Zip Baits ZBL System Minnow Abile 123S – Silent & Shallow

The Zip Baits Abile 123S is a beautifully designed, slim-profile sinking minnow that has all the ingredients of an excellent shallow-water bass lure.

There are several reasons I decided to bring these into Mr Fish. Firstly, I love the long, slender body that closely resembles the small baitfish our bass regularly feed on. Secondly, the small diving bib allows the lure to work in the upper layers of the water, making it a great choice for fishing over shallow reefs, broken ground and other areas where bass hunt.

And then there's something I particularly like about this lure – it's silent!

Sometimes Silence Makes All the Difference

We're all familiar with hard lures that contain rattles, and there's absolutely no doubt they can be incredibly effective. However, I've always believed there are occasions when a quieter, more natural presentation can make all the difference, particularly when bass are wary or have seen plenty of lures.

The Abile 123S gives us that option. No rattling chambers or unnecessary noise, just a natural swimming action from a slim, beautifully balanced lure.

Excellent Casting with Zip Baits Mag-Drive

Despite its relatively slender profile and modest 15.8g weight, the Abile incorporates Zip Baits' excellent Mag-Drive magnetic weight transfer system.

This allows the internal weight to move during the cast, helping achieve impressive distances, before returning to its swimming position to maintain the lure's balance and action.

It's a clever system that provides the casting benefits of a moving weight without the usual rattling associated with many hard lures.

Shallow Running with Plenty of Control

The Abile 123S is a sinking lure with a swimming depth of approximately 1 metre, making it particularly interesting for working the upper water layers.

A simple steady retrieve produces a natural baitfish swimming action, but the lure can also be worked with short twitches and jerks to introduce sudden changes of direction.

Being a sinking model also gives you the option of allowing it to drop a little before beginning your retrieve, useful when fish are holding slightly deeper.

And finally, just look at the colours! Zip Baits have produced some absolutely stunning finishes in this range, another reason these caught my attention.

Mick's Tip

Don't underestimate the importance of carrying a few silent hard lures alongside your usual rattling minnows.

There are days when bass will happily smash a noisy lure, but there are also occasions when a more subtle approach is worth trying. A slim, silent minnow like the Abile 123S gives you another option, especially when you're fishing clear water, shallow ground or targeting fish that are proving difficult to tempt.

Specifications

• Length: 123mm

• Weight: 15.8g

• Type: Sinking minnow

• Swimming Depth: Up to approximately 1m

• Sound: Silent

• Weight System: Zip Baits Mag-Drive magnetic weight transfer

• Action: Straight retrieve, twitching and jerking

• Hooks: Size 6 trebles

• Target Species: Bass and other saltwater predators

A lovely looking Japanese minnow with some very interesting features, and a welcome addition to our shallow-water bass lure selection.