Pin's Minnow - Yo-Zuri's pocket-sized baitfish imitator is a big fish catcher.

This season I plan to go small and slow - i.e. I will be throwing smaller baits then I did last season, and working them slower. The reason is quite simple; I’ve discovered that smaller, realistic lures attract bigger (and of course larger numbers of) fish on pressured bodies of water. Though I'm happy to report that catch and release is commonplace amongst most bass fishermen these days (and this bodes well for the continued development of a sustainable fishery), there are a good number of people fishing today, and thanks to the instant dissemination of information via the world wide web, most of those fishermen are well educated on which baits to throw, how to throw them and when to throw them. The result is an educated class of bass, growing up with a first hand knowledge of what a lure is and when to be wary. My theory is that by throwing small, realistic looking lures, these fish can be still fooled into striking - repeatedly. The diminutive size of these lures lowers the defenses of cautious bass, and the anatomical detail/paint seals the deal. I guess you could call it finesse fishing, but I prefer the term forage fishing - trying to match the hatch and/or baitfish as best you can. Having said that, I do believe larger baits catch larger fish on seldom/lightly fished bodies of water, and larger baits will catch the larger apex predators on any given body of water - but for me, to maximize my time and catch on the water, I will be downsizing this season. One of the lures I will be throwing that falls perfectly into my category of smaller and detailed is Yo-Zuri's Pin’s Minnow™.

The Pin’s Minnow™ is a realistic, ultra-light floating minnow imitator featuring: an etched finish and gill plates; an internal Weight Transfer System™ (internal steel balls on a track that also contribute to a "single knocker" type of sound) to assure long casts and balanced action (2 3/4“ + sizes only); a durable molded body; ultra-sharp, sticky and strong VMC® Cone Cut® treble hooks for sure hook sets and fast jaw penetration; and stainless steel split rings. The Pin’s Minnow™ excels in fast-flowing streams or for fast retrieves, but does just as well when jerked and paused. This bait will dive up to 2 feet. I suggest throwing the 2-3/4" 1/8 OZ version on a light to medium action reel and rod combo, with complementing thin-diameter super line. Tip: tie the line directly to the bait's line eye or split ring to get the most action from the lure.

This minnow will go to great lengths for you on the cast - all 2 3/4" Pin's Minnows have an internal weight transfer system consisting of shifting steel balls, assuring long casts and balanced action on the water.

Topwater Bottom Line: If you are looking for a quality, long-casting small minnow bait, look no further than Yo-Zuri's Pin’s Minnow™. At $7.95 per unit, you get a wonderfully detailed and brilliantly engineered performer that is a proven fish catcher. Its slender profile and darting action will bring fish out for a meal no matter the pressure or general target species education level. As always, please practice catch and release with this lure. 

Topwater Rating:

5 out of 5 bobbers

The GLASS MINNOW colour pattern has a fantastic subtle quality that fish will find irresistible (see bottom left: TGLM - Glass Minnow). Tip: use light colours for early morning or clear skies and darker colours for evening or overcast skies.