Tokyo Rig fishing offers a few advantages to anglers looking to better their bass fishing game. As summer rolls in, bass begin heading into cover and off-shore. For those that are up-shallow, it’s important to have a presentation capable of reaching the fish but also that presents in a unique way. That’s what makes this killer Japanese fishing rig so special.
1.) It Stays In The Strike Zone
The rigid wire allows your soft plastic to stay in the optimal strike zone for longer periods of time. You can shake your bait like a drop shot and keep it in one place. This can be deadly when grass fishing for big bass. The weight below the bait creates a ruckus as the bait pushes around grass, making it easier for bass to find your bait among thick vegetation.
2.) Perfect For Pressured Fish
Let’s face it, lakes and ponds are becoming more and more pressured. Where ever there’s cover and grass, your can bet anglers throw Senkos, creature baits, and top waters; same baits, over and over, moving in the same direction every time. For this reason, good anglers have to switch up their presentation. The Tokyo Rig is slightly different to a fish than your average drop shot and Texas rig. The hooking style allows the bait to wiggle horizontally and keep a free, swinging action, whereas a Texas rig is often pegged and darts straight into the grass like a missile, impeding the action.
3.) Perfect For Bed Fishing
Using the appropriate weight, The Tokyo Rig can be lethal on the right bass during the spawn. You can keep your bait in the right place for a longer period of time. On the other hand, your traditional jigs and Texas rigs tend to wander off the bed before the bass has time to respond. I’ve always found that compact, horizontal baits tend to fire up bed fish more so than moving baits, so having your bait in the optimal strike zone is crucial.
4.) Tokyo Rig: Free Swinging Action
Having the weight below the rig and on a straight wire keeps the bait moving freely. With a texas rig, the pegged weight dives nose down and prevents the soft plastic from reaching its full action potential. Take a look at any underwater footage of a texas rig on a 1/2 oz weight – it drops fast and only catches bass who are in a certain mood. With a slow-moving, free-action bait like the Tokyo setup, you’ll present a nice wiggle they’ve never seen. 
5.) Good Hooking Percentage
Unlike a texas rig, you’ll land more fish. Having your weight below and out of the way allows the fish to fully inhale the bait without also taking in a 1/2 oz bullet weight, for example. This works especially well on finicky fish. Or those fish short-striking other lures they’ve seen a dozen times before. Along these lines, any soft plastic can be used. I tend to go with beaver-style baits, which allow me to fish grass. But you can easily fish a wacky-style worm this way or other creature baits.
