The Backward Fat Ika
Story & photos by Chris Johnson, Bass World West
 The
Fat Ika from Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits has become a deadly tool
for many bass anglers. Though it has secretly been winning
tournaments for a while now, the Fat Ika is still a bait that is
misunderstood by many. At first glance, the Fat Ika looks like a
tube bait, and many anglers start off rigging it as such.
However, it is only when rigged backward that the Fat Ika
discovers it’s greatest potential - as a penetrating target
bait.
When rigged on a Gamakatsu 5/0 EWG hook (as seen above), the
Fat Ika does it’s magic. Rigged without a weight, the bait
should be cast out and let to sink on a slack line. The Fat
Ika falls away from the angler when rigged as such, so
significant slack should be allowed on the sink. The bait falls
at an angle (as seen below) because of the salt in the plastic
creating weight to the back end of the bait.
Most strikes occur on the initial fall, but if the bait
settles to the bottom, twitch the bait upwards with a sharp
lift of the rod tip. One or two lifts, then let the bait settle
back to the bottom on a controlled slack line. Always watch your
line for indications of a strike. As you lift the bait, the skirt
flares, and then folds back as the bait falls again to the
bottom. A very realistic crawfish action is created by the Fat
Ika's lift and drop. Most often used in shallow areas with
targets such as docks, brush, weeds, etc., the Fat Ika can really
penetrate deep into such areas with it’s backwards decent. This
is a technique where you’ll need to use a medium heavy rod with
at least 12 lb test line.
 
The Fat Ika is much like Yamamoto’s Senko for the fact that
weight from salt gives each bait its action, not the angler. They
are both patience baits which need to be fished slowly, enabling
each bait to do its job. The weightless technique is deadly for
big bass because it forces anglers to slow down and spend a
longer time with their baits in the water. The Fat Ika is
definitely one of the deadliest weightless soft plastic baits
ever invented.
Good luck using the backward Fat Ika.
 Chris
Johnson,
Bass World West
http://www.bassworldwest.com
Tel. 1-866-JUST4BASS
BASS WORLD WEST is a web and retail business devoted
solely to the sport of bass fishing, with an online store as well
as walk-in retail establishment in Santa Ana, California catering
to all of you out there who are involved in the sport to some
extent or another.
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