Lunker City's 3 1/2-inch Fin-S Fish

Lunker City Fishing Specialties has played a significant role in the world of finesse fishing for decades. And across those many years, we have learned a lot about how, when, and where to use some of those baits from Rich Zaleski of Stevenson, Connecticut.  We have read his many insights and words in "In-Fisherman" magazine and on RichZ's Bass Blog.

Recently Lunker City introduced two new soft-plastic baits that caught the eye of a Midwest finesse devotee who suggested that we publish a gear guide to alert other Midwest finesse anglers about the 3 1/2-inch Fin-S Fish and the four-inch Monkey Grub.

Herb Reed, who is the proprietor of Lunker City, created the much heralded Slug-Go in the 1980s, which is now made in seven different sizes, including three- and four-inch models that might interest some Midwest finesse anglers. Around the same time that Reed created the Slug-Go, he created the first Fin-S Fish. Since then, Lunker City manufactures it in seven sizes and 103 colors.  And the folks at Lunker City say that there are more colors in the offering.

The tip of its head is pointed. The top of its head is flat. Its throat and lower jaw exhibit an oblique angle. It is devoid of anatomical features.

The belly portion of its torso is thin.

The torso is devoid of fins and appendages.

The torso's back is flat and thicker than its belly.

The torso becomes smaller as it progresses to the junction of the tail.

Its tail is forked with a radical V-shape. And the two points at the end of the tail are sharp.

Across the past 30 years, other soft-plastic-lure companies have manufactured baits similar to the Fin-S Fish, but according to the folks at Lunker City, none of the copycats have been able to replicate the uniqueness of the Fin-S Shad.

It can be rigged a variety of ways, but Midwest finesse anglers will rig it on a jig. And Lunker City has created two styles of jigs that can be affixed to the 3 1/2-inch Fin-S Fish. They are the 1/16-ounce Fin-S Head and the 1/16-ounce LunkerGrip.

The LunkerGrip is a round-headed jig. Its collar consists of a series of eight gripping cones that encircle the shank of the hook. The cones keep the Fin-S Fish securely affixed to the jig and enhance its durability.

The head of the Fin-S Head replicates the head of the 3 1/2-inch  Fin-S Fish, and to affix it to the Fin-S Fish, anglers amputate its head.  Once the Fin-S Head is affixed to the Fin-S Fish's torso, it becomes the new head of the Fin-S Fish. The collar of the Fin-S Head has the same eight gripping cones as the LunkerGrip jig.

When the 3 1/2-inch Fin-S Fish is rigged on a 1/16-ounce jig, Midwest finesse anglers can present it to largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and spotted bass by employing any of the six standard Midwest finesse retrieves.

Anglers can purchase a bag of 10 3 1/2-inch Fin-S Fish for $3.99.

In the near future, we will publish a gear guide about Lunker City's four-inch Monkey Grub.

Endnotes

 (1)   Rich Zaleski wrote a blog on Nov. 11. 2010, about the durability of the Fin-S Fish, and it is entitled "The plastic lure longevity challenge." Here is a link to it: http://www.richz.com/fishing/blog/?p=1150.

(2)   The best way to see the 22 colors of the 3 1/2 Fin-S Fish is at this link: http://www.lunkercity.com/.  Then select the Fin-S Fish tab along the left side of the home page.

(3) For more information about the 1/16-ounce Fin-S Head and the 1/16-ounce LunkerGrip, see http://www.lunkercity.com/ and the tab entitled Jigheads (Lunker Grip).

(4) Here is a link to a Lunker City illustration about how to affix the Fin-S Fish to a Fin-S Head jig: http://www.lunkercity.com/jig_rig.html.

(5) For more information about the six Midwest finesse retrieves, please read the Midwest Finesse column at this link: http://www.in-fisherman.com/midwest-finesse/six-midwest-finesse-retrieves/.

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