Something new, especially for the Mediterranean waters, but not so original for the international market, is the AX Shade lure by leading Japanese company Palms.

Something new, especially for the Mediterranean waters, but not so original for the international market, is the AX Shade lure by leading Japanese company Palms.

The name AX Shade Salt 50S belongs to the Palms’ Gold Bit Arts family. The AX Shade Salt 50S is a lure system, which, although not so fine-tuned works well. Capitalizing on the experience gained from the Alexandra 50HW – a very successful freshwater lure – Palms re-designed it for seawater, adding a small lure on its back, which essentially becomes its “shadow” (Shade) and moves as the Alexandra moves. The Alexandra 50HW is a lure made for intense Twitching, with its flattened body, combined with its low center of gravity, which achieves steady dipping and continuous play, even with the most subtle commands from our rod. Its overall design and philosophy has been based on the stable posture of the lure, in rivers where Trout and Salmo are fished, where the currents are strong and the requirements for a well-balanced lure, that will handle the water collected by the lip, are imperative.

Palms company went one step further with the Alexandra 50HW and created the AX Shade Salt 50S. An artificial bait designed and adapted for salt water. The successful design of the Alexandra 50HW has hardly changed, this being an objective from the beginning of this project. Minimal interventions include changing the lip and adding weight to suit the needs and properties of salt water (increased buoyancy).

Palms did not “rediscover the wheel” by creating the AX Shade Salt 50S, as the technique of fishing with multiple artificial baits is very common and rigging techniques such as the Umbrella Rig, is very often used in freshwater. Such rigging increases the volume of the pray in the eyes of predators and also create a confusion about the target to be attacked, resulting in stimulating predatory instincts and the need for an immediate attack.

When it comes to the Palms AX Shade Salt 50S, things are simpler, as two lures connected to each other, create a small group of two panicked baitfish, trying to avoid their pursuers. Under intense Twithing the larger lure moves in an erratic and nervous manner, while its “shadow” (the smaller lure), which is attached with a stainless steel ring on the back of the larger lure, drifts into an intense, independent Wobbling.

The way the AX Shade Salt 50S responds to our commands is also impressive. We would expect that this whole system, the length and the position of the lip, would place an extra burden to light rods, however it moves and slides so lightly in the water, that even rods with Casting Weight close to 7 gr, will handle the AX Shade Salt 50S without reaching their limits and will transmit to the angler all the necessary information about what happens at the end of his line.

The “Shadow” lure has a stainless steel tail ring eyelet installed, if the angler wishes to experiment with a single micro assist hook.

Put your trust onto Japanese company Palms and give to the AX Shade Salt 50S a chance to impress you with its performance.

Technical Characteristics

• Model: AXSS-50S
• Length: 5 cm
• Weight: 7 gr
• Type: Sinking
• Treble Hooks: 2 x . #10
• Available in 6 color combinations