[VIDEO] An Underwater Look at What Your Damiki Rig Is Doing

Minnows have completely changed modern bass fishing. Love them or hate them, fish eat minnows. In this video, Wired2fish’s own Nick Dumke breaks down what today’s most popular minnow baits actually look like underwater and why those details matter.

Featured Product

• MINNOW 1 – Z-Man Scented Jerk ShadZ: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse | Buy at FishUSA
• MINNOW 2 – Z-Man Graph ShadZ: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse | Buy at FishUSA
• MINNOW 3 – Rapala CruahCity Freeloader: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse | Buy at FishUSA
• MINNOW 4 – Rapala CrushCity Mooch Minnow: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse | Buy at FishUSA
• MINNOW 5 – Biwaa Scorpitail: Buy at Tackle Warehouse
• MINNOW 6 – Jenko The Don: Buy at Tackle Warehouse | Buy at FishUSA
• MINNOW 7 – Deps Sakamata Shad: Buy at Tackle Warehouse | Buy at FishUSA
• MINNOW 8 – Strike King Spotlight Minnow: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse | Buy at FishUSA
• MINNOW 9 – Bass Pro Shops XPS Rock’n Shad: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
• MINNOW 10 – Jackall Drift Fry: Buy at Tackle Warehouse | Buy at FishUSA
• MINNOW 11 – Berkley PowerBait Drip Minnow: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse | Buy at FishUSA

What Makes Minnow Baits Different

Not all minnows fish the same. Some roll hard from side to side. Others stay straight and rely on subtle tail movement. Because of that, the right minnow often depends on fish mood, depth, and activity level. Dumke explains when rolling action shines and when a finesse presentation gets more bites. Additionally, certain minnows pair best with heads designed specifically for them. Others perform better on simple ball-head jig heads.

Rolling and Finesse Action

Rolling minnows tend to excel when fish group up or show aggression. That side-to-side movement helps call fish from distance and trigger reaction bites. In contrast, finesse minnows work best when fish suspend, roam, or pressure runs high. In those cases, subtle tail movement often outperforms wide action.

Materials, Scent, and Buoyancy

Modern minnows, or Damiki Rigs, use a wide range of materials. Elastic plastics float and recover quickly after drops. TPE plastics stretch and last longer. Salt-heavy plastics feel realistic and slow the fall. Many minnows also include scent, which can help fish commit after following.