The ZOOM Bait Company recently released their first series of hand-poured plastic worms, called the Z-3. But one look at the new color patterns, and their names especially, and any West Coast bass angler is going to instantly think of Roboworm.
That’s because Roboworm has been selling the hottest plastic worms in the western United States for decades with the same color patterns, and even the same names for their colors.
ZOOM’s new colors include; Bold Bluegill, Desert Craw, M.M. III, Oxblood Light Red, Prizm Shad, Pro Neon Blue, Morning Dawn, Sexy Shad, Z-3 Edge, and Z-3 Magic. Several of those (Bold Bluegill, M.M. III, Morning Dawn, Oxblood Light Red and Prizm Shad) are outright duplicates of those coined by Roboworm many years ago. “Pro Neon Blue” is a clear rearrangement of Roboworm’s “Pro Blue Neon” and “Z-3 Magic” is a run at perhaps the most copied plastic worm color ever, “Aaron’s Magic” which was named after Roboworm’s longtime pro-staffer Aaron Martens.
“M.M. III” is a reference to the third generation of Roboworm’s Margarita Mutilator color produced for bass anglers on Santa Margarita Lake in the San Luis Obispo area of California. The guys behind the product development at ZOOM probably don’t even know where these names come from.
ZOOM’s entry into the hand poured style bait arena is likely long overdue however, as baits like Roboworm have been making since 1989 are heavily favored in the western United States where clear water demands realism while tougher and more durable products have been the mainstream in the south and eastern portions of the US where stained water and less-pressured bass don’t demand the same refinement in a plastic worm.
But their outright copying of the colors and names of the colors has west coast bass anglers up in arms in defense of their beloved Roboworm. Roboworm has certainly taken notice, commenting on ZOOM’s new line of baits on their Facebook page on July 8th.
Some bass anglers have assumed that Roboworm must have had a hand in production of these baits for ZOOM, but Roboworm was click to set the record straight.
URGENT!!! We are not manufacturing the new Zoom worm. Zoom has flat out copied our colors and names. We are the original, and best hand poured style bait company. And will be, for years to come.
Posted by Roboworm on Wednesday, July 8, 2015
And they’re clearly not happy about it, adding hashtags #orignalandbest and #copiessuck to this post a few minutes later.
Here is what a real original Roboworm hand poured bait looks like!!! #originalandbest #Roboworm #copiessuck
Posted by Roboworm on Wednesday, July 8, 2015
What do you think? Is this straight up theft? Or a case of “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” in the fishing industry?
San Diego loves Roboworm, always has, always will.
23 Comments
No more than anyone else…. big bite baits are close too… as well as Uptons… just to name a couple
Blatant rip offs. The fact that they even used the same names that Roboworm has is a joke.
Great things are always copied. Sincerest form of flattery they say. Don’t think Mike and the boys at robo have anything to worry about. Lol!
That’s the fishing industry so deal with it
I’d be surprised if zoom uses the name Folkstad special
I suppose of their price point is better , but yeah that’s pretty much a rip off
Competition at its finest zoom stuff lasts longer
And Roboworm ripped off Western Plastics and AAs. These colors have been around long before Roboworm. Just like every other biz, everyone copies what sells.
I think this was a collaboration with robo. I may be mistaken?
There are only so many colors and names. Everyone has copied someone at some point.
Lol if noone ever copied anyone else’s color patterns there would be a lot less bait companies around. Or a bunch with few color patterns.
Like yum baits. With there yumdingers with senkos
We have been in the plastic business for 24 years and it’s all fair game. It’s just the business. Colors are fine but when it comes down to the style and shape of the baits that’s another story! !! Our colors have been copied for years.
People who want to buy worms want these colors. They may not want to buy Robo’s for particular reasons so they look for something similar from another company. Did Burger King copy McDonald’s?
People who want to buy worms want these colors. They may not want to buy Robo’s for particular reasons so they look for something similar from another company. Did Burger King copy McDonald’s?
A note from Western Plastics:
We will copy the competitor’s color of the competitor’s when a customer asks us and supplies us with the sample, because they like our plastic or lure style better than what’s available.
Robo should take the high road. Everyone copies everyone …. Crank baits- spinner baits and senkosand they should 100% stay off social media about it. That will do way more harm than good.
They just should of come up with different names for the colors. Aaron’s magic, Margarita mutalater , ehler’s edge. I mean come on.
They just should of come up with different names for the colors. Aaron’s magic, Margarita mutalater , ehler’s edge. I mean come on.
I don’t like the name usage. Whatever catches fish and affordable.
Keith Moya what do you think? Thieving bastards
Have not physically seen them yet will do so soon
Wanna beat the competition, make them cheaper than your opponent