New Gear for Mexico at Tackle Warehouse
With two trips to El Salto on the calendar for 2022, I’m already starting to think about techniques I’d like to try and new lures to bring. I remain a staunch advocate of sticking to the proven winners when you’re down there, but I also use it as a laboratory to gain confidence in other tactics and gear. It’s where I’ve learned to deep crank and throw a flutter spoon, and has provided me hours of enjoyment with topwater rats.
I check the “New Items” tab on Tackle Warehouse just about every day, and here are some of the newish lures that have attracted my attention. Some may already be in my go-bag, while others are in my online cart ready for purchase.
I own a Roman Made Negotiator, but I’ve never had the huevos to throw it. It sits on a shelf in my office. I know that’s lame because the hard core glide bait guys swear by them. It’s just so pretty and I’d feel heartbroken if I lost it. This double-jointed swimbait is a more manageable size – 4.75” and 1 ounce – and resembles a tilapia very closely, even if the paint jobs aren’t meant to do so. It’s not cheap by any means, but it’s the most reasonable member of this brand and I’d love to see a giant blow up on it.
Along with the Fat Free Shad, the 6-inch Senko and the 8-inch lizard, the 10-inch Power Worm is a staple throughout Mexican bass lakes. There’s good reason for that – it kicks ass, no doubt at least in part because of the scent. Now Berkley has introduced a variety of jig styles that have the Powerbait formula “baked into” the skirts. I’m particularly digging some ¾ and 1 ounce football head models in Blue Craw and PB&J.
These silicone swimbaits were designed and named with Mexico in mind. Granted, the target lake was Baccarac, but I can’t imagine the populations of fish are that different. For a long time they were only available through limited-quantity “drops,” but now they’ve partnered with Mike Bucca’s Bull Shad brand and they’re regularly available through TW. I love the “Unicorn Poop” and “Lucky Charms” patterns.
We’ve had several January trips (and the occasional May/June window) when the jerkbait bite has been the best thing going. Usually that’s meant the Megabass Vision 110, but Hanna had one trip where the Lucky Craft Slender Pointer outfished all of the rest. I’m intrigued by the Hank Cherry designed Stunna, and I particular the +1 version which will get down into the range of some more suspended fish. At about half the price of the Megabass if it works nearly as well it’s a great “bargain” option.
I’ve had some solid success with a few of the 6th Sense hard baits and a Californian competitor at the recent U.S. Open on Table Rock told me he swears by this one. It’s not small or inexpensive, but even at 9-inches and over seventy bucks both the price and the heft seem manageable – especially now that I have a dedicated swimbait rod down there. My first choice color for all around use would likely be 4K Shad, but for Sinaloan bass of course I’d have trouble resisting Tilapia. Hopefully the bass would have trouble resisting it, too.
