Answering Kimura's Call
After years of relying on the 6-inch Megabass MAGDRAFT—both the pre-rigged version and the FREESTYLE—for tournament success, legendary lure designer and Elite Series veteran Kenta Kimura pressed the Megabass design team for a downsized 5-inch model. He knew there were times when bass keyed in on smaller forage, and he wanted a tool that kept the MAGDRAFT’S proven action but matched the hatch more precisely.
“I needed it for times when bass were eating smaller forage,” Kimura explained. “Especially places up north where you’re targeting both largemouths and smallmouths, places like Champlain.”
It took time for the FREESTYLE version to reach his standards, but now that it’s in his arsenal, Kimura has developed a full range of rigging methods to maximize its potential.
That suspended zone, often between 8 and 12 feet deep, is a fickle space where small adjustments make a big difference. Precision becomes everything—not just in jig weight and bait profile, but even in overlooked factors like hook size.
The Importance of Head Shake
The key to the MAGDRAFT’S effectiveness, whether 6-inch or 5-inch, is its signature head shake. If only the tail is moving, Kimura said, fish will still bite—but not with the same aggression. The head shake is what convinces them to “eat the whole thing.”
The 5-inch has slightly less tail action than its bigger brothers, but when rigged correctly it maintains the same front-end motion. That’s what keeps it deadly, even downsized.
Kimura's Preferred Rigging Method
Kimura’s go-to setup is a Ryugi Pierce Weighted Screwlock Wide Gap Hook. While he used a 7/0 with the 6-inch FREESTYLE, he downsizes to a 4/0 for the 5-inch.
Instead of simply screwing the hook into the nose and Texposing the point, he modifies the rigging by:
- Cutting a slit in the belly.
- Pushing the hook eye through so it exits just above and in front of the swimbait’s eye.
- Rotating the hook so the full bend sits exposed, much like a jighead.
- Sealing the plastic with a touch of super glue.
This effectively turns the weighted hook into an insert weight and aligns the eye position just like the factory-rigged Magdraft, preserving the head shake.
“If you just screw it in, the eye position is in the front and you don’t get as much head shake,” Kimura explained. “And by having the hook exposed, when they engulf it you get a better hookset.”
While he will Texas rig the bait in heavy grass or gnarly wood, he strongly prefers the open-hook method for maximum penetration, especially on bigger fish.
Line, Reel, and Tackle Choices
Kimura bucks the common wisdom of using slower reels for swimbaits. Instead, he opts for a high-speed 8.5:1 Abu Garcia. This allows him to quickly take up slack and adjust in current.
For line, 16-pound fluorocarbon is his preference—it enhances head shake thanks to its thinner diameter. However, when targeting giants in Texas or other trophy fisheries, he doesn’t hesitate to step up to 20-pound.
The MAGDRAFT HEAD
Another key addition is the Megabass MAGDRAFT HEAD, designed to complement the FREESTYLE 5IN.
- Not quite a football head, but engineered with the weight positioned low to preserve head shake.
- Keeps the same eye placement as the original Magdraft rigging.
- Detailed with lifelike eyes, realistic paint, and sharp hooks (though Kimura is fine with plain silver most of the time).
Available in multiple sizes, it allows him to fish the bait deeper while retaining balance. With a 1-ounce version, Kimura has fished it nearly 30 feet down, though he generally keeps the Magdraft in less than 10 feet.
“I tested it on rockpiles at Lake Biwa and it comes through unbelievably,” he said. “After it deflects off the rocks it gets back to center very quickly. That balance, just like the head shake, is extremely important.”
Hooksets and Strikes
With the open-hook method, there’s no need to delay—set the hook immediately. Even smallmouth and spotted bass tend to engulf the bait fully, producing solid connections. “You don’t have to let them take it,” he explained. “When you feel the bite, set the hook.”
Even smallmouth and spotted bass engulf the bait completely, leaving no doubt.
Where It Shines
The MAGDRAFT FREESTYLE 5IN adds a new layer of versatility for both weekend anglers and tour-level pros.
- Big bass potential remains intact.
- Tough fisheries: Kimura credits it for bites at Bull Shoals during tough conditions.
- Northern waters: Excellent for largemouth, smallmouth, and spots.
- Current situations: Particularly effective in rivers.
“It’ll catch big fish,” Kimura concluded. “But where I really like it is the fisheries that aren’t so great… It’s good on all three species, and it’s really effective on rivers, in current.”
The bottom line: keep that head shaking, and the MAGDRAFT FREESTYLE will keep drawing bites.
