Banjo Minnow - Looks cool on TV but...

Every time I see the Banjo Minnow infomercial on TV, I ALMOST pick up the phone and order some. I guess my thinking is that if it is that good, why don't they sell them in tackle shops.  So I am interested to hear if anyone has tried them. Thanks in advance!

Scott

I bought some years ago (back in my shore bound fishing days) and caught some bass at Stevens Creek with 'em - yes they do work....but just like any other lure IMO Once you hook a few, the plastic fish tends to rip a part easily - unless of course they make better ones these days.

Just my 2 cents...

Scott, What Mooch said is true they rip quickly but do work. Have used them for rock fish and they did the job but can do the same with other plastics. Yo-Yo brother, Frankfishing

Ken Daubert wrote the book Kayak Fishing; The Revolution.  He is also the co-inventor of the Banjo Minnow.  You may be able to catch bass with "any plastic" but I challenge anyone to catch as many different species with the same lure on the same day, day after day and year after year, other than the Banjo Minnow.  I am not and have never been  payed to say this.  The design, rigging and fishing style are unique to this lure.  I learned from Ken himself fishing near Pine Island in West Florida but anyone can figure this lure's action out in a few days.  First day out in a weak bite, I landed a red, a snook, many specs and a very big Jack Crevalle fishing 2 colors of the minnow.

Several years ago working a fishing show in Minneapolis, I dove into the front row to hear Babe Winkleman's seminar.  Halfway through the presentation, here comes a slide of the Banjo Minnow and a 20 minute rant on how this lure catches fish of all species and even when they won't bite anything else.  Including bait.  That was followed by "I am not and have never been payed to say this and I don't even know the folks who make them."  Babe was turned onto the Banjo minnow by 2 friends a few years apart.  The second time, he started fishing them and has kept them in his arsenol ever since.  His point of the seminar was that there are a handful of old faithful lures that almost always produce fish and endorsements aside, that's what it's all about.  Make sure to but extra hooks with that little spring screw.

  His point of the seminar was that there are a handful of old faithful lures that almost always produce fish and endorsements aside, that's what it's all about.  Make sure to but extra hooks with that little spring screw.

And with that Scott has his credit card in hand and finger on the speed dial..

What about the Moto Lures? Chuck Woolery?
http://www.chuckwoolery.com/

If it's the same thing my buddy got at a garage sale, which he said was a banjo minnow,  I think its just like many fishing gadgets.  Neat in concept, poor on delivery.  What I thought was cool was it's many different fishing styles you can use with the  rigging tackle it came with.  Like if you had to pick only one kit, and fish for a year, maybe this one would be it.  Like the swiss army of tackle or something.  All of the plastics in his kit though were one color, light green?

Guess I should talk though, cause I was thinking of the banjo minnow when I bought the wiggle rig.  Again, neat concept, poor delivery...

I saw a kid toss one of these Banjo Minnows over the side at Oyster Pt. Pier, hooked up a nice 32in halibut.

Looks like a pretty good deal:

http://www.banjominnow.com/?gclid=CNC9r_LH_5ICFRItagodh34IFw

That banjo music just bout had me ordering the kit! Hahahahah.

Well I bought $19.95 worth of banjo minnows today. I don't like fishing live bait so I thought I would experiment with them against Mendo stripers and bay hali's. Will post results in fishing reports.

Thanks! Scott 

On their website it says allow 4-6 weeks for delivery... LOL  They will be hitting artificials at mendo by then...

As I recall, we fished these on a weighted carolina rig.  Cast out to desired depth and short jerk, like small pops on the rod tip with a constant slow grind retrieve.  Fish attack this lure.  Be sure to rig it straight on the hook every time.

I like how they keep saying it's "the fisherman" who makes it swim, sink or die, its the fisherman who makes the fish bite. Like it can't catch fish on its own, lol . I bought a kit like 5 years ago or something I dont remember, but it came with banjo frogs back then. Thats all I could catch any fish on. But they look so much different now.

I have never used these but wanted to comment of them shredding after a few fish. It is practically impossible to make a lure with a lot of action that can also hold up to abuse from toothy fish. I pour my own lures and you have a choice soft with a lot of action or tough with less action. For RF I always go tough, for bass I generally go with more action.