Pro-Fishing Tips - Fishing Articles for Pro-Fishing Success
Silent Topwater Walking Baits
The New “Re-Introduced” Lucky Craft Wooden Sammy
Nicholas Hinkle
With the summer months upon us and Fall right around the corner, the topwater bite is here. This is a time we all love as this is the time we can see the explosion of what we all hope to be that fish of a lifetime. It's a time when the fish are “showing their faces”. This is also a time of year when the fish have grouped up and are beginning to gorge themselves on the inhabited baitfish of their waters.
One of the most popular methods of coaxing what can be some very finicky fish this time of year, is working a walking type topwater bait.
Probably the most popular topwater walking bait in the bass fishing world would have to be the Lucky Craft Sammy. Mike Folkestad has used a ‘Sammy type” lure, the Ichiban Minnow Balsa Pro, to win two U.S. Open tournaments on what is considered one of the most finicky bass lakes (Lake Mead, Nevada) there is anywhere. The unique characteristic of being a silent walking bait has aided Folkestad in winning the US Open twice in his illustrious career. The success of the Ichiban Minnow has led to many anglers spending in upwards of over $100 per bait.
The Ichiban Minnow has been out of production for nearly 8 years, leading to cleared pegs in tackle stores across the nation. Well, fear no more! The high end Japanese lure company Lucky Craft has actually re-introduced the original silent wood walking bait. Yes, the Lucky Craft Sammy was originally made out of wood before the Ichiban Minnow. Lucky Craft quickly ended production of this bait. Now, if you can find any of the original Wooden Sammy's, congratulations, you have an incredible collector's piece! As I stated earlier, Lucky Craft has re-introduced the Lucky Craft Wooden Sammy. (see photo for size/shape comparison between the Ichiban Minnow and New Wooden Sammy from Lucky Craft). It is the same size as the current and ever popular Sammy 100 that is molded plastic and has the tiny glass rattles inside creating a different noise than other walking baits. The New Wooden Sammy was introduced at last years 2005 ICAST show, appropriately in Las Vegas, Nevada home of Lake Mead. Coincidence? Maybe.
The New Wooden Sammy from Lucky Craft comes complete with very sharp Daiichi treble hooks and the finish we have all come to love from Lucky Craft. The new Wooden Sammy is currently available in 4 fish catching colors (MS American Shad, Ghost Minnow, Chartreuse Shad and Impact Yellow). I prefer to add a feathered treble to the rear, but I have not seen a difference in the amount of fish caught with or without a rear feathered treble hook. It's simply a confidence thing for me. The characteristics of the New Wooden Sammy in comparison to the Ichiban Minnow are the Ichiban Minnow likes to skate a bit wider and longer distances, while the New Wooden Sammy can do both as well, but it really shines when you work it real quick. The Wooden Sammy really works easy at a frantic pace mimicking a fleeing baitfish, which triggers bites in a vicious manner. The Wooden Sammy also features a cupped mouth that actually spits water when working the bait.
When the Wooden Sammy was first re-introduced, they were selling for well over $100 on online auction sites. The Wooden Sammy's from Lucky Craft are currently retailing for just under $30.00. The presumption was that these were going to be a Limited Production item and gone quickly, well, these are beginning to dry up and becoming more and more difficult to find on tackle store pegs. The setup I prefer to use while throwing the Wooden Sammy is a Conway Custom Rods custom built GLoomis CBR845 with a Team Daiwa TD-Z 103H baitcasting reel that has been spooled up with Sunline Shooter Defier 15lb test. The Wooden Sammy weighs in at one half ounce and can really fly through the air when you are trying to reach that fish that just busted 40 yards away! Try one of these great baits out and see for yourself as these baits offer a slightly subtler approach for the often bass of all species (smallmouth, largemouth and spotted) during the topwater season.
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