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

What They Bitin’? – El Salto June 2022

On our just-completed trip to Anglers Inn Lake El Salto, numbers were down but average size was up. Overall, that meant the bite windows were short and it paid to have a “proven winner” in your hands when they opened up. Since we have no sponsors, we can give you the unvarnished truth about what worked for us. Below is a list of the lures that we used successfully between June 18 and June 24 of this year.

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Gear Pete Robbins Gear Pete Robbins

Even MORE Lures that Imitate Tilapia

It’s abundantly clear that largemouth bass in Mexico (and some parts of Texas and Florida) grow fat largely by eating tilapia. Accordingly, many anglers heading South of the Border look for custom paint jobs to “match the hatch.” I’m happy to feed the addiction, because new tilapia baits keep popping up.

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Gear Pete Robbins Gear Pete Robbins

Swimbaits That Have Produced for Me in Mexico

People often ask about the best swimbaits to bring to Lake El Salto and Lake Picachos. I’m not a true big bait expert, so I can’t give you the most exciting answers, but I CAN tell you the ones that have produced for me, both deep and shallow, throughout the year.

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