First Fish On A Fat Ika

[Zebco202]

I've been a member here since 2006 and I do more reading than posting.  This forum turned me on to the Senko which is one of my confidence baits.  It has also turned me on the Fat Ika's.  I've made half hearted efforts to fish a Fat Ika off and on since 2006.  Well, today, I decided to go fishing and all I took was a back of Fat Ika's and five 5/0 hooks.  Fishing from a pier next to a boat ramp, I was casting towards the rock bank.  Using a hopping or "jigging" (as I call it) retrieve.  Lift the rod slowly to about 1 o'clock, drop it down, reel up the slack line and do it again.  I finally got my first fish on a Fat Ika.  Not a big one mind you but at least it was a fish.  Only got to fish for about 45 minutes or so and that was the only one I caught but very happy none the less.

 

Anyone with any other retrieves that work with a Fat Ika?

 

My new thing this spring has been each time I go out I take one or two lures with me.  Things I have but really haven't had much success with before  So far it's worked.  I've caught more fish this spring than I have in a long time and I've learned how to fish some new lures/baits.  Recommended for any of you guys like me with a  box/bag/boat full of stuff you've bought but never have got it wet or really given yourself a chance to learn how to use it.

 

 

[ClackerBuzz]

i'll be following this thread to see what turns up. 

 

i bought 3 packs of ika 2 years ago after reading posts.  i still have most of them laying around.

they are great for skipping dock however there are plenty of other options available at much cheaper prices and more durable options.

a .10c senko knock off skips docks just as well, and a weedless tube or jig are far more durable, or really any hunk of plastic wacky rigged.

 

i'm a soft plastic junkie and am always looking for 3 bites:

1-getting hit as soon as it hits the water

2-getting hit on the fall (experimenting weightless, w/ weight, t rigged, wacky rigged)

3-getting hit while working the bottom or dragging weeds

 

i chucked those ika's many a place and never got a hit on 1 or 2 unless it was under a dock.

that's a bad sign to me.  i did get hits slow working them on the bottom and pulling them thru grass. but again any hunk of plastic works well being pulled thru grass.

i was hoping smallies would have more interest in their slow rate of fall but i've had far more luck with the spiral effect of tubes.

if i woke up tomorrow and they were discontinued it wouldn't surprise me.  you gotta really have some good moves to charge $1 for a piece of plastic that tears and so far i haven't seen them.

i'm using the rest of my stash while targeting smallies on bluff's this summer. maybe something will turn up

[Crestliner2008]

Reverse rigged, the Fat Ika is a very deadly bait for any species of bass. Rigged in this fashion, after each raise off the bottom, the lure literally "backs up". This action and the pulsing tails are a sure cue to bass that it is a crawfish - I believe anyway. Work it slowly on/off the bottom. Works in rivers, streams, lakes & reservoirs alike. One of my true go-to baits. Color doesn't seem to matter either!

[webertime]

Rigged backwards.

1-3 longish drags on the bottom then pop it off the bottom and let fall on slack line (watch the line!).

[Arv]

I rig it backwards as well and fish it very much like a senko.

[redux]

I also heard about the FI here and got a pack. They aren't super durable, but I got a 3#11 absentmindedly hopping one across the bottom of a small pond on an a Daiwa ultralight spinning rod at night so I am fine with the bait:fish ratio. I still have most of the pack left because I forgot I had them and have been using Senkos a lot.

[roadwarrior]

I rig it backwards as well and fish it very much like a senko.

 

I have pretty good luck with the Fat Ika 

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/6454-the-magic-lure/

 

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/lake-guntersville-2012.html

[michang5]

Will someone please remind me again which way is "backwards?" Should the tentacles/skirt be on the hook-eye end?

 

I picked up a pack after reading the Guaranteed To Catch Fish thread. I like that I could bomb it farther than any other lure. I did remember getting a few bites (and maybe one dink), but otherwise it was unremarkable. Set them aside and haven't grabbed them since.

 

I love the GYCB senkos and shad-shaped worm, so it isn't any bias against the durability or price.  

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I fish these like a Senko where I want just a little more weight. Cast, let fall on semi-slack line, let it soak a bit, small drag if no bite, reel in and recast. They are also good pitched into holes in the weeds when you want a little slower fall than a jig or t-rig. The weight and profile make a them skip a long way as well.  

[dday07]

Will someone please remind me again which way is "backwards?" Should the tentacles/skirt be on the hook-eye end?

 

I picked up a pack after reading the Guaranteed To Catch Fish thread. I like that I could bomb it farther than any other lure. I did remember getting a few bites (and maybe one dink), but otherwise it was unremarkable. Set them aside and haven't grabbed them since.

 

I love the GYCB senkos and shad-shaped worm, so it isn't any bias against the durability or price.  

yes...the tentacles should be at the eye hook...looks like a crawdad...it has replaced the senko as #1 plastic around socal lakes..awesome bait!

[bassguytom]

Also if you place a small finishing nail in the head the bait really goes forward after the lift and pause.

[hookset on 3]

Since Road Warrior turned me onto the Ika, I have found it to be absolutely deadly on pressured or wary bass. I've used them consistently for the last 5 years.

You won't catch many dinks, as this is a Big Bass bait, IMO.

Tight lines.

[jignfule]

One of my most effective baits, rig backwards and weightless 5/0 ewg