Salas 7X Jr Heavy Yo-Yo Iron Jig

At 4.8 oz, the 7X Jr Heavy is the lightest yo-yo iron in the Salas lineup. That makes it the one most anglers should start with. Yo-yo fishing does not always mean 300 feet of water and a screaming current — a lot of the best yellowtail yo-yo bite happens over high spots, ridges, and hard bottom in moderate depth, and that is exactly where a 4.8 oz iron belongs. It gets down without overshooting the zone, and you can crank it back on tackle you already own.

The retrieve is the whole technique. Drop it to the bottom or to the meter marks where fish are showing, then wind as fast as you can turn the handle. The 7X Jr Heavy holds its swimming action at that speed instead of spinning out, and that fleeing, flashing profile is what makes a deep yellowtail commit. Fish that ignored bait all morning will turn and eat a fast-cranked iron.

Know the ceiling: at 4.8 oz this is not a heavy-current or long-range jig. If you are fishing deep banks, ripping current, or a long-range trip, step up to the 6X Heavy, 7X Heavy, or PL-68. The Jr Heavy is a day-trip yo-yo iron, and it is very good at that job.

Every 7X Jr Heavy is hand-cast and hand-painted in Southern California, so each one comes out slightly different. Small variations in finish and weight are normal and expected.

Where the 7X Jr Heavy shines

• Yellowtail holding on high spots, ridges, and hard bottom in moderate depth
• Day trips out of San Diego, Long Beach, and the local islands
• Fish marked below the surface that won’t come up for surface iron
• Light to moderate current, where a heavy iron would be overkill
• Bonito and barracuda that crash a fast-cranked iron
• Anglers new to yo-yo fishing who don’t own dedicated heavy gear yet

Which Salas iron should you throw?

The 7X Jr Heavy is the entry point into yo-yo fishing — the lightest of the four yo-yo irons. Go heavier as depth and current increase.

Width is measured at the belly, the jig’s widest point. Every Salas iron is hand-cast and hand-painted, so weights and dimensions vary slightly between units.

7X Jr Heavy or 6X Jr Heavy?

This is the question we get most, because both are 4.8 oz. The difference is profile, not weight. The 7X Jr Heavy is longer and slimmer at 5 3/8" × 1". The 6X Jr Heavy is shorter and stouter at 4 5/8" × 1". Match the bait: pick the 7X Jr Heavy when fish are on longer forage like sardine and mackerel, and the 6X Jr Heavy when they are on something shorter and thicker. If you are undecided, the longer 7X profile is the more common all-around choice for local yellowtail.

Also worth knowing: the 7X Jr Heavy and the surface-iron 7X Jr share the same 5 3/8" body. Same silhouette, 4.8 oz versus 2.1 oz. One drops, one stays up top.

Specifications

Because each jig is hand-made, weight and dimensions vary slightly unit to unit. Chrome is a plated finish offered as a separate option and is priced differently from the painted colors.

Picking a color

Down deep, light is scarce and contrast matters more than fine detail. Bright and high-contrast patterns generally out-produce subtle ones on the yo-yo.

Color availability changes constantly. Check the color menu above this description for what we can ship right now.

How to fish it

Drop it straight down — to the bottom, or to the depth where you are marking fish. As soon as it hits, start winding as fast as you can turn the handle and keep winding all the way to the boat. Do not pump the rod. Speed is what triggers the bite, and most of the strikes come partway up, not at the bottom.

If you feel the jig vibrating oddly or fluttering, it is spinning instead of swimming — usually a sign the line is twisted or the retrieve is uneven. Keep the wind steady and constant.

Recommended gear

• Rod: 7–8 ft fast-taper jig rod with enough backbone to pull fish off structure
• Reel: High-speed conventional, 6:1 or faster — retrieve speed is the technique
• Line: 40–50 lb for this weight class; heavier only if the structure demands it
• Leader: 40 lb fluorocarbon is a sensible default in clear water

Pro tips from the shop

• A slow reel will cost you fish. If you own one high-speed reel, this is what it is for.
• Expect the bite on the way up, often in the middle of the water column. Keep winding through it.
• Watch your line on the drop. Yellowtail will eat it falling, and the only tell is line going slack early.
• Start with Scrambled Egg if you have no other information. It has been the default deep yellowtail color here for decades.

Common mistakes

• Winding too slowly. The opposite problem from surface iron. Yo-yo is a speed technique — if your arm is not tired, you are going too slow.
• Pumping the rod. Wind steadily with the rod low. Pumping creates slack and kills the action.
• Buying it for deep, heavy-current spots. At 4.8 oz it will get swept. Move up to the 6X Heavy, 7X Heavy, or PL-68.
• Light drag over structure. A yellow that gets its head down will find the rocks. Lock up and turn it early.
• Packing it away wet. Rinse in fresh water and dry it fully before it goes back in the bag.

Frequently asked questions

Complete the setup

• Salas 7X Jr — same 5 3/8" body at 2.1 oz, for surface fishing
• Salas 6X Jr Heavy — same 4.8 oz, shorter and stouter profile
• Salas 6X Heavy — 6.4 oz when you need more depth and current
• Salas 7X Heavy — 8.1 oz for deep banks and heavy structure
• Shop all yo-yo jigs  |  Shop yellowtail lures  |  Shop all Salas