jiggerjohn
Active member
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2010
- Messages
- 547
My prototype soft plastic lure resembled a miniature, partially kneaded, unbaked loaf of sourdough bread. As our own Hawn Jigs has described, this is a heavily salted chunk of plastic designed to be jigged WEIGHTLESS, with its own very unique wobble during descent downward. While testing it's action in a "fished out" pond, I was immediately surprised when the 3" lure stopped after bottom touchdown and a hefty largemouth fired back up, sky high, firmly hooked !
Similar to the current crop of thick stick style fluttering plastic worms, this "LOAF" is much better balanced with a short ,squatty body that magnifies its zig zag action during the fall. From reading, it seems this soft bait is currently all the rage among pro bass anglers ,based on a Japanese concept with a less than elegant name.
I was extremely excited to discover that a 30 year old Texas ,family operated company, U.S. Bait Co. , is hand poring their own version of this unique thick, round wobbler. Next morning after receiving my initial order in the mail, I took the U.S. "scat" out for a test run. My wife laughed at the plain look of my brown lure ,wondering aloud (very loud!) what a fish would ever imagine in its fat profile. We were both shocked, seconds later when upon the bait hitting water's surface, I had the hardest strike of the season ! It was a long, drag running fight with yard wide boils that almost stopped my old heart. Finally landed the 15 pounder (no, don't faint, it was a thick bellied channel catfish ,not a bass!). I was overwhelmingly pleased, and carefully released the monster,despite sinking up to my knees in slimy mud (more laughter from wifey!), out of gratitude for a wonderful battle! Yes, I went on to catchin bass on the LOAF, thinking just maybe I've found my "bread 'n butter" jig for August!
I'd be remiss in not mentioning that the U.S. Bait-Loaf has an unusual backwards glide as it nears bottom , very similar to a fleeing crawfish. I'm told that Japanese experts give their lure two subtle rod twitches, then allow it to swim in reverse, and pause for a few seconds. As plenty of you tube videos show, this is where the subtle take usually occurs. And from my own observations , not even "dog days" bass can ever resist a plump crab scatting backwards into cover !
Let's talk about this amazingly productive concept, guys!
Similar to the current crop of thick stick style fluttering plastic worms, this "LOAF" is much better balanced with a short ,squatty body that magnifies its zig zag action during the fall. From reading, it seems this soft bait is currently all the rage among pro bass anglers ,based on a Japanese concept with a less than elegant name.
I was extremely excited to discover that a 30 year old Texas ,family operated company, U.S. Bait Co. , is hand poring their own version of this unique thick, round wobbler. Next morning after receiving my initial order in the mail, I took the U.S. "scat" out for a test run. My wife laughed at the plain look of my brown lure ,wondering aloud (very loud!) what a fish would ever imagine in its fat profile. We were both shocked, seconds later when upon the bait hitting water's surface, I had the hardest strike of the season ! It was a long, drag running fight with yard wide boils that almost stopped my old heart. Finally landed the 15 pounder (no, don't faint, it was a thick bellied channel catfish ,not a bass!). I was overwhelmingly pleased, and carefully released the monster,despite sinking up to my knees in slimy mud (more laughter from wifey!), out of gratitude for a wonderful battle! Yes, I went on to catchin bass on the LOAF, thinking just maybe I've found my "bread 'n butter" jig for August!
I'd be remiss in not mentioning that the U.S. Bait-Loaf has an unusual backwards glide as it nears bottom , very similar to a fleeing crawfish. I'm told that Japanese experts give their lure two subtle rod twitches, then allow it to swim in reverse, and pause for a few seconds. As plenty of you tube videos show, this is where the subtle take usually occurs. And from my own observations , not even "dog days" bass can ever resist a plump crab scatting backwards into cover !
Let's talk about this amazingly productive concept, guys!