Illex Squad Minnow 95SP: the small jerkbait that saves winter sessions
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One January morning, water at 4°C (39°F), grey sky, nothing moving. I'd been casting 12-15 cm lures for two hours without a single follow. Out of frustration I tied on a Squad Minnow 95SP I'd been saving for "later in the season." Three casts later, a decent zander was on. That day changed how I think about this small jerkbait: it isn't a backup option, it's the tool to reach for first when bigger lures aren't paying off.
Why smaller changes everything in cold water
In cold water a predator's metabolism slows down hard, and its strike zone shrinks with it. A 12-15 cm lure asks for a more committed decision than a sluggish fish is always willing to make. The Squad Minnow 95SP, at 9.5 cm and 14 g, still casts well but stays a bite-sized offering the fish swallows without a second thought.
It's the same logic behind compact soft plastics from the same brand: shrink the lure to shrink the decision the fish has to make, rather than relying on bulk to force a strike.
A depth kept deliberately shallow
The Squad Minnow 95SP dives between 0.5 and 1.5 m (1.5-5 ft), a range that's shallow by design. That's not a limitation, it's a design choice: this lure is built to work margins, shallow flats and skinny-water spots where baitfish — and the predators following them — often shelter in winter.
On a deeper spot (a 3-4 m drop-off, a hole), it simply isn't the right tool: a heavy jighead or a deeper-diving jerkbait will do a better job there.
Working it at its own scale
The most common mistake with this format is working it like a larger jerkbait, with twitches that are too wide. The Squad Minnow 95SP wants small movements:
- A flick of the wrist, not a real rod twitch. The body is short and reacts fast — too big a movement pulls it out of the water or sends it into a spiral.
- Long pauses, 4-6 seconds in very cold water. It's often during that pause, while the lure hangs perfectly still, that the fish decides.
- Restart with small nudges rather than long bursts. That restraint is exactly what makes this lure work where bigger ones fail.
Field rule: in cold water, the winning lure isn't the flashiest one — it's the one that asks the least effort of the fish to eat it.
Rigging and leader
The stock size 6 trebles are well matched to this compact size — don't size up, it throws off the balance and ruins the perfect dead-still suspend. For zander, a thin fluorocarbon leader (8-10 lb) keeps things subtle in clear water. For pike, stick with a light wire leader: even a small pike will readily strike a bait this size and can cut through fluorocarbon.
Not sure what to tie on?
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Colour by conditions
- Clear water, bright winter light: Aggressive Perch, a natural pattern that mimics the season's small baitfish well.
- Overcast, slightly stained water: Ghost Minnow, subtle but visible enough.
- Murky water or low light: a dark tone, whose silhouette carries better than fine finish details here.
A complement, not a replacement
This small format doesn't replace a bigger jerkbait like the Squad Shad 65 or a 12 cm model in peak season: it fills a specific gap, the days when fish aggression bottoms out. Keep both in the box and switch to the small format as soon as bulkier lures stop generating any follows at all.
That kind of fine-tuning is exactly what the CarnaFish app is built to help with: by cross-referencing a photo of your spot with the day's conditions (temperature, light, season), it suggests a lure size and retrieve rather than making you guess after two hours without a bite. For more on zander specifically, our beginner's guide to zander lure fishing covers the spots worth targeting by season.
In summary
- 9.5 cm, 14 g, running depth 0.5-1.5 m: the format to reach for once bigger lures stop paying off.
- Work it with small wrist flicks, not full rod twitches.
- Long pause in cold water (4-6 s): that's often when the fish commits.
- Thin fluoro for zander, light wire for pike — don't skip the leader on this confidence-inspiring format.
FAQ
When should you use the Squad Minnow 95SP instead of a bigger jerkbait?
As soon as the water is cold (under 8-10°C / 46-50°F) or fish have been refusing bulkier lures for a while. Its small size asks less of a sluggish fish's decision-making.
How deep does the Squad Minnow 95SP run?
Between 0.5 and 1.5 m (1.5-5 ft), making it a margin and shallow-flat lure rather than a tool for deep spots.
How do you work the Squad Minnow 95SP in winter?
With small wrist flicks rather than real rod twitches, paired with long 4-6 second pauses. This is a patience lure, not a fast search bait.
Is the Squad Minnow 95SP effective on zander?
Yes, it's one of its strongest uses, especially in late autumn and winter when zander refuse bulkier lures. A thin fluorocarbon leader further improves the strike rate.
Do you need a wire leader with such a small lure?
Yes for pike, even at this compact size: a small pike will readily strike a bait this size and can cut through fluorocarbon. Save the thin fluoro leader for zander.
Does the Squad Minnow 95SP replace something like the Squad Shad 65?
No, the two are complementary. The Squad Minnow 95SP comes into play on tough days when even a versatile shad like the Squad Shad 65 no longer draws a follow.
The full pike lure guideSeason-by-season strategy: which family of lure, when, and why.Go from theory to fish
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