Minnows have completely changed modern bass fishing. Love them or hate them, fish eat minnows. In this video, Wired2fish’s own Nick Dumke breaks down what today’s most popular minnow baits actually look like underwater and why those details matter.
Featured Product
• MINNOW 1 – Z-Man Scented Jerk ShadZ: Buy at Bass Pro Shops https://affiliate.basspro.com/6y3b4E | Buy at Tackle Warehouse https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Z-Man_Scented_Jerk_Shadz/descpage-ZMANJKS.html?from=w2fish | Buy at FishUSA https://www.fishusa.com/Z-Man-Scented-Jerk-Shadz/?srsltid=AfmBOopL_0Uv24ylKkSW-sePsPBVsQmuupruEhuRJI2WUh8UaKKJFzNu?utm_source=wired2fish
• MINNOW 2 – Z-Man Graph ShadZ: Buy at Bass Pro Shops https://affiliate.basspro.com/aOv10N | Buy at Tackle Warehouse https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Z-Man_Graph_Shadz/descpage-ZMGS.html?from=w2fish | Buy at FishUSA https://www.fishusa.com/Z-Man-Graph-Shadz/?srsltid=AfmBOop4M_robzZRPSBbtElvRSexl0jxfeAknOt-mFoXzjuxI92kI6qh?utm_source=wired2fish
• MINNOW 3 – Rapala CruahCity Freeloader: Buy at Bass Pro Shops https://affiliate.basspro.com/4GOe10 | Buy at Tackle Warehouse https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Rapala_Crush_City_Freeloader/descpage-RCCFL.html?from=w2fish | Buy at FishUSA https://www.fishusa.com/Rapala-CrushCity-Freeloader/?srsltid=AfmBOoraRbiRTxkz-GtbjdR13tgr5Xn_i2tG8o3CbxKRtYsfZ1Vjw7DW?utm_source=wired2fish
• MINNOW 4 – Rapala CrushCity Mooch Minnow: Buy at Bass Pro Shops https://affiliate.basspro.com/LKAPQV | Buy at Tackle Warehouse https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Rapala_Crush_City_Mooch_Minnow/descpage-RCCMM.html?from=w2fish | Buy at FishUSA https://www.fishusa.com/Rapala-CrushCity-Mooch-Minnow/?srsltid=AfmBOoqrYAHJ_bci9xkeWhdk5it5UQxIj-0xXQZvWGG-7NJWr5kPlHFo?utm_source=wired2fish
• MINNOW 5 – Biwaa Scorpitail: Buy at Tackle Warehouse https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Biwaa_Scorpitail_Soft_Jerkbait/descpage-BSSJ.html?from=w2fish
• MINNOW 6 – Jenko The Don: Buy at Tackle Warehouse https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Jenko_Fishing_The_Don_5pk/descpage-JNKDON.html?from=w2fish | Buy at FishUSA https://www.fishusa.com/Jenko-The-Don/?srsltid=AfmBOopjAYxgFEC350OqW_Kskrh2q_4WZk88vjXSS_eRbgC6rJJ2jeyo?utm_source=wired2fish
• MINNOW 7 – Deps Sakamata Shad: Buy at Tackle Warehouse https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Deps_Sakamata_Shad_Soft_Jerkbait/descpage-DSSJ.html?from=w2fish | Buy at FishUSA https://www.fishusa.com/Deps-Sakamata/?srsltid=AfmBOoq6l4sF4VUAaqH21ZCTAQCzWZSu1NxicmvRZionANBaEEg0Zokr?utm_source=wired2fish
• MINNOW 8 – Strike King Spotlight Minnow: Buy at Bass Pro Shops https://affiliate.basspro.com/N91KZq | Buy at Tackle Warehouse https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Strike_King_Spotlight_Sonic_Coat_Split_Minnow/descpage-SKSPLT.html?from=w2fish | Buy at FishUSA https://www.fishusa.com/Strike-King-Spotlight-Split-Minnow/?srsltid=AfmBOorLj_QrXhvVQPB2EKb4ICrCnQnqGJeGJ2yTippM3wBwhfANQje2?utm_source=wired2fish
• MINNOW 9 – Bass Pro Shops XPS Rock’n Shad: Buy at Bass Pro Shops https://affiliate.basspro.com/e1y4V1
• MINNOW 10 – Jackall Drift Fry: Buy at Tackle Warehouse https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Jackall_Driftfry_40/descpage-JKDF.html?from=w2fish | Buy at FishUSA https://www.fishusa.com/Jackall-Drift-Fry/?srsltid=AfmBOoqd4TY3TxIRqf7aBNCcJwLCpsHANL50z_AHqy7gO0aKZPySE_v6?utm_source=wired2fish
• MINNOW 11 – Berkley PowerBait Drip Minnow: Buy at Bass Pro Shops https://affiliate.basspro.com/BnmXZJ | Buy at Tackle Warehouse https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Berkley_PowerBait_Drip_Minnow/descpage-BPBDM.html?from=w2fish | Buy at FishUSA https://www.fishusa.com/Berkley-PowerBait-Drip-Minnow/?srsltid=AfmBOoqk3awZxR3TA5_ZNAWc45_uk-mrvKkXKAY8Cgwigjl485uhcpVr?utm_source=wired2fish
What Makes Minnow Baits Different
Not all minnows fish the same. Some roll hard from side to side. Others stay straight and rely on subtle tail movement. Because of that, the right minnow often depends on fish mood, depth, and activity level. Dumke explains when rolling action shines and when a finesse presentation gets more bites. Additionally, certain minnows pair best with heads designed specifically for them. Others perform better on simple ball-head jig heads.
Rolling and Finesse Action
Rolling minnows tend to excel when fish group up or show aggression. That side-to-side movement helps call fish from distance and trigger reaction bites. In contrast, finesse minnows work best when fish suspend, roam, or pressure runs high. In those cases, subtle tail movement often outperforms wide action.
Materials, Scent, and Buoyancy
Modern minnows use a wide range of materials. Elastic plastics float and recover quickly after drops. TPE plastics stretch and last longer. Salt-heavy plastics feel realistic and slow the fall. Many minnows also include scent, which can help fish commit after following.
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no hinge minnow. Works good!
awesome content, love an unbiased opinion / analysis
Z-man scented jerk shad,colour tennesee shad?
i like the YUM FF Sonar Minnow
SK Z-Too was popular. How does that stack up. And the Zoom Sakamato copy? Ty
Would be nice if you guys listed the jig heads and size
The juggle minnow and sakamata shad are the only 2 minnows I need caught a 11 on the juggle minnow and lots of keeper fish on the sakamata
The Scented JerkShad caught my biggest LMB this season. Fished it on a drop shot.
I was surprised no hog farmer stroll shad
People like myself have been throwing these at walleye for years, it's funny this is getting so much attention, I assume this popularity is due to the advent FFS, now people can see what is happening. Great video, I am a fan of the VMC mooneye. About any dropshot minnow, or fluke style bait works great.
You can tell the sakamata shad is special
Great video. Love underwater bait videos.
Now THIS is the video we needed! Which baits roll, which ones don't, what heads and baits do and don't go together