Northwest Fishing Reports

I'm writing this because I was talking to my dad tonight, and he was watching a commercial on the 'banjo minnow." I remember seeing this commercial years ago, and didn't even think that this product existed anymore. However, I am a skeptic. I like my grubs, rapalas, spinnerbaits, etc... However, I told my dad I would do some checking around before he purchased. What is your opinion of this product? Have you heard good/ bad reviews?

Beerman

I have to say that my buddy was using one last week, I didn't realize he switched baits and when i looked down I saw the banjo. It looked very lifelike in the water. I have seen him use this several times and catch several bass.

That night I got home and ordered some. They cam in the mail yesterday and plan on tying one on today.

If anyone is thinking about ordering some the banjominnow site takes 4-6 weeks shipping. I browsed around and ordered from overtons.com.

I bought the Banjo Minnow set when it first was advertised on t.v. I would give the product a 2.5 out of 5 overall. The rating is due to: 1-I have just not really fished them a whole lot (just sitting in tackle box) 2-My crank baits have top dibs over my tackle box.

I do like the motion on them though. Very lively if you get the techinque down for retriving them.

I think the weedless gurard they give you to rig up is worthless. There is a couple of ways to rig the Banjo's up, which I still need to explore.

I'm not completely sold on them, but if fished the right way and with time and effort I think you might get a bang for your buck. I used them probably on 2-3 outings. I did catch two nice hogs at Gas Works Parks on the white banjo minnow-the smallest size minnow they give you in kit. The advertisment on t.v. is kind of exciting and intersting which is why I had my girlfriend by me a kit.

The Banjo Minnow works great if you have the right rod,such as Roland Martin's Fishing Rocket

I have caught several nice bass on the banjo, but you have to have the right water and and conditions for them to be good, just like any other lure. The best story I have on the banjo is I was up in the high lakes 5 years ago and we were catching some nice fish. I had a banjo in my box and said what the hell lets give it a try. I could not keep the cutts off the banjo. I was using the small white one, and it took me 5 casts to NOT catch a fish. The banjo only lasted about 15 fish before it was too busted up to use anymore. They work, but are not the only lure you will ever need.
HH

I fell prey to this when I was in middle school. Saved up my allowance and bought some. I never caught anything from the shore so I gave some to a guy with bass boat that used to give me shad he caught so that I could land some nice bass from the shore. He came back from the dam, where loads of shad school, and showed me 3 nice 5lbers.

I also got the hurricane lure or tornado lure. Can't remember what it was called. Never caught anything on that. I guess that's what I get for watching infomercials instead of studying. Hindset is amazing

RB

BANJO MINNOW, LMAO sorry! Biggest gimmick ever! Boy when I was younger I sure wanted it though! HA

Dont know if I would call it biggest gimmick ever. Because I have caught fish on it. I would not buy another box of them, but biggest gimmick ever is a bit of a stretch. They work under the right circumstances, if the places that you fish offer those circumstances on a regular basis then I would recommend them. Circumstances= shallow water, top-water type feed, best around structure.
Just my two cents
HH

Thanks for the input guys:cheers:

RB wrote:I fell prey to this when I was in middle school. Saved up my allowance and bought some. I never caught anything from the shore so I gave some to a guy with bass boat that used to give me shad he caught so that I could land some nice bass from the shore. He came back from the dam, where loads of shad school, and showed me 3 nice 5lbers.

I also got the hurricane lure or tornado lure. Can't remember what it was called. Never caught anything on that. I guess that's what I get for watching infomercials instead of studying. Hindset is amazing

RB

I think you are talking about the Helicopter lures.To me that was a joke,at least the banjo minnow mimics a fish a bit.When those helicopters came out my buddy jumped on the bandwagon and purchased some.He asked me to take them to the potholes area to try out,which I did.
Score: helicopters-zero fish or strikes while the old standbuys,spoons,spinners ,flies & bait= fish on.I was trying to catch any species on those helicopters,but no chance.He did sell them for $5 at a garage sale though.

Don't forget the "Flying lure".
Its all about the marketing!

SmokinAces wrote:BANJO MINNOW, LMAO sorry! Biggest gimmick ever! Boy when I was younger I sure wanted it though! HA

Honestly, it's no different than any other lures out there. They are all marketed one way or another.

It's obvious they catch fish. Just like any other lure. Wont be 100%, but that's why there are so many different varieties out there.

Gimmick or not, it's just another tool in the tackle box. I have no personal experience with this lure though.

I love it when these threads pop up. The latest and greatest fish slaying lure ever. Only now it's recycled from the archives. Can't wait to get a new set of Flying Lures, too.

Who was pitching it in the latest release? Bill Dance, Roland Martin, or the ever great smallmouth magnate Babe Winkleman?

haha yeah helicopter lure. I think I was in 6th grade when that came out. Those commercials had me hooked :( I don't even know what happened to them after I moved to Korea

So I tested out my new banjo minnows today. Although they haven't brought me any fish yet, the conditions were not the best for the minnows. The water I fished was very stained due to the recent wind and rain. Will have to try them another day.

helicopter lure

RB wrote:haha yeah helicopter lure. I think I was in 6th grade when that came out. Those commercials had me hooked :( I don't even know what happened to them after I moved to Korea

I guess you can still purchase, them haha. Here is a website for the coveted (sarcasm) helicopter lure:

If you were fishing in stocked lakes like Bill Dance and Roland Martin, you would also be able to catch bass with the banjo minnow. Washington is a whole different ball game, bass are smarter and a 6lb bass is a trophy.

The flying lure works, don't know what yal are talking about Caught more on my flying lure than the banjo minnow. :bom:

FishingFool wrote:

SmokinAces wrote:BANJO MINNOW, LMAO sorry! Biggest gimmick ever! Boy when I was younger I sure wanted it though! HA

Honestly, it's no different than any other lures out there. They are all marketed one way or another.

It's obvious they catch fish. Just like any other lure. Wont be 100%, but that's why there are so many different varieties out there.

Gimmick or not, it's just another tool in the tackle box. I have no personal experience with this lure though.

Good point, and the tools of the Flying Lure and the Banjo Minnow do work, at times, and they can be a useful addition to your arsenal.

The flying lure will indeed, as advertised, glide back under docks and obstructions. The are more of a reaction bait, but at the right time, in the right place, they work. They are not my go to lure, but I know when to use them, and when to leave them in my box.

As for the Banjo, it too works. The key to those is the hook connection to the front that allows the freedom of movement. It is easy to make your own using many of the gliding soft plastic minnow baits on the market, and using a "hitch hiker" that can be bought from Staminatackle.com. Again, it has it's places, like in clear water, light weeds, shallow fish; it works. But than again, so does the Slugo and may other soft plastic jerk baits, upon which this is a modified version.

I do see that just about every lure that comes out is sold like those two are, in one way or another. Some are low budget, like the advertisements on the Flying Lure and Banjo Minnow; just nothing but infomercials. Other lures are sold by your favorite Bass Pro, sounding off at the Weigh-In about how he could not have won if it had not been for the New Brand X lure, just released, and endorsed by him. Same thing, just a different media.

But remember, buyer beware. After all, if Roland Martin sells anything, it is bogus. I think that I have never seen anyone say they did well on a helicopter lure. But if Roland says it, it must be so. I suppose this applies to every purchase we make, after all, does anyone actually catch fish on Coffee flavored plastic lures?