Lucky Craft SW Flash Minnow 110SP & 130MR - California Fishing

halibut · 04-06-2006, 02:06 AM

SW Flash Minnow 110 SP
http://www.luckycraft.com/luckycraft...innow110sp.htm

Length: 4.5" (110mm)
Weight: 5/8 Oz.(18.0g)
Hook Size: #6

The surf fishing world was turned on to this lure by the guys at http://fishing25.com/ . Since its discovery, more and more halibut ehthusiasts have been switching over to various jerkbaits and leaving their swimbaits and krocodiles at home. Other jerkbaits will work, however, I believe the shear quality of the Lucky Craft SW Flash Minnow 110 SP will catch more and bigger fish.

I have fished the Long Beach area during heavy pressured mornings and the same anglers who've onced used krocodiles and swimbaits began casting and winding cheaper/ less quality jerkbaits. Though they were catching fish, they were catching smaller and fewer fish while myself and my regular fishing buddies (uandme, aftahour, sharkbait, and kyosuke8) were simply hammering the legal flatties and have often gone into WFO bites on other fish such as corbina, yellowfin croaker and bonito.

I have purchased other jerkbaits made by Rebel, Rapala, Bass Pro Shops, Yo-Yuri, Daiwa, and Jackall. I have extensively compared them to the Flash Minnow and not one even came close to its action, paint job, casting ability, rattle chamber (sound) and suspending balance. Majority of the other lures would kick too wide, have little or no sound and vibration, begin floating up head first during a pause of the wind, and provoke far fewer strikes.

I have attempted to use cheaper lures to catch the same quality and quantity fish as the Flash Minnow, but have failed repeatedly.
Reports speak for itself. Sharkbait caught his largest ever halibut 29.5" on the SW Flash Minnow 110 SP, kyosuke8 also caught his best 28" halibut on the same lure and myself have caught four fish over the 30" mark as well as the 43" monster most recently! Simply and outstanding lure!

SW Flash Minnow 130 MR
http://www.luckycraft.com/luckycraft...innow130mr.htm

Length: 5 1/4 " (130mm)
Weight: 3/4 oz.(20.0g)
Hook Size: #1

This lure is not as well used for halibut and other saltwater game fish, but I have found out that it works particularly when the bite is WFO. There are days when an angler can catch 5-10 22-25" halibut in a single morning or afternoon. When the bite is this great, one must understand that the smaller fish will be fighting over forage fish such as grunion, smelt, sardine, mackerel and "brown bait." During a bite of this caliber, using a larger lure such as the 130 MR will increase your chances in landing a trophy fish.

The larger Flash Minnow seems to work best in late spring and early fall. I have successfully used this lure on 22-39" halibut and countless hog calico bass off of the Rocky Point area.

Due to its body and hook size, using heavier tackle is recommended. 50-65# braid or 14-15# monofiloment will give this lure the best action. As far as colors, it all depends on conditions as I have mentioned in previous posts.

Pros & Cons:

Pros: Unlike a swimbait, you can catch fish after fish without replacing anything but the hook on occassions. A short halibut can and will often tear the tails of the swimbait and this can be frustrating and expensive in the long run. While using jerkbaits, there is no need for plastic glues and scents (although a thin coat can be applied. Smelly Jelly products will last longer on your hardbaits and give it extra flash with its glitter unlike most Pro Cure products which are brown and less adhesive). Moreoever, one will get less short bites and securer hook sets.

Without mention, the jerkbait will consistently catch more and larger fish from the surf (from my experience and from what others have reported). If you disagree, how about a friendly jerkbait vs. anything else fish off (for halibut)?

Cons: Can't be fished in deeper water for halibut, but kicks ### for pelagic fish such as barracuda and bonito. The croaker and corbina can be a nuisance when fishing for halibut as they will readily strike a well swimming jerkbait. Removing the hooks from a fish can be frustrating and dangerous.

sharkbait7 · 04-06-2006, 02:11 AM

nice review. very well written

411 · 04-06-2006, 02:31 AM

Sinjin-

What are the must have colors for the Lucky Craft jerkbaits fo rkelp beds and from the beach?

halibut · 04-06-2006, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 411

Sinjin-

What are the must have colors for the Lucky Craft jerkbaits fo rkelp beds and from the beach?

The Metallic Sardine is a must. The Aurora Mackerel has outfished everything else in my tackle box. The Ghost Minnow works well in clear water during cloudy days. The regular green mackerel and solid white has been known for catching above size fish. However, I think the Metallic Sardine will catch anything, anywhere and any condition.

411 · 04-06-2006, 01:44 PM

Sinjin-

Thanks for sharing your color preferences and congrats on eclipsing the 40" Halibut goal.

PlatinumHooks · 04-06-2006, 03:32 PM

Awesome review, and very well written! Thanks Sin!

BeachBear · 04-08-2006, 01:04 PM

Great review and very true. Can you advise on reeling in techniques? Thanks Sinjin, you'll make the company lots of $$$$$.

halibut · 04-11-2006, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeachBear

Great review and very true. Can you advise on reeling in techniques? Thanks Sinjin, you'll make the company lots of $$$$$.

Slow retrieving is best. No need to twich, jerk, pump or any other type of retrieve. As long as the lure is kicking slowly, it will catch fish. For this reason, using a slower gear ratio reel is best.

cappo · 04-11-2006, 09:54 AM

Nice review man. I hope to put the info to good use soon.

NulodPBall · 04-26-2006, 09:13 AM

Update: The metallic sardine has been basically replaced by the Zebra Sardine...the only real difference that I noticed is that there is orange at both ends of the Zebra Sardine.

BeachBear · 04-26-2006, 04:31 PM

Time to get another. What's the best knot for the Lucky Craft?

kevin · 04-26-2006, 10:27 PM

i have been fishing with sinjin at long beach for 3 weeks or so and at first i didnt know the difference when fish werer biting hard but as fishing got harder i noticed that technics and equipments are the only thing that will keep u landing them. i didnt want to spend lots of money at equipments but since im getting more and more stuff that he's got, im catching more fish and having lot more fun. when fishing is very slow he always gets few and others get 0.
hey sinjin, can u give us more info on the equipments and in details why?

NulodPBall · 04-27-2006, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeachBear

Time to get another. What's the best knot for the Lucky Craft?

===

I'm not the expert here, but I've been told that if you're using braided or fluro. line, to use a Palomar knot. I guess that's generally a good idea...I've had my standard, improved clinch knot that I can tie in my sleep, slip when I've been on a larger trout, with 7x and 5x flurocarbon tippet. I'm just so used to the Improved Clinch that I stick with it...although I've weaned myself off of the blood knot for tying two lines together, I'll use a Surgeon's Knot with three twists (if you use only two, fluro tends to slip) and it works pretty good if the line is of different diameters. If the two lines are wildly different (like floating fly line to dacron backing) I'll use an Albright knot.

halijedi · 04-27-2006, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevin

i have been fishing with sinjin at long beach for 3 weeks or so and at first i didnt know the difference when fish werer biting hard but as fishing got harder i noticed that technics and equipments are the only thing that will keep u landing them. i didnt want to spend lots of money at equipments but since im getting more and more stuff that he's got, im catching more fish and having lot more fun. when fishing is very slow he always gets few and others get 0.
hey sinjin, can u give us more info on the equipments and in details why?

I will try to put this in a nutt-shell. Since we are using artificial lures to catch these halibut, it is vital to get the proper "action" out of each twitch, crank, jerk, pump, etc.

Without the proper rod, reel, line, rigging, and lures, it is simply more difficult and even impossible to get that perfect life-like action out of a plastic or jerkbait.

When dropshotting, using the lightest line possible is not always key. If one was to us 2# test, I guarantee you that his or her dropshotted plastic will simply roll 360 degrees with every twitch of the rod unless they are using a tiny trout worm. Moreoever, line manufacturers make 6# test monofiloment in a variety of diameters. It is best to get one that is not too thick, and not too thin. For example, Yo-Zuri's Hybrid it too thick. King's Line is too thin. Sufix has the proper diameter, strength and limpness.

I have much more to say, but I will explain everything at the seminar and will personally teach you everything I know regarding fishing, it is going to take years, lol. Tuna, yellowtail, saltwater bass, rockfish, ling cod, sheephead, barracuda, wahoo, cubera snapper.....

cst · 04-27-2006, 01:03 PM

sinjin, thanks for everything you have done and still are doing. not too many people help others like you would.