Heddon X9225BON Topwater Lure Review
Our verdict
At $9.50, the Heddon X9225BON Zara Puppy is the priciest lure in this four-way comparison, but it carries the largest review base, 1,600 reviews, at a 4.6 star average. That's the deepest track record here, even though its price sits well above the $6.99 options.
Check price on AmazonBest for
Bass anglers who want a metal-bodied walking bait with the largest review history in this comparison, 1,600 reviews at 4.6 stars, and don't mind paying $9.50, the highest price among the four topwater lures compared.
Skip if
Skip it if bass is not your only target or budget is the priority. It's listed for bass alone, unlike the Rebel F7356's bass-and-trout listing, and at $9.50 it costs more than the $6.99 Heddon XO360BB, which rates higher at 4.7 stars.
- Material Metal
- Weight 14 Grams
- Target Species Bass
- Technique Treble Hook
- Size 3-Inch
- Color Bone
- Priced 27% below the category median ($12.98 across 57 tracked models)
Our scorecard
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Owner rating4.6/5
4.6 average across 1,600 owner ratings
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Popularity3.9/5
1,600 owner reviews, more than most models here
The overall score is owner satisfaction weighted by how many reviews back it, so a high rating from few reviews counts for less. The bars below show where this model stands against the other fishing gear and tackle we track in this category on price, popularity and size. Context, not marks against it, and our read of the data, not a lab test.
Overview
Walking the dog across calm water to draw a reaction strike from bass is a classic topwater technique, and the Heddon X9225BON Zara Puppy is built for exactly that presentation. It's a metal-bodied lure, 3 inches long and 14 grams, rigged with a treble hook in Bone color, priced at $9.50.
That price makes it the most expensive of the four topwater lures in this comparison, sitting above the $6.99 Rebel F7356 and Heddon XO360BB and the $8.99 Heddon X923614. In exchange, it carries the deepest review history here, 1,600 reviews at a 4.6 star average, more reviews than the F7356's 1,100, the XO360BB's 1,200, or the X923614's 0. Its 4.6 rating ties the F7356 but trails the XO360BB and X923614, both at 4.7 stars, though the X923614's score has no reviews behind it yet. Bought-last-month sits at 100 plus, matching the F7356 and XO360BB but behind the X923614's 400 plus.
For bass anglers who want a metal walking bait with the longest proven track record in this set, the X9225BON's review depth is its strongest selling point. Buyers focused on price or on the single highest star rating will find better numbers on the two $6.99 Heddon and Rebel options instead.
Pros
- Largest review base in this comparison: 1,600 reviews.
- 4.6 star average holds steady across that large sample.
- Metal body construction, a heavier-duty build than the plastic XO360BB.
- 3-inch size gives it a substantial walking bait profile for bass.
- Classic walking-bait design, Zara Puppy, built specifically for a walking-the-dog retrieve.
Cons
- Most expensive lure in this comparison at $9.50.
- Bass-only target listing, narrower than the Rebel F7356's bass-and-trout range.
- 4.6 stars trails the 4.7 average on both the XO360BB and X923614.
- Bought-last-month of 100 plus is well behind the X923614's 400 plus.
Specifications
| Material | Metal |
|---|---|
| Weight | 14 Grams |
| Target Species | Bass |
| Technique | Treble Hook |
| Size | 3-Inch |
| Color | Bone |
| Pieces | 1 |
| Feature | Heddon Zara Puppy Topwater Walking Bait |
Performance notes
At 14 grams and 3 inches, the Zara Puppy carries noticeably more mass and length than the 7 gram, 1 7/8 inch XO360BB, and it's built from metal rather than that lure's plastic body. That heavier, denser construction generally casts farther and sits differently in the water than a lighter prop bait, which fits the walking bait design, a side-to-side retrieve style distinct from the splash-and-pause action of a prop bait like the XO360BB or the hopper-style F7356. The treble hook setup matches the F7356 and XO360BB rather than the J hook listed on the X923614. Bone coloring is a natural, neutral pattern, similar in intent to the Baby Bass color on the XO360BB, both aiming for a baitfish look rather than the insect-pattern Summer Hopper finish on the F7356.
What buyers say
With 1,600 reviews at a 4.6 star average, the X9225BON has the deepest review history of the four topwater lures compared, more than the F7356's 1,100, the XO360BB's 1,200, or the X923614's 0. That volume suggests a long-standing, well-established listing. Its rating sits a notch below the XO360BB and X923614's 4.7 stars, though those numbers carry either similar or far less review support. Bought-last-month at 100 plus matches the F7356 and XO360BB, a steady middle pace rather than the X923614's 400 plus surge. Read together, the pattern points to a mature, reliably rated lure whose main tradeoff against the cheaper Heddon option is a slightly lower star average rather than any red flag in the numbers.
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Frequently asked questions
Why does the Heddon X9225BON cost more than the other topwater lures compared?
At $9.50, it's priced above the $6.99 Rebel F7356 and Heddon XO360BB and the $8.99 Heddon X923614. Part of that gap likely reflects its metal body and larger 3-inch, 14-gram build, a heavier construction than the plastic or lighter-weight options in this set.
Does the Heddon X9225BON have the most reviews in this comparison?
Yes, its 1,600 reviews are the highest count among the four topwater lures here, ahead of the Heddon XO360BB's 1,200, the Rebel F7356's 1,100, and the Heddon X923614's 0. Its 4.6 star average is backed by that large, established sample.
What species is the Zara Puppy meant for?
The listing specifies bass as the target species, a narrower range than the Rebel F7356, which lists bass and trout, or the Heddon XO360BB, which lists bass and crappie. It's a bass-focused walking bait rather than a multi-species option, built for a single-species presentation.