Interesting bait from Deps.  Just trying to figure out the presentation of this bait.  Spybait?  

 

 

https://japanlureshop.com/wakasagi-bait-microwave.html

Seems to be the same bait as the Wakasagi just with a different tail.   

 

"Crafted in Japan and delivering the quality and performance that Deps lures are known for, the Deps Wakasagi Bait Finesse Lipless Minnow is an ultra compact baitfish imitation that perfectly mimics an escaping baitfish near the surface.

Featuring a slender body that is squared on the sides and bottom, the Deps Wakasagi Bait Finesse Lipless Minnow is made to reduce water flow, which creates a sharp and unpredictable darting and skating action just like a live minnow running from predators."

 

"Deadly on multiple retrieves, the Deps Wakasagi Bait Finesse Lipless Minnow produces a wake when using a steady retrieve and an erratic action when quickly twitched with the rod tip. It can also be dead-sticked and the subtle movements of the water will produce a dying or wounded baitfish action."

In case you want to see it in action...

 

 

 

 

scott

There are a ton of these style of bait in Japan with all the big brands having their own variant. Its a surface bait, almost always deadsticked on the surface using ultra light line with surface chop/wind/current doing most of the work action wise. Imitates a dying smelt. Did it once, extremely boring fishing style. But deadly certain times of year on lakes/reservoirs in Japan that hold wakasagi(a kind of tiny smelt), its sometimes the only thing they'll hit. A guide told me hes seen fish come up from 20+feet down in stained water to hit these on livescope. 

 

However its a extremely location/condition specific lure and is likely has very limited use cases in the States for bass. Might be killer for some other species or if your BOW has massive amounts of tiny 2 inch schooling baitfish.

 

 

2 hours ago, softwateronly said:

In case you want to see it in action...

 

 

 

 

scott

That tail  action did look pretty amazing.  I bet you need some fine line to achieve thst.

3 hours ago, KP Duty said:

That tail  action did look pretty amazing.  I bet you need some fine line to achieve thst.

You seem correct to what I'm reading.  This is for the wakasagi bait with the tinsel tail instead of the elastomer....

 

LINE

Floating: PE 0.6 / Leader fluoro 5lb (recommended approx. 60cm), nylon 4lb
Sinking: fluoro 5lb

*This is the recommended line setting for both 65mm and 55mm bodies.
Please note that the characteristics of the line and snapping may interfere with the original action.

I have had the tinsel tail Wakasagi for a couple years now and TBH, I'm not sure what I was thinking when I decided to shell out that much for it. Swing and a miss for me, but maybe someday I'll figure out how to catch bass with it. YMMV.

59 minutes ago, Big Hands said:

I have had the tinsel tail Wakasagi for a couple years now and TBH, I'm not sure what I was thinking when I decided to shell out that much for it. Swing and a miss for me, but maybe someday I'll figure out how to catch bass with it. YMMV.

 

Apparently wakasagi populations past 10 years or so have boomed as bigger bait species like gills populations declined particularly on lake biwa(word is thats coming back around though) which is why these style lures have been hot in Japan. The only way I've ever seen people fish them is deadsticking on completely slack line and letting it sit sometimes for ungodly lengths of time. When this bite is on its what 90% of the people on the water seem to be doing, although I think its mostly during the wakasagi spawn.  I bought a few of OSP's wakasagi lures for this use on the recommendation of a friend but my immediate thought was "these are going to be absolutely useless for me in the states" lol. 

1 hour ago, Hogs_n_Logs said:

 

Apparently wakasagi populations past 10 years or so have boomed as bigger bait species like gills populations declined particularly on lake biwa(word is thats coming back around though) which is why these style lures have been hot in Japan. The only way I've ever seen people fish them is deadsticking on completely slack line and letting it sit sometimes for ungodly lengths of time. When this bite is on its what 90% of the people on the water seem to be doing, although I think its mostly during the wakasagi spawn.  I bought a few of OSP's wakasagi lures for this use on the recommendation of a friend but my immediate thought was "these are going to be absolutely useless for me in the states" lol. 

 

I have recently found out that there are Wakasagi in my home lake that made their way down the aqueduct. Hadn't heard that before. Thanks for the deadstick tip.