Entry 209-4
Fishing in the Women’s Circuit with Debra Hengst
Editor’s Note: Debra Hengst of San Antonio, Texas, longtime member of the Strike King Pro Staff, fishes the Women’s Bassmaster Tour (WBT). In 2007, she moved up to the national team level on Strike King’s Pro Staff. With the start of the WBT the entire fishing industry is becoming more conscious and supportive of women’s fishing than it has been in the past. Strike King always has been a strong supporter of women’s fishing, especially women’s competitive fishing. We’re extremely proud of Debra Hengst and our other women fishermen. As you’ll see this week, ladies know how to catch bass.
Part 4: Debra Hengst’s Favorite Lures
Question: Why do you like fishing with Strike King lures?
Hengst: Strike King puts the best components on the market in their lures. They use really-good hooks, they put the best finishes on their bait, and I’ve known for years that there’s not a better spinner bait on the market than the Strike King spinner bait. They’ve taken the same quality they build into their spinner baits and put that much attention, time and money into their lures.
Question: Debra, what are your favorite Strike King lures, and why?
Hengst: If I’m struggling in a tournament, I always can tie on a Z TOO and catch a bass, because this is my confidence bait. 
I like the bulkiness of the Zero, and because it’s made out of 3X material, it has a much-more lifelike action than other cigar-shaped baits, and it lasts much longer, which means I don’t have to stop and change lures as often. That’s what I like about the Zero and the Z TOO. I used to go through bags of worms like this before Strike King produced the 3X material.
I generally Texas-rig the Zero with a 1/ 4- or a 1-ounce lead in front of it and no weight. The secret to fishing this bait is not to give it much action. The action is built into the lure, so you really don’t have to add any movement to the bait as it falls.
Contents:
- Part 1: Fishing the Zero and the Z TOO
- Part 2: Fishing the Pure Poison
- Part 3: Behind Women Tournament Fishing
- Part 4: Debra Hengst’s Favorite Lures
- Part 5: More of Debra Hengst’s Favorite Lures
