Jackall Riser Bait 012 Subsurface Wake Bait — 4.7 in, 1-1/8 oz

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.