Jighead Minnow

Jighead Minnow Lures, sometimes called damiki rig, hover strolling, mid-strolling minimal contact lures known for a very subtle natural looking minnow-style and balanced jig head and soft jerkbait plastic combinations that rest horizontally. Jighead minnows are also known for slow fishing deep and for targeting suspended bass. Some suggest an effective lure when using forward facing sonar [figure 5]. 

Anatomy: Jighead Minnow lures are soft bait lures which generally feature a jerkbait soft plastic, (not the minnow soft plastic typically used with drop shot), a jig head with a 90 degree line tie and a thin wire hook that result in a balanced horizontal lure.

Variants & Other Names: 

  • Damiki Rig: Common name for a popular manufacturer.
  • Ballhead jig with a Fluke: An accurate description of the two key components. 
  • Hoover Rig:
  • Moping, Tight-lining, Hover Strolling, Mid Strolling, Hanging a Minnow: These names have more of an emphasis on the presentation of this lure.
  • Shaking the Minnow: Refers to the slight twitch action during a slow swim retrieve.
  • Scrubbing: Not common and has other meanings.

Lure Action. Natural minnow-like. 

Search Bait: Not common

Pros’ Choice: Common, starting in 2024.

Figure 1: Jighead Minnow- Dirty Jigs Guppy Head 3/16 oz 1/0 hook with PowerBait 3 inch Minnow
Manufacturer's Jig Head Details
When to Fish Minnow Jighead
  • Targeted Depth:
    • Shallow: Not Common 
    • Deep(Offshore): Common, some suggest 5 to 10 ft above suspended fish in warm water and if fish are tight to cover then 5 to 10 ft off the bottom.  In cold water it is common to put the lure right in front of their mouth. 
  • Fishing Speed: Jighead minnow usage is changing with the use of forward facing sonar.
    • Slow: Historically, considered fishing slow in warmer water dead sticking the jighead minnow either over suspended bass or cover likely to contain bass.
    • Fast: Currently, considered fishing fast including in colder water with a small swim-like lure movements as the jighead minnow slowly swims directly at the bass (or above) with the use of forward facing sonar. Albeit, the lure speed isn’t too fast, the fishing technique allows the angler to quickly target suspended bass.  
  • Lure Visibility: 
    • High Lure Visibility: Common, as it is a natural, subtle presentation.
    • Low Lure Visibility: Less common unless using forward facing sonar allowing the jighead minnow to move reasonably slowly directly at or above the bass.
      • Engaging Lateral Line: Small vibrations are commonly added to the jighead minnow during a twitch retrieve.
      • Engaging Hearing: No sound.
      • Engaging Sense of Smell and or Taste: Some suggest adding scent to the jerkbait soft plastic to augment any odor that it may have. 
  • Targeting Cover: Some suggest all lures are good near cover where jighead minnow lures are used when contacting:
Figure 2: Damiki Armor Shad 3 Inch
Manufacturer's Details
Specific Jighead Lure Selection

Selecting the jighead minnow lure type, as a soft bait lure type,  there are the following key decisions:

  • Soft Plastics:
    • Common:
      • Jerkbait Soft Plastic: Not to be confused with a soft jerkbait lure, but using the same soft plastic, also called a Fluke. 
    • Less Common:
      • No other soft plastics are typically suggested at this stage.
  • Size:
    • Small: 2.5″ 
    • Common: 3″
    • Large: 4″
Figure 3: Damiki Rig Jighead Peral White 1/4 oz 2/O Hook
Manufacturer's Details
  • Lure Color: As lure color selection is mostly tied to the lure visibility download the Acute Lure Color Breakdown™ Infographic.
    • Forage: Some suggest jighead minnow mimics an injured bait fish that is no longer with the school.
Download the Acute Lure Color Breakdown™ Infographic
Rigging Decisions

As a soft bait lure type, the common rigging considerations includes:

  • Jig Head: 90 degree line tie jig head. Some suggest the are standard swimbait jig heads (with 90 degree) with smaller hooks.  It can be a Ball Style Jig Head, Lake Erie-style pointed nose jighead.
    • Hook Size:
      • Small: 1/O
      • Common: 2/O
      • Large: 3/O
    • Weight: Some suggest the lightest as possible considering the depth and wind (if casting) to maximize the slow presentation.
      • Light:1/8 oz
      • Common: 3/16 oz, 1/4 oz
      • Heavy: 3/8 oz, 1/2 oz 
  • Soft Bait Setup: Some suggest that the soft plastic is to be glued to the jig head to maximize soft bait longevity. The soft plastic needs to be straight on the jig head to ensure the jighead minnow rig doesn’t spin on the descent.
Figure 4: BT Bryan Gustafson's Smeltinator Jig
Manufacturer's Details
Download Rod Infographic
Presentation

Presentations for jighead minnow are historically and more commonly considered a vertical presentation but increasingly fished as a  horizontal presentation and a tight line presentation with the following considerations:

  • Cast Techniques:
    • Common: Generally, any cast technique that provides the shorter range generally used for jighead minnows.
      • Overhand: Common, generally for shorter distances.
  • Initial Lure Action: Slack line descent to the desired depths with adjustments during the descent.  Properly rigged the jighead minnow will descend in a horizontal steady position opposed to spiral down. 
  • Retrieve Techniques:
    • Common:
      • Twitch Retrieve: Results in the jerkbait soft plastic to have a subtle swim motion. 
      • Dead-Stick: Some suggest in colder weather the jighead minnow should be 5 to 10 ft above the bass and more in warmer water as it needs to be far enough to look natural. (bait fish don’t swim to bass)
        • Tightlining/Moping: Historically, the term tightlining and moping where derived based on the jighead minnow (albeit it would have more likely called Daminki Rig)
  • Secondary Action: Some suggest raising the jighead minnow rig slowly and lowering it slowly, possible with subtle shimmy to move the soft plastic tail.
  • Hook Set: Typically, reel and rod hook set after identifying fish on followed by landing the bass.
  • Repetition at Spots: Common as target the same suspended bass. 
Figure 5: Garmin Lifescope Suspended Fish
Additional Considerations
  • Add-on Blade: Not common as it is a subtle presentation although there are manufactures that make jig heads with a blade.
  • Seasons: Common pre-spawn, fall and winter.
  • Sight Fishing: Not common.
  • Suspended Bass: Common, as control the depth of the retrieve.
  • Wave Height: Challenging in wavy conditions to keep the jighead minnow rig in one spot.
  • Follow Up Bait: Less common, possibly for a higher presentation after a drop shot.
  • Loop Knot: Some suggest using a loop knot on the lure to increase lure action.
Figure 6: Zman Scented Jerk Shadz
Manufacturer's Details
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