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TackleTour Autopsy: Consistency is
King, the Megabass I-Jack
| Date: |
11/9/17 |
| Tackle type: |
Lures |
| Manufacturer: |
Megabass |
| Reviewer: |
Zander |
Introduction: There are few companies that place such a high priority
on detail and consistency across all their products to the extent that Megabass
does. Whether it is a premium rod, lure, or even terminal tackle, each Megabass
product exhibits a level of refinement that anglers have come to expect from the
brand. While Megabass rods are extremely popular most anglers are probably
exposed to the brand through their vast array of premium baits. One bait that is
somewhat of a sleeper lure, in that it is deadly effective but not as well-known
as other Megabass offerings such as the Vision 110 jerkbait or Dog-X walker is
the I-Jack, a specially tuned underwater wakebait.
The Megabass I Jack is a 1oz.
wakebait
When most anglers think “wakebait” the first thing
that usually comes to mind is a bait that is retrieved on the surface of the
water, calling to fish with a combination of splashes and vibration. Surface
splash strikes are often viscous, always entertaining, making wakebaits a
favorite choice among easy to fish topwater lures.
Perfect balance at rest
Though technically
classed as a wakebait the I-Jack is fished more like a crankbait and is fitted
with a diamond shaped bill that Megabass calls a “stingray” shape. This uniquely
shaped bill moves plenty of water and causes the bait to rock back and forth
right below the surface.
The faster you retrieve the bait the more it
rocks, and the deeper it will go. I remember the first time I saw the bait in
the water, it didn’t look amazing, and the rocking motion if anything looked
somewhat awkward to me. What fish would want that?
The I Jack exhibits excellent
finishes but they are susceptible to damage from abrasion
But the more I fished the bait the more I started to appreciate and understand
the allure of the bait. The I Jack knocks, and it knocks hard! As the bait
wobbles side to side you can hear an audible knock, knock, knock even from when
the bait is coming back to the boat from over 20 feet away. The sound is unique
and incredibly consistent, something that is hard to achieve with most rattle
systems utilizing free moving weights.
Time to see what makes the I Jack
tick... and knock
Though the bait
doesn’t necessarily mimic how a baitfish swims it absolutely is a fish catching
machine. I have had multiple fish come up from the deep to investigate the
clacking sound of the bait, sometimes they don’t hesitate to charge and hit the
I Jack so hard the bait and the fish both come flying right out of the water!
Through it all the I Jack is steady, always
wobbling and knocking consistently, and at rest it always floats perfectly
evenly. Retrieve it at a crawl and the bait can become a true topwater bait, and
it will still knock as it returns.
Cutting through the underbelly we
come in contact with the weights
Next Section: The key to the I Jack's
consistency...
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