Yara purchased at Sucuri Pesca in Manaus Brazil topwater

The first thing I’ve always done when I get to a new town – even if I’m not there for a fishing trip – is try to hit a local tackle shop. In the old days that mean scouring the hotel room Yellow Pages. Today it means getting online before I arrive to scout out the options. I love seeing locally-made baits and getting a taste of the regional fishing culture, and it’s also a great opportunity to scour the shelves for my ever-evolving list of discontinued and unicorn lures.

The process is particularly exciting abroad, where I’m unlikely to have seen many of the products before. On my trip to Japan in 2007, I went a little crazy, and I fully intend to go back before I kick the bucket. I’d love to go to Singapore or Australia or Korea and see what’s available there. When I arrive in Manaus, Brazil, I always go to Sucuri Pesca as quickly as possible to get me even further pumped up to hit the jungle. Alas, we did not have time to hit a shop on our trip to Panama in April of 2021

Some of my purchases have paid huge dividends. Others have been abject failures. Many are in between – I just haven’t found the right venue to fish them yet. I’m holding out hope that they’ll have their time and place. Here are three such examples.

Brazil Meets Okeechobee

Isca Yara Artificial topwater prop bait from Brazil that could be deadly on largemouths on Okeechobee in Florida big bass waters

One of the factors that draws anglers to Brazil is the chance to experience the heart-stopping strikes of peacock bass on big prop baits. We’ve tried several different brands and we’ve settled on the K-Lures by Kermett Adams as the easiest to pull and the most durable. Nevertheless, when I returned to Sucuri Pesca in September 2019, I could not help but be drawn to the surface lure section. In addition to several walking baits, I also purchased some prop lures – not the big ones, but rather something more “bass-sized.” After all, I’ve done well with the PH Squeaky P around the bluegill spawn, and the Devil’s Horse is a staple in Florida. One of my favorites was the Yara Devassa in the 3.5” length – bite-sized but with a larger prop than many of the American prop baits – and I particularly like the “abalone” finish. I didn’t really get a chance to use it for largemouths this spring, but it could play again in fall, or if and when we head back to Miami or Panama for smaller peacocks.

South African fishing lure for tuna made out of cutting board material

Cutting Edge

After we returned from fishing the Lower Zambezi River in Zambia, we had a morning free in Johannesburg before our flight home to the U.S. Fortunately, my friend George Robey not only generously offered his time, but also figured out a way to take me on a banzai run of the city’s many tackle shops, where he is a valued regular. Despite the fact that I have no idea if or when we’ll be back to Africa for tigerfish, I purchased some of the “double spoons” that had been our best producers. I also added a few “AfriJigs” and local soft plastics. The oddest thing I bought, however, was this “Pro Squid Jet Popper.” George told me that they are made out of cutting board material and that intrigued me enough to plunk down the credit card. The package says that they’re good for “GT’s (King Fish), Garrick, Tuna, Yellowtail and Most Predatory Fish).” At the time, I wasn’t really attuned to the saltwater game, but now that it’s become my latest passion, I’m sure I’ll find a time to break this one out of the package – and maybe call George for a restocking.

Big Plopper

Black River Tackle company musky plopper-style bait for use on peacock bass in the Amazon of Brazil

OK, Michigan isn’t technically “abroad,” but any place where they worship perch and walleye is “different” by my standards. After our first trip to Brazil in 2011 but before our second trip in 2021, I went to Lake St. Clair to cover a Bassmaster Open and stopped in at the Michigan Musky Shop. At the time I had no idea that I’d end up going on several musky trips, so I was looking for big lures I could retrieve quickly (preferably in red or orange). The owner steered me to this hideous beast from Black River Bait Co. At the time, “plopper” style lures weren’t yet popular in the bass world, even though they’d been staples in musky-world for a long time. I took it to Brazil, but simply didn’t have a rod heavy enough to cast and work it properly, so I quickly gave up on it. With the right tackle, though, I think it’ll get a workout again at some time in the future. It may not have to wait for my next trip to Brazil to get put to the test. There’s a pretty good chance it’ll go into my luggage when we return to Panama later this year. I have a feeling a tuna or Cubera or rooster may snap it up.