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The RED BALL JIG
Gapen Introduces The Red Ball JIG
The Red Ball comes with three extra red egg tippers which are heavily scented with anise oil, a natural attractant for all game fish. The Red Ball lure is made of tin, an environmentally safe metal. It is plated in nickel or gold, which creates a flashy fish tempter which fish instinctively gravitate to. See the Fantastic Fishing Tips explaining "How-To" use and why the Red Ball works--and what species it works best on.
Summer or Winter...It Matters Not!This "NEW" fishing creation, the Red Ball, will produce results on gamefish such as panfish, perch, rock bass, walleye, bass, trout, pike or lake trout.
Gapen's Red Ball JIG brings to the angler a completely new concept in fishing NEVER BEFORE SEEN!
Why???: All fish, from minnow stage, instinctively feed on the eggs of others, even their own species. It is this instinct which the Red Ball targets. Most fish spawn (eggs) tends to carry an opaque orange or red color. It is this shape and color that the Red Balls duplicate. The main silver or gold body design and color is just a device on which to present the red egg. It is the body which creates and triggers a fish attraction and draw to the Red Ball.
As the body flashes, dips, dives and erratically darts towards the fish staging area, it creates interest and fish come directly to it. But, it is the shape, color and scent of the Red Ball that stimulates the reaction to strike.
Working the Red Ball: Numerous lifts and twitches at rod tip are required as the Red Ball is presented. Once in the fish staging zone, this lure should be held still. If, after 30 seconds, no strike is felt, anglers should twitch the Red Ball two or three times and wait. Still no strike--repeat the process of casting or vertically jigging.
A Look Behind the Scenes of our "New" Red Ball JIGHistory
Bob Kook, fishing buddy, cameraman and good friend of the Gapen's, first laid the idea of the Red Ball style jig on Dan Gapen, Sr. after he'd done research while ice fishing for panfish. Bob noted that more times than he could count, panfish had a tendency to attempt to eat the split shot which held his offering down. Eventually, he used just a shot on a hook with no natural bait, and caught fish. Next, the split shot were painted a number of colors. Red turned out to be the best. Then a small 1/4 inch red plastic bead was placed on a nickel flat spoon hook. It worked! It seems the flashing wobble of the spoon drew the panfish in, but it was the red bead which they struck.
A Theory Why It Works
All fish species begin as eggs, which in turn turn into very small fish fry with a large egg sack attached. The sack, normally an orangish or reddish color is what the tiny minnow feeds on while it grows. During this period of life, a fish is extremely vulnerable to predation.
Thus, there is a natural instinct in all fish species to feed on eggs or anything which consists of a round circular shape.
It is a genetic instinct which cannot be withheld when fish are in search of food.
Therefore, fish, no matter what the species, are drawn to this food's shape more than they are drawn to the egg by smell or action. As a matter of fact, the Red Ball is best presented to fish in a still manner (motionless).
Presentation of the Red Ball
Two years of research proved up the following. The flash and darting action of the tin body of the Red Ball brings the fish in to this bait. But, it's the red egg-tipped on the metal body which drives them to strike it. "Strike" will come 90% of the time when the lure is held motionless for several moments. At times, the angler should allow the Red Ball to sit still and for as long as 30 seconds before striking results will occur.
Normally, species such as perch, bluegill, crappie, rock bass, whitefish and ciscoes will charge into the bait as it is vigorously jigged up and down, and then nose in to within a couple inches. Only then, when it's held still will they close in on it, flare their gill plates and suck the Red Ball in.
In the case of crappie and perch, they will rise as the bait is ingested. This creates an easing off of line pressure at rod tip. Bluegill, rock bass and other species suck the Red Ball in and dart off creating a hard strike at rod tip.
Gapen's continue with future research on other gamefish species as you read this copy in their newest catalog. Research in new lure styles, with the Red Ball construction and theory are on-going. Fish such as walleye and bass are now being offered new Red Ball lures. As of today, the new idea is working well. Gapen's knows the round ball works. They only have to develop body styles to carry the Red Ball to other gamefish.
It is my belief--Dan Gapen, Sr.--that many of us, as well as myself, have been working our winter and summer jigs too hard. We've held with the theory that a rapid jigging action is the key to cause fish to strike.
Not so!!!
The rapid jigging action of a lure is what causes the fish to notice an offering. Thus, drawing them to our lure. However, if this rough working of the lure continues, such action will flush fish from your lure. It matters not if you've tipped it with natural bait or not.
Holding it motionless after a series of jerks and twitches is by far the best presentation. If you have an underwater camera this theory can be well-documented.
If fish fail to strike the motionless lure, a painfully slow rise of the bait will renew their interest. If that fails, then the target probably isn't ready to feed and you best repeat your attractive jigging action to draw in another fish target.
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