Product Review: Bait Junkie 3" Wave Minnow

By Joshua Davey

As much as I hate to admit it, with all the negativity surrounding the marine environment and lingering algal bloom crisis affecting much of South Australia’s coastline, I was in a fishing rut. Just as I am sure many others are in the same boat. However, the opportunity arose to borrow a friends kayak and fish the Daiwa Bait Junkie round of our local South Australian kayak bream series. It was incredibly reassuring to not only catch plenty of fish myself, but to also see most of the field weigh in some solid bags of bream for the session. 

With this newfound inspiration and a Hobie Outback at my disposal, I made it my mission the following weekend to get off the beaten trail and find some more areas unaffected by the bloom. I decided to make the journey to one of my old stomping grounds, a very short, tidal, and often landlocked creek system that is incredibly difficult to fish effectively land based. Armed with the basics – a few packets of Bait Junkie soft plastics and Jigheads, an Infeet Z, paired with a 2000D Exceler, 6lb J-Braid Expedition and a 5lb spool of J-Thread FC it was game on. 

After ‘bush bashing’ my way through the scrub with a flat tyre on the kayak trolley, I finally found myself at the water’s edge. Greeted with that familiar tannin-stained water and tea tree lined banks, many memories of fishing this creek with Daiwa’s own Taka Kawasaki came flooding back. It had been years since I cast a line here. Seeing the colour of the water, I decided to tie on the Bait Junkie 3” Wave Minnow in the ‘Caramel Candy’ colour to keep my presentation as natural as possible. This creek system is largely very shallow, so the majority of the fish are typically seeking cover right against the bank, hiding under the cover of the foliage lining the edge. Casting accuracy is paramount, so I opted for the 1/20 oz Bait Junkie Jighead to keep my presentation light and simple to ‘skip cast’ under the overhanging structure. This type of technique requires plenty of practice and patience, with nothing more frustrating than casting at a good piece of structure only to ruin it by ending up in the trees. Don’t worry, everyone is guilty of it! But on the flip side it really is one of the most exciting and satisfying forms of fishing there is, constantly refining and testing your casting skills, only to be rewarded by the familiar ‘clunk’ of a big bream crushing your lure. Then that’s only the start! You still need to muscle those fish out of the structure which is often easier said than done.  

As if all the stars had aligned, it didn’t take very long at all until I had my first Bream in the kayak, a respectable fish in the mid 30s range. Little did I know this was only the beginning of one of those sessions we all dream about. The Wave Minnow could do no wrong, pinning just about cricket scores of fish in a morning session, with multiple over that magical 40cm mark. Being my first real session dedicated to using the Wave Minnow as well as the ‘Caramel Candy’ colour, it is safe to say I have a new favourite Bream lure!

If you are a South Australian that has been down in the dumps like I was, use this as your inspiration to try something new, grab a few lures and go exploring. There are still fishing opportunities to be had. Support your local tackle stores, grab a packet of Bait Junkie Wave Minnows and go and hit the estuary banks in search of some big bream. You never know, you may snag an all-time session like I did!