I finnally went out and tried the fat ika today had 3 fish on in the first 10 minutes but could not get a good hookset or something they all got off. changed to a shaky head and crank bait and caught 25.

I was thrown the fat ika on a

Berkley Bionix 6'6" medium action rod,

abu garcia spinning reel

8# trilene xl

3/0 EWG GAMA hook.

it was rigged skirt first weightless.

just my opinion but I would recommend a 4/0 wide gap hook

just my opinion but I would recommend a 4/0 wide gap hook

Yea i thought about that.

You think maybe  higher pound test line

or a stiffer rod?

A stiffer tip may help, I've used my worm rod, 7'MF with 10lb line. I would first try a 4/0EWG hook, Owner makes some good ones. When you rig them, are you exposing the hook, i.e. texposeing..? as opposed to keeping the barb buried.?

A stiffer tip may help, I've used my worm rod, 7'MF with 10lb line. I would first try a 4/0EWG hook, Owner makes some good ones. When you rig them, are you exposing the hook, i.e. texposeing..? as opposed to keeping the barb buried.?

i go all the way through and then tuck it in a little.

just make me sick because the 3 best fish i had today came off of the ika but the didnt stay hooked .

i use braided line with plastics like the fat ika, senkos, etc.  there's no stretch and no matter how i hook the plastic the hook is going to drive through.  usually it just takes a flick on the wrist.  my other rods have fluoro. and mono. 

The Fat Ika is an OK bait, but I don't think I would worry so much about it. If it is not working for you , give it up and move on to another bait. There are many just as good without the hook up issues.

The Fat Ika is an OK bait, but I don't think I would worry so much about it. If it is not working for you , give it up and move on to another bait. There are many just as good without the hook up issues.

yea im just more ticked that i couldnt get the hook set.

Im trying to get on some larger fish. I cant seem to catch a bass over 2lbs.

4/0 is still too small to me....every since I switched to a 5/0 hook and using a 7' MH rod my hook ups has increased dramatically.

The Fat Ika is an OK bait, but I don't think I would worry so much about it. If it is not working for you , give it up and move on to another bait. There are many just as good without the hook up issues.

yea im just more ticked that i couldnt get the hook set.

Im trying to get on some larger fish. I cant seem to catch a bass over 2lbs.

1/2 oz jig with a 5:20 sweet beaver trailer..

i use a 4/0  round bend the ewg's pulls back into the bait the r/b slides straight up the bait into the mouth. and push the hook all the way through .

tight lines

so im guessing the hook is where im going wrong?

I was worried a medium action rod wouldhave the power to set the hook through this solid bait.

here is how i got it rigged on a 3/0 ewg hook.

Looks like you have enough hook there, a stiffer rod and possibly a slower hook set may be your best bet. Let the fish have it for about 1-2 seconds before crossing their eyes. 

Your equipment is fine.  For everyone else,

whatever you like to use for weightless soft

plastics is all that's needed for Fat Ika.

Usually, the issue with hook-ups is just quickness.

Use a snap-set: When you detect a bite, lower your

rod tip as you reel down quickly. Snap your wrist

without moving your hand position relative to your

body. This will move the rod tip from 9:00 to 12:00

and drive the hook home!

8-)

I read somewhere on here that Roadwarrior had posted a thread about how to fish the IKA...Does anyone know where that is?  I couldn't find it.

I am getting ready to use them for the first time and would love to find that link.  From what I have read so far on here, they are fished like a Gitzit, but rigged backwards on a 4/0 Owner hook...Is that correct?

Problem Solved.

Tried the 4/0 hook,  it made a big difference for me

caught three and broke off on a good smallie( the trilene line frails up to easy gonna try some of this yo-zuri i hear somuch about)

Good deal...Get the ultrasoft ...

Good deal...Get the ultrasoft ...

fish are still small though (around 2lbs).

PM RW..

I read somewhere on here that Roadwarrior had posted a thread about how to fish the IKA...Does anyone know where that is? I couldn't find it.

I am getting ready to use them for the first time and would love to find that link. From what I have read so far on here, they are fished like a Gitzit, but rigged backwards on a 4/0 Owner hook...Is that correct?

The Fat Ika

The bait, 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. 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!

This might be out of the topic, but do you guys put on a new Ika after each fish? Or how often do you switch it out?

This might be out of the topic, but do you guys put on a new Ika after each fish? Or how often do you switch it out?

Usually until the head rips and it won't hold a hook.Until then you can keep spinning the bait to a fresh side.Luckily these usually last a bit longer than a senko due to the overall thickness but it still depends on how the fish hits it and what occurs during the fight.Any soft plastic may potentially be good for one fish only .

Thanks for the info! I will give this a try...