BARBATOS Development Secrets: Tail Customization Vol. 3

Modding Your BARBATOS: The Ultimate Tail Customization Guide

By R. Nakanishi, ADUSTA Lure Designer

Hey guys, Nakanishi here, lead lure designer for ADUSTA. Today, I want to dive deep into the customization potential of the BARBATOS and show you how switching up your tail configuration can completely overhaul your presentation.

From day one of development, we engineered multiple tail options to give anglers precise control over the swim action and diving depth. These aren't just aesthetic choices. The stock LS Tail, for example, was forged directly from the field experience of Kazuya Shimada—packed with design elements specifically engineered to trigger trophy fish. Togive you maximum versatility on the water, we developed a proprietary heavy-duty resin connection system. This unique interlocking design allows you to seamlessly swap between soft plastics, hard tails, and custom metal hardware without sacrificing bait integrity. Let's break down the lineup and see how you can tune your BARBATOS to match your local fishery.

1. The Stock Powerhouse: The LS Tail (Long Shad)

Included right out of the box, the LS Tail stands for Long Shad.

Dead-Slow Retrieve: The tail delivers a seductive, sinuous snake-like crawl.

• Extra-Fast Retrieve: The low-profile tail transitions into a high-frequency roll, churning water and putting off subtle, lifelike vibrations.
  

After endless hours of field-testing various prototypes, this is the exact profile Shimada-san chose as the standard. It gives the BARBATOS a highly unique double-identity: it can mimic a frantic baitfish or be waked up top like a rat-style swimbait. Built for Abuse: Dual-Density Injection

We didn't just slap a standard piece of soft plastic onto a big bait. The LS Tail features a revolutionary dual-density PVC construction:

• Connection Hub: Molded from high-durometer (hard) PVC to ensure a rock-solid lock with the bait body.

• Tail Blade: Molded from ultra-pliant (soft) PVC to maximize action at the slowest speeds.
  

These two materials are permanently fused together via an internal arrow-shaped interlocking matrix, providing unmatched tear strength.

Preventing "Soft Plastic Melt"

Standard soft plastics contain plasticizers (oils) that chemically react with ABS plastic, melting your expensive hard baits if left touching over time. The LS Tail's specialized high-durometer connection hub acts as a barrier, drastically reducing oil migration and protecting your lure's body. This engineering breakthrough allows us to use an ultra-soft formulation for 100% of the tail's lifelike action without ruining the bait.

Pro-Tip: After heavy use, you might notice slight peeling at the seam where the hard and soft PVC meet. Don't sweat it—the internal arrow-shaped lock prevents the tail from flying off. If it bothers you, just apply a drop of soft-bait glue or standard super glue to seal it back up. In case of a freak casualty or a toothy critter bite, spare tails are available through our authorized dealers.

2. Tuning Your Roll: The Flap Tail (Hard Custom Tuning)

The aftermarket Flap Tail is molded from a rigid resin and features a tuning fin on the bottom designed specifically to kill or enhance body roll.

• Out of the Pack: The oversized fin dampens the body's rotation, giving the bait a tight, hard-thumping, linear swim action.

• Modified (Trimmed): By trimming the fin down with scissors or snips, you can gradually loosen up the action. Cutting the fin off entirely unlocks an ultra-wide, hard-hunting kick.
  

Additionally, when you kill the retrieve and let the BARBATOS rise, the extended rear flap catches the water column. This forces the bait to shimmy and wander erratically on the pause, creating the perfect "bite window" for following lunkers.

Design History: This was actually the original prototype tail shape for the BARBATOS. Initially molded out of soft plastic, it lacked the durability we demanded and was temporarily shelved. By reimagining it in a rigid compound with horizontal relief slits, we achieved the perfect balance of structural strength and spring-back memory, giving the bait an incredible self-starting action.

3. Maximum Customization: The Metal Parts Unit (In Development)

If you really want to Frankenstein your swimbaits, the upcoming Metal Parts Unit is the ultimate platform. Utilizing the toughness of our rigid resin insert, this unit features a heavy-duty screw eye (screw-eye tie) to accept various metal blades and props. The Shimada Spring Special: Swivel Blade Tune

By pairing this unit with a willow or Colorado blade and mounting our SF Lip (Shallow Face), the hydrodynamic lift generated by the spinning blade keeps the bait trapped in the upper water column. This allows you to burn a giant swimbait at high speeds just 20 inches (50cm) under the surface. During testing in Spring 2022, Shimada-san used this exact configuration to wreck a massive 60cm+ (10lb class) monster.

Wake Mode & Spy Bait Configurations

The sky is the limit with this mod:

• Add a split ring and a secondary blade to the screw eye, then pop on the MN Lip (Medium Deep) to transform the BARBATOS into a hard-knocking, surface-churning wakebait (Bud- style wake).
  

• Back out the screw eye and install a prop/flipper to turn it into an oversized prop-bait or spin-bait. The prop spins effortlessly even on a crawl, throwing a hyper-natural bubble trail on the surface, or emitting a subtle acoustic signature when counted down into the strike zone.
  

Endless Modular Versatility

The BARBATOS is not just a giant bait; it’s an adaptable swimbait system. By mixing and matching lips, tails, and hardware, you can instantly adapt to changing weather conditions, forage shifts, and pressure on your local lake.

Keep an eye out for more custom components dropping soon. Tie one on, tune it to your water, and go catch a monster!