Let's be honest here: Most of us could throw a Jackall Swimming Ninja, or any other swimbait, in big-bass waters every day for the rest of our lives, and we'd probably never catch a 35-pound limit like Kota Kiriyama did during a practice day for the 2008 Amistad Bassmaster Elite Series in Texas.
But catching five 7-pounders over the course of a year or so would still be pretty good, wouldn't it?
Maybe we've got a shot at that.
The Seiji Kato-designed Swimming Ninja that's on the market today is better and more durable than the prototypes Kiriyama used en route to a 12th-place showing at Amistad two springs ago (a finish that likely would've been higher had he not run out of the baits early on to the final day). It's super-easy to fish, too – cast it as far as you can, let it fall to the desired depth and then reel it extremely slow.
Calm and Clear are Best
Kiriyama, the Japan-born Elite pro who now resides in Alabama, said the Swimming Ninja is at its best in calm, clear water. It can entice big fish even when they're suspended and in the finickiest of moods.
"It's not for fishing real fast and covering a lot of water," he said. "It should be retrieved very slowly so it'll have its best action. Also, going real slow keeps it at the right depth.
"Just when you can feel the vibration of the tail, that's probably the best speed."
He throws it over all types of structure – standing trees, rocks, humps, whatever. It sinks at an extremely deliberate pace so, depending on the depth he wants to work it, he might let it fall for as long as 10 seconds.
Then he starts the retrieve. Sometimes it's slow, and other times it's slower.
"Try to experiment because each condition is different. You want it to be as slow as possible in the toughest conditions. For fish feeding on big bait, it seems the slower, the better. I don't know why that is."
He said the bait's true calling card is its mysterious ability to prompt following fish to inhale it after it's stopped swimming. Instead of turning around and going back to whereverthey came from, they'll often devour it as it falls.
And when one does take it, don't be too itchy with that trigger finger.
"Because it's soft material, you can let them eat it like a worm. You don't have to set the hook right away – wait until you feel (the fish)."
Some Design Specifics
The Swimming Ninja is 6 inches long, weighs 1 1/4 ounces and comes in five colors – chartreuse shad, Tennessee shad, SS (sexy) shad, hitch and California trout. Its shad-type tail displaces a large amount of water and gives the bait a rolling, wobbling action when retrieved.
Kiriyama says that Tennessee Shad is the most versatile of the five Swimming Ninja colors.
The rear treble hook is free-floating (it releases from the body of the bait), which takes most of the fighting leverage away from a big fish. The body is considerably sturdier than the prototype Kiriyama used at Amistad, but remains soft and lifelike.
"With largemouth, I've caught as many as 12 or 13 fish with one bait," he said. "Spotted bass, it's good for four or five. Alabama spotted bass chew everything with their teeth."
All five colors have their place, but he says there's one that's the most versatile.
"Tennessee shad is the best overall color. It has a natural look anywhere you go in the country.
"If it's cloudy I might go a little bit darker, or if it's real bright and sunny with no wind, I might use sexy shad. But you can never go wrong with Tennessee shad."
He fishes it on a 7-foot-2 medium-heavy Shimano Final Dimension rod with a Shimano Calais DC casting reel and 14-pound Gamma Edge fluorocarbon line.
"I don't want the line too thick or too thin and the best is about 14-pound. It won't kill the action and keeps a good natural movement, but it has enough strength to land 9- or 10-pounders."
Notable
To see a video of Kiriyama demonstrating the Swimming Ninja, click here.
