Alex led me to this:

[AlabamaSpothunter]

14 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

I'll get back at it soon.  how do you know how deep the bait is running?  and more importantly, are the hits violent?  I imagine a bass trying to kill a flee bait is violent.  

Without having FFS, I can't really say exactly how well it stays at a particular depth in the water column, but I just count it down like a jighead minnow to where I think the fish are.   

 

Seems to be working well as I've already caught a few fish using 2D sonar and counting down to their depth.   

[Pat Brown]

I just literally try to keep the minnow in or nearly in sight (think spinnerbait or swim jig + Alabama shake). I use lighter jig heads to achieve this.

 

Yes - the strikes are incredibly violent and often they wake at the bait out of nowhere and smoke it at the surface like a topwater.

[softwateronly]

It is a walk the dog action, but there are significant depth changes while you're working it.  The glide is also falling and the pull is also rising.  Maybe the 1/10thoz heads are less, but it seems like working it is a +/- of 4-6'.  So I usually guess my countdown a little less than where I think the bait is at.  The hits are mostly on the glide/fall for me and not subtle.  A M/F rod has the best hook up ratio for me, I've missed a few on a M/MF rod because you can get caught in a less than optimal hook setting position.  Figuring out the pace seems to be a daily thing.

 

Z-man trick shotz look to be a shape that could work on the head for a similar action.

 

 

 

scott

[islandbass]

@AlabamaSpothunter  Thanks!!!

[Jigfishn10]

4 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I fish it more like a jighead minnow than a jerkbait.      I just jerk the rod up from about 60degrees to 90degrees while reeling in the slack.    Very much like strolling a minnow, but with a harder, and more exaggerated up and down motion.   Hope that makes sense.   The actual cadence underwater is every bit as fast as if you're working a spook, except I'll pause a spook but with the BR Fish you don't ever pause.   Just a steady walk the dog action.  

 

My understanding is the actual jighead design is the reason this bait has such unique action.    I'm not sure if that's solely because of the gliding fins on the sides or maybe the shape of the head.     In time I plan to experiment with non BR fish plastics to see if I can get the same action but with different plastics.  

Nice description on the technique, thank you for that.

 

Just notice what you meant on the glider fin, it really isn't your average minnow head. You maybe right on the unique jig head design. I was wondering if a lunker city sluggo,, which I still have a good stash of slipped on a bucktail jig I posted earlier may produce the same action and keep the bait monkey at bay...I think I'm losing that battle...I should have stayed away from this thread ...  

[Munkin]

Guess this technique is suited for the new Winged Fluke Zoom came out with.

 

4" Winged Fluke - Zoom Bait Company

 

8 hours ago, Jigfishn10 said:

Time to buy a mold and start pouring  

 

Last count 2 years ago I had 72 hand pour and 84 spincast molds in the garage. Down to about 400lbs of lead so that could limit me.😄

 

Allen

[woolleyfooley]

22 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

You got it pal, it's really simple to make the bait dance side to side by just popping your rod up and down while reeling in the slack on each pop.   I haven't tried jerking it to the side very much, but in some videos I see some doing it that way as well.

 

It's one of those baits that looks so tantalizing in the water that it gives you confidence, one of those baits you say no way this thing doesn't get destroyed.    

 

Some folks rig the swimbait less than perfect on the hook because they said it yields an even more erratic motion, but I haven't tried that yet.  

Thank you!

 

So 2 more questions.

 

1) would this work with a non bfs baitcaster? Something that works for weightless senkos and flukes?

 

2) how well would this work for bank anglers? 

[Jigfishn10]

6 minutes ago, Munkin said:

Guess this technique is suited for the new Winged Fluke Zoom came out with.

 

4" Winged Fluke - Zoom Bait Company

 

 

Last count 2 years ago I had 72 hand pour and 84 spincast molds in the garage. Down to about 400lbs of lead so that could limit me.😄

 

Allen

Hahaha

That was 2 years ago, did you get forced to seek help  

 

All honesty, that's a crazy amount of molds...you must be up to your eye balls with jig heads  

[Jigfishn10]

10 minutes ago, woolleyfooley said:

Thank you!

 

So 2 more questions.

 

1) would this work with a non bfs baitcaster? Something that works for weightless senkos and flukes?

 

2) how well would this work for bank anglers? 

I would think that for question #1 for someone to answer would be subjective at best, it really depends on your personal ability. For question #2, I banked fished for years and walking the dog was a personal favorite technique, for me most definitely, for you, please see question #1   

 

Not being a wise guy here, but subjectively, yes, it's doable.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

23 minutes ago, woolleyfooley said:

Thank you!

 

So 2 more questions.

 

1) would this work with a non bfs baitcaster? Something that works for weightless senkos and flukes?

 

2) how well would this work for bank anglers? 

My pleasure!

 

For the first question, I don't see why it wouldn't work with a couple caveats.....first, that you use a similar weight BR fish as the senko or fluke you throw on that same setup.   The jigheads come in a big range of weights, so the answer would change if you're using 1/10th vs 1/2oz jighead if that makes sense.

 

Second caveat is that you have a reel fast enough to retrieve the line in between rod pops/twitches.    

 

It's important to remember that unlike a senko, fluke, or jerkbait, you can't really pause this bait.   It doesn't stall out like a fluke or jerkbait, and it doesn't slowly sink like a senko, so you really do need a reel that allows you take up the slack generated from the rod twitches/pops.     

 

As for the second question, I think it would be great from the bank especially in the warmer water months.  Combine the fact that fish are more prone to being closer to the bank with the fact fish often want a faster, more erratic moving bait in warmer water temps, you got a good bank bait in my book.    

[GRiver]

@Swamp Girl did you pick those colors for your area or, were they recommended for your first purchase? 

[Swamp Girl]

10 minutes ago, GRiver said:

@Swamp Girl did you pick those colors for your area or, were they recommended for your first purchase? 

 

Well, if you're talking about the 5-incher colors, I picked them because they're similar to the colors of paddletails like Keitechs and Mayors that have caught bass, i.e. the shad colored one and the bright colors. I went with pink because other Mainers have good luck with that color. I have caught some bass on pink Senkos wacky-hooked, but it's not been my best-producing color. Still, hope springs eternal.

 

Overall, my best color for soft plastics is chartreuse and white and the lime gold is pretty close to that. I probably should have bought two lime golds and only one Seguro Katakuchi, but we'll see which works best. I'm excited to try them all and I'm pretty confident that I can learn the retrieve because I did some strolling in 2024, which is another thing I learned from Alex.

 

I strolled with a small soft plastic and caught smallmouth, but I'm confident that 5-inchers that are coming will appeal to largemouth. Maine largemouth like large lures and I like throwing them because I can cast them farther and thus be stealthier. 

[Swamp Girl]

On 12/27/2024 at 1:52 PM, softwateronly said:

Z-man trick shotz

 

I think they'd work great on the winged jigs, but I've learned to fear Z-man, as they melt when touching other soft plastics and I often, to save space, mix soft plastics in one bag. When I forget I've done that and go into that bag a couple weeks later, it's a hot mess. I think with a bigger boat with plenty of space to keep the Z-Man's separate and I'd use them all the time.

[woolleyfooley]

On 12/27/2024 at 4:49 PM, AlabamaSpothunter said:

My pleasure!

 

For the first question, I don't see why it wouldn't work with a couple caveats.....first, that you use a similar weight BR fish as the senko or fluke you throw on that same setup.   The jigheads come in a big range of weights, so the answer would change if you're using 1/10th vs 1/2oz jighead if that makes sense.

 

Second caveat is that you have a reel fast enough to retrieve the line in between rod pops/twitches.    

 

It's important to remember that unlike a senko, fluke, or jerkbait, you can't really pause this bait.   It doesn't stall out like a fluke or jerkbait, and it doesn't slowly sink like a senko, so you really do need a reel that allows you take up the slack generated from the rod twitches/pops.     

 

As for the second question, I think it would be great from the bank especially in the warmer water months.  Combine the fact that fish are more prone to being closer to the bank with the fact fish often want a faster, more erratic moving bait in warmer water temps, you got a good bank bait in my book.    

Thank you! 
 

So how do you all find the various sizes work? Is one in particular better for walking the dog or do all sizes work?

[AlabamaSpothunter]

1 hour ago, woolleyfooley said:

Thank you! 
 

So how do you all find the various sizes work? Is one in particular better for walking the dog or do all sizes work?

Happy to help!

 

I can't answer that question as I've only got the 3.3" sizes, but @webertime commented earlier in this thread about the lighter the head the better the drift, so maybe he can weigh in on how the various sized swimbaits effect action. 

 

Next TW order I'll grab some 4" to try and report back.

[Swamp Girl]

7 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Happy to help!

 

I can't answer that question as I've only got the 3.3" sizes, but @webertime commented earlier in this thread about the lighter the head the better the drift, so maybe he can weigh in on how the various sized swimbaits effect action. 

 

Next TW order I'll grab some 4" to try and report back.

 

And I'll let you know how the 5-inchers work, but you'll have to wait a bit. 

[softwateronly]

6 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

.... it's a hot mess..

Truth!!

 

scott

[webertime]

I didn't really notice if the longer ones drifted further.  The plastic is sort of along for the ride.  Just have to have the flat side down and slightly "short thread" it on the head.

[Swamp Girl]

55 minutes ago, webertime said:

slightly "short thread" it on the head

 

What do you mean by this? I want to do it right.

[webertime]

8 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

What do you mean by this? I want to do it right.

So you normally hold a plastic to the shank of the hook and you see how and where the hook will pop out of the bait.  Pop the hook out 1/16" of an inch or so in front of where you normally would.  A 1/15" will cause wildfires and I don't want to even think about the horrors that will arise if you are only 1/17" short.   I digress lol...  but when you hook it a little short of "normal" the bait sort of bends down sort of creating a cup.  That cup is what catches the water for the glide (in part).

 

Save this in case your New Year's is as hoppin' as mine will be.

[RRocket]

5 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

What do you mean by this? I want to do it right.

 

You're looking for a little "hump" in the back. That helps movement.

 

Also, the Mylar Minnow (one of my favorites!) is recommended as a great replacement plastic.

 

Here's an excellent video talking about proper hooking, bait replacement and technique.

 

 

[GRiver]

@Swamp Girl The reason I ask about the colors, was if you picked them because that’s what works for you there, or was it on suggestion of these colors work with this lure and presentation. I’ve never caught anything on chartreuse, now bubble gum/ pink was one of my biggest surprises….. I’m really hot pink, won’t leave the dock with out some now.

    I’m going to order these, and try them out. 
Thanks

[Swamp Girl]

3 hours ago, GRiver said:

@Swamp Girl The reason I ask about the colors, was if you picked them because that’s what works for you there, or was it on suggestion of these colors work with this lure and presentation. I’ve never caught anything on chartreuse, now bubble gum/ pink was one of my biggest surprises….. I’m really hot pink, won’t leave the dock with out some now.

    I’m going to order these, and try them out. 
Thanks

 

I like color questions because the answers highlight the regional differences in bass. I don't think it's the bass that are intrinsically different, but the differing qualities of the regional water. Most of the water I fish is shallow, tanin-stained, but clear too.

 

I own quite a few soft plastics  in bubblegum pink and have cast them all, but I don't get enough hits to keep them tied to my line all morning. These were my two big producers in 2024, the first a Yamamoto Zako and the second, a Crush City Mayor. You can see that they're pretty much the same lure. I used them both on underspins and spinnerbaits, the underspins for heavy cover and the spinnerbaits for more open water:

 

 

[webertime]

4 hours ago, GRiver said:

@Swamp Girl The reason I ask about the colors, was if you picked them because that’s what works for you there, or was it on suggestion of these colors work with this lure and presentation. I’ve never caught anything on chartreuse, now bubble gum/ pink was one of my biggest surprises….. I’m really hot pink, won’t leave the dock with out some now.

    I’m going to order these, and try them out. 
Thanks

Bass see Chartruese as a white.  We have 3 color receptors.  Bass have 2, they see colors differently than us.

[Jigfishn10]

Chartreuse was never a good color for me...One day my son wanted to use one after I told him that the color was a totally useless and unproductive color. He went on to absolutely obliterate me using one even after I switched  ... can't tell these kids anything nowadays