5 Standout Features of the Daiwa Salt Pencil Lures

The Daiwa Salt Pencil is one of those topwater lures that I keep handy when targeting aggressive saltwater predators. It’s recognized for its easy “walk-the-dog” action, rugged build, and eye-catching Laser Impact finish.

If you’re after a versatile lure for saltwater and the occasional freshwater fishing, this one definitely deserves a closer look. Here, I’ll share my experience and break down what makes the Daiwa Salt Pencil useful, along with a few tips and answers to common questions.

Core Features of the Daiwa Salt Pencil

The Daiwa Salt Pencil stands out among topwater lures thanks to its blend of action, design, and practical durability. It’s mainly intended for saltwater work, but I’ve found it triggers strikes on freshwater lakes, too, when the conditions are right.

This lure is a hybrid between a pencil and a popper design. It delivers a smooth side-to-side walk-the-dog action, and its open mouth and gill details kick up a bit of splash and ruckus as you move it across the surface. The Laser Impact finish throws off extra flash in the water, which has scored me more bites on cloudy days or in murky surf.

Constructed with a tough ABS plastic body and a strong wire-through harness, it’s built for heavy inshore fish like stripers or bluefish and can absorb plenty of punishment from toothy fish. For the common Daiwa Salt Pencil 110F model, you get a length of 110mm (around 4.5 inches), a weight of about 20.5 grams (0.65oz), and #4 treble hooks.

The lure is rear-weighted, allowing me to cast it far, even with wind in play. Popular colors are Blue Pink, Red Head, Max Laser, Chart Head Sardine, and Chart Head Mullet. All are aimed at mimicking typical baitfish or standing out when visibility is low.

Performance Breakdown: Pros & Cons

After plenty of time on the water, here’s what stands out to me as the pros and cons of the Daiwa Salt Pencil:

• Action: The special gaping mouth and flared gill design whip up a sputtering splash and bubble trail, pulling in the attention of predatory fish. It mimics a distressed baitfish struggling on the surface, and fish can’t seem to resist it. It takes a little practice to nail down the walk-the-dog technique, especially if you’re new to topwater lures.
• Construction: Thick ABS plastic and a solid 1.2mm wire-through harness mean this lure will survive hard runs and wild headshakes. Heavy-duty, corrosion-resistant BKK 3X trebles come standard, so I don’t need to worry about hooks bending out. Some anglers swap the hooks, but the stock ones work well for me.
• Performance: The rear weight system gives you long, controlled casts. This matters a lot for reaching fish beyond surf breaks or in shallow flats. Its Laser Impact finish does a great job reflecting light, drawing fish in from surprising distances and different lighting scenarios.
• Versatility: I’ve tossed it around rocky reefs, tidal rivers, and open beaches. It’s a topwater tool, so don’t expect it to fish at depth; you’ll see better results when fish are feeding up high.
• Price: With a usual price range of $15–$23, it isn’t a budget lure, but the quality and unique action make it worth it if you want something different in your box.

How to Get the Most from the Daiwa Salt Pencil

Training your walk-the-dog retrieve is key. I’ve found that short, rhythmic twitches of the rod tip, paired with a steady reel-in, produce the best side-to-side action. Keeping the rod tip high helps the lure spit water and makes it easy to pick out on the water’s surface, even from a distance.

For more chaos, add sharper, quicker sweeps; the lure will dive just under and pop back up, leaving a bubble trail like a panicked baitfish. This tweak has tricked late-summer stripers and gotten bluefish charged up, especially when the water is bumpy.

This lure shines most at dawn, dusk, or on cloudy days, and I’ve had good luck right after rain when there’s less glare. The Laser Impact finish looks even more vibrant then. To keep hooksets solid, wait to feel the fish’s weight before setting; it’s easy to get excited watching a blowup and miss.

Choosing the Right Gear for the Daiwa Salt Pencil

I typically grab a fast-action rod about 7 to 7’6” long, with a 4000-size spinning reel. Using braided line, sometimes up to 65 lb in heavy cover, helps make the sharp, snappy retrieves, plus gives a strong connection for hooking fish. Adding a 1–2 foot fluorocarbon leader (20–40 lb) gives abrasion resistance and keeps things less visible when the water’s clear.

Practical Tips for Using Topwater Lures Like the Daiwa Salt Pencil

• Tune Your Retrieve: Begin with a steady rhythm and change up your speed or pauses till you find what fish want. Sometimes pausing, or breaking your pattern, will get a follower to commit.
• Watch the Water: Topwater lures really shine when fish are already up chasing bait near the top. Keep an eye out for commotion, bait breaking the surface, or birds diving—these are your cues to switch to a Salt Pencil.
• Handle Strikes Properly: When you see a blowup, don’t jab right away. Waiting for pressure helps you land more fish.

Common Questions About the Daiwa Salt Pencil Lure

Extra Considerations Before Buying a Daiwa Salt Pencil

Think about your main fishing spots and the kind of action you want. This lure is best for anglers chasing surface-feeding fish in moderate to rough water. If you tend to fish deep or in spots with little activity up top, consider adding a sinking or subsurface plug to your rotation. That said, for action at the surface, carrying a couple of Daiwa Salt Pencils in several colors and sizes gives you extra choices as conditions change.

I always recommend checking in with trusted local tackle shops or big online stores for the full lineup. It can help to grab a backup, in case you lose a favorite to a big strike or tough day on the rocks.

Advanced Tricks for More Consistent Success

Once you’re confident about the basics, layering in advanced tweaks can really increase your hookup rates. Changing your retrieve speed during the cast, or switching directions halfway, can fool fish that are trailing but won’t strike. On windy days, casting across the wind and working the lure sharply back keeps it where fish are likely to ambush. Run through different finishes and sizes throughout your trip so fish don’t get too wise to the routine.

It pays to keep up with local bait movement, too. Matching what’s out there, in color and size, increases your odds of pulling in a bigger fish. Seasonal tweaks in retrieve, or simply making a lure look slightly different than everybody else’s, can draw more attention in pressured waters.

Wrapping up, the Daiwa Salt Pencil packs a lot of value for anglers looking for a trustworthy topwater lure. With its tough build, flashy finish, and proven action, it’s become a go-to in many tackle boxes. Whether you’re just breaking into surface fishing or want to add a new trick to your arsenal, it deserves a spot in your lineup.

Check Out Our Most Recent Articles:

• 
  The Daiwa Exist Spinning Reel
• 
  Shimano Spheros SW Spinning Reel
• 
  Daiwa Emcast Surf Rod Review
• 
  The Shimano Socorro SW Spinning Reel
• 
  Daiwa Sealine Surf Rod Review
• 
  The Shimano Saragosa SW Spinning Reel

As always, stay safe, enjoy the journey, and please try to leave it cleaner than you found it. If you have any comments, questions, ideas, or suggestions, please leave them in the comment section below, and I’ll get back to you ASAP. You can follow us on Facebook: Rex The Beach Angler, Instagram: thebeachangler7, Twitter: @AnglerBeach, and YouTube: Man Art Creations.

P.S. Thanks so much for checking out our blog; we really appreciate it. Just so you know, we may receive a commission if you click on some of the links that appear on our site. This helps us keep our content free and up-to-date for everyone. We appreciate your support!