Hard Jerkbait fishing can be deadly productive for targeting Calico Bass as Southern California's waters begin to warm.

SUMMER DRAWS NEAR!!!

..........As the water warms throughout Southern California ,calico bass migrate from their deep water winter haunts to the shallow structure that comprises what truly makes calico bass fishing so exciting. Fishing the skinny water structure, be it boiler rocks, kelp stringers, or isolated patches of grass, is what many of us believe to be some of the most challenging, yet rewarding methods to target saltwater bass. Traditionally, fishing these structures has been done with lures such as swimbaits and iron jigs; however, in the past decade we've seen a promulgation of new tactics to target these fish. Many of such tactics have been adapted from the largemouth bass scene, such as using spinnerbaits, football jigs, slugs, and jerkbaits. When bass roam these shallow water areas, anglers are presented with the opportunity to jerk and rip hardbaits. For those us on the IMA and DEPS prostaff, we've been given the opportunity to fish some of the most innovative and effective hardbaits from Japan .

NEW BEAST FROM THE EAST: IMA HARDBAITS

....Ima Japan is one of the most prestigious hard lure manufacturers throughout Japan . Ima earned its reputation by creating an extremely extensive and premium product line up for both fresh and salt water. The Ima brand was launched throughout Japan in April of 1998, capturing the inshore market. Almost immediately, Japanese anglers realized the Ima hardbait's fish catching ability and made it one of Japan 's best selling lures, reaching the 500,000-unit mark since its debut. The Ima lures are consistently the best selling saltwater hardbaits in Japan .

....Ima originates from the first three letters from the English word “imagination”. Ima feels that an angler will always make their imagination work for them, and they will always enjoy the process of doing so. Ima is dedicated to assist the angler with their imagination and provides lures that produce excellent results. Their product development is thus motivated on keeping the angler's trust and imagination sharp.

....The Ima brand prides itself for being the leader in lure innovation. Ima designers possess degrees at top Japanese Universities in either Marine Studies or engineering degrees specializing in CAD systems. This coupled with being hardcore fisherman enables Ima to get a concept - to a prototype - to a perfected lure at record speeds with the utilization of CNC machines.

JERKBAIT TACKLE

....When it comes to fishing jerkbaits, there's a long standing argument of which is better: a spinning or casting outfit. From our experiences, it boils down to what the angler is most confident in. Some anglers fish casting outfits, others insists on left handed casting outfits, while some are adamant about fishing spinning tackle. Simply stated, fish whatever style tackle that allows you to work the bait with ease.

....Be it spinning or casting, there are a few constants with regards to tackle:

Rods: The length of the rod is dictated by the anglers' casting ability, height, and the anglers' boat. Longer the rod, the further you cast, but the harder it is to work the bait from a boat that sits low to the water. You want the rod as long as possible, but just short enough to where your rod tip is not dragging in the water on the Jerk Pause technique when your rod is pointed downward. Long, limber rods are important for the same reason as in fishing crankbaits. They act as shock absorbers and aid in keeping fish pinned when a fish has not taken the bait completely.

....Regardless of the length, you want to look for a rod with a fast taper tip. With a light tip, the rod will smooth out the jerking action to some degree so the bait moves more natural. And a light tip is better to play the fish since the smallish hooks leave something to be desired in a power struggle. This is true for most of your jerkbait fishing; however, when “Ripping” jerkbaits, a tactic discussed later in this article, you want a rod with a stiffer tip and moderate action, which gives the rod a better chance to recover after each jerk, and prior to the next jerk.

Reels: Generally, selection of spinning reels is simple. You want something in the 3000 size, it has a large enough line capacity, without being too heavy and bulky to cast all day. Something like the Shimano Sustain 3000 is perfect.

....As far as baitcasters, you want to look for something that is low profile with at least a 6:1 retrieve ratio. Trying to jerk or rip while gripping a large reel all day can wear your wrist out. Many of us use Shimano Curado 300s or 200s.

Line: Preferably, you want to fish the smallest diameter line possible, in order to assist the bait in reaching its maximum running depth. However, when you're fishing tight to jagged rocks and interweaved stands of kelp, light line doesn't bode too well to landing fish. This is where spectra comes into play. Generally, we fish 50lb spectra attached to a 3-4 ft section of 20-25lb fluorocarbon, which serves as a shock absorber against the no-stretch spectra.

Cross - Snaps: IMA baits, and many Japanese jerkbaits do not come with split rings attached to the lure. The jerkbaits are designed to be fished on Cross-Snap or Duo-Snaps. By utilizing the cross-snaps, anglers can change baits easily and impart more action on the bait. 30-40lb rated Cross-Snaps are more than sufficient.

FAVORITE BAITS

IMA FLIT: 120mm in length, with a 6-8 running depth. The Flit features a Triangular Internal Chamber system:  This unique system maximizes sound by ricocheting BBs at constant angles. The high pitch, small BBs, replicates the sounds made by herring and smelt. The Flit is flat sided, with a wider back, a common shape of baitfish resembling in the herring family. We recommend switching out hooks to saltwater hooks.

IMA GENE: Features small lip and slim profile for erratic darting action.