08/07/2026
EVERGREEN Otter Crawler technique with Yasunao Hondo.
This report comes from Yasunao Hondo, an EVERGREEN-supported JB Masters pro who guides mainly on Sameura Dam and other reservoirs in Shikoku, Japan.
The Otter Crawler is a large winged topwater crawler designed by Hondo himself.
According to Hondo, its best season begins in June, when bass enter the post-spawn period, and continues until the fish begin spreading out in fall.
Recommended seasons:
March: Pre-spawn
June–November: Post-spawn through fall
Hondo mainly fishes the Otter Crawler close to structure.
Key areas include:
Rock walls
Bridge pilings
Standing timber
Bushes and other cover
Breaklines
Shallow flats
Inlets
The basic retrieve speed is medium.
However, the Otter Crawler can also be used from a dead-slow crawl to a fast retrieve, allowing the angler to adjust its appeal to the mood of the fish.
Its sound is one of the key features.
The wings, jointed body, and rear blade create several different sounds that can switch on big bass.
The concave grooves on the underside also produce complex water displacement and vibration, helping trigger bites around structure.
This is not simply a lure to retrieve as slowly as possible.
Start with a medium-speed retrieve, then adjust the speed according to the cover, water conditions, and the reaction of the bass.
Pro angler: Yasunao Hondo
Instagram:
Field: Sameura Dam and reservoirs in Shikoku, Japan
Lure: EVERGREEN Otter Crawler
