Capt. G / Pacific Rim Specialist
Successful Designs
Jan. 7 2010, 4:40 PM
Jan. 7 2010, 4:40 PM
Successful Designs
For the third trip in a row, today's yellowtail trip to the Sea of Japan was canceled due to weather.
The express way had been closed recently due to heavy snow, but opened up yesterday.
Getting to the harbor was no problem, but the 12 to 15 foot seas, with 20 to 30 knots of wind meant another reschedule.
Since I had taken the day(s) off from work, and could not go fishing, I spent time going over my tackle, and winding on new line. I have also been working on some topwater lures made from balsa and cedar, that I plan to use for both dorado and yellowtail here in Japan. So, I thought I would share a couple of designs that have been good for me the past few years in both the Pacific Ocean, and the Sea of Japan.
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For the third trip in a row, today's yellowtail trip to the Sea of Japan was canceled due to weather.
The express way had been closed recently due to heavy snow, but opened up yesterday.
Getting to the harbor was no problem, but the 12 to 15 foot seas, with 20 to 30 knots of wind meant another reschedule.
Since I had taken the day(s) off from work, and could not go fishing, I spent time going over my tackle, and winding on new line. I have also been working on some topwater lures made from balsa and cedar, that I plan to use for both dorado and yellowtail here in Japan. So, I thought I would share a couple of designs that have been good for me the past few years in both the Pacific Ocean, and the Sea of Japan.
This is bulky topwater lure made from cedar, that has a larger, bulbous head which really make this lure push water well.
The blue neon back, with pink belly is an attractor pattern lure, and I have done well with this color in low light conditions.
The next is a ballyhoo/saury imitator with a solid epoxy head. Ballyhoo, or "sayori", as they are called in Japanese, are a prolific baitfish here in Japan, and everything from inshore seabass, to offshore tuna eat these baitfish.
I have not seen any topwater baits with the same type of pointy nose, so I started making my own a few years ago.
This one is made from balsa wood, with a center counterbalance weight. It has a great action--much better than similar plastic lures, but these do not last long when I target toothy fish like the "sawara", which is similar to the sierra we catch in Mexico.
When fishing for dorado offshore, I have had wahoo destroy my lure with one bite. I put wire connecting the line tie to the hook hangers, so the fish stays on (if I didn't get bit off), but the wahoo's scissor like jaws and sharp teeth usually damage these thin balsa baits pretty badly.
I have another yellowtail/jigging trip scheduled next week--weather permitting, I will post up a report.
The blue neon back, with pink belly is an attractor pattern lure, and I have done well with this color in low light conditions.
The next is a ballyhoo/saury imitator with a solid epoxy head. Ballyhoo, or "sayori", as they are called in Japanese, are a prolific baitfish here in Japan, and everything from inshore seabass, to offshore tuna eat these baitfish.
I have not seen any topwater baits with the same type of pointy nose, so I started making my own a few years ago.
This one is made from balsa wood, with a center counterbalance weight. It has a great action--much better than similar plastic lures, but these do not last long when I target toothy fish like the "sawara", which is similar to the sierra we catch in Mexico.
When fishing for dorado offshore, I have had wahoo destroy my lure with one bite. I put wire connecting the line tie to the hook hangers, so the fish stays on (if I didn't get bit off), but the wahoo's scissor like jaws and sharp teeth usually damage these thin balsa baits pretty badly.
I have another yellowtail/jigging trip scheduled next week--weather permitting, I will post up a report.
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