Yamamoto 3.5" Yamatanuki

Why Buy the Yamamoto 3.5" Yamatanuki?

The Yamamoto 3.5" Yamatanuki is a power-finesse bait unlike anything else in the lineup. Born from Yamamoto's Japanese tournament circuit — where it's been a proven fish-catcher for years — the Yamatanuki is now available in the US and quickly becoming a go-to for anglers who flip into cover, cast to fish on forward-facing sonar, and need a bait that falls fast and looks natural doing it. At 5/8 oz, it casts like a bullet, falls with a tantalizing sway and shimmy, and can be fished completely weightless. 8 per pack, 8 handpicked colors. Made in the USA.

Main Use & Benefit

A 3.5-inch, 5/8 oz power-finesse bait built from a custom heavy soft plastic formula — its natural weight allows it to be fished weightless yet cast far and fall fast, making it the go-to for flipping into cover, casting to forward-facing sonar fish, and any presentation where a fast-falling, natural-looking bait triggers strikes.

Problem It Solves

Most finesse baits are too light to cast well or fall fast enough for flipping and FFS presentations. Most flipping baits require added weight that kills the natural action. The Yamatanuki's 5/8 oz custom heavy formula solves both — it casts great, falls fast, and produces a tantalizing sway and shimmy on the fall that triggers strikes without any added weight.

Advantages

• ✅ 5/8 oz custom heavy formula — casts far and falls fast without added weight
• ✅ Tantalizing sway and shimmy on the fall — irresistible action that triggers strikes
• ✅ Versatile — flipping, casting, dragging, FFS, and finesse presentations
• ✅ Proven on the Japanese tournament circuit — now available in the US
• ✅ 8 handpicked colors matched to real-world fishing conditions
• ✅ Made in the USA — consistent, top-quality Yamamoto soft plastic
  
• ⚠️ 5/8 oz — heavier than standard finesse baits; best on 15–20 lb fluorocarbon or 30–50 lb braid for flipping

When to Choose It

Reach for the Yamatanuki when you need a bait that can be flipped into heavy cover, cast to fish you can see on forward-facing sonar, or presented in situations where a fast-falling, natural-looking bait outperforms everything else. It's equally effective as a power-finesse casting bait on medium-heavy spinning or baitcasting gear and as a flipping bait on heavy tackle.

Best Fishing Techniques

• Flipping & Pitching — rig on a 5/0 EWG hook and flip into heavy cover, docks, laydowns, and grass; the 5/8 oz body penetrates cover and falls fast to the bottom; no added weight needed
• Forward-Facing Sonar (FFS) — cast to fish you can see on screen; the sway and shimmy on the fall triggers reaction strikes from fish that are watching the bait descend in real time
• Casting & Dragging — cast to structure and drag slowly along the bottom; the heavy body stays in contact with the bottom and the appendages quiver on every pause
• Weightless Swimming — slow, steady retrieve just below the surface or through the water column; the body produces a natural swimming action at any speed
• Skip Presentations — the 5/8 oz body loads the rod for long, accurate skip casts under docks and overhanging cover

Best Conditions

• Heavy cover — docks, laydowns, grass, brush piles
• Open water and mid-depth structure on FFS presentations
• Clear to lightly stained water where the sway and shimmy is most visible
• Any depth — the fast fall makes it effective from shallow flipping to deep FFS
• Year-round — especially effective in spring (pre-spawn flipping) and summer (FFS open water)

Best For

Key Features

• 3.5" profile, 5/8 oz — heavy custom formula for fast fall and long casts without added weight
• Tantalizing sway and shimmy — irresistible fall action proven on the Japanese tournament circuit
• 5/0 EWG compatible — superior hook gap for better hooksets in heavy cover
• 8 handpicked colors — matched to real-world fishing conditions by Yamamoto pros
• Made in the USA
• 8 per pack

Models & Specs

Size: 3.5" | Weight: 5/8 oz | Count: 8 per pack | Made in the USA | Water Type: Freshwater

Tackle Express Tips

1. Go heavy on the hook — The Yamatanuki's 5/8 oz body requires a 5/0 EWG hook for the best hook gap and hookset performance. A 4/0 will work in a pinch, but the 5/0 gives you the gap coverage you need for solid hooksets in heavy cover. The Tackle Express team's go-to is the Owner Beast 5/0 or Gamakatsu EWG 5/0.
2. Green Pumpkin w/ Black Flake for most situations — Green Pumpkin w/ Black Flake (#297) is the most versatile color in the lineup and should be your starting point in clear to lightly stained water. Switch to Mimizu in stained water or when bass are keying on worm-colored forage, and use Black w/ Large Blue Flake in dark or muddy water for maximum visibility.
3. Watch the line on FFS — When casting to fish on forward-facing sonar, watch both your screen and your line. The Yamatanuki's sway and shimmy is most visible on FFS during the fall — most strikes happen before the bait hits the bottom. Keep your rod tip up and be ready to set the hook the moment you see a fish move toward the bait on screen.

FAQ

Q: Can the Yamatanuki be fished completely weightless?
A: Yes — that's one of its biggest advantages. The 5/8 oz custom heavy formula gives it enough weight to cast well and fall fast without any added bullet weight or jig head. Simply rig it on a 5/0 EWG hook and fish it weightless for flipping, casting, or FFS presentations.

Q: What line weight works best for the Yamatanuki?
A: For flipping and pitching into heavy cover, 30–50 lb braided line is the standard setup. For casting and FFS presentations in open water, 15–20 lb fluorocarbon or 20–30 lb braid with a 15–17 lb fluoro leader gives you the best combination of castability and sensitivity.

Q: How does the 3.5" Yamatanuki compare to the 2.5" version?
A: The 3.5" is the original and primary power-finesse version — heavier at 5/8 oz, better for flipping into heavy cover and casting to FFS fish in open water. The 2.5" is the compact, finesse-oriented version at 1/4 oz — ideal for clear water, smallmouth, spotted bass, and situations where a smaller profile gets more bites on lighter line.