Urchin Urchin Urchin

If you follow what’s new in bass fishing tackle at all, by now you have heard about the Urchin bait craze. These baits have been described as looking like covid balls, urchins, or something out of this world. Whatever you choose to call them, one thing is for sure, they catch fish, and big ones! In May 2026, before most of the fishing world was aware of these baits, Bassmaster elite pro, and local angler Chris Johnston won the event on Santee Cooper Lake, South Carolina using the full cast Hideup Coike. 

These baits are soft plastic or TPE fishing lures featuring a dense, compact central body covered in a halo of fine, flaring tentacles or bristles. They mimic small, fuzzy aquatic creatures, fry, or macro-invertebrates, creating a unique pulsing action on a slow fall or twitch. Urchin-style baits are very versatile, and the rigging options are endless; from Texas rig, to drop-shot, and everything in between. You can fish them finesse style on deep structure for smallmouth with a weighted Texas rig, or drop-shot on spinning gear, or you can power fish shallow structure – like docks or trees – with heavier line and a bait caster. 

The difficulty with any new rig is choosing the right hook that will maximize your ability to pin a fish, and keep it on. Early on, most people – including Johnston, were using a treble hook with a nail weight inserted into the bait, however the hook-up to landing ratio was not the greatest; plus you ran the risk of loosing a bait that is not cheap. Since then, anglers have been experimenting with diverse set-ups including weighted frog hooks, or trebles inserted through the bait and main-line tied on after. 

With this new craze, bait manufacturers are also hoping on board, flooding the market with their own versions of this bait with assorted sizes, features, and different names. Some of my favourites are: the original Hide Up Coike, Yamamoto Uni and of course, the brand new Prowater Baits Scouser.

 The two techniques and set ups I have been catching them on is;

1. Full cast 20mm Prowater Baits Scouser green pumpkin, and chartreuse tipped Scouser on a custom-rigged weighted frog hook; made by friends of mine Ben and Nathaniel Battye. I throw this on a medium-heavy 7’3 Daiwa Tatula rod and a 7:1 – 8:1 ratio Daiwa Tatula SV. I throw it around shallow cover such as docks, trees, and any shoreline structure. The technique is simple, pitch or cast it out, let it sink and aggressively twitch the bait a few times before letting it fall again; repeat this throughout the retrieve, always watching my line for any indications of a strike.

2. Hide Up Coike mini 8mm, rigged on a single weighted straight shank 1/0 hook; also made by Ben and Nate. I throw this lighter set up on a Daiwa Elite Randy Howell power spin rod with a Daiwa MQ spinning reel. I use 15 lb Daiwa J Braid Grand main line, and 10lb Daiwa Samurai fluorocarbon leader. I cast this over shallow, rocky areas and inside weed edges with the same retrieve mentioned above.

My advice is to use your imagination, experiment with new products and set ups, new baits, and new techniques. Fishing is fun – but catching them is funner! You may just stumble on the next best thing. Get to your local tackle shop, pickup a Prowater Scouser or Hide Up Coike, and hop on the Urchin craze!

Catch you on the water!

Mike Williams, Williams Outfitters & Guiding

www.williamsoutfitters.com