Topwater Fishing Lures

Walks, Pops, Spits — All in One Bait

The Ima Big Stick is the result of years of development by Ima's Japanese engineering team and professional angler Randy Pringle — and it shows. At 7 inches and 1.75 oz, the Big Stick is a magnum topwater that can spit like a popper, walk like the hardest-sashaying walking bait on the market, and do it all without requiring expert technique or specialized gear. It's designed for conventional tackle, starts working the moment you begin your retrieve, and is built to handle anything from trophy bass to stripers, pike, and musky.

Eight Sound Chambers. One Unforgettable Presentation.

The Big Stick features eight individual sound chambers that create a massive ruckus at fast retrieve speeds — and can be dialed back to a subtle pop along the surface when fish are finicky. The rear-weighted design kicks the action into gear immediately on the retrieve and dramatically increases casting distance and accuracy. A unique head design pushes significant volumes of water on every direction change, creating a surface disturbance that draws fish from a distance.

Built for Trophy Fish, Not Just Bass

Most big topwaters are built for one species. The Big Stick is built for all of them. Wire-through construction, heavier split rings, and Owner ST-66 #1/0 treble hooks mean this bait can handle the shock of a 50 lb striper, a 40-inch musky, or a 10 lb largemouth without failing. The durable finish and premium hardware make it a legitimate multi-species weapon for both freshwater and saltwater applications.

Standard vs. Silent — Two Presentations, One Profile

The Big Stick comes in both a standard (rattling) version and a silent version. The standard model's eight sound chambers create aggressive noise and vibration — ideal for stained water, choppy conditions, and aggressive fish. The silent version relies entirely on its surface action and profile — perfect for clear water, pressured fish, and situations where noise spooks rather than attracts.

The Right Pick If...

• You want a big topwater that walks AND pops without switching baits
• You're targeting trophy largemouth, stripers, pike, or musky on the surface
• You need a topwater that casts far and starts working immediately on the retrieve
• You fish both freshwater and saltwater and want one bait that handles both
• You want a premium Japanese-engineered topwater with tournament-proven action

Best Retrieve Techniques

• Walk the Dog: Rhythmic rod-tip twitches produce a wide, aggressive side-to-side walk — the rear-weighted design makes this effortless
• Popping: Short, sharp twitches to spit water and pause — the unique head design creates a loud, aggressive pop
• Fast Burn: High-speed retrieve to activate all eight sound chambers and create maximum surface commotion
• Subtle Pop: Slow, gentle twitches for a quiet, subtle presentation — or use the silent version for pressured fish

Best Conditions

• Open water, main lake points, and offshore structure where big fish are feeding on top
• Early morning and late evening low-light periods
• Post-spawn through fall when trophy fish are chasing large baitfish
• Saltwater flats, jetties, and inshore structure for stripers and other coastal species
• Any situation where a large, aggressive topwater presentation is needed

Best For

• Species: Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, Pike, Musky, Various Saltwater Species
• Techniques: Walk-the-Dog, Popping, Fast Burn, Subtle Pop
• Conditions: Open water, low-light, post-spawn, saltwater inshore, trophy fish situations

Key Features

• Designed by Ima Japan engineering team and Randy Pringle
• 7 in body length, 1.75 oz (50g) weight
• Eight individual sound chambers — loud at speed, subtle when needed
• Rear-weighted design for immediate action and long casting distance
• Unique head design pushes significant water volume on every direction change
• Wire-through construction for maximum durability
• Heavier split rings and Owner ST-66 #1/0 treble hooks
• Available in standard (rattling) and silent versions
• 16 color patterns for freshwater and saltwater applications

Models & Colors

Standard (Rattling) Versions

Silent Versions

Tackle Express Tips

• Go Heavy on Tackle: The Big Stick is 1.75 oz — use a heavy or extra-heavy 7'6"–8' casting rod with a high-speed reel (7:1+) and 50–65 lb braid. The heavy setup handles the weight, maximizes casting distance, and gives you the power to drive Owner ST-66 hooks home on big fish.
• Standard vs. Silent by Water Clarity: Use the standard rattling version in stained water, choppy conditions, or when fish are aggressive. Switch to the silent version in clear water, calm conditions, or when fish are spooking off noise.
• Match Color to Forage: Sardine, Mackerel, and Ghost Blue Back are go-to saltwater and striper colors. Bone and Red Head are classic low-light and clear-water patterns. Trout and Hatchery Trout shine in trout-forage fisheries and tailwaters.

FAQ

What's the difference between the standard and silent Big Stick?
The standard version has eight internal sound chambers that create noise and vibration at all retrieve speeds. The silent version has no rattle and relies entirely on its surface action and profile — ideal for clear water or pressured fish that spook off noisy baits.

What rod and line setup works best?
A heavy or extra-heavy 7'6"–8' casting rod with a high-speed reel and 50–65 lb braided line is ideal. The 1.75 oz weight needs backbone to cast and the braid gives you the sensitivity to feel the action and the power to set hooks on big fish.

Can the Ima Big Stick be used in saltwater?
Absolutely. The wire-through construction, heavier split rings, and Owner ST-66 hooks are built to handle saltwater species including striped bass, bluefish, and other inshore predators. Rinse thoroughly with fresh water after each saltwater use.

The Ima Finesse Popper is a bite-sized lure that catches big bass. It can be popped like a traditional topwater popper with short spurts or graceful glides, but can also be walked side-to-side with ease. “It pops and spits water, walks and chugs. This bait can do it all,” says Bassmaster Elite Series pro Fred Roumbanis.

65mm, 2.6in

3/8oz

The Ima Little Stik 135 Topwater bait measures in at 5.5 inches long and weighs 1 oz. Just like its bigger brother, The Big Stik, the Litte Stik is a high-tech lunker-killer that walks, pops, spits and catches just about anything that swims.  It’s rear weighted, making it easier to cast and enabling it to sit in a position that as soon as you start your retrieve, it starts to walk and throw water up to 2 feet in front of the lure. Professional Angler & Guide, Randy Pringle, designed this bait so novice anglers and experts alike can make the bait walk back and forth to resemble an injured or feeding baitfish.

All colors have a feathered treble on the rear and regular treble hooks on the front and middle.  Often times, we will remove the front treble for better action and less chance of the line hooking on it.

5.5in 1oz

The Only Topwater Hardbait That Looks Like a Soft Stick

The Ima Skimmer 110 is unlike any other hard plastic topwater stickbait on the market. While every other walking hardbait has a fat, rounded body, the Skimmer is built with the slender, pencil-thin profile of a 5" soft plastic stickbait — the most proven bass-catching shape in freshwater fishing. That slim silhouette is something bass have been conditioned to eat for decades, and the Skimmer is the only topwater hardbait that delivers it.

The Boil That Seals the Deal

The Skimmer's tail-weighted design creates a one-of-a-kind surface action. On every zig and zag, the weighted tail end stirs the water into a large, violent boil — and then the Skimmer slips out just ahead of it, like a desperate baitfish narrowly escaping a bass's lunge. That boil-and-escape sequence is irresistible. It triggers the predatory instinct in bass that have seen every other topwater presentation and shut down.

Why Fat-Bodied Walking Baits Miss the Mark

Traditional walking baits like the Zara Spook have a wide, rounded body that produces a smooth glide. The Skimmer's slender profile creates a completely different visual trigger — one that more closely mimics the slim, darting profile of a shad, herring, or alewife. On pressured fisheries where bass have seen every fat-bodied walking bait in the box, the Skimmer's unique silhouette and boil action stands out.

Slim Profile, Maximum Action

At 4.25 in (110mm) and 7/16 oz, the Skimmer is perfectly sized for medium-action spinning or baitcasting gear. It walks easily with minimal rod work, casts exceptionally well for its size, and the tail-weighted balance keeps it riding low in the water — maximizing contact with the surface and amplifying that signature boil on every direction change.

The Right Pick If...

• Fat-bodied walking baits are getting ignored on pressured water
• You want a topwater with a slim, soft-plastic-style profile
• You're targeting largemouth or smallmouth bass feeding on shad, herring, or alewives
• You want a walking bait that creates a dramatic surface boil on every twitch
• You fish clear water where a natural, slender profile makes a difference

Best Retrieve Techniques

• Walk the Dog: Rhythmic rod-tip twitches with a steady retrieve — the Skimmer walks easily and the tail boils on every direction change
• Pause and Walk: Walk 3–5 times, pause, then walk again — the pause lets the boil settle and often triggers strikes from following fish
• Slow Walk: Slower cadence for finicky fish or post-front conditions — the slim profile stays in the strike zone longer
• Twitch and Pause: Single twitches with long pauses — deadly when bass are lethargic or in post-spawn recovery

Best Conditions

• Calm to lightly choppy surface — the boil action is most visible in calmer water
• Low-light periods — early morning and late evening when bass are most active on top
• Post-spawn through fall when bass are chasing shad and herring on the surface
• Clear water fisheries where a natural, slender profile triggers more strikes
• Pressured lakes where fat-bodied walking baits have been picked apart

Best For

• Species: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Striped Bass, White Bass
• Techniques: Topwater Walking, Walk-the-Dog, Pause-and-Walk, Twitch-and-Pause
• Conditions: Calm surface, low-light, post-spawn, clear water, pressured fisheries

Key Features

• Slender soft-plastic-style profile — the only topwater hardbait with this silhouette
• Tail-weighted design creates a violent surface boil on every direction change
• 4.25 in (110mm) body length
• 7/16 oz weight — ideal for medium-action spinning or baitcasting gear
• Walks easily with minimal rod work
• Exceptional casting distance for its size
• 12 color patterns to match any forage or water condition

Models & Colors

Tackle Express Tips

• Go Light on Gear: The Skimmer shines on a 7' medium spinning rod with 10–15 lb braid and a 10 lb fluorocarbon leader. The lighter setup lets the bait walk more freely and enhances the tail boil action.
• Match Color to Forage: In shad-heavy lakes, go with American Shad, Real Ghost Shad, or Ghost Minnow. In herring fisheries, Blueback Herring and Ghost Chartreuse Herring are deadly. In clear water, Chrome and Chattahoochee Chrome create maximum flash.
• Use a Loop Knot: A Rapala loop knot gives the Skimmer maximum freedom of movement and enhances the walking action and tail boil, especially at slower retrieve speeds.

FAQ

How is the Ima Skimmer 110 different from other walking baits?
The Skimmer has a slender, pencil-thin body profile that mimics a soft plastic stickbait — something no other topwater hardbait offers. Combined with its tail-weighted boil action, it presents a completely different visual trigger than fat-bodied walking baits like the Zara Spook.

What rod and line setup works best?
A 7'–7'2" medium spinning rod with 10–15 lb braid and a 10–12 lb fluorocarbon leader is ideal. The Skimmer can also be fished on a medium baitcaster, but spinning gear gives it the most natural walking action.

Is the Ima Skimmer 110 good for smallmouth bass?
Absolutely. The slim profile and natural shad/herring color options make it a top smallmouth bait, especially in clear water lakes and rivers where smallmouth are keyed in on slender baitfish.

The Jackall Live Darter is designed to replicate the lifelike movement of a fleeing baitfish, giving anglers an ultra-realistic presentation that triggers aggressive strikes. Built with a multi-jointed body, durable hardware, and a precisely engineered weighting system, the Live Darter swims with a natural, darting action that performs in both fast and slow retrieves.

Whether you’re targeting pressured largemouth, smallmouth, spotted bass, or northern predators, the Live Darter offers unmatched realism in clear and stained water. Its detailed finish, 3D eyes, and natural body shape make it one of the most convincing baitfish imitators on the market. Ideal for anglers who demand high performance from their swimbaits and need a lure that consistently produces results in tournaments or weekend trips alike.

Key Features

• Ultra-Realistic Swimming Action – Multi-joint design creates natural, darting motion.

• Tournament-Grade Hardware – Strong hooks and split rings for reliable hooksets.

• Natural Baitfish Profile – Detailed body, premium paint scheme, and 3D eyes for maximum realism.

• Versatile Retrieve – Works on slow rolls, quick darts, stop-and-go, and yo-yo presentations.

• Effective in Clear or Stained Water – Designed to stand out while maintaining a natural appearance.

• Great for Multiple Species – Bass, pike, walleye, and other predator fish.

The Jackall Pompadour topwater wake bait features two unique metal wings that, upon casting, tuck away tight to the body for those long casts. Once the lure hits the water and you begin the retrieve, the metal wings open up creating a very unique wobble and a huge wake.

On the rear of the bait there is a pivoting propeller that slides back and forth creating a deep gurgling sound and leaving a tantalizing trail of bubbles. This, combined with the metal wings and the bulky body of the bait means that this lure displaces A LOT of water and will call fish up from even the deepest depths.

The Jackall Pompadour is sure to be a killer during those summertime night tournaments.

3in

3/4oz

The Jackall Pompadour Jr. is a smaller version of the large pompadour and it may just be better than the original!  We think this new size is perfect for fish that aren't willing to attack the bigger original Jackall Pompadour.

The Jackall Pompadour Jr features two unique metal wings that, upon casting, tuck away tight to the body for those long casts. Once the lure hits the water and you begin the retrieve, the metal wings open up creating a very unique wobble and a huge wake.

On the rear of the bait there is a pivoting propeller that slides back and forth creating a deep gurgling sound and leaving a tantalizing trail of bubbles. This, combined with the metal wings and the bulky body of the bait means that this lure displaces A LOT of water and will call fish up from even the deepest depths.

60mm

2.36 inches

5/8oz

There's a band of water most lures ignore. Not the surface, not two feet down — the few inches just underneath, where bass sit looking up at a topwater bait and refuse to break through for it.

That's what this bait is for. The Riser Bait 007 has a metal lip angled up instead of down, so water pressure that would drive a normal lure under drives this one toward the surface. It runs just beneath the film with a subtle wake and a tight rolling action — drawing fish upward without ever asking them to commit to the top.

Short version: 2.8", 5/16 oz, subsurface wake bait. Eight colors.

Not a Topwater — and That's the Point

Everyone has had the day where 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 eat something on the surface.

A riser bait solves that specific problem. It gives them the same rising, fleeing target one layer down, where a fish can eat it without leaving the water. Jackall's own framing: it's built for surface-oriented fish that won't commit to traditional topwater.

Fish it when the topwater bite teases you and dies.

What the 007 Means

It's the length in millimetres. The 007 is 70mm and the 012 is 120mm — Japanese naming convention, not a model year. If you've been searching for a "Riser Bait 70," this is it.

How to Work It

Steady retrieve. The lip does the work — no rod cadence required, unlike a walking bait that needs you to feed it rhythm. Reel and let it rise and roll.

Speed controls depth. Faster brings it closer to the film and increases the wake; slower lets it run a little deeper. Find the level fish are holding at and stay there.

Let it sink. A lot of our customers count it down and retrieve it well under the surface. The same upward lip gives it a rising, erratic track down there — and on days fish won't come up at all, that's often the bite.

007 or 012?

Fishing It Around Santa Clarita

This is the bait for the morning when stripers are boiling and nothing on top gets eaten. We publish Castaic Lake fishing reports with current conditions — worth a read before you drive out.

Picking a Color

Recommended Gear

• Rod: medium power, moderate action, 6'8" to 7'2". A fast tip pulls trebles on a strike you never see coming.
• Line: braid to a fluorocarbon or mono leader. Fluoro is fine here — unlike a true topwater, this bait isn't fighting to stay on the surface.

Pro Tips from the Tackle Express Crew

• Don't bend the bill. The upward lip is the entire mechanism. Bend it and the bait won't rise or track. Handle it accordingly in the box and when you unhook a fish.
• Use it as your follow-up. When a fish boils on your walking bait and misses, throw this back at the same spot. Same fish, one layer down.
• Vary speed before you change color. Retrieve speed sets how deep it runs and how much wake it throws — that's your main adjustment.
• Wait to feel weight. Strikes come from below and you often see the wake before you feel the fish.

Common Mistakes

• Fishing it like a walking bait. It doesn't need rod cadence. Reel and let the lip do it.
• Expecting surface blowups. The bait runs under the film — most strikes are a bulge or a wake, not a splash.
• Setting on sight instead of feel. Reel down until you feel weight.
• A bent or tweaked lip. Once the bill is out of true, the bait is finished.

Specifications

Jackall does not publish treble hook size for the 007. Call the shop and we'll check one out of the case for you.

What's Included

One Jackall Riser Bait 007 in the color selected, factory rigged with trebles. No spare hooks or split rings included.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it a topwater?
Not exactly. It runs just beneath the surface with a wake and a rolling action — Jackall built it for fish that are looking up but won't break the surface for a true topwater.

What does "007" mean?
The length in millimetres — 70mm. The 012 is 120mm.

How do I fish it?
Steady retrieve. The lip does the work; no rod cadence needed. Speed controls how close to the surface it runs.

Can I fish it deeper?
Yes — let it sink and retrieve steady. Plenty of our customers do, and it gets bit on days fish won't come up at all.

007 or 012?
007 for a subtle wake in clear or pressured water on standard tackle. 012 when you want a bigger push and more reach.

What rod and line?
Medium power, moderate action. Braid to a leader, or fluorocarbon straight through — unlike a true topwater, sinking line isn't working against this bait.

What species does it catch?
Largemouth and smallmouth bass primarily, and stripers feeding near the surface.

Why did my bait stop running right?
Check the lip. It's the whole mechanism, and a bend from a hookset, a rock, or a crowded tray changes how the bait tracks.

Related Gear

• Jackall Riser Bait 012 — the 4.7" big-profile version.
• Topwater Fishing Lures — poppers, walking baits, and frogs.
• All Jackall — the full lineup.
• Freshwater Lures — cranks, jerkbaits, and soft plastics.

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 hand you. Call the shop or read this week's Castaic report before you go.

There's a band of water most lures ignore. Not the surface, not two feet down — the few inches just underneath, where bass sit looking up at a topwater bait and refuse to break through for it.

The 012 is the loud version of the answer. A metal lip angled up forces the bait toward the surface on the retrieve, and at 4.7 inches it throws a rolling wake with real push and flash — pulling fish from distance without ever asking them to leave the water.

Short version: 4.7", 1-1/8 oz, subsurface wake bait, two hooks. The big-profile Riser Bait.

Not a Topwater — and That's the Point

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 eat something on the surface.

A riser bait gives them the same rising target one layer down, where they can eat it without leaving the water. Jackall's own framing: it's for bass hunting upward but ignoring traditional topwater.

Fish it when the topwater bite teases you and dies.

Why the Big One

• Reach. Over an ounce of bait casts a long way, and the wake it throws calls fish from further than the 70mm version can.
• Covering water. Expansive flats, drop edges, feeding lanes — the 012 is a search bait for shallow zones.
• Bigger fish, bigger forage. 4.7 inches matches full-size shad and herring rather than the small stuff.
• Visibility. Stronger push and more flash, which is what you want when fish are scattered or the water isn't clean.

What the 012 Means

It's the length in millimetres. The 012 is 120mm and the 007 is 70mm — Japanese naming convention, not a model year.

How to Work It

Steady retrieve. The lip does the work — no rod cadence needed, unlike a walking bait that has to be fed rhythm.

Speed controls depth and wake. Faster brings it tighter to the film and increases the push; slower lets it run a little deeper. Find the level the fish are at and hold it.

Let it sink. Count it down and retrieve steady and the same upward lip gives it a rising, erratic track well under the surface. On days fish won't come up at all, that's often the bite.

007 or 012?

Start with the 007 if you're new to riser baits — it fishes on tackle most anglers already own. Step up when you know you need the distance.

Fishing It Around Santa Clarita

A big, long-casting wake bait earns its keep when stripers are boiling out of reach and nothing on top gets eaten. We publish Castaic Lake fishing reports with current conditions — worth a read before you drive out.

Picking a Color

Recommended Gear

• Rod: medium-heavy, moderate action, 7' or longer. This is over an ounce of bait — a light rod folds on the cast. A fast tip pulls trebles on the strike.
• Line: braid to a fluorocarbon or mono leader. Fluoro is fine here — unlike a true topwater, this bait isn't fighting to stay on the surface.

Pro Tips from the Tackle Express Crew

• Don't bend the bill. The upward lip is the entire mechanism. Bend it and the bait won't rise or track.
• Use it as your follow-up. When a fish boils on your walking bait and misses, throw this at the same spot. Same fish, one layer down.
• Vary speed before you change color. Retrieve speed sets depth and wake — that's your main adjustment.
• Wait to feel weight. Strikes come from below; you'll often see the bulge before you feel the fish.

Common Mistakes

• Undergunned rod. The most common reason this bait disappoints — 1-1/8 oz needs a rod that can load it.
• Expecting surface blowups. It runs under the film. Most strikes are a bulge or a wake, not a splash.
• Working it like a walking bait. No rod cadence required. Reel and let the lip do it.
• A bent or tweaked lip. Once the bill is out of true, the bait is finished.

Specifications

Jackall does not publish treble hook size for the 012. Call the shop and we'll check one out of the case for you. Colors offered vary by production run — the selector above is the live list.

What's Included

One Jackall Riser Bait 012 in the color selected, factory rigged with two trebles. No spare hooks or split rings included.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it a topwater?
Not exactly. It runs just beneath the surface with a rolling wake — Jackall built it for bass hunting upward that are ignoring traditional topwater.

What does "012" mean?
The length in millimetres — 120mm, or 4.7". The 007 is 70mm.

What rod do I need?
Medium-heavy, moderate action, 7' or longer. At 1-1/8 oz this is a real load.

007 or 012?
007 for a subtle wake in clear or pressured water on standard tackle. 012 when you need reach, volume, and a bigger profile.

How do I fish it?
Steady retrieve. The lip does the work; speed controls how close to the surface it runs and how much wake it throws.

Can I fish it deeper?
Yes — let it sink and retrieve steady. It tracks with a rising, erratic action down there.

What species does it catch?
Largemouth and smallmouth bass primarily, and stripers feeding near the surface.

Why did my bait stop running right?
Check the lip. It's the whole mechanism, and a bend changes how the bait tracks.

Related Gear

• Jackall Riser Bait 007 — the 2.8" subtle version.
• Topwater Fishing Lures — poppers, walking baits, and frogs.
• All Jackall — the full lineup.
• Freshwater Lures — cranks, jerkbaits, and soft plastics.

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 your rod will throw an ounce and an eighth, or whether the 007 is the better call? Call the shop or come in — short conversation, saves you buying the wrong one first.

The Lobina Rico and Rio RicoL are the number one fished popper by the pros today, and for good reason! Though these lures may look unassuming, once one is in your hands the quality becomes very obvious. From the razor sharp Gamakatsu hooks, to the hand tied feather trailers and the meticulous paint jobs, these poppers have all the bells and whistles. The cup is precisely tuned on each lure to precisely imitate a fleeing and injured baitfish making the action of this lure quite exceptional. Get yours today and see what all the hype is about!

The Lobina Rico Suave is the ultimate topwater walking bait. “Walking the dog” was never so easy. This handcrafted topwater bass bait dances and darts with the slightest rod movement. When the waters call for quiet, natural actions, answer with the smooth moves of the RICO Suave’.

Specs: 4 1/2”, 1/2 oz. Owner black nickel #2 front and #4 back hooks, oval split ring on the nose.

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.

Most topwater baits make you choose: pop or walk. The Gunfish 117 has a cupped, concave face that throws water like a popper and a slim tapered body that walks tight side-to-side. Same cast, both actions, decided by what your rod tip does.

Short version: 4-1/2" pencil popper, 3/5 oz, floating, three treble hooks. Built for distance and for pulling fish up out of heavy cover.

Why the 117 Casts Further

Lucky Craft gave this size a thicker taper through the rear than the smaller Gunfish models. More mass behind the center means the bait carries better on the cast and tracks straighter in the air — which matters when fish are boiling forty feet past where you can reach.

That's the whole argument for the 117 over a 95 or a 115: it isn't just a bigger profile, it's a longer cast at the same effort.

Where It Earns Its Keep

• Schooling fish. When they come up out of range, the extra distance is the difference between a cast and a wish.
• Pulling fish from deep cover — brushpiles, cane piles, and standing timber. The concave face throws enough water to call fish up off structure.
• Blueback herring water. Lucky Craft calls this out specifically, and the long slim profile is why — it matches a herring better than a fatter walking bait.
• Open water search. Distance plus a bait that both pops and walks lets you cover a bank fast and change the message without changing lures.

How to Work It

To walk it: short, rhythmic twitches into slack line. The bait needs slack to turn — a tight line drives it straight and kills the side-to-side.

To pop it: harder, sharper snaps. The cupped mouth grabs water and throws it. Use this when fish are deep in cover or the surface has chop on it and you need to be louder.

Mix them. Two walks, a pop, a pause. The pause is not dead time — it floats, so it holds position in the strike zone, and a lot of fish eat it sitting still.

Three Trebles — What That Changes

The 117 carries three trebles: #5, #5, and #4. That's a hooking advantage on a bait fish tend to slash at rather than eat cleanly, and it's the reason short strikes convert more often on this size than on two-hook topwaters.

It also means more hardware to keep track of. Check that hooks aren't fouled on the body before you cast, and use a rod with a forgiving tip — three sets of trebles in a fish will find a way out if you horse it.

Standard and Limited Run Colors

Lucky Craft splits the Gunfish 117 lineup into standard colors and limited-run colors. Three of the four we carry are limited run — Aurora Black, Ghost Minnow, and MS American Shad. When they're gone, they're not automatically coming back.

Fishing It Around Santa Clarita

The topwater window on the local lakes moves week to week, and a long-casting bait earns its money on the days stripers 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 three sets of trebles in the fish.
• Line: braid to a fluorocarbon or mono leader. Braid moves the bait; the leader gives you abrasion resistance around cover.
• Avoid heavy fluorocarbon straight through — it sinks and pulls the nose down, working against 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 make a pencil popper walk from people who can't.
• Wait to feel weight before you set. Setting on the splash pulls it out of the fish's mouth. This costs more topwater fish than anything else.
• Use the pause after a miss. It floats. Let it sit — fish come back for a bait that's stopped far more often than for one that ran.
• Check the trebles for fouling. Three hooks on a slim body will tangle on themselves, and a fouled bait won't walk at all.

Common Mistakes

• Fishing it on a tight line. The bait needs slack to turn.
• Only popping it, or only walking it. You bought both actions. Mix them until something answers.
• Too stiff a rod. Costs you fish on every strike.
• Setting on sight. Wait for the weight.

Specifications

Specs confirmed against Lucky Craft's published Gunfish 117 chart. Colors offered vary by production run — the selector above is the live list.

What's Included

One Lucky Craft Gunfish 117 in the color selected, factory rigged with three trebles. No spare hooks or split rings included.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big is the Gunfish 117?
4-1/2 inches (117mm) and 3/5 oz (19 grams). The number in the name is the length in millimetres.

How many hooks does it have?
Three trebles — two #5 and one #4.

Does it pop or walk?
Both. Sharp snaps make the cupped face throw water; rhythmic twitches into slack line make it walk tight side-to-side.

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

117 or 115NF — what's the difference?
Different models, not just different sizes. The 117 is a pencil popper with three trebles and a thicker rear taper for casting distance. The NF models are the no-feather versions of their respective sizes.

Why does it cast so well?
The rear taper is thicker than on the smaller Gunfish sizes, so more mass sits behind the center and the bait carries and tracks straighter in the air.

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

Are these colors coming back?
Aurora Black, Ghost Minnow, and MS American Shad are limited-run colors on Lucky Craft's list. Chartreuse Shad is standard. Call the shop and we'll tell you what's inbound.

Related Gear

• Lucky Craft Gunfish 115NF — no-feather 115.
• Lucky Craft Gunfish 95NF — no-feather 95.
• 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 which Gunfish you want, or whether today's a popping day or a walking day? Call the shop or come in — that's a short conversation and it 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.

Lucky Craft Sammy Topwater Lure

There's nothing quite like the moment a bass explodes on a topwater bait — and the Lucky Craft Sammy was built to make that happen again and again. A legendary surface lure trusted by tournament anglers worldwide, the Sammy combines the seductive walk-the-dog action of a walking bait with the spitting, splashing commotion of a popper, creating a one-two punch that triggers strikes when nothing else will.

Cast it out, twitch your rod tip, and watch the Sammy dance across the surface in a tight, rhythmic side-to-side glide. The bass-calling glass rattles add an audible dimension that draws fish from a distance, while the realistic color patterns seal the deal up close. And thanks to its aerodynamic design, the Sammy launches effortlessly for extended casting distances — covering more water, finding more fish.

Features

• Walk-the-dog action combined with popper-style spitting for dual surface appeal
• Bass-calling glass rattles for added sound attraction
• Realistic, lifelike color patterns to trigger strikes
• Aerodynamic body design for extended casting distances
• Proven tournament performer with multiple competition victories

Perfect For

Whether you're working calm morning coves, open flats, or tournament waters, the Lucky Craft Sammy is the topwater lure that delivers when the pressure is on. A must-have for any serious bass angler's tackle box.

Lucky Craft Super Sammy 126 Topwater Lure

You've worked the bank all morning, and then you see it — a boil just off the surface. One cast with the Lucky Craft Super Sammy 126, a couple of twitches, and that bass doesn't stand a chance. Designed in collaboration with Lucky Craft's elite pro staff team, the Super Sammy 126 takes everything anglers love about the legendary Sammy and elevates it to a whole new level of topwater performance.

The cylindrical body is precision-engineered to sit perfectly horizontal on the surface even when paused — a subtle but deadly detail that keeps fish locked in during those critical hesitation moments. Sideways-turned hook hangers reduce water drag for an effortless, wide, methodical walk-the-dog action that covers water and triggers reaction strikes. And when you need distance, the large one-knocker internal weight system loads the bait like a bullet, launching it through the air while producing a hard, knocking rattle that calls fish from a distance.

Features

• Cylindrical body sits perfectly horizontal on pause — even at rest, it looks alive
• Sideways hook hangers reduce drag for effortless, wide walk-the-dog action
• Large one-knocker rear weight system for maximum casting distance and loud rattle
• Pro staff-designed for a wider, more methodical surface presentation
• VMC treble hooks for strong, reliable hooksets

Specs

• Length: 5" (126mm)
• Weight: 1 oz (28.0g)
• Depth: Surface
• Type: Floating
• Hook Size: VMC #3 / #3 / #3

Perfect For

When big bass are keying on the surface and you need a bait that walks wide, casts far, and sounds off — the Lucky Craft Super Sammy 126 is the one to tie on. A true pro-grade topwater lure built for serious anglers.

Lucky Craft Super Sammy 132 Topwater Lure

It was early summer at Lake Fork. The big fish had pushed down to 20 feet, and most anglers had given up on topwater. Not Bassmaster Elite champion Takahiro Omori. Armed with a prototype of what would become the Lucky Craft Super Sammy 132, he worked the surface with patience and persistence — and was rewarded with a memorable 10 lb bass that proved this bait could pull giants up from the depths. That fish gave this lure its nickname: the Super Sammy 10LB.

The secret is the 132's large profile. At 5-1/3" and 1 oz, it displaces a serious amount of water with every side-to-side walk-the-dog motion, sending out vibrations and surface disturbance that draw bass from a greater distance than smaller topwaters can reach. When big fish are deep and reluctant, the Super Sammy 132 gives you the reach and the presence to pull them up.

Features

• Large 5-1/3" profile displaces more water — draws fish from greater distances
• Walk-the-dog action with constant side-to-side motion triggers reaction strikes
• 1 oz weight for long, accurate casts to reach fish holding in open water
• Proven on 10 lb+ bass by Bassmaster Elite pro Takahiro Omori
• VMC treble hooks for strong, reliable hooksets
• Floating design for easy surface presentation and control

Specs

• Length: 5-1/3" (132mm)
• Weight: 1 oz (28.0g)
• Depth: Surface
• Type: Floating
• Hook Size: VMC #2 / #2 / #2

Perfect For

When you want to target big bass with a topwater that has the size and presence to pull them up from depth, the Lucky Craft Super Sammy 132 is the bait. Cast it, walk it, and hold on — this is the lure that catches the fish of a lifetime.

The Megabass Baby Pop X BFS Topwater Popper is a compact version of the iconic Pop X popper, loved by fish and anglers since its release in 1996. Featuring a unique cup design and patented balancer system, this popper can function as both a traditional popper and pop-walker. Perfect for preserving the coveted popper bite during tough bite windows.

Introducing the Megabass Baby Pop X BFS Popper, designed for maximum splashing action with minimal forward travel. Its sculpted cup design and centralized line tie creates a tantalizing bubble trail to attract predators. With the right setup, this lure is perfect for pinpoint casts and stealth approaches, making it a must-have for any angler's arsenal.

Key Features:

• Compact BFS Design: Downsized iconic Pop X
• Patented Balancer System: Dual popper and pop-walker function
• Sculpted Cup Design: Maximum splashing action
• Centralized Line Tie: Tantalizing bubble trail
• Minimal Forward Travel: Stays in strike zone
• BFS Optimized: Pinpoint casts and stealth
• 2" - 3/16oz: Compact finesse profile

Performance Advantages:

• Tough Bite Windows: Preserves popper bite
• Dual Function: Traditional popper and pop-walker
• Maximum Splash: Minimal forward travel
• Bubble Trail: Attracts predators
• Pinpoint Casts: BFS setup perfect
• Stealth Approaches: Compact profile

Ideal Applications:

• BFS (Bait Finesse System) fishing
• Tough bite windows
• Finesse topwater fishing
• Stealth approaches
• Pinpoint casting
• Bass fishing
• Any compact popper application

Recommended Techniques:

• Popping retrieve
• Pop-walking action
• Minimal forward travel
• Pinpoint casting
• Stealth presentations

Specifications:

When you need a compact BFS topwater popper with patented balancer system for dual popper and pop-walker function, sculpted cup design for maximum splashing action with minimal forward travel, centralized line tie for tantalizing bubble trail, and BFS optimization for pinpoint casts and stealth approaches during tough bite windows, the Megabass Baby Pop X BFS Topwater Popper is the choice of serious BFS and finesse topwater anglers.

Note: Compact version of iconic Pop X (since 1996). Patented balancer system functions as popper and pop-walker. Sculpted cup design for maximum splash with minimal forward travel. Perfect for BFS setups, pinpoint casts, and stealth approaches.

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.