In the tackle industry, it’s not uncommon to see lure manufacturers either upsize or downsize a popular bait.
The question is always the same. Will the new size be as effective as the original?
We’ve fished the original Jackall Pompadour for over a year now with excellent results. So when the Pompadour Jr. was introduced, naturally we just couldn’t wait to get it on the water to see if it could fill the considerable shoes of it’s larger sibling.
As is our habit when making these kinds of comparisons, the first order of business is to see what if any modifications have been made to accommodate the difference in size.
You might think that it’s a non issue, but it isn’t merely a matter of shrinking everything to make it smaller. Often, it’s as important to make adjustments in the ratios of the various parts to attain the same action.
How Much Smaller is Jr.?
In the case of the Pompadour Jr., Jackall has shrunk this lure from 3” to 2-1/2” and reduced the weight from 3/4 to 5/8.
This may not seem as though there is much difference but Jr. presents itself much smaller than the original Pompadour. When you hold them side by side you would never guess that the actual dimensions are as close as they are.
Other than dimension, Jackall was able to produce Jr. with every feature of it’s larger sibling but with small changes.
The dual rattle chambers, the free-swinging hook holder with the prop blade, the small round-raised bumper on the gill plates and the excellent color schemes are mirror images of those on the original Pompadour.
The Differences
One immediately noticeable difference is that the angular cup in the front of the standard version is replaced with a smooth surface. This means that it doesn’t push quite the same amount of water in front of it as the original.
The other are the metal wings are proportionally larger on the Jr. The original has wings are 1-9/16” on its 3” body, while the Jr’s wings are 1-7/16 inches on its 2-1/2 inch frame. This makes the ratio of the wings to the body slightly larger on the Jr.
Both baits have the same one of a kind action and noise with junior being the quieter of the two. If you’re wondering if this has a negative effect on the amount of strikes you get don’t worry, it doesn’t hurt at all.
The Pompadour Jr elicits the same violent strikes that its big brother does from all sizes of fish. The combination of the bubble trail from the rear prop, the slapping wings that make that one of a kind sound while moving tons of water, the dual rattle and the wobbly side to side motion as it comes across the surface just seems to irritate the fudge out of bass.
Fish this bait the same places you fish the original. Through sparse pads, around lay-downs, over submerged grass, under over-hanging trees, through emergent wood or anywhere you would throw any conventional topwater bait with trebles.
These hooks are sticky sharp out of the package. If there is one modification that we would suggest it is replacing the rear hook with something larger. This will increase the hook-up percentage by a fair amount without affecting the action in the least.
A Side by Side with Senior
When we received the Pompadour Jr, we just had to go out and throw it side by side with the original Pompadour.
Our final conclusion is that Jr will draw some strikes that the original does not just because its slightly smaller. Of course, those have had a tendency to be smaller fish.
Both of these baits are a blast to fish. Both draw strikes that are particularly nasty. Both exemplify quality from stem to stern in construction, components, thought and execution. Both are easy to use, durable, cast well and present fish with unique sound and action.
Jr has a slight edge when it comes to heavily pressured fish while the standard Pompadour has an edge given the conditions dictate a noisier bait like when there is wind or other factors that make the surface a little choppy.
Having had the chance to fish both for a season, we aren’t willing to leave either behind when we’re on the water.
The Jackall Pompadour Jr is one of those rare baits that does not lack in any way as a sequel to the original.
| Jackall Pompadour Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating |   |
| Smaller but just as deadly on topwater bass | |
See ya’ on the water …
