Bassday Gyokusai 97F

The Bassday Gyokusai 97F is a high-performance, shallow-running floating minnow specifically engineered to combat the absolute worst coastal weather conditions. The word Gyokusai carries deep historical weight in Japan, but in the context of lure design, it represents a plug built to smash head-first through violent seasonal gales and roaring headwinds without losing its footing or tumbling in mid-air.

Downsized from the original 135F profile, the 97mm version brings that exact same heavy-duty, wind-beating performance into a more versatile, highly scannable size profile. It is the ultimate search-and-destroy hard bait for casting into heavy surf, shallow estuaries, and wind-blown rocky headlands.

Detailed Specifications

• Length: 97mm

• Weight: 17.0g

• Type: Floating Minnow (Shallow Runner)

• Diving Depth: Up to 80cm (Approx. 2.5 feet)

• Hooks: Outfitted with two heavy-duty, thick-wire Size 4 treble hooks

• Split Rings: Premium Size 3 high-tensile hardware

• Internal Weight System: Heavy-duty tungsten cylinder weight driven by Bassdays proprietary TSL (Torsion Spring Lock) System and a shaft glider track.

Key Features & Design Performance

• The TSL Storm-Casting Matrix: The primary triumph of the Gyokusai 97F is its ability to cast insane distances straight into a headwind. During the cast, a heavy tungsten cylinder weight slides completely to the tail along a precision shaft. Upon hitting the water, Bassdays TSL mechanism instantly snaps the cylinder forward and locks it rigidly in place. This guarantees that the lure swims with the ultra-stable, tight precision of a fixed center-of-gravity plug, with zero weight rattle.

• Horizontal Slow-Float Posture: Unlike traditional minnows that sit nose-up or tail-heavy on a pause, the 97F is balanced to float almost perfectly horizontal with a very slight upward angle. This unique buoyancy configuration makes it exceptionally adept at ultra-slow retrieves, maintaining a highly realistic presentation even when barely moving.

• Strong Acoustic Transmission: The body and lip geometry are tuned to produce an assertive rolling and wobbling action that transmits a clean, distinct vibration directly through your rod blank to your hands. This high level of tactile feedback is a massive advantage during night sessions or when fishing through heavy white-water surf where you need to feel exactly what the lure is doing.

• Over-Spec Hardware Security: To accommodate the heavy internal casting weights, Bassday gave the 97F a slightly stockier, fatter body profile. They utilized this extra internal volume to equip the lure with exceptionally thick #4 hooks and #3 rings. This allows you to target large coastal sea bass and hard-hitting pelagic species with absolute confidence, knowing your hardware will not bend out under immense pressure.

Where & How to Use It

• Shallow Stormy Surf & Beaches: The premier arena for this plug. When seasonal gales push baitfish into the shallows but create a headwind that kills standard lures, the Gyokusai cuts through the air and tracks perfectly through the rolling white-water.

• Estuary Mouths & River Lips: Exceptional for swinging through moving current seams. Its shallow 80cm running track lets you work it over submerged sandbanks, weed beds, and structure fields without risking a costly snag.

• Night-Game Roving: Because the stable swimming action telegraphs so clearly through the line, it is an elite-tier choice for pitch-black night retrieving along harbor walls and shallow rocky ledges.

Pro Tip

The Dead-Slow Current Crawl: Because the Gyokusai 97F is engineered with a horizontal floating posture, it can be worked much slower than standard shallow minnows. When fishing tidal estuary runs or river mouths, cast across the flow and drop your retrieve speed to the absolute minimum required to just take up the lines slack. Let the current drive the lip. The body will execute a lazy, hypnotic roll right in that critical 50-80cm subsurface zone, giving large, energy-conserving predators a massive visual window to shadow and engulf the plug.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the action of the 97F compare to the larger 135F?

While it retains the same heavy hydroacoustic vibration and strong body roll that lets you feel the lure working, the 97F features a slightly tighter, higher-frequency swimming track due to its shorter length. Additionally, its horizontal floating posture allows it to react much quicker to slow-speed variations than the larger model.

Will this lure skip or blow out if retrieved rapidly?

No. The TSL system locks the internal tungsten cylinder securely at the center of gravity the second the lure hits the water. Because the weight cannot slide back and forth during the retrieve, the Gyokusai 97F tracks arrow-straight and remains completely stable without skipping or blowing out, even during high-speed winds or across fast cross-currents.

Is this lure suitable for freshwater applications?

While designed primarily as a saltwater powerhouse for sea bass and coastal predators, the 97F is a phenomenal crossover option for freshwater trophy hunting. Its 17g mass and shallow running capabilities make it a deadly shallow-water search bait for specimen pike and large river trout holding in fast, heavy currents.