Overlooking the Ika
07/28/08
Since the beginning of competitive fishing, there have been secrets and withheld information. Whether it is a favorite spot, top secret attractant or a hot lure, not everything gets brought up in early morning dock talk.
One such bait, the identity of which has been held close to the vest of many anglers, is the Yamamoto Ika. With a body like a grub and a skirted
tail you would expect from a tube, the Ika provides an action unique to itself. The word Ika (ee-ka) is Japanese for “squid”. It’s no surprise the Ika closely resembles its namesake.
Like the Senko, the Ika is often fished weightless on a Texas rig. Cast the Ika towards your targeted fishing area. Once the bait hits the water, allow it to descend into the strike zone. If the bait hits the bottom, let it sit for a few seconds. Keep a close watch and your hand on your line because frequently bass with pick it up and hold it in their mouths without much movement at all. After a few seconds without any action, it is time to move the bait – I like to lift the rod tip slightly and let the Ika slowly fall back to the bottom. Another great technique is a very quick jerk of the rod tip which causes a very fast and erratic movement of the bait. After the movement, let the bait descend back to the bottom on slack line.
The Ika is an excellent bait for “skipping”. Once you master this technique, you can skip the Ika a great distance under docks, low bridges, boat houses and just about anything else that has water underneath it.
Rigged on a lightweight jig head, the Ika is dynamite for fishing ledges and deeper rock piles. The manner in which you fish the bait on a jig head is very similar to the way you would fish it weightless.
Rig the Ika backwards (skirt side up) and you have a lure that can get itself into some major fish holding cover. The Ika will actually move away from you as it falls (allow the Ika to fall on slack line). This is perfect for fishing around washed out banks, brush piles, lay downs and docks.
BassResource.com Global Moderator and Ika aficionado, Kent Smith of German Town, Tennessee describes how he typically fishes the Ika. “I fish it on spinning tackle, #6 Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft, 4/0 EWG Gamakatsu, T-rigged weightless and weedless, skirt up. Although the lure is often described as nothing more than a solid tube, the action is totally different.”
“I work tubes with more of an exaggerated vertical hop so that the lure can exhibit its spiraling fall. The Fat Ika does not spiral. I cast parallel to cover or structure, let the lure settle to the bottom and fish it like a Senko with a short (6-12") horizontal sweep. I then let the lure fall on slack line so that it falls vertically, not moving forward.”
“I work the lure slowly, letting it pause for 10-20 seconds or more before moving it again. I like to picture a crawdad moving over rocks and hiding. You will rarely miss a hook up. When the fish bites, reel down and set the hook firmly. Bass will not let go of this lure.”
The next time you are out searching for your next “go to” bait of the season; don’t forget to try the Ika.
If you would like to contact Kent Smith, go to www.BassResource.com where he posts under the alias Roadwarrior.