Bassmaster Classic Product Introductions for Traveling Anglers
I’ve been to a lot of Bassmaster Classics – not as many as Ray Scott or Rick Clunn or Kevin VanDam, but 18 total and 12 producing on-the-water content for B.A.S.S., which means I’m usually unable to make it to the Expo. Sometimes I get a brief walk-through while the vendors are setting up on Thursday, or an even quicker glance on Sunday prior to weigh-in, but those are both hurried and unlikely.
While I’m happy and proud to watch history play out, it makes me a little sad that I don’t get to experience the greatest consumer-facing show in bass fishing. Increasingly, the Classic has usurped the role of even ICAST as a time for introducing new and innovative products. While I didn’t get to see them “in the flesh” in Greenville this year, here are some of the introductions that I think may be valuable for anglers headed to Mexico, Brazil, Panama and parts unknown:
I’ve been fishing the featherlike Zenon spinning reel for a while now and it is buttery smooth. I’m sure that casting reel is similarly refined. Moreover, it’s only 4.5 ounces. That means that if you’re headed on a weight-restricted float plane you can bring a bunch of them. It features an 8.3:1 gear ratio, making it perfect for peacock bass or largemouth presentations that require you to pick up a lot of line in a hurry.
There was a time when I would have laughed at the idea of an $800-plus spinning reel, calling it the greatest waste of money since the Fyre Festival – but after fishing for redfish and big tuna and even northern smallmouths with reels like the Daiwa Saltiga and Shimano Stella, now I get it. This price tag may not be justified in all circumstances, but if it saves you the fish of a lifetime it is. They’re super-light (even the 5000 is only 7.6 ounces) and available in three gear ratios.
Many of you may not be old enough to remember, but there was a time when creature bait options were generally limited to a Brush Hog. Then Day Hite won the 1999 Classic on the Louisiana Delta with the Bacon Rind. I’m not sure why it ever went away, but it’s still a great choice for flipping, pitching, Carolina rigging and using as a trailer. I might buy a pack or three if I can’t find my antiqued and well-aged originals.
This has been the year of the Alabama Rig at El Salto, with lots of our friends and fellow travelers reporting their biggest fish coming on the flying poodle. It’s always a burden to try to find the component parts when you’re looking to make one up, but with this kit Yum has put everything you need – the rig, jig heads and swimbaits – in a single package, ready to use.
If you’re headed South of the Border to fish for mean-spirited largemouths, at some point you’re going to have to throw a Texas Rig or Carolina Rig with a big hunk of plastic on the end. This hook has a ton of gap and a “frictionless finish” to maximize hookups on big plastic worms, lizards and creature baits.
If you’re a believer in scents on your lures – whether imbued like in Power Baits or added on – this gel might be for you. For weeks I’ve been getting press releases about the huge number of bass pros who swear by it, and while I tend to be at least a little cautious when it comes to endorsed products, I did see well-used bottles in the boats of several Classic competitors. If you pack it in your luggage, just be sure to wrap it securely in a double-bag situation, so all of your shirts and boxer shorts don’t end up smelling like bait.
