My main pond has become a disaster zone. The region is more than 12" of rain below average. In addition to being low, the banks are a blanket of snot grass (spiragyra). Slug-Go and frogs are about the only lures that can be fished right now, or so I thought...

I rediscovered a bait today. Soft plastics have always been great producers on this pond, but right now it's nearly impossible to get through the gunk and if your lure makes it to the bottom, that's worse! I tried swimming a jig, but that was a mess. That's when the light went on and it dawned on me that I might have just the right bait: Something that can be worked through the weeds; can be fished with a steady retrieve and an occasional twitch; will not sink quickly to the bottom and has "presence."

My rediscovered Magic Lure is the Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits KREATURE.

I have always fished this bait with a bead and weight, sometimes in grass, but deep. Today I fished it on the edge of the scum, though the grass and maneuvered around clumps. I fish most soft plastics slow, very slow, but with the Kreature today I fished it like a swimming jig in the upper water column. I rigged it the same as a Fat Ika, tentacles forward on a X-Point #4/0 EWG Offset Worm Hook, weightless and weedless.

This is the BOMB!

However, the bite is not your normal tap-tap, it's WHAM-BAM-THANK-YOU-MAM! Today's bite was the most aggressive I have had on any lure. After an incredible morning session, I changed rods and went back for more this afternoon. This time I opted for a different rod with Moderate Action as opposed to my regular soft plastics rig (medium power/ fast action). I needed some cushion! 8-)

Give it a try, but pay attention so you don't have your rod ripped out of your hands or your arm broken.

Good luck!

RW I have been fishing them for 3 weeks now like that.  The fish I posted about a couple days ago were all caught on them.

GY color # 330

I started out with 021 (black with blue flakes) and finished with 208 (watermelon with black & red flakes), but I don't think color played much of a role on this outing. Whenever I put this lure on fish, they struck...hard! The Kreature weighs a little more than a Senko, but it seems to be made out of the same plastic. It surprised me that this bait seems to be a little more durable than some of the other GYCB products. Maybe that was just the luck of the draw.

man,...if it ain't workin',...rig it backwards!  (RW's new bumper sticker)

Way to adapt buddy!

(perhaps they are more durable due to a manufacturing necessity??  I'm thinking with the little appendages, they may have had to use a finer salt or more hardener? )

I love them too, i fish them on a football head around rocks at the reservoir.

So your pond isn't the only one filled with all that guck? Our local pond is a mess as well and the only, and I mean ONLY thing that works is soft plastic between the bank and the weedline, fished carefully in and out of the pockets. But they aren't big, not like last year. I've trying throwing stuff out beyond the weed line and pulling it carefully back and then hopping it or jerking it over the weeds to avoid the clog. I don't know whether the bass can't get back out to the deep, I imagine they can, or if they are staying in the shallows

because there are are ton of bluegill there.  But nary a hit in the deeper water.

Moby bass,

I think you should give the outer edge a little more attention. Big bass often come in shallow to feed on baitfish, but they tend to patrol and stage in deeper water. Some of the bass I caught yesterday seemed to be in the gunk, but the bigger bass were caught on the ouside.

I have fished the Kinami Nories Bug like that. Same results. They want to kill it!

That's it.  I'm going to buy some today. Should I be thanking you or the bait monkey?  ;D

I agree.  These things sound good.  I want to pick up a pack.  I have had a lot of luck with baby bass colors in the last month or so, but they are leaning towards the watermelon/red color now...  I hope one of our local shops has them!  Today would be a fantastic day to try it!    Mostly overcast!  

RW,

    Who makes a knockoff of that particular bait you were using?  I'll try it then we can argue back and forth which one works better.  Sorry...........couldn't resist.

I think the texture of the bait is important which is why I prefer GYCB products, but if that's not important to you, just about every brand offers a creature bait. The other creatures are not identical, but they are very similar. Maybe those will trigger the reaction bite, but with the GYCB Kreature, bass hold on. Sunday I had a 100% hook-up and landing ratio. On my morning trip I caught nine bass on one bait, later six on two. So, on average I was able to catch five bass per bait. (Two of the Kreatures were torn up, the third was thrown when the bass jumped).

before I buy any, does the Kreature fall backwards like a Fat Ika?

No.

I am not recommending that you fish it like other soft plastics, either. Fish the Kreature like a spinnerbait, slow rolled with an occasional twitch.

I understood as much, but was hoping that it did indeed fall backwards, even though I doubted it would.

One more question... why rig it backwards?  it seems that this would mess up the action.

You don't have to, in fact, when the top of one side wears out, I continue fishing the Kreature the other way around. I just think the action is more interesting with the skirt up. It's pushed back when you move the bait forward and flutters up when the lure falls. Plus, with the tentacles in front the trailing legs look like a double-tail grub with lots of enticing movement.

The kreature is one my favorite baits as well.  I have had good luck T-Rigging it and using a stand up type jig like a spot remover or a football head.  

WTG on finding what the fish want.

Thanks Rw I just got my kreatures and you just answered my question about hook size. Awsome post.

Good job RW, of thinking outside of the box. What is the old saying " When in doubt, improvise ". Something else I will have to give a whirl.

Can't wait to try it myself. Brushogs have always been a top producer where I fish maybe this will give a new push to get them big fish.

Kreatures are also my favorite creature bait.  One thing I love about them other than all previously mentioned traits is the fact that they're the best skipping baits I've ever used.  So easy to skip, and when doing so, they're much more subtle (less skip-skip-pop-skip, more pppffssshhhhhh.. if you know what I mean  ;D), and you can really skip them FAR.

RW, these guys love you!!.....the minute you mention the Kreature it is all of a sudden the bait everybody wants to use!

I love the kreature bait.....LOVE THE SLOW FALL, LOVE THE ACTION WHEN ITS STILL, LOVE THE SKIPPING, VERY DURABLE COmPARED TO OTHER GYCB,,,,,except the top arms get pulled off by tiny bass and panfish often....

easily my favorite creature/grub, plastic spider ect

i always fish thenm weightless though, just rig em exposed like a plastic worm and lift em up and let them fall

lately iv gotta say, these kreatures arent drawing the strikes they were. i gotta slow down fishing them i guess

tore it up in a pond with these about  a week ago

that same thing happened where i live... texas rigged soft plastics did the trick for me