Just my four pack.

I know some of you have used this bait.

any tips on most effective technique?

thanks

avid

i was just getting ready to post on the LFT live magic shad which i believe is a javallon knock off.  i fished mine for the first time yesterday and it took me awhile to figure out how the fish want it.  now i have the lft version which is 4.5 inches and equivalent to the javellon 110's so all of this may not apply but here is what i figured out.

when i ordered and bought these i imagined swimming them seductively just underneath the water and watching monsters explode on them.  this was my plan, but the bass wanted nothing to do with it.  i fished the bait on a very slow retrieve for a long time and didnt get a single fish.  then my son distracted me and when i went back to real in the bait it had a fish on it.  lightbulb time.  anyways i started casting near the bank and letting it fall some on a slack line.  then i would give it a few slow cranks and kill the bait again.  i proceeded to catch a fish on close to every cast for a half an hour, mostly in the same area i had been working.  i had as much fun fishing as i have had in a long time.

the 4.5 inch version is fairly bulky but not big enough for even my VA bass imo.  there is no doubt that it appeals to the bigger fish but it also appeals quite a bit to the 1.5 pounders.  i only had two packs that i had bought from brad to try out and they tore them to shreds.  well worth it considering how many fish i caught but if im gonna fish a swimbait, even this style, i would want one slightly bigger.  funny thing is i chose a smaller type bait exactly so i would be able to target some smaller fish.  i was thinking 3 lbers though not 1 pounders.

anyhow, you can bet ill be ordering a bunch more of these.  they outfished the fat ika and the senko yesterday and that is a feat in itself, especially considering the presentation i was using, which is not that dissimilar to a senko.  these baits should be killer in florida where your at and i wouldnt be surprised if you kill em with them.  fantastic action.  work them very slow and kill it in areas that are likely fish holding spots, like the weed edges youll have in florida and im sure you will do well.  these baits are super weedless and that should be great for you.  my hook up % got much better when i didnt get in a hurry but braced myself for a really hard sweep set.  there is a fair amount of plastic to drive the hook through and with the way the bait feels they are in no hurry to spit it out, especially if you slather it wiht megastrike or something similar.

good luck and let me know how you do.

Avid, you know there 's no such thing as most effective technique applied to a lure, there are ways to rig the bait which opens a door to a technique, it depends on the conditions if the rigging which leads to the technique is the effective one for that particular time and moment, the fish tell you if the technique is effective or not.  

The only thing I can offer is to tell you which rigging methods I apply to the bait and how I fish it but the rest is up to you.

1.- Weightless T-rig:

a) cast the bait, let it sink to the desired depth and reel it in steadily at slow speed swimming it

cast, let it sink and alternate cicles of steady reeling for a few feet then give the bait a couple of jerks and begin swimming again to start another cycle.

c) cast the bait let it sink and yo-yo it ( pull-let it sink-pull-let it sink )

d) cast the bait, let it sink and twitch it all the length of the cast just picking up the slack line as it forms

2.- Weighted T-tig: since the bait even though heavy it still doesn 't sink like lead adding weight will increase the rate of fall and will allow you to fish it deeper ( if such thing exists in Florida  :-? ).

a) all the previous:

A] if you want the bait to sink fast use a bullet sinker pegged or

B] use  a nail weight inserted in the head

like a worm

3.- Wacky rig: you can 't conventionaly wacky rig a Javallon, but you can wacky rig it along the seam in the head, cast, let it sink, swim it reeling in steadily and then let the bait do it 's "death dance" by twitching the rod tip.

4.- Dropshot rig: no explanation required.

First , take a beer

connect ur computer 2 a tv , relax

and watch the videos from here :

http://www.imakatsu.co.jp/movie/index.html

lots of javallon videos

enjoy  

Lake Fork has a bigger 5 1/2" version on the way.  I have been trying to order them for two months, but they are not ready yet.  Lake Fork has been TOO busy filling orders for the the 4 1/2" and the smaller 3 1/2" version.

Be assured though, I will have the 5 1/2" when it comes out.

Brad

You can also get the Monster Javallon 200 aprox. 7.8"

brad,

ill be placing another order soon and as soon as the bigger bait comes out ill be excited to give it a try.  i went out again today and again that bait was the ticket, although all the small bass ripped the last i had to shreds.  may need a bigger bait to play some defense against some of the smaller bass (not something im usually concerned with lol).

matt