What in God’s name is a BKD you ask?  Well, a BKD, also called a Bass Kandy Delight, is similar to a Bassassin on steroids. It’s a 10-inch long soft plastic bait that has a completely new look and action to it in the water.

            The BKD has a thick head section similar to a shad body with a long thin tail. The underside of the body has the traditional belly-slit to accept the shank of a big hook. Its sides have lines like a scale pattern and it’s molded from extremely tough plastic, even though it’s flexible and very life-like in the water.

            When rigging one of these baits you have a number of rigging options available to cover a wide variety of fishing situations. From the surface to below and anywhere in-between, you’ll be able to fish it with confidence using this bait.

            Two years ago, while filming with underwater videogropher, Mike Laptew, we were fishing some big underwater reefs at the mouth of the bay. We were attempting to film a large striper eating a big piece of plastic in the white water wash and hopefully get it o film. On the second day we approached the wash area and began tossing BKD’s against the moss covered rocks. As the lure landed in the white water, I began working it so it darted and dove close to the surface of the water hoping a big bass would eat it. As the bait cleared the white foam area a huge explosion erupted beneath the lure and it totally disappeared from view. After a brief battle, we weighed the fish and it pulled 36-pounds on the Boga Grip.

Rigging Option1:

            There’s no doubt that using a single hook in the head is the most popular method. Hooks from 7/0 to 9/0 are preferred only because this is a very large piece of plastic. I like an 8/0 Matzuo Sickle style hook. The hook has a bit larger bite than most standard hooks and sticks out a bit farther away from the body of the bait. This aids in getting a better look set on a strike.

            Prior to placing the hook inside the bait, wrap the shank with rod winding thread in size Double EE to form a base. Once completed, thread the hook on half-way and hit the wrapped hook shank with some water proof glue. Once the hook is glued in place it won’t move. The wrapped hook shank and glue will prevent the bait from moving and tearing while casting.

            There is a special weighted hook option that is now available from the manufacture in various sizes that can be added to aid in fishing the bait deeper. These too can be glued in place to secure them.

Rigging Option 2: 

            BKD’s can be rigged in conjunction with a floating style jig head and fished in rip currents or fast moving water. The floating jig heads are tied “open” where the bucktail or fish-hair used on them flares out from the hook exposing the shank. When you thread on the bait, it won’t gather up the hair inside its body like other jigs and it fits nicely on the shank of the hook.

            Rigged 3-way style and then fished deep in strong rips and currents will produce some impressive catches. Tie the BKD to a four-foot leader of fluorocarbon leader material like Sufix or Sea-Guar in 40 to 60-pound test to one eye of the three-way swivel. On the bottom eye tie on a lighter piece of mono and a sinker heavy enough to take the rig to the bottom. If you get hung-up the lighter mono to the sinker will break free so your jig and bait won’ be lost. Your main line goes to the third eye of the swivel.

            A good stout rod, a quality conventional reel and braided line like Sufix Premium braid are good choices to fish this set up. The braid gives you a lot of sensitivity and hook setting power while fishing deep water. Work the bait in an up and down jigging motion and make a few sharp, short jerks to make the bait jump violently as it moves along. Most game fish just can’t resist eating them.

Rigging Option 3:

            The BKD can be rigged for trolling at least two different ways and maybe even more with some imagination. First, it works great on the back of a big spoon like a Drone or Bunker Spoon. The spoon provides the necessary action, which in turn causes the bait to twist, turn, flip and hop. Attach the BKD by forming a loop at the head, with a crimp and bead and close the loop only enough so it’s small enough that it doesn’t escape back over the barb.

            The second way is for fishing for tuna, Wahoo, dolphin, and other offshore species. The BKD can be rigged as a trailer behind any type of trolling bait as you would a real ballyhoo. Rig the bait the same way with a loop coming out of the head and then crimp it in place. Tighten only enough so it can’t come free from the maim lure.

Rigging Option 4:

            The BKD can be rigged in a tandem hook set up but you’ll need a rigging needle to do it. Take some 50-pound test Dacron line, double it and tie a knot in one end. Work the rigging needle from the rear of the tail just as it begins to get fat. Slowly work the needle towards the front of the bait, keeping it as close to center as possible, then exciting the nose. Now take the doubled Dacron line and slip one end over the ‘catch-curve” on the end of the needle and begin to pull it through slowly. Tie on a 3/0 hook on the back end of the line and then pull the hook into place at the rear of the bait.

            BKD’s are now also available with a heavy swim plate for trolling. The side-to-side action with the swim plate attached is awesome. They are also available in a 6-inch model for targeting school bass or many types of freshwater species, although we have taken some pretty impressive stripers on the 6-inch version as well.

            The BKD is one plastic lure that has come onto the scene and made a very good impression and account of itself in a relatively short period of time. So far it has accounted for 23-different species of game fish in both fresh and saltwater.

Contact:

www.basskandydelight.com

Capt Steve Seigle

Phone: 304-725-6653

Captain Jim White