How To Work The MirrOlure Lil’ John
- By: David Ulgenalp
- on March 24, 2022
What are the best ways to retrieve the MirrOlure Lil’ John to catch more fish?
Is there a ‘secret’ way to work these lures?
Check this out to catch more fish using the Lil’ John soft plastic jerk bait this spring!
MirrOlure Lil’ John
Click here to get the MirrOlure Lil’ John
We have THREE new Lil’ John lure colors coming to the Salt Strong tackle shop, so we want to make sure you all know the best ways to retrieve them.
The main objective is to trigger a reaction strike.
The Lil’ John lures do not create any action on their own and need to be worked by an angler.
You almost want to mimic a topwater walk-the-dog style retrieve but underwater.
The goal is to have your lure move side to side in the water and then fall.
Most fish will strike your lure as it falls back down after you’ve twitched it numerous times.
More importantly, you are NOT aiming for a vertical retrieve.
In reality, you want to create a side-to-side “dance” in the water.
How To Retrieve The Lil’ John
The twitch-twitch-pause method creates a more vertical presentation that we do not want with this lure.
As a result, you want to have your rod parallel with the water and pointed at the lure.
In terms of twitches and pauses, you want to remain erratic and keep mixing it up.
The whole idea is to create side-to-side action and then the lure drops which will trigger reaction strikes from predatory fish.
An indication of if you are working the lure properly or not is if you happen to snag a fish swimming in the water.
You may end up snagging pinfish or other types of baitfish as you work the Lil’ John back to you.
In terms of jigheads and weights, you want to make sure you are working the Lil’ John close to the bottom.
Predatory fish will believe they see an injured baitfish and will then strike when it falls to the bottom.
Color is of minor importance with this lure but still plays a role.
It is absolutely critical to learn how to swim this lure properly if you want to find success with it.
MirrOlure Lil’ John [VIDEO]
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Click here to get the MirrOlure Lil’ John
Conclusion
The MirrOlure Lil’ John is a great lure to change up your tactics and start to trigger reaction strikes from predatory fish.
Keep in mind these lures do not have much natural motion and need to be worked and retrieved correctly to create an enticing presentation.
Be sure to check out the MirrOlure Lil’ John in different colors now in our online tackle shop!
Also, if you’d like to head out with Wader Dave to target some redfish (plus snook and trout!) visit www.wadersguide.com to book a trip with him! Salt Strong Insiders receive a 10% discount on bookings!
Do you have any more questions about how to work the MirrOlure Lil’ John?
Let me know down in the comments!
And if you know someone who wants to learn more about the MirrOlure Lil’ John, please TAG or SHARE this with them!
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Hi Dave
If you were home in Florida you wouldn’t be shivering
It’s fun watching a pro like you wade fishing
Best DW
Hey Dave, what were those plain red eye jig heads you were using? Thanks Jon
Saltwater Assassin Pro Elite Jig Heads. They are available in the SS Shop but not in natural color.
What are the best jig heads to use?
I’ve been using Bass Assassin Pro Elite Jig Heads for several years and really like them. However, I recently started using Storm 360GT Coastal Jig Heads – the ratcheted lead keeper holds the Lil John and other soft plastics better than other types and has become my jig head of choice recently n
Thanks Dave! Now I have to correct years of bad habits! 😉
Seriously, Thank you for an informative & educational Lil John tutorial!
Have you worked/fished with Jay Watkins? Texas Trout Master & A fellow MirroLure lover & spokes person.
He, through a mutual friend, got me into the Lil Johns & Lil John XLs , but the techniques didn’t carry over.
Neal – glad you enjoyed the video. I don’t know Jay but I love his IG videos and hope to have a chance to fish with him one of these days.
Wader Dave is The Man w the Lil John. Great video!
Phillip – you know the retrieve well!
Thanks for the instruction on wade fishing Dave. Now I understand that I have never properly retrieved when wade fishing. Learning has occurred.
I suggest sipping a Kentucky bourbon to warm your bones after being the the chilly water all day.
Salt Strong! Thomas
Thanks Thomas! Actually it took some good Mexican food and a few Modelos to warm me up.
Lot of great information on the retrieval. Thanks Wader Dave
David – hope it puts more fish on the end of your line.
Great video Dave, hopefully down the road we can see come under water footage of it
Thanks Jason – that’s a great idea!
Dave, thanks for sitting me straight on how to use this bait. Any tips on color selection?
Watermelon Red Glitter is my go to. If that’s not getting it done I’ll try Glow. then Golden Bream.
I luv the video. I suggest most of the artificial the store sells should come with retrieve videos with more concentration on the cadence and rod tip positioning. Put it in a book of artificial reteieves for master class could be helpful. I have brought almost every lure in the store but always run back to bait but this year I’m determined to use nothing but artificial to give youth another dimension of catching. Again thanks for a great video
Brian – glad you enjoyed the video and I hope it helps keep you off the live and cut bait.