra tail is in the box. See all Topwaters and Mouse and Bucktail Lures.

SPRO pliers for unhooking big fish

Big lures need long pliers. The SPRO Extra Long Nose Pliers 28 cm are made of 420 stainless steel with a PTFE coating, with an extra-long nose to reach deep hooks safely. The SPRO Pistol Grip Pliers 28 cm are carbon steel with a PTFE coating and a pistol grip that stays secure in wet hands. Both are saltwater resistant. More tools in Essentials.

Which SPRO lure for which situation

• Big pike in clear water: SPRO Swimbait 6" or 8" Slow Sink.
• Pressured fish and lighter tackle: SPRO Swimbait 5" Slow Sink or KGB Lil Guy 120.
• Deep water, current and wind: SPRO Swimbait 80 Fast Sink.
• Covering open water for pike and zander: KGB Chad Shad 180.
• A school of baitfish for big pike: KGB K-Rig.
• Pike on the surface in calm water: BBZ-1 Rat.
• Big predators at sea: SPRO Swimbait 80 Fast Sink Saltwater. See Pike, Zander and Seabass.

Why buy SPRO at Charlie's Fishing

We fish these SPRO lures ourselves and stock the sizes and sink rates that work on our water. Every lure ships from our own stock in the Netherlands with fast delivery across Europe, and we can tell you which size or sink rate fits your water. Also from the SPRO family: the Japanese finesse softbaits of DSTYLE and the hooks of Gamakatsu.

Where does SPRO come from?

SPRO was founded in 1994 in Vianen in the Netherlands by the Japanese hook maker Gamakatsu. It is now a family business with offices in the Netherlands, Germany and France.

Slow Sink or Fast Sink SPRO Swimbait?

The Slow Sink drops about 30 cm every 2 to 3 seconds and stays in the zone over weed and drop-offs. The 80 Fast Sink drops about 30 cm per second, for deep water, current and wind, and for trolling without extra weight.

Chad Shad or Lil Guy?

The Chad Shad 180 (18 cm, 67 g) is the bigger glidebait for pike and big zander on open water. The Lil Guy 120 (12 cm, 26 g) is the compact one for zander, perch and pressured pike.