If you have ever watched fish blitzing bait just out of range and felt your lovely little plugs splashing down twenty metres short, this FSTK heavy sinking minnow lure is basically payback on a split ring. It is designed to bomb a cast a long way, sink quickly and then grind back with a tight, rolling action that gets smashed by anything with teeth and bad manners.
Why This Heavy Sinking Minnow Lure Works
At its core, this lure is a dense, streamlined heavy sinking minnow lure with three model sizes:
- 70S – 70 mm, 16 g, max cast distance ~60 m, working range ~0.8–2.0 m, BK anti-rust #10 trebles.
- 90S – 90 mm, 28 g, max cast distance ~75 m, working range ~1.0–2.5 m, BK anti-rust #8 trebles.
- 110S – 110 mm, 37 g, max cast distance ~80 m, working range ~1.2–3.0 m, BK anti-rust #5 trebles.
So instead of a hollow, floaty plug that sails like a crisp packet, you get an ABS body with proper weight that cuts cleanly through the air and bites into a crosswind. The manufacturer even calls out the key features: “HEAVY MINNOW – heavy weight sinking minnow; strong wobble and roll; overwhelming casting distance; super long cast; quick bottom sinking.”
That heavy, forward-biased weight means:
- More distance – especially into wind or when you are high up on a wall or rock ledge.
- Faster sink – you can count it down into that deeper holding water without waiting all day.
- More control in current – great for surf, inlets and river mouths where lighter minnows get washed away.
Minnow-style plugs like this are already proven fish catchers in both fresh and salt water. Bassmaster specifically lists jerkbaits and minnow plugs as must-have cold-water tools for covering water quickly while still triggering reaction bites. In the surf game, Outdoor Life point out that diving plugs such as the Daiwa SP Minnow are staples for stripers, snook and other predators hunting baitfish in the white water. This FSTK model simply takes that same idea and adds extra weight and depth.
How To Fish It
You can fish this heavy sinking minnow lure pretty much anywhere you need reach and depth, but a few approaches shine.
1. Classic cast-and-crank
Perfect when fish are actively chasing bait just under the surface or mid-water:
- Make a long cast past the activity.
- Count it down – 2–3 seconds for the 70S, 3–5 for the 90S, 4–7 for the 110S, depending how deep you want it.
- Start a steady retrieve with the rod tip down, occasionally giving a sharp half-metre sweep and then letting it recover.
The lure’s built-in “strong wobble and roll” does most of the work, so you do not need to thrash your shoulders to death. Think of it as a power-fishing plug that still looks tight and natural, exactly the kind of action Wired2Fish rave about in their aggressive minnow reviews.
2. Lift–drop along structure
Where this lure really comes alive is along reef edges, rock ledges and drop-offs:
- Cast parallel to the structure or diagonally across the face.
- Let it sink until you are close to the bottom (count it down and pay attention for bites on the drop).
- Lift the rod tip 60–90 cm to make it climb and wobble, then wind up the slack as it drops again.
This mimics a wounded baitfish trying (and failing) to escape. Heavy sinking plugs are a favourite in surf and rock-fishing communities for exactly this reason – you can keep contact and feel the lure even in swell and sweep.
3. Cold-water minnow work
If you are targeting bass in colder conditions or in big reservoirs, you can fish it in a jerkbait style:
- Use a medium or medium–heavy spinning or casting rod with a fast tip.
- Run braid with a fluorocarbon leader so the lure gets down and you feel subtle bites, just as Bassmaster recommend for jerkbait work.
- Jerk–jerk–pause, letting the lure fall on semi-slack line. Hits often come as it sinks or just as you move it again.
It is not a suspending bait, so think of it as a deeper, more aggressive option for when fish are hugging that 2–3 metre band and you still need a long cast to reach them.
When To Use It
This is not a “tiny creek” lure. It is a heavy sinking minnow lure built for:
- Windy days when lighter plugs get blown off course.
- Long-range surf and rock fishing where casting distance is the difference between foam and fish.
- Harbour walls and piers where baitfish are balled up far off the structure.
- Deeper banks on big lakes or reservoirs where bass and walleye sit off the first break.
Season-wise, it shines:
- Autumn to early spring – when predators hold deeper but still chase bait.
- Any time bait is pushed offshore – especially pilchards, small mullet and anchovies.
- At night – the weight lets you “feel” it working, even when you cannot see a thing.
Community chatter backs this up. Threads on r/Fishing and r/BFSfishing regularly name heavy sinking minnows as go-to lures when bank or jetty anglers need range but still want a convincing baitfish profile rather than just a metal spoon.
Bassmaster: Minnow basics and why minnow plugs catch so many bass
Bassmaster: Jerkbait for all seasons – not just a cold-water bait
Wired2Fish: How to fish a jerkbait the right way
Does It Actually Catch Fish?
Short answer: yes, in the right situation it absolutely does – that is the whole point of this style of plug.
Minnow baits in general are well documented fish catchers. Bassmaster put jerkbaits and minnow plugs right near the top of their cold-water power-fishing list, because they cover water quickly yet still look like real bait. Wired2Fish have been reviewing aggressive minnow-style jerkbaits for years, constantly talking about how their tight, hard action drives bass “absolutely insane”.
What this FSTK heavy sinking minnow lure adds is:
- More weight for casting and depth.
- A defined depth band (~0.8–3 m depending on size and retrieve).
- Proper saltwater-ready trebles (BK anti-rust) straight out of the box.
If you fish it around bait, keep it near the strike zone and use decent line and drag settings, it is absolutely capable of putting bass, seabass, bluefish, tailor, snook, schoolie tuna and even bigger reef species on the deck. Just remember what Bassmaster preach: make sure your hooks are sharp and “really sticky”, especially in cold water or when bites are subtle.
Gear Pairing
You can run this lure on whatever you already own, but if you want to build a properly nasty long-cast and hard-bait combo, here is how to pair it up with other BassFishingTips.US kit:
- Lighter minnow backup: When fish slide shallower or sulk in calmer pockets, swap to the
Kingdom Sinking Minnow Fishing Lure
– still a sinking minnow, but in 45 mm and 60 mm for a more finesse presentation. - Mid-sized crankbait option: For lakes and rivers, pair it with the
Bearking 9.8 cm Minnow Wobbler
as a shallower-running backup when fish are higher up the water column. - Suspending jerkbait alternative: On calmer days, mix in the
Wdairen Jerkbait
for a slower, more suspending-style approach over points, flats and weedlines. - Different profile, same reach: If they have seen too many minnows, switch to a shad profile like the
Spinpoler Bombshad Square Tail Swimbait
to give them a chunkier meal at similar casting ranges. - Leaders for toothy critters: In bluefish, mackerel or reef country, throw in a
Heavy-Duty Steel Fishing Leader
so you do not donate your shiny plug to the first bite-off. - Terminal tweaks: If you want to rig assist hooks or swap trebles on metals and other lures, the
Long Shank Double Hook 20 Pieces
pack gives you extra hardware options in the same tackle bag.
Specs
- Type: Heavy sinking minnow lure (hard ABS body).
- Buoyancy: Sinking / “plongeant”.
- Material: ABS plastic.
- Colours: 7 baitfish-style colours (multiple patterns across the range).
- 70S model: 70 mm, 16 g, max cast distance ~60 m, depth range ~0.8–2.0 m, BK anti-rust #10 trebles.
- 90S model: 90 mm, 28 g, max cast distance ~75 m, depth range ~1.0–2.5 m, BK anti-rust #8 trebles.
- 110S model: 110 mm, 37 g, max cast distance ~80 m, depth range ~1.2–3.0 m, BK anti-rust #5 trebles.
- Target species: Bass, seabass, bluefish, tailor, snook, inshore pelagics and general reef bruisers.
- Best suited to: Surf beaches, rock ledges, harbours, jetties, bigger lakes and reservoirs.
FAQ – Heavy Sinking Minnow Lure Questions Answered
Will this heavy sinking minnow lure work for bass, or is it just a saltwater plug?
It will happily catch both. The 70S and 90S sizes are very at home on largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass in bigger lakes or from the bank. Just match your line and rod so you are not overgunning small fish. For saltwater, the 90S and 110S come into their own for seabass, bluefish, tailor and inshore pelagics.
What rod and line should I use?
For surf and rock work, a 9–10 ft medium or medium–heavy spinning rod with 20–30 lb braid and a 20–40 lb fluorocarbon or mono leader is ideal. Bassmaster strongly recommend fluorocarbon for jerkbaits and minnow plugs when you want them to get down and stay down, and the same logic applies here. For freshwater reservoir bass, you can step down to 12–15 lb braid with a 10–15 lb leader to keep things a bit more subtle.
Do I need to upgrade the hooks?
Out of the box it comes with BK anti-rust trebles matched to each size, which are perfectly fine for most inshore and bass work. If you are specifically targeting bigger toothy fish, or fishing around brutal structure, upgrading to heavier trebles or running a short steel leader plus your normal hooks is not a bad shout. Whatever you do, keep them razor sharp – “sticky” hooks dramatically improve your hook-up rate on minnow baits, as Bassmaster repeatedly point out.
Final Verdict
This is not a dainty little twitch bait for glassy canals. The FSTK heavy sinking minnow lure is a proper workhorse plug for when you need distance, depth and a hard-wobbling profile that stays in the bite zone even in rough water.
If your fishing includes surf beaches, rock ledges, big breakwaters, windy reservoirs or river mouths where bait is always “just out there”, this lure absolutely earns a slot in the front row of your box. Run the 70S when bait is small and fish are fussy, the 90S as your all-rounder, and the 110S when conditions are big and you want to send it.
You will still want suspending jerkbaits and lighter minnows for finesse jobs, but when the job is “hit that distant bait ball, get down 2–3 metres and hang on”, this thing does exactly what it says on the tin.
Tie it on, wind it hard and get ready – the takes on this one are rarely polite.
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