O.S.P Varuna 110 Suspending Jerkbait

Our take

O.S.P gathered more than ten years of field data on the flat side concept before releasing the Varuna, and it shows in the finish as much as in the balance of the lure. At 22.46 EUR you get a Japanese jerkbait that truly suspends on the stop, which is still rare at this price point. It is also the size the range was missing, between the Asura at 9 cm and the Rudra at 13 cm.

The Varuna 110 SP at a glance

• 113 mm long, 16 g, suspending jerkbait minnow
• Running depth: 2.1 m on a straight retrieve, 2.8 m on continuous jerks
• Patented Honey Comb Super HP body, side walls 40 percent thinner
• Flat sides for flash and water displacement
• Weight transfer with 3 sliding tungsten weights, with a rattle effect
• Stock hooks: 3 size 6 trebles
• Target species: pike, black bass, big perch and sea bass
• 3 colours: H23 Ginrin, T06 HASU, P83 Ghost Pearl

On the water

The size the range was missing between the Asura 9 cm and the Rudra 13 cm

Released in 2018, the Varuna fills the 11 cm slot the other two jerkbaits in the range left open, between the Asura 9 cm and the Rudra 130. It is a go anywhere length, restrained enough for pressured fish and bulky enough to interest a big pike sitting on a bait ball. Three retrieves cover most of its uses:

• Slow straight retrieve, around 2.1 m, to cover an edge or a flat quickly
• Short twitches followed by long pauses, the go to action below 10 degrees Celsius
• Continuous jerks to take it to 2.8 m and hold it on a break line

In freshwater it targets pike, black bass and big perch as soon as fish key on baitfish. In saltwater it handles sea bass very well, from the shore or from a boat, and rounds out a box of lures for sea bass. For deeper work or strong current, O.S.P also offers the Varuna 110 S, a sinking 18 g version.

Side walls 40 percent thinner and three tungsten weights

The internal honeycomb structure, patented as the Honey Comb Super HP Body, cuts the thickness of the sides by 40 percent without weakening the body. The lure gains in response: it starts instantly, kicks off on the slightest rod movement and settles quickly after the jerk. The three tungsten weights slide towards the tail on the cast, giving a stable flight path and distance even into a headwind, then return to the low position on impact to drop the centre of gravity. Their movement also produces a rattle that calls fish from a distance.

Rig it on a Pro Classic Snap so you can change lures without cutting your leader and let the lip work freely. The same setup will serve most of your lures for pike in the 10 to 13 cm range.