fat ika

[soccplayer07]

I noticed a nice thread on the fat ika. I have fished it a few times w/ no real results. To be fair I never gave it a true shot. My question deals w/ hook up ratios fishing the ika's. I have been using an ewg #4. I have been rigging it like a senko but backwards. I am worried that due to the size of the ika the hook up ratio would be very low. Any thoughts???

[Raul]

Texpose when you rig.

[soccplayer07]

I do. I still think that bc of the girth it would still be difficult to set the hook.

[roadwarrior]

The Fat Ika is my #1 bait.

My hook-up ratio is something north of 95%. Once hooked-up my landing ratio is SIGNIFICANTLY better. The bait, as Raul noted, should be Texposed and skin-hooked. Due to the taste and texture, bass tend to hold this lure longer than most...in some cases indefinitely. The Senko is a very easy bait to fish, but the Fat Ika is even easier. Be patient and fish it slow, like you might imagine the movement of a crawdad.

Rigging:

4/0 EWG Gamakatsu Offset Worm Hook. Tentacles forward (skirt up). Weightless & weedless.

I fish the bait on MF spining tackle and Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft #6 (.010" diameter, 11.9 lb test).

Presentation:

Cast parallel to the bank, along weed lines or on structure in water <12'. Allow the bait to settle to the bottom and sit for at least 30 seconds. With a slow, horizontal sweep, move the bait 6"-12" and let it fall on slack line. Leave the Fat Ika on the bottom for at least 10 seconds between movements and continue this retrieve until you feel you are "out of the zone." Bass will sometimes strike on the fall or occasionally pick it up while it rests motionless on the bottom, but generally the strike occurs when you move the bait.

When you feel a strike, dip the tip of your rod while QUICKLY reeling in slack. When you feel the fish snap your wrists, setting the hook with your rod tip and not moving the positin of your reel relative to your body. This is called a snap-set or quick-set. Maintain pressure, keep your rod tip high and reel when you can, but let the fish run when it wants to. I think your landing ratio will improve with a little patience.

Good luck!

[roadwarrior]

Regarding colors:

Choose your favorite!

Mine are all dark:

Watermelon w/ black flakes, watermelon w/ red & black flakes, green pumpkin w/ black flakes and black w/ blue flakes.

[armesjr]

I saw RW always talking about them and gave them a try.  They are now my goto fishing bait.  I tend to fish the watermelon, black, and green pumpkin ones the most.   I have also had some luck on the chartreuse ones.