Jim Taibi's Castaic Lake Fishing Tackle — Updated Weekly

The C3 Baits Jobu 4" is a precision-crafted finesse worm born from decades of experience on Southern California's most pressured bass fisheries. Created by John Petroski — a.k.a. Captain Castaic — the Jobu was designed specifically for the clear, heavily fished waters of Castaic Lake and the Clearwater reservoirs, where finesse presentation is the difference between a limit and a skunk. The result is a 4" worm with an unmatched level of detail, action, and versatility that produces bites when nothing else will.

Whether you're fishing a dropshot on a deep main lake point, dragging a Carolina rig along a rocky flat, or shaking a shaky head in the shallows, the Jobu delivers the subtle, lifelike action that triggers strikes from finicky bass. Its slender profile and soft, responsive material create a natural quiver on the fall and a seductive wiggle on the retrieve that pressured fish simply can't ignore.

Key Features

• 4" finesse profile — ideal size for pressured and clear water bass
• Exceptional material softness — lifelike action on the fall, shake, and drag
• Versatile presentation — excels on dropshot, Carolina rig, shaky head, and Neko rig
• Designed by Captain Castaic for hard-pressured Southern California waters
• Hologram and natural color options to match any water clarity or light condition
• Consistent quality and attention to detail in every pack

Specifications

Watch It In Action

A stickbait lives or dies on whether an average angler can make it walk. The Espetit is built so it does — the taper and balance do most of the work, so you get a clean side-to-side glide without the wrist rhythm a lot of walking baits demand.

Short version: floating topwater stickbait in five sizes from 70mm to 140mm. Walk-the-dog and sliding action, twin cavities that pull bubbles down with the bait, and an internal rattle — with a silent version if the rattle is working against you.

What Makes It Different

• Dual cavities — the bait drags air down as it darts, leaving a bubble trail alongside the surface disturbance. Two signals instead of one.
• Internal rattle tuned to a specific frequency, adding sound to the visual and the bubbles.
• Floats at rest — the pause holds it in the strike zone instead of dropping out of it, and the pause is where most stickbait fish commit.
• Aerodynamic profile for distance, which matters when fish are boiling out of reach or you're covering a flat from the beach.
• Five sizes spanning bass-sized finesse to full pelagic profiles.

Rattle or Silent?

The White N Flash (Silent) is not a color variation — it's a rattle-free version of the bait, currently offered in 95mm.

Reach for the silent when fish are heavily pressured, the water is very clear and calm, or the rattling version has been getting follows and refusals. Sound is an attractant right up until it isn't, and on flat mornings a quiet bait sometimes gets eaten by the same fish that just refused a loud one. Take the rattle version everywhere else — chop, wind, stained water, and any time you need to call fish from a distance.

Which Size

Freshwater and Saltwater

The Espetit came out of the European seabass scene, which is why it casts and behaves the way it does — wind, chop, and long distances were the design brief.

Freshwater: 70mm and 95mm for largemouth and smallmouth, particularly on clear pressured lakes where a walking bait needs to be smaller than the standard.

Saltwater: the 125mm and 140mm are legitimate surface options for calico bass over structure, and for bonito and barracuda when they're feeding on top. The distance is the argument — boiling fish are usually further away than you'd like.

Fishing It Around Santa Clarita

Topwater windows on the local lakes move week to week. We publish Castaic Lake fishing reports with current conditions — worth checking before you decide it's a surface day.

Picking a Color

Colors offered vary by size. The selector above is the live list.

Recommended Gear

• Rod: moderate action with a forgiving tip. Stiff rods rip trebles out of fish on surface strikes — the single most common way anglers lose topwater fish.
• Line: braid to a fluorocarbon or mono leader. Braid gives you the direct connection to work the walk; the leader gives you abrasion resistance and a little stretch.
• Avoid heavy fluorocarbon straight through — it sinks and pulls the nose down, fighting the bait's float.

Pro Tips from the Tackle Express Crew

• Slack line makes it walk. Twitch into slack, not into tension. A tight line pulls the bait straight and kills the side-to-side.
• Use the pause. It floats for a reason. Let it sit after a blow-up and miss — fish routinely come back for a bait that's sitting still.
• Wait to feel weight before you set. Setting on the splash pulls it out of the fish's mouth.
• Try the silent version on flat mornings. Same bait, one fewer signal. Sometimes that's the difference.

Common Mistakes

• Working it on a tight line. The bait needs slack to turn.
• Too stiff a rod. Costs you fish on every strike.
• Setting on sight. Wait for the weight.
• Undersizing for saltwater. A 95mm on calicos over structure will get bit — the #6 trebles are the limiting factor, not the bait.

What's Included

One Fishus Espetit in the size and color selected, factory rigged with trebles. No spare hooks or split rings included.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between White N Flash and White N Flash (Silent)?
The silent version has no internal rattle. Same body, same action, one fewer signal — for pressured fish and flat, clear conditions. Currently offered in 95mm.

Which size should I start with?
95mm for freshwater bass and general use. 125mm if you're fishing saltwater surface for calicos, bonito, or barracuda.

Does it float?
Yes. It holds position on the pause instead of sinking out, which is where a lot of the bites come from.

How do I make it walk?
Twitch the rod tip into slack line, not into tension. The bait needs slack to turn — pulling tight drives it straight.

Can I use it in saltwater?
Yes — the Espetit was developed for European seabass. Rinse the hardware after every trip like any other saltwater lure.

What rod and line?
Moderate action with a forgiving tip, braid to a fluorocarbon or mono leader. Avoid heavy fluorocarbon straight through; it sinks and fights the bait's float.

Why are some sizes offered in fewer colors?
Fishus doesn't produce every colorway in every size. The selector shows what's actually available.

Related Gear

• Topwater Fishing Lures — poppers, walking baits, and stickbaits.
• Freshwater Lures — cranks, jerkbaits, and soft plastics.
• Staff Favorites — what our crew actually fishes.

Buy It From People Who Fish It

We're on Soledad Canyon Road in Santa Clarita and we fish these lures on both the local lakes and the coast. Not sure whether you want the 95 or the 125, or whether the silent version is worth it for your water? Call the shop or come in — that's a two-minute conversation and it saves you buying the wrong one first.

When only a high carbon, heavy wire, surgically sharp hook will do, your choice should be the Gamakatsu EWG Monster Worm Hook. “Hard core” doesn’t even begin to describe the Monster. We now have the perfect hook that works with a giant Gitzit, Double Wide Beaver, or oversized Slug-O?

The Monster has you covered weather you're headed to El Salto, Clear Lake, or the California Delta for double digit behemoths? Gamakatsu Monster is the choice when you are taking no prisoners. Heavy line, heavy rods, big baits, and big fish require just the right tackle starting with Gamakatsu’s EWG Monster!

Introducing the Gamakatsu Offset Shank Extra Wide Gap (EWG) Nano Alpha Worm Hooks with advanced coating technology. These hooks boast 4X corrosion resistance thanks to Gamakatsu's innovative Nano Alpha Technology, ensuring they remain rust-free even in tough conditions. The ultra-smooth coating provides 2X better hook penetration for deeper hooksets, making it the perfect choice for Senkos or Pitchin' Brush Hogs, Sweet Beavers, or Texas/Carolina Rigging Worms. From its EWG design to Offset Shank, this hook maintains its simplicity and effectiveness, earning its reputation among anglers.

Choose from a range of sizes and pack quantities, and experience top-quality and high-performance fishing with Gamakatsu Offset Shank EWG Nano Alpha Worm Hooks.

Gamakatsu Offset Shank Worm EWG Hooks are the standard for worms and creature baits.  We love the bend on these hooks and the super sharp point.

 These fishing hooks work best for thick bodied worms, craw, and creature type baits because of the extra wide gap.  An extra wide gap is defined by the distance from the point of the hook to the bottom of the curve of the shank.  EWG hooks are good for plastic baits that have a bigger body to them.  If the gap is too small, upon hook-set the point of the hook won't be able to come through the plastic to pierce the fishes mouth.  The extra gap gives the hook room to come through the plastic which exposes the hook.

 Tie one on if you haven't yet, we are confident you will be satisfied with the results.  

Gamakatsu Split Shot, Drop Shot Hooks have the right bend to make the bait presentation at the right angle.  The preferred knot is the palomar but make sure you take your tag line and run it through the eye of the hook to finish the knot.  

We like this hook because it's very sharp and has the perfect angle for drop shot rigs and split shot rigs.  The wire is thin so hookups are solid, allowing you to get the fish in.  Even though they are thin, they are still pretty tough considering the wire size.  There are 6 hooks per pack but we also have bulk packs for a better value. 

Gamakatsu Superline EWG Hooks are heavy-wire, offset-shank hooks for rigging soft plastics on braided line around heavy cover. Their extra-wide gap gives a bulky bait room to compress, making them a practical choice for flipping and pitching when a lighter-wire hook is not the right match for your tackle.

Features and uses

• High-carbon, heavy-wire construction: designed for braided-line presentations in heavy cover.
• Extra-wide gap (EWG): accommodates thicker soft plastics when sized to the bait.
• Offset shank: helps position the head of a Texas-rigged plastic.
• Applications: flipping or pitching soft plastics around vegetation, including tules, pads and overhead mats.

Sizes and pack quantities

• 2/0 — 5 hooks; model 74412
• 3/0 — 5 hooks; model 74413
• 4/0 — 4 hooks; model 74414
• 5/0 — 4 hooks; model 74415
• 6/0 — 3 hooks; model 74416

Choosing and rigging your hook

Match the hook to the plastic's thickness and length, rather than choosing by bait length alone. Rig the bait straight and check that it can collapse into the gap without blocking the point. Pair the heavier wire with a rod, line and drag setting suited to the cover. A lighter-wire hook may be a better choice for light-line finesse presentations.

3 Tackle Express Tips

1. Check clearance before casting. Gently compress the rigged plastic and confirm the hook point can clear the bait.
2. Recheck after pulling through cover. Slide a shifted bait head back into position and straighten the body before the next pitch.
3. Inspect after a snag. Replace a bent hook or damaged point; heavy wire is not a guarantee against bending or breaking.

Frequently asked questions

What does EWG mean?

EWG means extra-wide gap: the space between the shank and point accommodates the body of a soft plastic.

What is the Superline version designed for?

Gamakatsu designed this heavy-wire hook for braided line in heavy cover. Match the rest of your tackle to that application.

How many hooks come in a pack?

There are 5 in sizes 2/0 and 3/0, 4 in sizes 4/0 and 5/0, and 3 in size 6/0.

Can I use these for a Texas rig?

Yes. Choose a size that lets your plastic sit straight with room in the gap, and position the point to suit the cover you are fishing.

The updated Gamakatsu Offset Shank Superline EWG Nano Alpha Worm Hooks feature a revolutionary new coating technology. Utilizing Gamkatsu's cutting-edge Nano Alpha Technology, these hooks have 4X corrosion resistance, ensuring they remain rust-free even in the toughest conditions. Along with this corrosion protection, the Nano Alpha Technology also provides a super smooth coating, resulting in 2X better hook penetration for deeper hooksets.

These Worm Hooks are highly regarded for their simplicity and effectiveness, and this hook carries on that reputation with its Offset Shank, EWG design, and Superline Composition. Perfect for situations requiring a quick descent and anti-snag setup, these hooks come in a variety of sizes and pack quantities. Upgrade your fishing experience with the quality and high-performing Gamakatsu Offset Shank Superline EWG Nano Alpha Worm Hooks.

Make a fleeing baitfish the easiest target on the surface. The Jackall Riser Bait 007 uses an upward-angled metal lip to climb toward the surface on the retrieve, then skitter and skip like a minnow trying to escape. Its erratic, panicked action gives bass a moving target to chase and creates the kind of surface commotion that can turn feeding activity into a topwater strike.

At 2.75 inches and 5/16 oz, the 007 offers a compact baitfish profile with two sharp Japanese treble hooks. Choose it when fish are chasing small forage near the top and you want a lively escape action rather than a slow pop-and-pause presentation.

More Than a Quiet Wake

This is not simply a subtle subsurface wake bait. The upward metal lip is designed to bring it up quickly and generate an erratic skipping action across the surface. That movement is its main advantage when bass are willing to chase. When fish want a nearly stationary target, a slower popper or soft-plastic presentation may be the better choice.

Put It in Front of Chasing Fish

Best for: surface-feeding largemouth and smallmouth bass, schooling-fish situations, compact baitfish presentations, and covering open water with a moving topwater. Try it around visible bait schools, points, and open pockets where you have room to retrieve without fouling the trebles. Low light and overcast conditions are good starting opportunities, but visible feeding activity is the stronger cue.

For a different surface cadence, keep a Heddon Zara Spook available as a walking-bait alternative. If fish stop chasing on top, a Zoom The Fluke 4-inch offers a soft-plastic follow-up.

The Details Behind the Skip

• Upward-angled metal lip: creates lift during the retrieve rather than driving the lure downward like a conventional diving bill.
• Erratic surface action: imitates a baitfish skittering away from predators.
• Compact profile: a small-forage option for bass feeding near the surface.
• Two Japanese treble hooks: factory-equipped for fishing straight from the package.
• Eight color choices: select your preferred finish from the available variants.

007 Models & Specs

Let the Lip Create the Escape

Cast beyond the feeding area when practical, take up slack, and begin retrieving to bring the bait toward the surface. Start with a consistent retrieve, then adjust your speed until it produces the skittering action you want. You do not need to force a traditional walking-bait rhythm to make the upward lip work. Use tackle rated for a 5/16-oz lure, with enough give to help keep treble-hooked fish connected.

Tackle Express Tips

• Watch the bait first: make a short test retrieve beside the boat or bank to find a speed that produces the desired rise and skip.
• Cast beyond the commotion: retrieve through the edge of feeding activity instead of landing directly on top of it.
• Stay composed on the strike: keep reeling until you feel the fish, then load the rod smoothly rather than reacting only to the splash.

Before Your First Cast

Is the Riser Bait 007 a topwater lure?
Yes. Its upward-angled metal lip brings it toward the surface on the retrieve, where it creates an erratic skipping action. It should not be described as a bait designed never to break the surface.

How is it different from a walking bait?
The Riser Bait uses its metal lip and retrieve to create a rising, fleeing-baitfish presentation. A traditional walking bait relies on rod cadence for its side-to-side surface movement.

When should I choose the 007?
Choose it when bass are chasing small baitfish near the surface and you want an active, compact topwater presentation. Switch approaches if fish consistently prefer a slower or subsurface target.

Does it come with hooks?
Yes. The Riser Bait 007 comes equipped with two Japanese treble hooks.

NF means no feather. Lucky Craft dresses the rear treble on the standard Gunfish 115; this version leaves it bare. Small change, real consequence — without the feather the tail sits differently at rest and the bait walks a touch freer, and you're not fishing a dressing that mats down and holds water after a few fish.

Short version: 4-1/2" walking topwater, 3/5 oz, floating, two trebles (#4, #5). Everything the 95 does, exaggerated — more water thrown, wider action, longer reach.

What the 115 Does That the 95 Doesn't

Lucky Craft pro Brent Ehrler puts it plainly: everything on the 115 is exaggerated compared to the 95. It sprays more water, it walks wider, and it calls fish from further. Worked fast, it throws water twelve to fifteen inches to each side.

That's the whole argument. This isn't a bigger bait for bigger fish — it's a louder bait for reaching fish that a 95 never told about it. It's still a reasonable size for tournament keepers while being big enough to interest a giant.

Where It Earns Its Keep

• Covering water fast. The heavy metal composite weighting system casts a long way, and this bait is built to be fished quickly.
• Calling fish from depth. The cupped mouth and the sound chamber together pull fish up off structure that never see a quieter bait.
• Schooling and surface-feeding fish, where the spray reads as a feeding opportunity to everything nearby.
• Wind and chop — the casting system handles it, and a loud bait is the right call when the surface is broken up.

How to Work It

Fish it fast. This is the bait's design intent, not a stylistic preference. Rhythmic twitches into slack line get the walk and the spit going together — a tight line drives it straight and you lose both.

Use the pause anyway. It floats, so it holds position when you stop it. After a blow-up and a miss, letting it sit is more productive than snatching it away.

115NF or 117? The Real Question

These two are the same length and the same weight. The difference is hooks.

See the Gunfish 117 →

Every Color Here Is a Limited Run

Lucky Craft lists the entire 115NF lineup under limited-run colors. When a colorway sells through, it isn't automatically reproduced. If you've found one that works on your water, buying a spare is not paranoia.

Fishing It Around Santa Clarita

A loud, long-casting topwater earns its keep on the days fish are boiling out of reach. We publish Castaic Lake fishing reports with current conditions — worth reading before you commit a morning to the surface.

Recommended Gear

• Rod: medium to medium-heavy, moderate action, 7' or longer. Length helps the cast; a forgiving tip keeps trebles in the fish.
• Line: braid to a fluorocarbon or mono leader. Braid moves the bait; the leader handles cover.
• Avoid heavy fluorocarbon straight through — it sinks and pulls the nose down, fighting the float and the walk.

Pro Tips from the Tackle Express Crew

• Twitch into slack, not into tension. The single thing that separates people who can walk this bait from people who can't.
• Fish it faster than feels right. The spit and the wide walk only show up at speed. Slow retrieves waste what this bait is for.
• Wait to feel weight before setting. Setting on the splash pulls it out of the fish's mouth — the most common way topwater fish are lost.
• Buy the spare. These are limited-run colors. The one you love is the one you'll lose in a tree.

Common Mistakes

• Fishing it slow. Wrong tool for a slow presentation — drop to a 95 or fish a subtler bait.
• Working it on a tight line. The bait needs slack to turn.
• Too stiff a rod. Costs you fish on every strike.
• Assuming it's the same as the 117. Same size, one fewer hook. Pick deliberately.

Specifications

Specs confirmed against Lucky Craft's published Gunfish 115NF chart. Colors offered vary by production run — the selector above is the live list.

What's Included

One Lucky Craft Gunfish 115NF in the color selected, factory rigged with two trebles and no rear feather. No spare hooks or split rings included.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does NF stand for?
No feather. The standard Gunfish 115 has a dressed rear treble; this version leaves it bare.

How big is it?
4-1/2 inches (115mm) and 3/5 oz (19 grams).

How many hooks?
Two trebles — one #4 and one #5.

115NF or 117?
Same length and weight. The 117 carries a third treble for more hooking surface on short strikes; the 115NF has two, which is cleaner around cover.

How fast should I fish it?
Fast. Worked quickly it sprays water twelve to fifteen inches to each side — that spray is what calls fish from a distance.

Does it float?
Yes. It holds position on the pause, which is where a lot of the bites come from.

Will these colors come back?
Lucky Craft lists the whole 115NF lineup as limited run, so not necessarily. Call the shop and we'll tell you what's inbound.

What rod and line?
Medium to medium-heavy, moderate action, 7' or longer. Braid to a fluorocarbon or mono leader; avoid heavy fluorocarbon straight through.

Related Gear

• Lucky Craft Gunfish 117 — same size, three trebles.
• Lucky Craft Gunfish 95NF — the 4" no-feather version.
• Lucky Craft Gunfish 95 H3 — three-hook 95.
• Topwater Fishing Lures — poppers, walking baits, and stickbaits.

Buy It From People Who Fish It

We're on Soledad Canyon Road in Santa Clarita, twenty minutes from Castaic, and we fish these lakes ourselves. Not sure whether you want two hooks or three, or whether today calls for the 95 instead? Call the shop or come in — short conversation, saves you buying the wrong one first.

Same bait, one more treble. The Gunfish 95 H3 is the standard 95 body carrying three hooks instead of two — built for the specific problem of fish that blow up on a walking bait and don't get stuck.

Short version: 3-3/4" walking topwater, 3/8 oz, three treble hooks, tungsten resin tail weight for casting into wind. The high-percentage version of the size most people should own.

Why a Third Hook Matters

Topwater fish are the least committed fish you'll deal with. They come from below at a bait they can only half see, at speed, and a lot of them slash rather than eat. Two trebles leaves a gap in the middle of a 3-3/4" body — the third fills it.

That's the entire proposition. It doesn't cast further, walk better, or call fish harder than a standard 95. It converts more of the strikes you were already getting.

The trade-off is honest: more hardware means more to foul on the cast, more to tangle in landing nets, and more to bury in cover. Around timber and grass, a two-hook 95 is the cleaner tool. In open water on schooling fish, take the three.

What It Does in the Water

Thin tapered body that walks tight side to side on rhythmic rod twitches. The cupped face spits and sprays water on each turn, which reads to a predator like bait busting the surface. Inside, a sound chamber knocks loudly enough to pull fish up out of deep water.

The tungsten resin tail weight system is what makes it cast — mass concentrated in the tail carries the bait a long way, including straight into wind, which is when topwater fishing usually falls apart.

How to Work It

Twitch into slack line, not into tension. The bait needs slack to turn; a tight line drives it straight and you lose the walk entirely.

Fish it quickly. The spit, the knock and the bubble trail all come alive at speed.

Wait to feel weight before setting. This matters more here, not less — three trebles means a fish that has any of the bait usually has a hook, so give it the extra beat and reel down.

Which Gunfish?

The family is really two sizes with a three-hook option on each. The 95 H3 is to the 95 what the 117 is to the 115.

Picking a Color

Fishing It Around Santa Clarita

When stripers are boiling and you're getting blown up on without connecting, this is the bait that fixes the afternoon. We publish Castaic Lake fishing reports with current conditions — worth reading before you commit a morning to the surface.

Recommended Gear

• Rod: medium power, moderate action, 6'8" to 7'2". A fast tip tears trebles out on surface strikes.
• Line: braid to a fluorocarbon or mono leader. Straight mono works and floats, which helps hold the nose up.
• Avoid heavy fluorocarbon straight through — it sinks and fights the float.

Pro Tips from the Tackle Express Crew

• Check the hooks before every few casts. Three trebles on a slim body will foul on each other, and a fouled bait won't walk at all.
• Use a rubber landing net. Three sets of trebles turn a mesh net into a ten-minute problem with a fish in it.
• Twitch into slack. The one thing that separates people who can walk this bait from people who can't.
• Wait for the weight. Setting on the splash is how most topwater fish are lost, extra hooks or not.

Common Mistakes

• Fishing it in heavy cover. Three trebles find everything. Use a two-hook 95 around timber and grass.
• Working it on a tight line. The bait needs slack to turn.
• Fishing it slow. The spit and knock only show up at speed.
• Assuming it fixes bad hooksets. More hooks convert more strikes; they don't fix setting on sight.

Specifications

Lucky Craft does not publish a separate spec chart for the 95 H3. Individual treble sizes aren't listed — call the shop and we'll measure the hooks on the one in the case. Colors offered vary by production run; the selector above is the live list.

What's Included

One Lucky Craft Gunfish 95 H3 in the color selected, factory rigged with three trebles. No spare hooks or split rings included.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does H3 mean?
Three hooks. It's the standard Gunfish 95 body rigged with three trebles instead of two.

How big is it?
3-3/4 inches (95mm) and 3/8 oz — the same size as the standard Gunfish 95.

Is it worth it over the 95NF?
If you're getting blown up on and not connecting, yes. If you fish around timber and grass, the two-hook version is cleaner and you'll spend less time unhooking cover.

Does the third hook change the action?
The body, weighting and sound chamber are the same. Keep the hooks clear of each other and it walks like a 95.

How fast should I fish it?
Quickly. The spitting, the knocking and the bubble trail all come alive at pace.

What rod and line?
Medium power with a moderate action so trebles don't tear out. Braid to a fluorocarbon or mono leader; avoid heavy fluorocarbon straight through.

95 H3 or 117?
Both are three-hook baits. The 95 H3 is the smaller, subtler one; the 117 is 4-1/2", 3/5 oz, and has a pencil popper face that throws more water.

Do I need a special net?
A rubber net is worth it. Three sets of trebles and mesh netting do not get along.

Related Gear

• Lucky Craft Gunfish 95NF — same size, two hooks, no feather.
• Lucky Craft Gunfish 117 — 4-1/2" pencil popper, three trebles.
• Lucky Craft Gunfish 115NF — 4-1/2", two hooks.
• Topwater Fishing Lures — poppers, walking baits, and stickbaits.

Buy It From People Who Fish It

We're on Soledad Canyon Road in Santa Clarita, twenty minutes from Castaic, and we fish these lakes ourselves. If you've been getting blown up on all summer without landing them, come talk to us — sometimes the answer is this bait and sometimes it's your rod.

Brent Ehrler calls the Gunfish 95 the perfect bait for schooling fish. It's a subtle bait — thin bodied, walking tight rather than wide — and that restraint is exactly why it gets bit when louder topwaters get followed and refused.

Short version: 4" walking topwater, 3/8 oz, floating, two trebles (#5, #6), no feather on the rear hook. The finesse end of the Gunfish family.

What NF Changes

NF is no feather — the standard 95 dresses the rear treble, this one leaves it bare. Without the feather the tail sits differently at rest, the walk is a touch freer, and there's no dressing to mat down and hold water after a few fish.

There's a second difference most people miss. Lucky Craft builds the 95NF with a tungsten resin tail weight system, where the standard 95 uses heavy metal. Same casting principle — mass in the tail for distance into wind — different material.

Why It Gets Bit

The 95 is thinner than most walking baits, but it walks as effortlessly as a classic Sammy. The cupped face adds a spitting action as the bait swings side to side, and a sound chamber inside makes a loud knocking noise that calls fish out of deep water.

Ehrler's own summary: it's a subtle bait that still creates a lot of commotion. Worked quickly it flicks water to each side and leaves a bubble trail behind it — three separate attractants on one retrieve.

Where It Earns Its Keep

• Schooling fish — the use case it was designed around.
• Clear water and pressured lakes, where a 115 is too much bait and a subtler profile is what gets eaten.
• Wind — the tail weight system was built for casting distance in exactly those conditions.
• Calling fish from depth without overwhelming them — the knocking chamber does the work the size doesn't.

How to Work It

Fast. Ehrler works it very quickly to get the walking and spitting going together. Rhythmic twitches into slack line — the bait needs slack to turn, and a tight line drives it straight.

Then pause. It floats, so it holds position when you stop it. After a blow-up and a miss, letting it sit beats snatching it away.

Which Gunfish?

Start here if you're deciding. The 95 is the size most people should own first — it fishes on tackle you already have and it's the one that gets bit on hard days.

Every Color Here Is a Limited Run

Lucky Craft lists the entire 95NF lineup under limited-run colors. When a colorway sells through it isn't automatically reproduced — if you find one that works on your water, buy the spare before you need it.

Fishing It Around Santa Clarita

The 95 is the Gunfish that shines when the lake has been beaten on all summer and fish stop committing to bigger baits. We publish Castaic Lake fishing reports with current conditions — worth reading before you decide it's a surface morning.

Recommended Gear

• Rod: medium power, moderate action, 6'8" to 7'2". A fast tip tears small trebles out on surface strikes.
• Line: braid to a fluorocarbon or mono leader. Straight mono works too and floats, which helps hold the nose up.
• Avoid heavy fluorocarbon straight through — it sinks and fights the float.

Pro Tips from the Tackle Express Crew

• Twitch into slack, not into tension. The one thing that separates people who can walk this bait from people who can't.
• Speed it up. The spit, the knock, and the bubble trail all show up at pace. Slow retrieves waste most of what this bait does.
• Wait to feel weight before setting. Setting on the splash pulls it out of the fish's mouth.
• Downsize before you change lures. When the 115 gets followed and refused, this is the bait you switch to — not a different category.

Common Mistakes

• Working it on a tight line. The bait needs slack to turn.
• Fishing it slow. Wrong tool for a dead-slow presentation.
• Too stiff a rod. #5 and #6 trebles pull out of fish on stiff blanks.
• Setting on sight. Wait for the weight.

Specifications

Specs confirmed against Lucky Craft's published Gunfish 95NF chart. Colors offered vary by production run — the selector above is the live list.

What's Included

One Lucky Craft Gunfish 95NF in the color selected, factory rigged with two trebles and no rear feather. No spare hooks or split rings included.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does NF stand for?
No feather. The standard Gunfish 95 has a dressed rear treble; this version leaves it bare. It also uses a tungsten resin tail weight rather than the standard 95's heavy metal.

How big is it?
4 inches (95mm) and 3/8 oz (12 grams).

How many hooks?
Two trebles — one #5 and one #6.

95NF or 115NF?
The 95 is subtler and the better choice in clear or pressured water. The 115 is everything exaggerated — louder, wider action, longer reach. If you're buying one Gunfish, buy the 95.

95NF or 95 H3?
Same size. The H3 carries a third treble for more hooking surface when fish are slashing and missing; the 95NF has two, which is cleaner around cover.

How fast should I fish it?
Quickly. The walking, the spitting, the knock, and the bubble trail all come alive at speed.

Does it float?
Yes. It holds position on the pause — and the pause after a missed strike is worth using.

Will these colors come back?
Lucky Craft lists the whole 95NF lineup as limited run, so not necessarily. Call the shop and we'll tell you what's inbound.

Related Gear

• Lucky Craft Gunfish 95 H3 — same size, three trebles.
• Lucky Craft Gunfish 115NF — the 4-1/2" no-feather version.
• Lucky Craft Gunfish 117 — 4-1/2" pencil popper, three trebles.
• Topwater Fishing Lures — poppers, walking baits, and stickbaits.

Buy It From People Who Fish It

We're on Soledad Canyon Road in Santa Clarita, twenty minutes from Castaic, and we fish these lakes ourselves. If you're buying your first Gunfish, this is the one we'd hand you. Call the shop or come in and we'll talk through which size your water wants.

Megabass calls this a ripless jerkbait, and that's the most useful thing anyone can tell you about it. It isn't a topwater. It runs just under the surface, dog-walking and darting long and regular — built specifically for fish that follow a surface bait up and then refuse to break the film.

Short version: 80mm, 7/16 oz, slow sinking, two #6 trebles with a tinsel hook on the rear. The larger of the two Karashi.

The Problem It Solves

Everyone has had this day. Fish boil behind a walking bait, push a wake at it, and turn off at the last second. They're up, they're interested, and they will not commit to something on top.

The Karashi 80 works in that exact band — just below the surface, where a fish can eat without committing to the surface itself. Yuki Ito's hydrodynamic body shape gives it enough water resistance to hold a rhythm, so jerks and twitches produce regular long darts left and right rather than the erratic scatter you get from most subsurface baits.

It's a genuinely different category from a walking bait or a lipped jerkbait, and it fishes the water neither one covers well.

How to Work It

Jerk and twitch on slack line. The bait needs slack to turn; a tight line drives it straight and you lose the dart entirely.

Let it fall. It's slow sinking, so the pause is a presentation and not dead time. Stop it, count, and start again — that's the trigger on pressured fish.

Vary the dart length. Harder jerks push it further; softer twitches keep it tight. Work through both before deciding it isn't the day for it.

The Tinsel Hook

The rear treble is a Megabass tinsel hook, not a plain #6. The tinsel adds flash and — by Megabass's own account — improves the straight-line stability of the bait's tracking. It's part of the design, not a dressing.

That matters for maintenance: when the tinsel mats down or the hook bends, the bait tracks differently. Megabass sells the tinsel hook as an official replacement part. Call the shop for availability.

Karashi 80 or Karashi Finesse?

See the Karashi Finesse →

When to Reach for It

• Fish are up but won't commit on top. The single clearest use case.
• Clear water, high pressure. Fish that have refused every jerkbait on the lake haven't seen this action.
• Cold fronts and post-frontal slumps, where the slow sink lets you fish a pause without leaving the strike zone.
• Over grass and structure just under the surface, where a lipped jerkbait would dig in.

Fishing It Around Santa Clarita

The topwater and subsurface windows on the local lakes move week to week. We publish Castaic Lake fishing reports with current conditions — worth reading before you decide how deep to start.

Picking a Color

Recommended Gear

• Rod: light to medium-light with a forgiving tip. #6 trebles pull out of fish on stiff blanks, particularly on a subsurface strike you never see coming.
• Line: braid to a fluorocarbon leader for the darting work. Fluoro is fine straight through here — this bait isn't fighting to stay on the surface.

Pro Tips from the Tackle Express Crew

• Fish it when the topwater bite dies. Same fish, same spot, one foot lower. That's the whole reason this bait exists.
• Work the pause. Slow sinking means the stop is a presentation, not a gap between them.
• Jerk into slack. Tight line drives it straight and you lose the dart.
• Check the tinsel hook. Megabass says it stabilises the bait's tracking. When it's matted or bent, you're fishing a different lure.

Common Mistakes

• Fishing it as a topwater. It's slow sinking and it runs under the film. Working it like a walking bait wastes what it does.
• Too stiff a rod. The most common reason anglers lose fish on small-treble Japanese baits.
• Retrieving through the pause. The fall is the trigger.
• Buying the wrong size. The 80 and the Finesse are 80mm and 59mm — different tools, see the table above.

Specifications

Specs confirmed against Megabass's published Karashi 80 page. Colors vary by production run — the selector above is the live list.

What's Included

One Megabass Karashi 80 in the color selected, factory rigged with two #6 trebles including the tinsel hook on the rear. No spare hooks or split rings included.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it a topwater?
No. It's slow sinking and runs just under the surface. Megabass describes it as a ripless jerkbait — it fishes the band a walking bait can't reach and a lipped jerkbait runs below.

How big is it?
80mm (about 3.1 inches) and 7/16 oz. The number in the name is the length in millimetres.

What hooks does it carry?
Two #6 trebles. The rear one is a Megabass tinsel hook, which adds flash and helps the bait track straight.

Karashi 80 or Karashi Finesse?
80mm versus 59mm. Take the 80 when fish are up but won't break the surface; take the Finesse when they want something small and you're on BFS or light spinning gear.

How do I work it?
Jerks and twitches into slack line produce long, regular darts left and right. Pause and let it fall — the fall is often the trigger.

What does "Karashi" mean?
Japanese mustard. Megabass named it for the kick.

Can I replace the tinsel hook?
Yes — Megabass sells it as an official replacement part. Call the shop for availability.

My color is out of stock — will it be back?
Megabass colorways run in batches and availability moves. Call the shop and we'll tell you what's inbound.

Related Gear

• Megabass Karashi Finesse — the 59mm version.
• All Megabass — the full lineup.
• Freshwater Hard Baits — jerkbaits, cranks, and twitch baits.
• Topwater Fishing Lures — poppers, walking baits, and stickbaits.

Buy It From People Who Fish It

We're on Soledad Canyon Road in Santa Clarita, twenty minutes from Castaic, and we fish these lakes ourselves. If the surface bite has been teasing you all week, this is the bait we'd point you at. Call the shop or come in and we'll talk it through.

Karashi is Japanese mustard. Megabass named it for the kick — a small bait that does something sharp enough to break a fish out of a bad mood.

Short version: 2.3", 3/16 oz, slow-sinking, #10 trebles with a tinsel teaser on the rear hook. Built for BFS and light spinning gear, and for the days when everything bigger gets followed and refused.

Four Presentations, One Lure

The reason to own a Karashi is that it isn't one bait. Change what your rod tip does and you change what it is:

• Ultra-finesse i-motion. A super-slow retrieve produces a vulnerable, injured wobble. This is the one for lethargic, cold-front fish that won't chase anything.
• Sub-surface twitching. Sharp rod snaps make it dart and flash just under the film — the presentation that converts a follower into a biter.
• Surface dog-walking. Rhythmic twitches walk it on top. Pause, and because it's slow-sinking it settles and then rises like a panicked baitfish. That pause is where a lot of the bites happen.
• Bait-busting panic mode. Fast upward pops and a quick retrieve make it splash, leap and skitter — pure reaction, for aggressive fish.

Work through all four before deciding the bait isn't producing. Most anglers try one, get nothing, and put it away.

Slow-Sinking Is the Point

A floating bait sits on top and a sinking bait falls away. This one hangs — it descends slowly enough that you can fish the pause as a presentation rather than as dead time.

That's what makes the dog-walk different here: stop the retrieve and the bait doesn't just sit there waiting, it settles and rises. Count the pause out. Two seconds, then four, then six, until something answers.

The Detail Work

Megabass builds this with 3D scales, raised gill rakers, lateral line detail and their signature downward-facing eyes. On a 2.3" bait none of that is decoration — in the clear, pressured water this thing is designed for, a fish gets a long close look before it commits.

The rear treble carries a tinsel teaser, which adds flash and a little undulation at rest. It's part of the bait's action, not a garnish.

Karashi Finesse or Karashi 80?

Megabass's naming doesn't help here — one is a word, the other is a number. This is the smaller of the two.

See the Karashi 80 →

When It Beats a Jerkbait or a Spybait

• High-pressure lakes. Fish that have refused every jerkbait on the water haven't necessarily seen this action.
• Clear water, close inspection. The finish detail earns its money exactly where fish get a long look.
• Cold fronts and lethargic fish — the ultra-slow i-motion retrieve is a genuine dead-stick alternative.
• When you don't know what they want. Four presentations on one cast beats retying four times.

Fishing It Around Santa Clarita

This is the bait for late summer on a lake that's been hammered all season. We publish Castaic Lake fishing reports with current conditions — worth reading before you decide which presentation to lead with.

Recommended Gear

• Rod: BFS or light spinning, light power with a forgiving tip. #10 trebles pull out of fish on stiff blanks — this is not a bait for a heavy rod.
• Line: light braid to a fluorocarbon leader, or straight light fluoro for the sub-surface work.
• For the surface presentations, mono or a braid-to-mono leader floats and helps hold the nose up.

Pro Tips from the Tackle Express Crew

• Work the pause. On a slow-sinking bait the pause is the presentation, not the gap between them.
• Wait to feel weight on surface strikes. Setting on the splash pulls a 2.3" bait clean out of a fish's mouth.
• Change the retrieve before you change the lure. Four presentations means most "it isn't working" days are "I only tried one thing" days.
• Check the tinsel treble. It's part of the action. When it's matted or bent, the bait is a different lure.

Common Mistakes

• Fishing it on too stiff a rod. The most common reason anglers lose fish on small-treble Japanese baits.
• Treating the pause as dead time. It's slow-sinking for a reason.
• Only using one presentation. You bought four.
• Setting on sight. Wait for the weight.

Specifications

Colors are listed in the selector above and change with each production run. Individual colorways sell through quickly — call the shop and we'll tell you what's inbound.

What's Included

One Megabass Karashi Finesse in the color selected, factory rigged with #10 trebles including the tinsel teaser on the rear hook. No spare hooks or split rings included.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big is it?
2.3 inches and 3/16 oz.

Does it float or sink?
Slow-sinking. On the pause it settles rather than staying on top, then rises when you start it again.

Karashi Finesse or Karashi 80?
This is the smaller one — for pressured fish, clear water, and BFS or light spinning gear. The 80 is the larger, for a bigger silhouette and longer casts.

What does "Karashi" mean?
Japanese mustard. Megabass named it for the kick.

What rod should I use?
BFS or light spinning with a forgiving tip. #10 trebles tear out of fish on stiff rods.

What's the tinsel on the back hook for?
Flash and a little movement at rest. It's part of the action — when it mats down or the hook bends, the bait behaves differently.

Which presentation should I start with?
Sub-surface twitching. If fish follow without committing, move to the dog-walk and then the panic retrieve.

Can I replace the tinsel treble?
Yes — Megabass makes an OEM tinsel treble specifically for this bait. Call the shop for availability.

Related Gear

• Megabass Karashi 80 — the larger version.
• All Megabass — the full lineup.
• Freshwater Hard Baits — jerkbaits, cranks, and twitch baits.
• Freshwater Lures — soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and more.

Buy It From People Who Fish It

We're on Soledad Canyon Road in Santa Clarita, twenty minutes from Castaic, and we fish these lakes ourselves. Deciding between the Finesse and the 80, or whether your rod is light enough for either? Call the shop — two minutes, and it stops you buying the wrong size twice.

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