Who's Down with OSP?
Posted by Pete Robbins on Aug 18th 2020
Right now, it’s the worst-kept smallmouth secret on the pro tours.
The OSP Blitz DR crankbait played a role in last year’s Elite Series AOY event on St. Clair. I know of at least one FLW pro who made the top ten at last week’s Erie event with it. I’m sure some of the BASS crew will be chunking and winding it this week.
They’re talking about it, but they’re not talking about it, if you know what I mean. “Unnamed crankbait,” and all that jazz. I’m not sure why it outproduces their sponsors’ baits under certain circumstances, but this small-bodied deep diver is obviously a keeper.
I’ve been aware of JDM manufacturer OSP (“Osprey Spiritual Performer”) for a while. My friend Lin Bell at Fishing Pro Tech was one of the first US shops to import their baits, back in the 90s. I’ve tried some of their cranks, with limited success, and used lures like their Skating Frog with really solid results. I still have their Bent Minnow topwater in it’s original blister pack. Unlike Lucky Craft or Megabass, though, they haven’t made a big US push until now.
That FLW pro I alluded to above? He got ‘em from an online retailer in Thailand. Now you can get them online from stateside operations like Carolina Fishing Tackle, The Hook Up, and Tackle Warehouse (which, semi-surprisingly, is currently sold out), but I haven’t pulled the trigger yet. I mean, I want to, but at 22 bucks a pop, I just can’t. I’m sure I’d lose it in the first brush pile I hit, or if I took it to St. Clair it would get swiped by a 50-inch musky. Of course, I’m not fishing for a hundred grand. You’re damn skippy if that were the case I’d be willing to invest.
