This time, we would like to introduce a technique from Yohei Takanashi, one of the top fishing guides on Lake Hibara.

Lake Hibara is known as one of the most beautiful smallmouth bass fisheries in Japan. With clear water, deep scenery, and strong smallmouth bass, it is a very special field for Japanese bass anglers.

Yohei Takanashi mainly guides on Lake Hibara and is supported by NISHINE Lure Works, a Canadian lure company.

The lure featured in this technique is the new NISHINE Lure Works GOBIZO STICK 3".

Takanashi uses this lure with a very Japanese technique called “I-Motion,” also known in Japan as “I-shaped retrieve.”

Unlike twitching, shaking, or darting the lure, I-Motion is all about keeping the bait moving in a very straight, natural line with almost no visible action. The lure does not need to move aggressively. Instead, it should look like a small baitfish slowly drifting through the water.

According to Takanashi, this technique is especially effective in spring and fall.

The key situation is when smallmouth bass are feeding on wakasagi, a Japanese baitfish, in shallow water from 0 to 4 meters deep.

Clear water is very important for this technique. When smallmouth bass can visually track the bait, the natural silhouette and extremely slow movement become very powerful.

The basic retrieve is simple, but very delicate.

Keep the GOBIZO STICK 3" about 5–10 cm below the surface and retrieve it extremely slowly.

The image is not to “work” the lure, but to let it drift just under the surface.

This ultra-dead-slow retrieve is one of the key points of Japanese I-Motion fishing. It can be very effective for clear-water smallmouth bass that are feeding upward on baitfish but do not want to chase a fast-moving lure.

Recommended setup:

Lure: NISHINE Lure Works GOBIZO STICK 3"
Hook: VARIVAS Death Lock Stitch
Line: PE #0.4 braid
Leader: 5–6 lb fluorocarbon

Guide: Yohei Takanashi
Instagram: @yohei_takanashi
Field: Lake Hibara, Japan

This is a real clear-water smallmouth technique from Japan.