create a repetitive pressure into and along the face and sides of the bait. At first glance, the lure appears to be doing nothing. How- ever, the lure emits a small rhythm similar to that of a baitfish swimming (in a neutral posture). Baitfish schools usually swim with little disturbance. Bass observe this mo- tion often.
Seira Minnow
One of the I-Motion lures, called the Seira Minnow, is a hard bait the looks like a small jerkbait. The lure has flow ports in the mouth and gill plates. Water is forced into the mouth of the bait during the retrieve and exits through smaller voids in each gill plate. This distur- bance is subtle and fluid in, but i eas- ily detected by bass. The second lure of the I-Motion technique is a soft plastic version called I-Shad. I-Shad I-Shad is used with the same retrieve as the Seiramin- now. The I-Shad is impregnated with salt and scent, and shaped similar to a minnow profile, but with a rounded keel aiding the lure to track straight. An aggressive slope towards the tail accompanies a group of symmetrical disk shaped bulbs molded together. This group of bulbs initiates tiny disturbances better described as micro-vibrations. The lure’s main body ap- pears to travel straight. In some ways the lure first looks like a small cigar-shaped piece of plastic moving straight through the water column. It makes no body-flash, no wobble, no swaying, as you magnify your focus, your attention is naturally captured by the motion towards the end of the bait, there attached, are two tiny antennae. As water flows to the tail and against the tiny disk- like-bulbs, the antennae vibrate intensely. This strong fish trig- gering movement is nearly undetected by the human eye.. But bass can easily see the rapid movement. Once a bass is upon the bait they feel and view the subtle disturbance. So how innovative is this tournament technique? In 2009, the technique won an award as the most advance tournament tech- nique in Japan. I-motion is meant to be part of the tournament angler’s bag of tricks. The simplicity and pace of the presentation will be the biggest challenge for the American angler. It’s not a run and gun of- fering, yet its ability to draw fish from a distance will make it effi- cient, effective and deadly. How deadly? Yamaki would tell you that he dominated a portion of professional angling in Japan for 3 years. Opening your mind to the next tournament technique called I-motion may allow you a new way to catch fish in areas you once considered void of fish. One thing is for sure, it will open another dimension to your angling, providing you a way to catch non-ag- gressive or neutral fish. BWU
Spring 2012
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