Strategic Angler Proteus Casting Lures-Lures-Strategic Angler-Tackle World

Strategic Angler Proteus Casting Lures

PROTEUS The Proteus series is the latest offering by StrategicAngler® for 2021. The remarkable success of the clear bodied, UV enhanced Naia series led to the final development of the Proteus series to date, conceptualized many years before. This lure was aptly named Proteus since the design came about while fishing in 2015 with Capt Glyn Austin of Going Coastal charters out of Sebastian, Florida. During a testing trip, we arrived in an area filled with life but our targets were widely dispersed. Casting to our quarry proved difficult so I tied on the smallest and heaviest lure I made, a 5 inch...

Vendor: Strategic Angler

SKU: SA-PRO130-SHAD

Availability: In stock

Product type: Lures

$63.74; ~~$74.99~~; $63.74
Unit price: per

Style: Proteus 130 Shad Proteus 100 Green Mackerel Proteus 100 Butterfish Proteus 130 Bunker/Pogie Proteus 130 Shad

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PROTEUS

The Proteus series is the latest offering by StrategicAngler® for 2021. The remarkable success of the clear bodied, UV enhanced Naia series led to the final development of the Proteus series to date, conceptualized many years before.

This lure was aptly named Proteus since the design came about while fishing in 2015 with Capt Glyn Austin of Going Coastal charters out of Sebastian, Florida. During a testing trip, we arrived in an area filled with life but our targets were widely dispersed. Casting to our quarry proved difficult so I tied on the smallest and heaviest lure I made, a 5 inch Mikros-sink. I was able to cast the compact Mikros with enough force to reach the trajectory required to land several fish, but could have used a much heavier version for distance. That day, I hooked and landed a very special Dorado with the most spectacular of colors I’ve ever seen. This personal experience, now frozen in time by San Diego artist Brian Hebets can be seen and obtained here: as a one time commemorative and collaborative 10 year anniversary piece of 111 sets. No more prints/matched numbered and signed pieces will be made.

Getting home that day, I drilled and added weighted slugs to the 5? Mikros and tested them out in a pond. In an attempt to enhance the body shape, I found myself grinding away perfect lures for hours, then days, into weeks then months. I made over 20 variations of this new concept that year, all to no avail. I wanted a compact, 3 plus oz lure that swam as good as it cast but did not want a metal jig. The conceptual lure got benched after its many forms because it had to be perfect. Most of the designs failed during wet testing so I moved on to other projects the next year.

I released the Naia series in late 2019 for 2020. The development of the Naia series in 2019 provided a key design element for PROTEUS. After changing and morphing the Mikros-concept design several times over, I was able to take a key design concept from the Naia series and apply it to several benched prototypes. This newfound knowledge enabled me to create a brand new 5 inch hybrid lure featuring the characteristics of a “slow” stickbait and a sinking, wobbling jig. (The Proteus series received its final inspiration from the slow swimming Atlantic butterfish, a favorite staple of many pelagic species)

After many morphs, the PROTEUS series is finally born.

SPECIFICATIONS:

PROTEUS 130

Length: 5 inches (130 mm)
Average weight: 3.5 ounces (93-98 grams)
0.093 inch (2.4 mm) thick x-heavy wiring

PROTEUS 100

Length: 4 inches (100 mm)
Average weight: 1.5 ounces (42-45 grams)
0.063 inch (1.8 mm) thick heavy wiring

PROTEUS 80

Length: 3 inches (80 mm)
Average weight: 0.7 ounces (23-25 grams)
0.063 inch (1.8 mm) thick heavy wiring

CASTING

Orientation:
Horizontal sinking

Action:

pause and sweep
Horizontal sinking wobble during freefall
Wobbling side to side swimming action with slow retrieve

Retrieve speed:
slow to medium

Skill level:
None to moderate

TECHNIQUE

Walk – Proteus can be made to walk with a right, left, right cadence using slow rythmic pumps with the rod tip down. The slower the better.

Sinking wobble– Let the lure rest at free spool after casting. The lure will sink with a wide side to side wobble exposing its flanks as it goes deeper. Majority of the strikes come at free spool so watch your line and get ready to close that bail for the hookset! Mix up the retrieve to achieve different presentations.

Sweep– The Proteus series does best with slow sweeps of the rod tip versus the traditional hard sweeps most stickbait anglers are accustomed to. The lure is perfectly balanced without the need of a belly hook so imparting softer sweeps will make the lure dance with ease.

RECOMMENDED HOOK SIZES

PROTEUS130

Rear only:
2/0 to 5/0 trebles -or- 5/0 to 10/0 single

SINK RATE PROTEUS 130:

Hook size/weight dependent: average 2 ft/second (hook size and current may affect sink rate)

PROTEUS100

Rear only:
1/0 to 3/0 trebles -or- 3/0 singles and up

SINK RATE PROTEUS 100:

Hook size/weight dependent: average 1.5 ft/second (hook size and current may affect sink rate)

PROTEUS80

Rear only:
size 2 to 1/0 trebles -or- 2/0 singles and up

SINK RATE PROTEUS 100:

Hook size/weight dependent: average 1 ft/second (hook size and current may affect sink rate)

Shipping

At Tackle World, we offer FREE shipping for orders over $100.00 in continental USA, EXCLUDING rods, blanks and other oversize items. We use UPS for RODS and MOST REELS due to delivery concerns. All RODS and REELS require Signature Confirmation. IF you would like to opt out of Signature Confirmation, please let us know via order note at the time of order so that we can process accordingly BEFORE shipping. If the order has already shipped, please use UPS My Choice to change confirmation method (CLICK HERE). PLEASE note that Tackle World is NOT liable for any loss or theft for orders that have opted out of or overrode signature confirmation service. If you would like to opt out of signature confirmation, we highly recommend purchasing ROUTE package protection at the time of order so that you're fully protected in case of loss, theft or even damage.

$25 flat rate shipping for rods and blanks. When ordering multiple rods and/or blanks we will consolidate packaging.

Shipping and delivery dates are based on the AVAILABILITY of the items and SHIPPING option. Orders normally take 1-2 business days to process for shipping. Random authentication process may take place for quality and customer security.

When ordering, please plan ahead as unforeseen delay, damage or loss can happen within any type of carrier. For urgent orders, please contact us directly prior to order placement so that we can accommodate your needs.

Online order department is open Monday through Friday from 9AM-5PM EST and closed for public holidays.

Shipping cut off time is Monday through Friday at 1pm EST for USPS (may include Standard shipping method), and 3pm EST for UPS. This time may change depending on carrier pick-up time for the day. There is no shipping on federal holidays, even if the store is open.

For assistance with any order issues, please e-mail us at info@tackleworld.com or call us at 201-587-0011 during business hours (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm EST).

Returns

All shipment issues such as missing items, damaged or defective products must be reported within 30 days of delivery via e-mail at info@tackleworld.com.

Only New and Unused items returned within 30 days of delivery qualify for refund (less shipping & handling fees) or exchange. Original box, papers, parts, tags and other packaging must be returned with the product in the condition they were originally received in. Refunds and exchange will take place within a week after inspection. Shipping & Handling charges are non-refundable.

We do not accept returns on used products, which include but are not limited to:

Reels that have been spooled up, including those we pre-spool upon request Rods that weren't used to fish, but now have salt, dirt or bait residue or other cosmetic damages Products found to be defective past 30-day return period (don't be alarmed--they may be eligible for manufacturer's warranty service!) Tackle World has the final say and the right to refuse the return of any item(s) from customers who have a track record of returning items. Tackle World reserves the right to refund the order amount less 5% restocking fee if necessary.