Product Review- Iland’s Improved Sea Witch
Iland’s Improved Sea Witch
Throughout every offshore rigging bucket in the Carolinas, you will be hard pressed to find one without ballyhoo rigs adorned with sea witches (more specifically, a blue/crystal one). The sea witch/ballyhoo combo has been the top producer for decades for all pelagic species—from tuna and wahoo, to dolphin and billfish.
Despite preferences in color combinations, head shapes, and a bit of flash here and there, most anglers will agree on what constitutes a good witch. After comparing opinions from mates and captains from our backyard in North Carolina down to Florida, Iland Lures has released their version of a sea witch—one that surely will not disappoint. 
So, the question at hand is what makes one sea witch better than the others? Disregarding personal preferences previously mentioned (color, head shapes, and flash), the reverse-tied nylon hair must be even for the lure to run properly, and the amount of material is important as well. Too much hair will create a bulky bait that shags grass and skips when going down swells, and an even, recessed tie collar is the key to achieving this.
Starting with these concepts, Iland Lures began the quest for the perfect witch. To improve it, they added the standard doll eyes found in their other series. These eyes are offset and very visible, compared to the standard witch that doesn’t have any, and many anglers credit these eyes to the success of Iland’s other offerings. 
The back of the head features an enlarged hole to accommodate the nose of a rigged ballyhoo, ensuring a true running, hard swimming ballyhoo each time. This larger hole also prevents wire ballyhoo rigs from becoming kinked if they skip during trolling in rougher conditions.
New for 2019, these improved sea witches by Iland Lures will be available in local retailers this March. With 11 tried and true color schemes in both 1/4 and 1/2 oz. sizes, there is an Iland Witch for every offshore angler.
