A Unique Minnow with Random Darting Action

1. Because the internal weights move randomly, every jerk and twitch throws it off balance in a different way, mimicking a dying baitfish

The defining trait of the G.C.G.N. Minnow 89SR is the way the two internal weights shift forward and back at random every time you jerk or twitch it, creating a slightly different reaction each time.

From a conventional product standpoint, you could call it an unstable jerkbait that does not always move exactly the way the angler intends. But Haruhiko Murakami recognized that this near-flawed instability had real fish-catching power. Instead of producing an action that is too clean and too controlled, it introduces unpredictable moments of imbalance that no angler can perfectly recreate on purpose. That is exactly what makes this lure so interesting. It gives pressured bass a different trigger than the countless jerkbaits they have already seen.

2. Because its buoyancy is biased toward the front, it can imitate a vulnerable baitfish even on a slow retrieving

Unlike the G.C. Minnow 89, which serves as Issei’s benchmark jerkbait, the G.C.G.N. Minnow 89SR was designed with the main buoyancy point pushed farther forward.

That forward-biased buoyancy makes it easier to keep the bait from moving too far forward, even on a dead-slow to slow retrieving, giving it the look of a weakened baitfish wandering in place with nowhere to go. It creates a vulnerable, exposed presence that is very different from the more stable, more composed character of the standard G.C. Minnow 89.

3. A shape that carries Haruhiko Murakami’s design philosophy

The shape of the G.C.G.N. Minnow 89SR clearly reflects Haruhiko Murakami’s obsession with design. He had already found the kind of ideal action he was after: even on a slow retrieve, the bait would not kick too hard at the tail, but instead move with a smooth, seductive action. But as he began turning that concept into an actual lure, he realized that one of the prototypes looked too much like the Megabass Vision Oneten.

And it was not just a vague resemblance at first glance. After checking the bait from every angle, including the silhouette from above, he came to the conclusion that it really was too close to the Oneten. The action itself was excellent. Even so, Murakami decided not to release it as it was, saying, “I just didn’t like that.” Instead of settling for a shape that simply worked, he went back and reworked it into a form he could truly accept as an Issei lure. That decision says a lot about Murakami’s convictions as a creator. He refuses to compromise not only on fish-catching performance, but also on originality and design beauty.

4. Rather than assigning it a fixed role against the G.C. Minnow 89, this is a bait you want to fish back to back and compare based on the fish’s response that day

If the G.C. Minnow 89 is the benchmark jerkbait in Issei’s lineup, then the G.C.G.N. Minnow 89 is the bait you pick up when you want to trigger responses that the benchmark bait cannot quite pull out.

That said, it is not the kind of lure you can neatly define in advance by saying, “This is always the better choice in this situation.” As Murakami himself puts it, this is less a bait to strictly categorize and more one you should fish back to back and compare. Start with the benchmark G.C. Minnow 89. If the response is weak, or if you want to show fish a different look at the same depth, bring in the G.C.G.N. Minnow 89 and see which one they choose that day. That instinctive, on-the-water approach feels very much like Murakami’s style of lure fishing.

G.C. MINNOW 89SR-SP [Brand New]

$22.99

#01 MURAKAMI SHAD - $22.99 #03 HASUGO - $22.99 #05 WAKASAGI - $22.99 #52 CLEAR WAKASAGI - $22.99 #58 YUGATA SECRET - $22.99 #77 CHART SHAD - $22.99 #78 CHART SHAD GOLD - $22.99

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