Hanna Robbins and Jennifer Combs with a cooler full of crappie from Lake Sam Rayburn

The Outdoor Gear We Recommend

We may have a little bit of a hoarding problem. Good gear need not be expensive, but it has to improve the experience in some way. Whether it’s the right rod, a certain bait, or the world’s best rainsuit, we’ll give unfiltered opinions on what we use and why we use it.


No tackle shop on earth provides more specialized gear for bass than Tackle Warehouse. If you want it, they've got it in stock — whether it's a proven winner or the newest items on the market — and their service is exceptional.

Gear Pete Robbins Gear Pete Robbins

All Kinds of Rodents to Chuck

The first lure I bought at the Swimbait Universe Gathering 4 was the LFOD Munk painted in the unmistakable chipmunk pattern depicted. I’m not sure if it will produce better than the rat baits I already own in black, white and gray but I had to have it. I’ve also learned that some smaller-scale baitmakers have expanded their lineups further into the rodent section of Noah’s Ark.

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Gear Pete Robbins Gear Pete Robbins

No Pet Store Needed: Lures that Look Like Terrestrials and Varmints

Whether you want a squirrel, a gerbil or some other pest that might otherwise belong in a trap, there’s a fishy option out there. Unfortunately, many of them are hard to obtain or downright pricey. If for some reason you can’t or won’t get one of the custom models, you’re in luck. Here are some mammalian lures (both shapes and colors) that are widely available.

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