Our Top Five Zoom Baits for Big Mexican Bass

Welcome to “Top Five” week on Half Past First Cast. As Hanna and I start packing for our annual January trip to Anglers Inn Lake El Salto, I’m going to go through several key manufacturers’ lure lineups and tell you the five that I expect to take on every trip to Mexico for the foreseeable future. That doesn’t mean they’re the only lures I’ll take from that company; or that they’re the best in class; or that I’ll even cast them on every trip. What it does mean is that I have confidence in them because they’ve produced in the past or I have legitimate reasons and I can’t imagine heading South of the Border without them. Your preferences may vary. We’d love to hear them.

Here are the self-imposed rules: I have to pick five lures from a certain company, and pick my preferred single size or single color (alternatively, I can pick a different size and/or color, but that counts as another one of my five, so only in rare cases will I double-dip.

Today’s case study is Zoom Bait Company:

10.5” Ol’ Monster (Plum)

This worm in this color is the king of the Tennessee River impoundments, and the Mexican bass love it, too. If you’re not a Power Worm purist, this hard flapper will get their attention at the end of a Carolina Rig or Texas Rig. They’re readily available and reasonably priced. The 12” model costs almost twice as much and I don’t think they produce any better fish.

8” Lizard (

Watermelon Red)

If you go to El Salto or Picachos without this particular bait in this particular color, you’ve let yourself down. The bass down there have seen thousands but can’t resist one more. There’s nothing notable about Zoom’s design, but something about it makes it better than the rest. Don’t forget to dunk the tail in chartreuse Spike-It dipping dye.

5” Zoom Swimmer (Blue Back Herring)

This hollow belly swimbait has been a stone cold killer for us on several trips, rigged on a jig head or underspin. They’re consistent out of the package, thump noticeably track true, and are remarkably durable. With a dab or two of Super Glue, one bait will last through quite a few fish.

Zoom Super Chunk (

Black)

The old “bunny ears” jig trailer works well on a flipping jig, a football jig or a swim jig, generating lots of action and substantial bulk. I couldn’t decide whether to go with black blue flake or watermelon, so I went straight black, which works with just about any jig color.Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Salty Super Fluke (White Pearl)

Bigger is usually better, but I’ve never done particularly well with the Mag Fluke, and I’ve experienced hookup problems when I’ve gotten bit on it. The original Super Fluke, on the other hand works exceptionally well weightless and shallow, or deep on a Carolina Rig, and it’s my number one trailer on a Scrounger head.

Stay tuned all week for our favorites from other brands.

*Note: We have no promotional relationship with Zoom, but we still love the concept of a California 420 Horny Toad (and wondering what non-anglers might think that could be.)