I got bitten by the Top Water bug last summer. The fish stopped responding to surface lures when winter rolled around since there were less bait schools inshore. The spring rains brought the bait schools back and some predators have been seen lurking around. The predators aren’t attacking with abandon so I’ve gone to lures that run a few inches below the surface that give the predators a closer look.
My go-to subsurface lure had been the Shimano Waxwing in the smallest size, the Baby. It’s upturned double hook made it almost snag resistant but had a low hookup ratio when kaku attacked from below. I recently discovered a JDM sub-surface lure after Masa educated me on this type of lure that floats, runs a few inches below the surface, and has a very lifelike tail-wiggle. The first time out it caught 3 omilus. That got my attention.
I often fish in very shallow water, less than 2 feet deep, so a shallow running lure is less apt to snag limu and rocks. The fact that it floats allows me to cast and take my time before working it back in. I’m planning to do the combo troll and whip off my kayak with it since I won’t have to worry about it sinking and catching Oahu.
The lures are beautifully designed and have a tungsten ball bearing that is magnetically attached to the middle of the body. On the cast, the ball bearing is released to the tail of the lure to help it sail further. On the retrieve, the ball bearing is reattached to the middle of the lure to properly align the lure during its swimming phase.
The sub-surface lures have been out performing the top water lures during this Spring season. They probably will continue to work in the summer but top water lures are easier for the angler to watch on the retrieve and their aerial strikes are heart stopping.
Since the sub-surface lure my buddies and I have been testing has worked out so well, I’m beginning to try other sub-surface lures.
Any of you guys fish sub-surface?
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