Imakatsu Javellon 160

[Guest avid]

I am on a quest to catch a new pb (8lbs. or better) before my surgery in August.  I'm using mostly big baits, and am really going all out.

To that end, I just bought a pack of the Javellon 160's.  For those of you not familiar with them they are a japanese swimbait that can be rigged weedless.  The 160's are 6.5 inches and weigh an ounce so they are in the class with mattlures baby bass.

Someone posted a link to their site w/video and you can see how cool these babies.

I know some br.comers are using these baits.

How are you rigging them and how are you presenting them?

I am on a quest.  :

thanks

avid

[Supermat]

I rig mine with a standard leadhead, be it a ball head or some kind of a minnow head. Basically, cut the first 1/4" off the bait so you now have a flat surface to work with, then thread it on and leave the hook exposed on top. I've always considered the "weedless" approach to be foolish because in the end you miss so many more bites! Drives me crazy to miss big fish! If you really need the weedless application take a couple pieces of heavy mono and make a weedguard rather than burying your hook point. I've found this to work much better with that particular bait than using an EWG hook or something of that nature. Good luck avid, stick a toad!

[T-rig]

The best way to use them is weightless! I feel using any tipe of weight makes the bait loose it's action.

For the 160 i use a 5/0 owner rig'n hook and for the 140 a 4/0. It can be a bit difficult to rig at first but you'll get hang of it pretty quick. Try to rig it in the same manner as you would a fat ika.

[Supermat]

The best way to use them is weightless! I feel using any tipe of weight makes the bait loose it's action.

For the 160 i use a 5/0 owner rig'n hook and for the 140 a 4/0. It can be a bit difficult to rig at first but you'll get hang of it pretty quick. Try to rig it in the same manner as you would a fat ika.

T-Rig,

 How is your hookup ratio as compared to rigging it with an exposed hook? In general, what percentage of bites do you not hook? Thanks!

[T-rig]

The best way to use them is weightless! I feel using any tipe of weight makes the bait loose it's action.

For the 160 i use a 5/0 owner rig'n hook and for the 140 a 4/0. It can be a bit difficult to rig at first but you'll get hang of it pretty quick. Try to rig it in the same manner as you would a fat ika.

T-Rig,

How is your hookup ratio as compared to rigging it with an exposed hook? In general, what percentage of bites do you not hook? Thanks!

Fishing the Javallon ist just like fishing with soft baits! I would say 80% hookup ratio.

I never fished the javallon with an exposed hook. T-rigging it is the way to go!

If you feel more confident fishing with an exposed hook then by all means do it.

Avid asked for a recomendation and I gave mine.

[Supermat]

Good to know, I didn't think it would be that high. That wasn't a bash on you at all, I really wanted to know. I've had problems Weedless rigging other baits so with the Javallon I went straight to the exposed hook. 80 percent is a pretty good percentage. Once you T-rig are you skin hooking your hook or leaving it exposed but down in that depression?

[T-rig]

Good to know, I didn't think it would be that high. That wasn't a bash on you at all, I really wanted to know. I've had problems Weedless rigging other baits so with the Javallon I went straight to the exposed hook. 80 percent is a pretty good percentage. Once you T-rig are you skin hooking your hook or leaving it exposed but down in that depression?

I leave the hook exposed. The javallon is pretty weedless because of a that depression it has.

The only problem with the javallon is after using it for a while or catching a fish it starts to slide down the hook. This is a pain!

[Supermat]

Good to know, I didn't think it would be that high. That wasn't a bash on you at all, I really wanted to know. I've had problems Weedless rigging other baits so with the Javallon I went straight to the exposed hook. 80 percent is a pretty good percentage. Once you T-rig are you skin hooking your hook or leaving it exposed but down in that depression?

I leave the hook exposed. The javallon is pretty weedless because of a that depression it has.

The only problem with the javallon is after using it for a while or catching a fish it starts to slide down the hook. This is a pain!

Makes sense. As for the bait sliding down, I've heard a lot of complaints about that. A lot of my buddies have said the same thing, especially with spotted bass. They say one or two spots will ravage the bait beyond use. I would think that its nothing a hot knife wouldn't fix for you though.

...Continued success to you!

[ominousone]

I was under the impression that one would typically use these baits on a drop shot rig.  No I'm not joking.  There's another name for it but basically it's drop shotting swim baits.

[Lightninrod]

I was under the impression that one would typically use these baits on a drop shot rig.  No I'm not joking.  There's another name for it but basically it's drop shotting swim baits.

I've done that very thing;  5/0 Owner hook and a 1/2 oz drop shot, round weight.  Caught a couple that way but none with any size to them.  That bait looks very realistic on a drop shot rig as I raise and drop it to the bottom.

Have also fished them weightless with that same hook and caught a couple on top.

Dan

[Supermat]

Here is what I'm talking about with the exposed hook.

[Guest avid]

These are all very cool applications.

My lake is mondo weedy so an exposed hook is basically ng.

I'm glad to hear the 5/0 owner riggin hook is working with the 160. I love this hook, but was afraid it might be a tad small for the 160.

How fast do they sink? do you let go down and fish like a big worm, or reel in straight and slow like a mattlure.

The action looked awesome. I'm ready.

[burleytog]

Where are you guys finding these?

[T-rig]

Where are you guys finding these?

www.ichibantackle.com

[T-rig]

These are all very cool applications.

My lake is mondo weedy so an exposed hook is basically ng.

I'm glad to hear the 5/0 owner riggin hook is working with the 160. I love this hook, but was afraid it might be a tad small for the 160.

How fast do they sink? do you let go down and fish like a big worm, or reel in straight and slow like a mattlure.

The action looked awesome. I'm ready.

Avid, there are many ways of fishing it. The bait sinks fairly slow. I use a stop and go or a straight retrieve. You can also let sink on a bed like you would with a lizzard etc. and leave or twtich it once in a while.

[Supermat]

Where are you guys finding these?

...ebay

IMO, the baits you're throwing Burley are going to get you bigger fish.   I'd stick to that game plan unless you just have to have the latest and greatest. (a disease that I'm horribly plagued by)

[Raul]

These are all very cool applications.

My lake is mondo weedy so an exposed hook is basically ng.

I'm glad to hear the 5/0 owner riggin hook is working with the 160. I love this hook, but was afraid it might be a tad small for the 160.

How fast do they sink? do you let go down and fish like a big worm, or reel in straight and slow like a mattlure.

The action looked awesome. I'm ready.

You can alter the rate of fall and the depth of the bait simply by adding a bullet weight and pegging it, work it as a worm or reel in steadily like a swimbait, the bait action is not altered by the added weight.