Flash-J 3"

The Fish Arrow Flash-J is a slender soft jerk-minnow with a foil plate moulded into the body and 3D eyes. The foil throws a hard, baitfish-like flash and produces a faint clicking sound. The 3-inch size is the common bass choice; Fish Arrow suggests around a 1.8 g (1/16 oz) jig head as a starting weight, adjusting for depth. The bare bait floats and comes alive with the smallest rod movement.

The Flash-J is closely tied to the rise of mid strolling on Japanese pressured lakes. Its balanced body rolls cleanly on a light jig head, and the foil flash sells the illusion of a fleeing baitfish. For many Japanese finesse anglers it is the default bait to reach for when fish are suspended and ignoring everything else.

Rigged on a light jig head and mid strolled through the middle of the water column with a constant rod-tip shake; hover strolled almost in place on an even lighter head; or fished on a straight, slow I-method retrieve just under the surface. Spinning tackle with light fluorocarbon or a fluorocarbon leader is standard.

US soft jerkbaits like a Fluke are fished mostly weightless with a walking action; the Flash-J is built to be swum on a light jig head with a rolling action, and the internal foil is the signature difference. It is a specialty-retailer item in the US.