Video! SAKURA promises aggressive approach to soft lure market in 2025

Top French predator brand SAKURA has made its mission to be more aggressive in the soft lure market in 2025.

And the company – part of the SERT family of brands – has already demonstrated its intent with several series that will cater for different market segments. These include the GOOBY – highlighted in Angling International last month – which will appeal to anglers fishing for perch and zander as well as the BIGPIKE SHAD swimbaits dedicated to avid pike fishermen.

SAKURA Product Manager Franck Rosmann also revealed that the brand has collaborated with experienced French craftsman Nicolas Bianchini, who has been creating lures for over 20 years. “We aimed to develop an original series that would suit both sea bass fishing and perch or zander sport in freshwater,” explained Rosmann.

“Perfectionist Bianchini worked meticulously with Sakura Product Manager Tanguy Marlin to design the XPRAT range. These are soft baits with an ultra-realistic silhouette based on that of a real sprat, one of the favourite prey of many predators. For freshwater predators, the resemblance to a small bleak is perfect.”

To meet differing fishing conditions, two models – XPRAT FISH and XPRAT SHAD – have been developed.

XPRAT FISH
Available in four sizes (70mm, 90mm, 110mm and 125mm), this version is characterised by the V-shaped tail fin, which gives ‘extraordinary’ mobility to the lure when rigged on an XPRAT DART ZN jig head, specially designed for darting or on a dropshot rig. “It is an amazing lure for finesse fishing,” said Tanguy.

XPRAT SHAD
Comes in four sizes (70mm, 90mm, 110mm and 125mm), it has exclusive paddle tail which provides a unique vibration. Rigged on a round or sabot jighead, it is ideal for vertical or linear fishing. “It is one of the most efficient soft lures we have ever created for perch and zander,” added Tanguy.

Like all of its soft lures the XPRAT range is made from safe PVC, non-toxic material and are free from BPA and phthalates. “To give them more effectiveness than competing models, their bodies feature a small cavity to insert glass rattles, adding to their noise. The colours are UV reactive and some colour options have phosphorescent eyes. Anchovy, anise and crawfish have also been infused during the moulding process to make then even more irresistible.”