Fat Ika Help

[bigmountaineer]

By far the most effective bait that I used today, but was having trouble setting the hook. I did hook it backwards, but i just stuck the hook through the start of the Ika. Is that correct? and what is a good /0 hook for these baits,

RW if your out there can you please help. Or anyone with Ika experience.

What a great bait !!

[skillet]

RW is bound to chime in on this one, sooner or later. Like you said hooked backwards with 4/0 EWG Gammi hook. I skin-hook mine ...

skillet

[bigfruits]

do you give the bass a second before setting the hook? what hooks are you using? could have been that panfish were striking it.

[Big Tom]

I lift up ever so slightly on my rod after feeling a strike to see if there is weight.  You can't apply too much pressure or the fish will drop the bait.  If there is weight I drop the rod, reel down and set the hook.

I use a 4/0 EWG Gammie hook.  

[roadwarrior]

Like you said hooked backwards with 4/0 EWG Gammi hook. I skin-hook mine

Yep, 4/0 EWG Gamakatsu Offset Worm Hook, weightless & weedless.

I fish the Fat Ika just like a Senko, same places, same style. The only

difference in the two baits is action and profile. The hook-set is the

same as any other soft plastic: When you detect a bite, lower your rod

tip and reel down QUICKLY. Set the hook by snapping your wrists

without moving the position of your hands relative to your body.

Good luck!

8-)

[Crestliner2008]

I'm an Ika fan too! For both SM & LM bass. I use the same hook as RW, but my hook-set is a bit different. The bite is easily detected, after which I reel down to feel the weight of the fish and then just use a side pull set, not a snap. Has been working very well for me.

BTW....do NOT overlook the "Big Ika"!  

[Grangis]

Rig it Backwards?  Like through the tail end?

[BUCKEYEone]

Rig it Backwards? Like through the tail end?

exactly!  It gives the bait a great profile

[Grangis]

Thanks Guys,  definately gonna give the fat ikas a shot.  Ive fished the tiny panfish ikas (rigged with skirt in back) and caught the smallest bass of my life (maybee 4"),  but i was catching them one after another.... im sure ill have some success with the fatties.  Just t rig em backwards?

[skillet]

Rigged "backwards" is the way to go. Rigged this way they actually drop at an angle(away from you). GREAT action ...

skillet

[catchnm]

Backwards is an awesome way to rig the Fat Ikas, definitely will catch fish. I like to throw 'em rigged this way on the very outside edges of laydowns and stick-ups, and docks and walkways. The bait will fall away from you on slack line and it's a great way to get it into some of those hard to reach places. Another GYCB that works well rigged backwards is the Kreature. While it doesn't have as much fall away action, does have some though, it still will get the job done. Each of these baits have their own unique set of circumstances for rigging straight or conventional, i.e., not backwards. The Ika has the same look and presentation as a tube but with a quicker fall and different spiral.

The Kreature's appendages will undulate like crazy when rigged conventional. Great for pitching to the edge of grassbeds and allowed to slow-fall or reeled slowly over the tops of submerged grass, rigged weightless. I like an Owner Twist-Lok 4/0 hook for these presentations. They also are good C-rig baits.

[The_Natural]

By far the most effective bait that I used today, but was having trouble setting the hook. I did hook it backwards, but i just stuck the hook through the start of the Ika. Is that correct? and what is a good /0 hook for these baits,

RW if your out there can you please help. Or anyone with Ika experience

What a great bait !!

I think you guys missed this....definitely the problem.  You can't just bury the hook in the blunt end of the Ika; there is no way for the hook to pop out and stick the fish's mouth when you set the hook.  You need to tex-pose it normally....in one side and out the other.

[bigmountaineer]

By far the most effective bait that I used today, but was having trouble setting the hook. I did hook it backwards, but i just stuck the hook through the start of the Ika. Is that correct? and what is a good /0 hook for these baits,

RW if your out there can you please help. Or anyone with Ika experience

What a great bait !!

I think you guys missed this....definitely the problem. You can't just bury the hook in the blunt end of the Ika; there is no way for the hook to pop out and stick the fish's mouth when you set the hook. You need to tex-pose it normally....in one side and out the other.

Your exactly right, when I set the hook I just had that feeling that the hook was buried down in the blunt end of the Ika. I will texpose the hook next time and see what I can do. Thanks man.

[CODbasser]

anyone ever use these on a jighead?

[5151]

I use a 4/0 or 5/0 EWG and rig backwards , run the hook thru the IKA at the skirt and then instead of going back thru the bait I lay it along the side and then skin hook it .

[roadwarrior]

anyone ever use these on a jighead?

No.

Using a jighead would eliminate the action that is key to the bait.

8-)

[MSPbass]

Strikes aside, how long should one of these last in the water? I got a few packages on sale from my local shop a few months ago. I caught a fat 4lber on the MN bass opener this Sat. so I'm convinced of their effectiveness. I think I love them actually! But they did seem to loosen up and slide down the hook after a while. I had to put on a new Fat Ika much sooner than an average Senko. Is this normal? I thought maybe they were on sale because of a problem, or age, or something.

[roadwarrior]

Hmm...

I don't know, I have never fished a Fat Ika that lasted long

enough to dissolve. They are made from the same plastic

formula Senkos are made from. With either bait, they swell

and soften if left in water, but I have never noticed a problem

while fishing.

8-)

[MSPbass]

Huh, that's interesting. I wouldn't say they were in the water long at all either. But I did have to re-rig and then toss them much sooner than expected. Great little bait though. And very fun to fish. I plan to throw a lot of these little guys now.

[adclem]

The Kinami Plam Tree is the same thing as a Fat Ika correct.  Just under a different name?

Our local BPS does not carry the Fat Ika, but they do carry the Palm Tree.

Later,

[roadwarrior]

The Kinami Plam Tree is the same thing as a Fat Ika correct. Just under a different name?

Our local BPS does not carry the Fat Ika, but they do carry the Palm Tree.

Later,

Correct.    8-)

[adclem]

Thanks RW, going to try them out this weekend.

Later,

[airborne_angler]

Cant a GYCB Skirted twin tail grub be made into an IKA by taking off the twin tails and clipping the pointy end off where the twin tails were?

Such as:

Compare the final product to this:

http://www.***.com/descpageSFSYAMA-YAFI.html#pImage

I must thank the experts at Bassresource.com for this tip.