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Jerking for gamefish with the Strike Pro Jer-O-Minnow
| Date: |
6/15/04 |
| Tackle type: |
Lures |
| Manufacturer: |
Strike Pro |
| Reviewer: |
JIP |
Total Score: 8.5
Introduction:
Big ocean, big fish, and big lures. The Strike Pro Jer-O-Minnow 130
targets sizeable gamefish as its sub-surface action imitates wounded or fleeing
baitfish with every twitch, jerk, or rip. We test the Jer-O-Minnow's
effectiveness on saltwater and freshwater Stripers.
|
Strike Pro
Jer-O-Minnow 130 Specifications |
| Type |
Saltwater Jerkbait |
|
Class |
Suspending |
| Colors/Patterns |
10
available |
| Size |
5
1/8" |
|
Weight |
1
oz. |
| Hook
size |
#4 |
|
Price |
$11.29 |
Impressions: Strike Pro makes a comprehensive line of
high quality lures and the Jer-O-Minnow is no exception. This minnow lure
features a unique body contour and patterns that are attractive from various
angles. In fact, as light hits the lure from various angles the details of
the Jer-O-Minnow really show. The Jer-O-Minnow is armed with three extremely
sharp saltwater worthy VMC hooks and the lure itself along with its
components and layers of paint are all top notch.
Introducing the Strike Pro
Jer-O-Minnow 130, a saltwater jerkbait that sports 3 VMC treble hooks
Field Tests: The Jer-O-Minnow 130 is a saltwater jerkbait, but can also can
pull double duty targeting fish such as bass, pike, red fish, snook, and much more. I tested
this Strike Pro lure for Striped Bass in the California Delta, O'Neill Forebay,
and in the San Pablo Bay, jerking and ripping away at these aggressive gamefish.
Casting: Casting the Jer-O-Minnow 130 is
easy and it really goes the distance without any difficulty. Being a larger lure
weighing in at 1 ounce, I recommend a two handed cast where you can fling this
minnow bait far afield while targeting fish in the wide open water. A heavier lure
also requires a heftier rig to cast the bait effectively, and a thicker diameter
line is required to bear the increased load.
The Jer-O-Minnow is extremely
detailed in body patterns
Retrieving: This is where the Strike Pro jerkbait really shows off its
abilities. Being big isn't always a good thing when it comes to refined movements,
but the Jer-O-Minnow doesn't have any problems here. While testing the
lure, it did exceptionally well when retrieved at a constant speed, ripping, or
jerking fast and slow. The Strike Pro Jer-O-Minnow has a tight and
accurate side to side wobble when retrieved and ripped. When twitched or
jerked, the lure will dart side to side like a wounded fish would, all the while its prism patterns flash
and the rattle
system adds the element of sound to the equation. With 15lb test line I was able
to get the lure to its specified depth and with lighter line, even further down. When
pausing in between retrieves, the Jer-O-Minnow suspends patiently and sits
in the water with a convincing posture.
Notice the contour body design on
this jerkbait
Additional Notes: As you've read from past reviews, Strike Pro incorporates
many layers of quality paint on their lures and the same is true with the Jer-O-Minnow. The durability on the paint job and finish is
first-rate, but like any lure, even those with the highest quality, the minnow will
eventually take on scratches from the sharp hooks. This is what we would
consider normal wear and tear, and didn't alter the performance of lure in our
tests.
The lure's 3 VMC Vanadium
round trebles are forged for extra strength and have a distinctive cut point. It is
razor-sharp and extremely
hard, and doesn't require sharpening even after landing countless
stripers. Running the point on the fingernail after many field trials, the
hook still proved to be exceptionally sharp. One must also be
careful when removing the lure from the fish since there are 3 hooks. Some
anglers might chose to remove the center treble hook, but replace it with either
a barbless single hook or a cut single hook. The reason for this is to keep the lure
balanced so the designed action can still be achieved.
Jerk or rip the Jer-O-Minnow 130
for aggressive Striped Bass
Price: At a price of $11.29, the Jer-O-Minnow might not
appeal to very price sensitive anglers. But remember, the Strike Pro lures are designed
to be a premium lure, going head to head with other brands such as Lucky Craft,
Team Daiwa, and others. While Strike Pro may not bear the same brand awareness
as some of its competitors, anglers can rest assured that these high quality
lures are indeed the real deal when it comes to quality of design and
construction.
Ratings:
|
Strike Pro
Jer-O-Minnow 130 Ratings
(?/10) |
| Construction/Quality |
This jerkbait is built using quality components and completed using
high-grade paint |
9 |
| Performance |
Constant retrieve, rip, or jerk it for different actions and it will do its
dance to lure a fish to strike. The Jer-O-Minnow 130, a big lure, runs
true and has a nice tight wobble. It also imitates a wounded fish
nicely and the flashy holographic finish attracts fish from afar |
9 |
| Price |
Check your line often because you don't want to lose one of these lures
because they are not cheap |
7 |
| Features |
The
lure features a beautiful paint job, sharp hooks, and a rattling
sounds chamber to attract its predator |
9 |
| Design
(Ergonomics) |
A
luring contour and textured pattern body design and awesome colors to choose from
that's sure to get hit by big fish |
9 |
| Application |
The
130 size is big as it's made to target bigger sized fish in both saltwater
and freshwater |
8 |
|
Total Score |
8.5 |
Pluses and Minuses:
|
Plus
Minus |
| J
Awesome patterns |
L
Premium price |
| J
Effective actions |
|
| J
Big fish lure |
|
| J
Saltwater worthy |
|
Conclusion: If jerkbait fishing is your game, then check out
the Strike Pro Jer-O-Minnow 130. This large saltwater jerkbait is excellent
for targeting aggressive gamefish that like to chase or attack wounded baitfish
near the surface. The Jer-O-Minnow sports a very high quality finish that
gives off plenty of flash coupled with strident vibrations from its rattle system. Being big, it still runs true with a nice wobble and side to side
motion when jerked. This saltwater lure can also be used for
freshwater species, but because of the larger size, it definitely works best for larger
species, capable of inhaling larger prey. Strike Pro proved in previous
tests that it had what it took to conceive small lures for finesse bass fishing,
and with the introduction of the Jer-O-Minnow Strike Pro demonstrates that they
have the capacity to take on the big boys too.
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