BlueBlue JOLTY 55g

A heavy blade-equipped jighead carries a large paddle-tail shad body; the tail kicks hard on the fall and the blade adds flash and vibration, giving a strong, easily detected thump through the retrieve. The combination is built to stand out in open water where fish are keying on bait schools rather than close, subtle presentations.

Open water and current edges where aomono (blue-backed pelagics), tachiuo (hairtail) or flatfish are feeding on bait schools, typically fished from boat or breakwater. It suits sessions where fish are scattered through the water column and a lure that combines fall, flash and vibration is needed to draw them from a distance.

Cast and let it sink to the strike zone, then work a steady retrieve or a slow hop-and-fall through the depth fish are holding at. Bites often come as the blade and tail settle on the drop, so keeping light contact with the line through the fall helps detect a take before it is felt on the rod.

A M-MH spinning or baitcast rod suits the weight of this jighead and the sustained retrieve it is worked with. Match it to a 3000-4000 size reel, PE1.5-2.0 braid for casting distance and sensitivity to the blade thump, and a 20-30lb fluorocarbon leader to cope with structure and larger fish.