Over the past few years, one of the hottest new lure styles has been "fuzzy" baits with skirt strands or molded appendages flowing from soft plastic lures. These crazy lures have caught the attention of American bass anglers after their success in Japan, and they are now everywhere you look. It's a trend that has caught fire and is just the beginning, so there is still time to get on the bandwagon and start catching fish with these unique lures.
Many wonder if they actually work (they do) and are also trying to figure out the best way to rig and fish them. If you are looking into fishing them, here's everything you need to know about catching bass with these wild-looking lures.
Meet the Players
Often called "dice" or "fuzzy" baits after one of the originals, the OSP Saikoro Dice Rubber, there are now many different baits to choose from. Even mainstream American brands like Strike King, Yamamoto, Z-Man, and more are entering the market with their own baits. These baits are all small pieces of soft plastic with skirt material extending on all sides.
Each bait is slightly different in shape, and some use durable plastic, like all Z-Man baits that use ElaZtech, but the principle remains the same for all baits. Another good option that also uses an elastomer plastic is the Geecrack Imo Kemushi Cue Bomb. They are sphere-shaped bodies with long strands of soft plastic running through them. They are very durable and hold their shape.
You can also make your own using any soft plastic you prefer, skirt material, and chunks of another soft-plastic bait. Some kits have everything you need to get started, including the threader tool, from companies such as Invinci Core. With kits like these, your imagination is the only thing stopping you from color combinations, and you can build up an arsenal of baits in no time and save some money in the process.
The other style of baits is molded lures that look like sea urchins, such as the Hideup Coike lineup. These baits are made of a durable soft plastic so that you can catch countless fish on one lure. This bait style is definitely unique and stands out, and you can fish it several ways. Another bait with a similar design is the Hag's Prickly Pear, which also uses TPE for added durability.
All of these lures are unique, and you might wonder what a bass thinks they are. They do not replicate much, if anything, in the natural environment of a bass, but they are distinct enough to attract attention. Many theorize that just by being so different than what bass are used to seeing every day in the form of other lures is enough to trigger their curiosity. Whatever it is, these baits do work well and catch bass, no matter how weird they look.
Rigging and Fishing These Lures
Because of their shape and profile, rigging these baits is different; a standard Texas-rig won't work, but other popular rigging methods perform very well. These include drop-shot, wacky rig, Neko Rig, and Jika Rig.
One of the easiest ways to fish them is on a standard drop-shot rig, and you can use the same style of hooks you already likely have and catch fish with them. When fishing with a wacky-rig, typically, you'll need a slightly larger hook than you would with a soft stick bait, just because of the width and profile of the bait.
You can fish them weightless on a wacky rig or with a weight to help the bait fall. For denser baits, a tool may be needed to insert your nail weight, such as the Z-Man Rattle Snaker, which uses a spike to get into the bait, then a small plunger-like device to insert the weight. This is a handy device that works well with all stretchy soft plastics and lets you insert weights or rattles.
One more way to fish them is with a Jika Rig, a hook with a weight attached to the line tie. With this rig, you can work it slowly and hop it along the bottom to get fish to react. There are also hooks designed specifically for this method, such as the Zappu RPZ Talisman. This allows you to use any weight size you prefer to match different depths and conditions.
When and Where to Fish Them
These are still a new lure for American anglers, and everyone is learning the best places to use them and where they shine. There is no wrong place to try them, but they do excel when bass are in shallow water.
They are excellent anytime bluegill are around, as these funny-looking baits also attract bluegill, who come to investigate and then start pecking at the strands, which, in turn, get bass interested to see what is going on. It's something that has worked many times, even just two seasons into fishing them in America.
They are ideal baits to use around the bluegill spawn when bass are cruising and looking for their next meal. These lures are also a good choice if trying to catch bass anywhere around their own spawn, as they become territorial, and these baits can definitely irritate a bass.
Another good time to use them is when fishing pressure is high, when everyone else is using standard offerings. The different looks of these baits will still get bass to take a closer look, even when they are conditioned to seeing many fishing lures. Their uniqueness again sets them apart from every other lure bass anglers have used for years.
While they may look crazy, fuzzy baits are the latest lure style that works for catching bass. Bass, as creatures, are very curious and willing to eat just about anything at times, and these baits prove that point. Even though they look different, they catch fish, which is why so many companies are working to create their own versions of these baits.
