buttaluns Posted December 5, 2011 Report Share Posted December 5, 2011 I figured id take some time and talk about in my opinion the best 3:16 bait there is, the wake fricken jr. I remeber talking with Jam (jeff) this past winter about the baby wake and jr and how i hated these baits. I would reel them in and they would go all over and have terrible action and i was like seriously? Well about the only good advice he has given me to this date is to SLOW IT DOWN. I tell you what, the jr in the greatest thing since pockets in a shirt! I throw this bait out and usually like to dead stick it for 10 seconds or so. After that ill give it a few twitches to make those fat girls panties get wet and then i start a real slow steady retrieve. For me, its not 5 feet after the retrieve starts, the ladies just cant handle it and have to take a bite out of the action. This bait runs so well on top i sometimes think of what other bait i have is similiar, and honestly there isnt anything. The key is slow though. Throw it out, let it sit, do some twitching, reel it in slow, stop and repeat, til you get the bait in. I had more fun with this bait then any other this year and my results showed it. Hope there are some more people that feel the same/can add to my technique! brushhawg1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcanaday495 Posted December 5, 2011 Report Share Posted December 5, 2011 I have to agree this may be the greatest bait ever made I also throw it out there and let it sit for a bit and the a lot of times when you first move it they slam it. Once it is moving i find that reeling just fast enough to get the "clanking" noise going and then retrieving it steady at that rate, with a pause here and there on the way in. Definitely my favorite bait, it was the bait both myself and my father got our PB on this year. I can't wait for it's big brother to come out, or come back out either way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buttaluns Posted December 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2011 Another thing i wanted to add with the Jr.... A thing that is great with this bait is it works even when your not working it. A deadly thing that happens is when there is a wind, which creates small waves, it moves the Jr is a wiggle motion. The waves create the jr to almost swim in place. If your in an area where you know there is a big one that wont bite and you have a breeze, throw the bait out and just let it drift over the area, the jr will work its magic while you just sit and watch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swimbaitrookie Posted December 15, 2011 Report Share Posted December 15, 2011 I have to agree with you two on this - it's an absolutely killer bait - my favorite hardbait so far in my short swimbaiting career! The wake jr was the first 316 hardbait I bought and within a few casts I realized that I'd been missing out on something. I'm throwing mine on an 8' H LDC with 70lb samurai braid and I love how responsive the bait is to both subtle twitches and hard pops. The sound the bait makes when it's being slashed along with the realistic action look like a wounded fish about to get eaten. What's funny to me though is that my two largest fish on this bait have come within seconds of splashdown. The rest have been as described before - within a few feet of the retrieve. I do have an occasional tangle with the braid in the front hook if I get too happy and slap the bait too hard, and when I use poor technique and helicopter the lure on the cast. Here's my favorite color of the bait Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missinfish Posted December 16, 2011 Report Share Posted December 16, 2011 This really is a wicked bait! Countless ways to fish it, I've had them run it down at night on a real fast retrieve during the summer. Cranked down on some days. And if you choose you can keep it in the strike zone as long as you have patience. One of my favorite retrieves is to cast it out and let the water settle. Then turn the reel 1/2 a crank but slowly so it doesnt twitch but it glides either left or right, then make it glide in the other direction. But at a crawl, like a dis oriented fish, works when they are taking a real long look but not hitting a dead stick. Give it a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucas Posted December 16, 2011 Report Share Posted December 16, 2011 You always remember your first time... My first swimbait fish came on the "Baby Bass" version of the Wake Jr. and while it wasn't a giant, I was hooked from that point. I was just telling someone the other day that while the Freestyles are badass, if I'm throwing topwater, I'm throwing the Wake Jr. or the Born Again. There are too many things to write about how good Wake Jr.s are I wouldn't even know where to start. Even the "haters" will admit that the Wake Jr. is a must have. If you're digging in the couch cushions and saving your pennies for a hard bait, this is the one you want. I've had follows on several baits, but the Wake Jr. is the only bait I've ever seen a true "wolf pack" follow. Bottom line, the Wake Jr. is legit and is a must have in every swimbaiter's arsenal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali Posted December 16, 2011 Report Share Posted December 16, 2011 Great advice on "slowing it down". I viewed the wake jr. like a slammer which can be waked, cranked down, or burned. While I have caught fish on it burning it down, it seems to do its best work slow; specially if you like bigger fish. Nice job on the write up. -Ali Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primus Posted December 16, 2011 Report Share Posted December 16, 2011 I have to agree this is my favorite 316 bait. The first time I fished it was this spring during a light rain with a 10 MPH wind and hooked up with 1/2 dozen solid 3-4 lbers before a thunderstorm chased me off the lake. I was using the White color. I also have it in the Perch color. Fun bait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rubberdaddy Posted December 17, 2011 Report Share Posted December 17, 2011 If I had to choose just one swimbait..... The wake jr would get the franchise tag.... I'm pretty sure it was my first 3:16 bait, and it paid dividends immediately. 2 hours into my swimbait debut and I hung my PB on the board with a perch flavored Jr. Fished weighted in a little over 8lbs and flushed the bait on slow steady retrieve. The slow and steady has been my main retrieve ever since, but as others have stated the bait attracts bites on a multitude of cadences. I'll often start with walking it for 10' or so and then let the slow wobbling, knocking, and distressed prey signals that eminate so well do the rest of the work. Bites are usually pretty vicious and make it truly an exciting bait to fish The design and build quality of the bait have already been mentioned, and it's certainly fair to say the the wake jr shares the standard level of excellence with regards to durability and esthetic appeal synonymous with 3:16 baits The two minor negatives of the bait that I've observed are it's tendency to cartwheel on the cast which will slightly hinder overall distance. I honestly rarely wish to be able to throw it further, but other baits will certainly offer less resistance with regards to distance. I also have experienced the line fouling the front hook occasionally on the cast. Once I realized that a smooth steady cast will help eliminate fouling and cartwheeling these issues have been greatly reduced. My opinion is that the Wake Jr is the ultimate starter bait as you can simply chuck and slow wind your way to some swimbait confidence. The fish are easily attracted to this bait, and many different retrieves produce. Walk it, wake it, chug it, pause it whatever it takes to get bit are easily done This was the bait that gave me enough confidence to throw a swimbait all day without resorting back to conventional gear. Also with having produced my biggest bass ever it keeps me feeling like the next cast could be "the one" during the unavoidable hours that sometimes come between bites Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted December 17, 2011 Report Share Posted December 17, 2011 love the wake jr as well. only pic descent quality pic i have. it was caught in the middle of winter my line was icing at the rod tip, nothing big but dammm what a fun bait to fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbaittoon Posted December 17, 2011 Report Share Posted December 17, 2011 If I had to limit myself to any 316 swimbait it would be a wake jr no question about it. I bought mine back in 2008 and it has been used and abused. First day with it I caught a 7 from a lake I dont normally do well at. During the retrieve it has a 'sweet spot" with the clacking and movement that produces the majority of my bites. It can also be fished under like a crank bait, although this has only produced fish under 5lbs for me. it can be slapped around as well, I cant say Ive ever caught a fish doing this though. When I see a fish under it Ill kill it and give it little twitches, nothing aggressive. The best days for the jr IMO is when there are little to no waves but a steady breeze to break up the water. It tends to get over powered and loses effectivenss with larger waves. Sometimes it is tough to cast and likes to death roll, resulting in a far from lenghty cast. I like to release the bait (overhand casts) a little higher than normal baits, which tends to lessen the death roll. It is a very durable bait, Ive hit rocks, docks, bouys, and overhead trees that usually result in a broken bait, the worst thing that happened to my jr is the tail chipped at the top.Fortunately sent it in and Mickey fixed it right up. Hookups are a definite negative at least for me soemtimes. I miss/lose a ton of fish on this bait for whatever reason. Multiple fish that get to the boat are hanging on by a little hook point, its not often they get full face hooks for me. This doesnt worry me as much and I chalk it up to "its gonna happen" and keep chucking. Although the hookup ratio is never perfect, this bait is one of my serious confidence baits. Ive had multiple 20lb bags on it, as well as 20lbs for two fish including my first DD. Mine has serious road marks worn into it from all the fish. I feel this bait gets better the more it is fished, as the joints will get looser giving the "it" factor -Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDHanson79 Posted December 19, 2011 Report Share Posted December 19, 2011 - I love this bait as most have already stated. The bass that was during the day was caught by cranking the bait down as soon as it hit the water using pauses during my retrieve, she hit right on the first pause almost jerked the rod out off my hand. - The one at night was caught using the walking the dog retrieve and popping and slapping it. Notice how both fish are stuck on the front hook. The bass just absolutely try to kill this bait when they hit it. - I feel that the best setup for this bait is a XH rod paired with a 300 reel using 25lb test or 65lb braid although I find that when using the braid the bait tends to get fouled often when using a erratic retrieve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDHanson79 Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 - I would like to add when you crank this bait down, it is not a bait that you can burn under the surface it will roll on it's side. If you plan to crank it down the best speed that I have found is a slow to med slow retrieve. This will keep the bait down and still maintain an upright profile. - The spots that I have found this type of retrieve to work best around iS timber..(fallen trees) also works well along grass lines/ weed lines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBbassin Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 I love me some Wake Jr! Wont get into what everyone has already said, just a few pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Baiter Posted January 25, 2012 Report Share Posted January 25, 2012 Fish on the Wake JR...Not big but a good fish... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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