New 2006 Baits Catch BIG Bass
Two new baits catch big bass all over the country.
Portland, OR – December 14, 2006 - Someone told me this year that “a soft plastic bait is a soft plastic bait….a grub is a grub…and manufacturers don’t make a difference to the fish”. Hmm…do you agree with that? I would have to kindly differ; you can’t say a Yamamoto Grub can be compared to a Mister Twister grub smallmouth? I’d venture to say that most anglers agree that only one of these products is an obvious favorite amongst pro anglers. Just look at what’s on the shelf and selling at your local tackle shop…it’s the Yamamoto, not the Mister Twister. However most of us would say that all plastics can have their unique time and place, right? Well here are two new baits that I discovered during the 2006 season that definitely have a time and place in professional anglers’ tackle boxes.
Bass8Baits:
This bait company took me by surprise in 2006. Now selling from CA to the Midwest, the owner took had to temporarily remove his online store because he couldn’t keep up with demand. Here are the best shapes and colors.
When sculpins or gobies are in the water, the 3” Goby in Roadkill Candy is killer. Drop shot them on Portland’s Willamette River or in the Great Lakes and you’ll be impressed.
Smallmouth that like small plastic worms (what smallmouth doesn’t right?) can be taken consistently on the 4.5” Pro Series and Shaky Head worms in Roadkill Candy and Aaron’s 8 Magic.
For largemouth, the 4.5” Pro Series and Shaky Head worms in Roadkill Candy, Purple/Blue & Mean Green have been killer. Also, if you can get some, the 6” Shaky Head in the Purple/blue, Mean Green, and Roadkill Candy are outstanding.
Summary
Overall satisfaction: Very Satisfied
Best benefit: Reports from the manufacture are proving that when bass are feeding on sculpins or gobies, this bait is killer. A recently FLW event was won using the 3” Goby recently.
Any negatives: Still hard to get a hold of and hard to replace when you run out.
Tip: Drop shotting, carolina rigging, and split shot rigging are by far the best presentations. Make sure the bait does not spin in the water and make sure it hangs straight on a drop shot rig. If the bait is spinning or tilted then you’re going to cut the bite in half.
Cost: Around $5
Density-Tackle:
Have you been looking for a smallmouth swim bait that actually catches tons of smallies? The Panic Minnow by Density-Tackle is finally here from Japan. Already used by many Elite series touring pros, the Panic Minnow quickly caught the attention of smallmouth hunters nationwide this 2006. A touring friend turned me on to this bait in mid-summer. We were deep structure fishing on the Columbia River (Oregon) when he popped a 3.5lb smallie in 25 feet of water on a drop shot. He quickly proceeded to catch 4 more nice fish, compiling a 13lb bag (5 fish) in 12 minutes; I had no fish even though we where fishing vertically over the same spot. He had the 4.6” Panic Minnow swim bait on his drop shot and I had my trusty Roboworm which usually works fine. After getting my tail kicked that day, I have found a special place in my tackle box for this bait and always have them on me.
As I experimented more with these baits in 2006 we discovered that the fish ate them best when fished on a darter head; this makes them look and act more like a real swim bait too. My favorite conditions to fish them was over deep structure on 1/4 oz to 3/8 oz darter head.
This summer, a tournament partner boated a 5lb 3oz smallie out of Oregon’s Willamette River on the 4.6” Swim bait. That’s when I knew this little swim bait was for real. Another interesting side note is that I have had days where I caught 30-40 fish in a 5 hour period on this lure. The point here is that the 4.6” swim bait can catch both quality and quantity…that’s a rare trait in any lure, especially a swim bait.
Try some in 2007 and you won’t be disappointed.
Summary
Overall satisfaction: Very Satisfied
Best benefit: Great smallmouth swim bait for big fish! However, it’s common to catch 10-30 bass a day on them.
Any negatives: They’re custom made in Japan, so they can be hard to get a hold of still.
Tip: Drop shot them and make sure they hang straight in the water. If they’re not straight you’re wasting your time. Split shotting them works well too. Darter head fishing them is my favorite presentation anywhere.
Cost: $5.99
Retailer: Sportsman’s Warehouse, www.rickstopshelftackle.com More Info: www.density-tackle.com