New Yamamoto Yamatanuki Bait product image (primary)
Single ribbed soft plastic fishing bait laid horizontally on a white background.

Yamamoto Baits

New Yamamoto Yamatanuki Bait

4.6/5 (1)
$5.99$7.99-25%
In Stock

The Yamamoto Yamatanuki is a salt-impregnated soft plastic bait designed for bass fishing, featuring a ribbed cylindrical body and tapered tail. It is commonly used weightless Texas rigged or pitched to cover for pressured fish, excelling in tough conditions where other baits fail. Anglers should note its dense, heavy composition offers excellent castability but limited durability.

Category
Sporting Goods > Outdoor Recreation > Fishing > Fishing Bait & Chum Containers
View on merchant siteJSON
GTIN
888151054024
MPN
YAMAMOTOBAITS-888151054024-NEWOVERSTOCK

Specifications

New Yamamoto Yamatanuki bait, an innovative soft plastic lure that has been popular in Japan for years, now available in the US.

Material
Soft Plastic
Gender
unisex
Age Group
adult
Condition
new
Category
Sporting Goods > Outdoor Recreation > Fishing > Fishing Bait & Chum Containers

Additional Attributes

  • innovative bait
  • popular in Japan
  • first time available in US
  • open box item

Image Analysis

1 images
New Yamamoto Yamatanuki Bait product image (primary)
01high

Single ribbed soft plastic fishing bait laid horizontally on a white background.

soft plastic materialribbed texturecylindrical bodytapered narrow tailsmall rounded tail tiphorizontal studio product shotwhite backgroundeven diffuse lighting

Brand PDP Lookup

Brand
Yamamoto Baits
URL
https://www.yamamotobaits.com/products/yamamoto-yamatanuki/

Yamatanuki - Grubs - Yamamoto

Also Seen Here

4 retailers

Documents & Data

Customer Reviews

4.6

1 reviews · out of 5

Good prices and fast shipping

★★★★★Jay Kristov

Good prices and fast shipping

Reddit Insights

4 threads · r/Fishing_Gear, r/bassfishing

Reddit users find the Yamamoto Yamatanuki to be a highly effective, heavy salt-impregnated soft plastic bait that excels in tough conditions but is notably fragile and requires specific hook and rigging techniques.

mixed sentiment100% match

Overall sentiment is positive due to the bait's unique action and ability to produce bites when other baits fail, but tempered by consistent complaints about poor durability and occasional hookup issues.

Themes

Bait effectiveness in tough conditionspositive
Bait durability and fragilitynegative
Hook selection and rigging techniquesmixed
Casting distance and weightless presentationpositive
Comparison to Senko and other soft plasticsmixed

Use Cases

  • Weightless Texas rig for pressured bass
  • Pitching to isolated cover (docks, laydowns, stumps)
  • Finesse fishing in clear water
  • Shallow water flipping and pitching

Watch Out For

mediumBait tears easily, sometimes before even catching a fish; one-and-done factor is high without glue.
highHook selection is critical: using wrong size or style leads to poor hookup ratio or bait sliding down shank.
mediumSome users report losing fish frequently even with proper rigging, possibly due to bait balling up on hookset.

Community Q&A

What is the best hook for the Yamatanuki?
Most recommend a larger-than-expected EWG hook (5/0 for 3.5in, 2/0 for 2.5in), often with a keeper or bait pin to prevent sliding; the Owner Haymaker, Gamakatsu Superline EWG, and Mustad KVD Grip-Pin hooks are popular.
How durable is the Yamatanuki?
The bait is not durable; it commonly tears after one fish or even during casting, but it can be repaired with Mend-It glue.
What is the best way to fish the Yamatanuki?
Weightless Texas rig with a pop-and-drag retrieve, letting it fall on slack line; it can be fished shallow or deep, around cover or open water.

Compared To

vs Senko

The Yamatanuki is heavier and falls faster than a Senko, with a more subtle action like a Ned rig; some users see it as a heavy Senko or a jig alternative, while others feel a Senko or jig is more versatile.

vs Ned rig

The Yamatanuki offers a similar subtle action but with greater casting distance due to its weight; some users find it more effective than a Ned rig in tough conditions.

vs Jig

The Yamatanuki is seen as a more subtle alternative to a jig with less bulk, but some question whether it outperforms a traditional jig in all situations.

Source Threads

  • First impressions and rigging tips for Yamatanuki

    I have been using the 3.5in Yamatanuki weightless Texas rigged with a 5/0 EWG hook. This bait casts like a rocket and gets bit when nothing else works. Durability is terrible—it tears on the first cast sometimes. I use Mend-It to get a few more fish out of each bait. The shimmy on the fall is something else, and dragging it on bottom gets thumped hard.

    u/BySy_Ar/Fishing_GearView thread →

  • Effective but fragile bait saves tough day

    Threw the 3.5in Yamatanuki for the first time after getting skunked on other baits. Picked up three bass in thirty minutes fishing it weightless on a Gamakatsu Deep Throat 4/0. Bigger bass seem to eat it compared to my usual baits. Not durable at all—will tear just casting—but Mend-It helps. Dipping the nub in JJ's Magic chartreuse adds a trigger.

    u/NHbassfishermanr/bassfishingView thread →

  • Springtime pitching success with the Yamatanuki

    Pitching the 3.5in Yamatanuki weightless to docks and isolated cover has been deadly for spawning smallmouth and largemouth. The bait skips well, casts far, and gets bit on the initial fall like a Senko or Ned Rig. Dragging it on bottom also produces, and you can really feel them thump it. Its dense, heavy plastic gives it a unique action that pressured fish respond to.

    u/Wired2Fishr/bassfishingView thread →

  • Hook and rigging experiments to improve durability and hookups

    I've been using a 5/0 Owner Wide Gap Plus hook which fits the 3.5in perfectly. Some guys use a wacky rig hook or a 2/0 for the smaller size. I lose a lot of fish on this bait—probably because the bait slides down and balls up. Others use a bait keeper or rubber O-ring to make the bait last longer and improve hookup ratio. It's a great bait but requires tinkering with hooks.

    u/BuckeyeKidr/bassfishingView thread →