Ending My Bladed Swim Jig Virginity

If you stopped by and checked out my tackle collection, you might think there can’t be many baits missing from the stash…

Even though they have been around for several years, there is one type of bait you wouldn’t find in the numerous, drawers, trays, bags and boxes … a bladed swim jig – a.k.a. chatterbait!

Or at least that was the case until a few days ago…

After researching new material about bladed swim jigs for the site, I learned how effective they can be as a big bass bait.

So I decided it was time to add them to the arsenal thereby…

"Ending My Vibrating Jigs Virginity"

Funky Frog Or Something Different

The folks at Spro teamed up with Bassmaster Elite Pro, Dean Rojas to bring is the Bronzeye Frog baits over the last several years and now it seems they've done it again...

Soon to be released at the 2013 ICAST show in Las Vegas, Spro and Rojas have created the newest in soft-bodied plastics, the Bronzeye Shad...

In the following video, Rojas gives an on the water demo of the Spro Bronzeye Shad in action pointing on the features differentiating this bait from others in the series...

Pretty cool how it can almost "walk in place" isn't it :)

Swim Jig Fishing Tips

Flippin', pitchin', hoppin' and draggin'...

That's what jig fishing is all about right?

If you are thinking ... yup, give a listen to what Omega Tackle Pro, Casey Martin has to say about it :)

Should You Use A Shakey Head in Stained Water?

Check out what Bassmaster Elite Pro, Mike Iaconelli has to say about using a Berkley Havoc Bottom Hopper and shakey head combo in dirty water situations...

What Is A Booyah Pad Crusher?

Find out in this video where FLW Touring Pro, David Dudley introduces the Booyah Pad Crusher and offers a few tips on fishing it too boot!

Fishing Berkley's Havoc Plastic Baits

Ever heard of a little fishing tackle company called Berkley?

If you've been bass fishing for any length of time, I am sure you have...

Over the last few years, Berkley added a new, low-cost line of soft plastics to their tackle selection, the Havoc series...

In this video, In-Fisherman Editor, Doug Stange introduces a couple of baits from the Berkley Havoc line, the Pit Boss and Grass Pig while fishing a vegetated lake in MN...

Check it out and see how productive these new baits can be!

Why Use Silent Crankbaits?

Though they have been around for decades, lately there has been a lot of attention given to silent crankbaits...

Is there a reason for this trend or is it just a fad?

Here is bass guru KVD's take on the subject of why he uses silent crankbaits...

Do you have any silent cranks in your bassin' arsenal?

Picking The Right Frog

It's definitely the time of year when most of us bass anglers throw topwaters to attract lunker bass...

Ask many anglers what their favorite summertime topwater bait is and you'll get a quick answer...

A frog...

In the following video, bass pro Casey Martin talks about the factors to consider when choosing the right frog to trigger non-stop bass action...

Ready to head to the pads and ribbit your way to more bass?

KVD On The Strike King Caffeine Shad

Last post, we introduced some of the different brands of soft swimbaits on the market...

In this video, Mr. Bass himself, Kevin VanDam discusses the different swimbaits made by Strike King Lures then focuses his tips on their recent addition, the Caffeine Shad...

Have to love it when the best bass angler on the planet gives the low-down on how he fishes these baits in actual fishing situations!

Choosing Soft Swimbaits

Does it amaze you as much as us how many different companies make the same styles of soft plastic baits...

Recently, we've been checking out the different types of soft swimbaits on the market and came across one company that definitely grabbed our attention with their versions...

Gambler...

Here is the "pitch" video from the folks at Gambler Lures on their soft swimbaits, the Big EZ and EZ Swimmer...

Looks pretty interesting...

Second is a video from the folks at Fish Strong comparing the Big EZ to the popular "Dipper" swimbaits from Reaction Innovation...

Do you have any favorite swimbaits?

Soft Jerkbaits 101

In this video, bass pro Greg Hackney discusses the basics of fishing soft jerkbaits (fluke-style baits) in a variety of situations focusing on Strike King's Caffeine Shad...

(He is sponsored by the SK btw ;) )...

None the less, some really great info...

Grubbing For Bass

One of the most consistent producing artificial baits for bass is the curly tail grub.

It's definitely one of my fall-back baits, especially on those tough fishing days...

But as Dave Mercer points out in this video, many folks "over-work" them...

Although Dave mentions the Strike King Rage Tail Grub in this video, any grub is fine...

As long as it's a 5" Yamamotto Single or Double Tail Grub in Cinnamon-Green Flake...

Just sayin' ;)

Search And Destroy Hardbaits?

Anglers are always searching for lures that will increase their fishing success...

Early in 2013, Rapala introduced a new line of hardbaits to their already ample selection called the Scatter Rap series...

Produced in four different lure bodies (crank, shad, minnow and count-down), these new balsa baits feature a unique bill causing them to dart about on retrieve imitating the bait fishes true swimming action...

Watch the following video to see what we mean...

Even though they claim their bill gives these baits a unique action, other manufacturer's of square billed baits make similar claims...

We wonder who is right?

Scott Martin: River 2 Sea Rover Walking Bait

Scott Martin helped design the River 2 Sea Rover top-walker and gives an "on the water" intro in this video...

Night Bass Fishing By Doug Hannon (R.I.P.)

I heard the news today… 

Doug Hannon, the Bass Professor, left us last week apparently succumbing to complications after a surgery…

When I learned of his passing, I remembered a video excerpt on Night Bass Fishing from his ESPN “The Bass Professor” show several years ago and decided to post it here are a token of appreciation for all he brought to our sport…

R.I.P. Doug and may the number of lunker bass encountered in the next life be never-ending…