Hondo 4.5 – Hybridized for Instinct

The Hondo 4.5 is a soft plastic baitfish design that merges classic minnow and shad realism with next-generation innovation. Built with a hybrid body shape featuring unique side appendages and a split kicking tail, the Hondo creates a lifelike, flowing action that triggers bites in a wide range of situations. At 4.5 inches, it’s perfectly sized to imitate common forage and fit a variety of techniques.

Each appendage and tail tip is finished with precision flanges that add stability and subtle movement, producing a smooth, natural kick as the bait swims. The hybrid profile displaces water just enough to draw attention without overpowering your presentation—making the Hondo 4.5 equally effective in finesse or power-fishing applications.

For enhanced rigging and performance, the Hondo includes a hook slot in the belly for easy, weedless rigging and solid hookups, along with a hook alignment line on the back to ensure perfect balance and tracking every time.

Why It Works

The Hondo 4.5’s strength lies in its controlled flow and balance. The side appendages and split kicking tail create a hybrid swimming motion—part subtle finesse, part aggressive pulse—that feels alive to any nearby predator. Those flanged edges generate micro-turbulence that adds realism and water displacement, while maintaining a stable body roll. The result is a bait that fishes confidently across any depth or condition, keeping its composure whether you’re slow-rolling, twitching, or ripping through current.

How to Fish It

The Hondo 4.5 was built for versatility—ready to adapt to your strengths and conditions.

·Ball Head Jig: Tight, natural swimming action for open water or smallmouth applications.

·Weightless on a Stout Widegap Hook: Perfect for shallow water and subtle, gliding presentations.

·Keel-Weighted Hook: Adds stability and a true tracking chop through grass or open water.

·Carolina or Free Rigged: Great for deeper structure or dragging through transitions.

·Texas Rigged: Confidently work it through cover with a clean, snag-resistant presentation.

No matter how you fish it, the Hondo 4.5 delivers that perfect balance of flow, vibration, and realism that makes fish curious triggering the bite.