Real talk: when a sinking minnow fishing lure saves the session
You know those days when the fish are on bait but not really on top? Shad flickering mid water, odd swirl, nothing committing to your topwater or your slow plastic. That is exactly when a sinking minnow fishing lure like this 13 g hardbait earns a permanent spot in the box.
It is a simple idea: a slim 11 cm ABS body with colourful printing, 3D eyes and two nasty trebles, built to sink, track straight and look like a wounded baitfish trying not to die. You bomb it out, wind it down and suddenly every point, laydown and riprap edge has a little nervous minnow swimming through it.
The nice bit for weekend anglers is that you do not need a fancy rod dance. This sinking minnow fishing lure will catch fish on a basic cast and crank, but it also has enough wobble, roll and flash to come alive when you mix in twitches, pauses and slow sweeps. Proper chuck and wind candy.
Why you will love this sinking minnow fishing lure
- Good weight for long casts: at 13 g it sails out there, even on breezy days, so you can cover water and reach busting fish.
- 11 cm slim baitfish profile: looks like the average shad, roach or small bream that bass happily inhale.
- Tough ABS hardbody: designed to take a kicking around rock, timber and toothy by catch.
- Two sharp treble hooks: wired for solid hook ups when a fish just shoulders it or nips at the tail.
- Colourful printing and 3D eyes: that painted baitfish look and bright flash helps in clear and lightly stained water.
- Sinking action: count it down and fish different depths without changing lures.
- Versatile species wise: built for lure fishing in general, so it will tempt bass, perch, walleye, pike and the odd trout if they are feeling rude.
How to fish this sinking minnow fishing lure
1. Simple cast and crank
- Cast the lure past your target – points, weed edges, bridge pilings, riprap banks.
- Count it down a couple of seconds to let the sinking minnow fishing lure get under the surface.
- Start a steady retrieve, just quick enough to feel the rod tip pulsing as it wobbles.
- Every few turns, give the rod a tiny sweep or pause to make it flare and rise.
That steady retrieve style is right out of the crankbait playbook. Bassmaster’s crankbait articles talk a lot about covering water and letting the wobble and speed do the work, and this lure slots straight into that plan once it is below the surface. Have a look at their piece on cranking for clear water fish here:
Bassmaster crankbait tips.
2. Twitch, pause, twitch like a jerkbait
- Make a long cast along a breakline, drop off or the front of a weed bed.
- Count the sinking minnow fishing lure down to the depth you think they are holding.
- Work it with two or three sharp twitches of the rod, then pause just long enough to annoy anything following it.
- Repeat the twitch and pause all the way back, mixing in the odd longer stall.
Wired2Fish have hammered on about how cadence is everything for jerkbait style fishing in cold and clear water. The same deal applies here – change the rhythm until you crack what they want. Their article on catching skittish bass in clear water is worth a read:
Wired2Fish clear water tips.
3. Slow roll and bump into stuff
- Use a slightly heavier rod and fluorocarbon line so you can feel bottom and cover.
- Cast the sinking minnow fishing lure up past rock, timber or man made cover.
- Let it sink until you think it is just off the deck.
- Wind slowly, aiming to occasionally tick stones or brush without burying the trebles.
It is the same theory Outdoor Life mention in their “lures you need everywhere” style pieces – baits that imitate baitfish and make contact with something get a lot more attention. Their overview of reliable multi species lures is a good rabbit hole if you like this style of fishing:
Outdoor Life lure guide.
When to use this sinking minnow fishing lure
There are a few prime situations where this lure really shines and earns its keep.
- Clear to lightly stained water: the colourful printing and 3D eyes show up best when fish can actually see the detail.
- When fish are chasing bait mid depth: if you see bass blowing up on small bait, this matches that longer, slimmer profile nicely.
- Wind blown banks and points: that 13 g weight lets you cast across or into the wind, which is exactly where a lot of feeding fish stack up.
- Cooler water or post front: when topwater dies but they still want something moving, a sinking minnow fishing lure worked slower underneath can keep the bites coming.
- Bank fishing: you can cast it a mile, count it down and cover different depths without needing a boat or tons of tackle.
Does this sinking minnow fishing lure really catch bass?
Short answer: yes, if you put it in front of them and fish it like a proper baitfish imitation. It has the right size, flash and action to act like a slightly injured fish, which is basically a neon sign for any half awake bass.
Crankbait and jerkbait style lures have a long history of smoking bass when they are roaming for bait. Wired2Fish’s cold water jerkbait articles talk about how long casts, steady tracking and cadence changes keep a bait in the strike zone and trigger stubborn fish. That is exactly the game here, just with a sinking minnow fishing lure you can run at different depths.
Bassmaster’s crankbait features are full of stories about covering water with hardbaits, bouncing them off cover and letting the reaction bite do the work. This lure fits squarely in that camp – it is a budget friendly way to get the same basic look without needing a box of premium plugs.
What gear to throw it on and other lures to pack
You do not need anything crazy to fish this sinking minnow fishing lure, but a balanced setup makes life easier.
- Rod: medium or medium heavy, around seven foot, with a bit of tip so the trebles stay pinned.
- Reel: a mid speed baitcaster or a 2500 to 3000 size spinning reel is perfect.
- Line: ten to fifteen pound fluorocarbon if you want it a bit deeper, or braid with a fluorocarbon leader if you like more feel.
In the same box, it is worth carrying a couple of “plan B” options:
- When they are up high and smashing the surface, a noisy topwater like the
Whopper Plopper style topwater lure
gives you more commotion and proper surface explosions. - If they follow and nip but never fully commit, a softer look like the
Meredith Easy Shiner Swimbait
is a great follow up in the same water. - When they hug the bottom and sulk, a simple worm such as the
Plastic Tigertail Worm
lets you slow right down but still stay in the same areas.
Specs at a glance
- Lure type: sinking minnow fishing lure (hardbait crank style)
- Weight: 13 g (0.45 oz)
- Length: 11 cm (4.3 inch)
- Body: ABS hard plastic with colourful printed finish
- Hooks: equipped with two super sharp treble hooks
- Eyes: 3D realistic eyes
- Action: wobbling, baitfish style swimming action on a straight retrieve, responsive to twitches and pauses
- Sinking: sinking design so you can count it down to different depths
- Colours: multiple bright baitfish patterns (options like 420 3 piece set with box, 420 A, 420 B, 420 C)
- Pack options: single lure or three piece set with box, depending on selection
FAQ – sinking minnow fishing lure questions your mates would ask
Can I fish this sinking minnow fishing lure from the bank?
Absolutely. The 13 g weight means you can launch it a long way even with a basic spinning setup, and the sinking design lets you work everything from just under the surface down into mid depth water without needing a boat.
What line weight should I use with this lure?
Ten to fifteen pound fluorocarbon is a sweet spot for most bass fishing with this sinking minnow fishing lure. If you are around heavier cover or toothy critters, you can bump up a bit. On spinning gear, braid with a fluorocarbon leader also works nicely.
Is this any good in winter or cold water?
Yes, as long as you slow things down and play with pauses. In colder water, use more of a jerkbait style retrieve with longer stalls. Wired2Fish and similar outlets show time and again that suspending and sinking minnow style baits keep catching when the water temperature drops.
Will it only catch bass, or other species too?
It is built as a general predator bait, so as well as bass it can pick up perch, walleye, pike and even trout if they are feeding on small fish. Think of it as a “whatever eats baitfish” kind of lure.
Do I need a special rod, or will my normal setup do?
Your normal medium to medium heavy bass setup will be perfectly fine. As long as it can comfortably cast a 13 g sinking minnow fishing lure and has a bit of flex in the tip to keep trebles pinned, you are good to go.
Ready to let this thing hunt?
If you want something you can just tie on, chuck a mile and crank back like a panicking baitfish, this little sinking minnow fishing lure does the job with no drama. It is one of those hardbaits that quietly becomes your “I will just try this quickly” option whenever the fish are chasing silvery snacks offshore or along windy banks.
Clip on this sinking minnow fishing lure, fire it down the bank and keep winding – when the rod finally loads up, just nod like you knew it was going to happen all along.
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