Fish Arrow's Flash J

Shin Fukae of Palestine, Texas, and Osaka, Japan, demonstrated and talked about Fish Arrow's Flash J series of soft-plastic baits at the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades show at Orlando, Florida, on July 15-18.

Midwest finesse anglers have paid a lot of attention to the piscatorial ways of Fukae since we watched him practice on April 1, 2006, for the FLW Tour Wal-Mart Open tournament at Beaver Lake, Arkansas, which he won by employing finesse tactics. As we watched him, he taught us a lot about using red jigheads, shad-shaped worms, and executing shakes in our retrieves. A few years later, he showed us some unique ways of how, when, and where to employ wacky rigged jigs.

So whenever Fukae is seen with some finesse baits, we take notice.

The Fish Arrow baits that might catch the eyes of Midwest finesse anglers are in the Flash J series of baits. They are a minnow-style soft-plastic bait that are manufactured with multilayers of plastic that surround an aluminum-foil core. The inner foil in the core creates flash.

They are available in three styles: a straight- or pin-tail, a paddle-tail, and a split-tail. The tails are tapered and lively.

Their bodies are also endowed with realistic eyes and other alluring details. When their bodies roll and tails quiver during the retrieve, the flash of the inner core is heightened.

It was designed to be attached to Fish Arrow's J Head jig, Whicky Head jig and Wheel Head jig. But Japanese anglers have been known to wield it on a drop-shot rig. Midwest finesse anglers will employ it on either a Gopher Tackle's 1/32- ,1/16-, and 3/32-ounce Mushroom Head Jig or a Z-Man's Fishing Products' 1/15- 1/10-, and 1/6- ounce Finesse Shroom jig.

It is available in two sizes: three inch and four inch.

It is made in the following color combinations: Chartreuse Silver, Green Pumpkin Red, Green Pumpkin Silver, Kosan Ayu Gold, Kosan Ayu Red , Kosan Ayu Silver, Neon Green Red, Neon Green Silver, Pink Silver, Pro Blue Gold, Pro Blue Red, Pro Blue Silver, Purple Weenie Red, Purple Weenie Silver, Wakasagi Gold, Wakasagi Red, Wakasagi Silver, Watermelon Gold, Watermelon Red, Watermelon Silver, and White Silver.

A package of seven three-inchers and a package of six four-inchers cost $11.99.

Footnotes

Here's a link to a YouTube video that shows a Japanese angler employing a pin-tail or straight-tail Flash J nose-rigged on a wacky jig: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkKjAaqCsGs.

Here's a link to Shin Fukae's insights to wielding a wacky rig: http://www.in-fisherman.com/2011/11/05/the-wacky-jig/#idc-container.

Here's a link to a gear guide about Fish Arrow's J Head jig: http://www.in-fisherman.com/2014/02/19/fish-arrow-j-head/.

Here's a link that features Fukae's finesse tactic at Beaver Lake on April 1, 2006: http://www.in-fisherman.com/2012/04/01/spinning-tackle/.

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