There are lure colors that produced really well for me earlier in my fishing life, in shapes that I still use frequently, that got benched. Maybe I found a “better” color, or one that’s easier to purchase, but the following four options got “retired” for no apparent reason.

ICAST 2023 might not have introduced anything truly revolutionary, but I saw lots of products that I’ll tote to Mexico next year in the hopes of improving my effectiveness on big bass.

This week the 2023 Bassmaster Elite Series season will conclude on New York’s St. Lawrence River. It’s a familiar venue for most of the anglers, as this will be the seventh straight season that the Elites will compete there, and the ninth time in the last 11. Here are the winning baits from that great run.

Don’t go to Lake El Salto or Lake Picachos without Senkos – when fishing is good they can produce giants, and when it’s tougher than usual they can save the day. I’m constantly trying new shades of soft plastic, looking for something that might work just a little bit better. If you can’t resist that urge, here are 3 colors that have worked for us.

Packing for a summertime fishing trip to Alaska is difficult because the weather and conditions can vary so much. That’s why it pays to have footwear and pants that are not only comfortable, but also versatile, like the two described here.

I’ve used Bass Boat Saver for 25 years to keep all of my fiberglass hulls clean. Now I can give you a 10% discount code. Try it out, you’ll be happy you did.

I am convinced that while a 10XD isn’t always the best crankbait choice El Salto, there are times when it will produce more and bigger fish than any other. It gets deep in a hurry, has a larger profile, and seems to trigger bites consistently. Here are my 5 confidence colors.

We’ve scoured the web to find you lures after tilapia and we’ve documented them 3 times, but the hits just keep on coming. By keeping a careful watch out, we keep a running list of the new options I find. Here are some of the latest.

As we’ve seen in recent years, it’s possible to get rid of your skirt altogether on wire baits, but if you still want a skirt and particularly if you fish river systems, consider a comparatively ugly flat rubber skirt. They pulse differently and provide a distinct look that moving water fish sometimes seems to prefer.

Hanna and I keep a healthy stash of tackle at Lake El Salto. It gets subsidized and replenished on every trip, but certain staple lures never leave – and by “staple,” I mean not just the particular models, but specific baits that have caught hundreds of bass apiece. Here are three of my long-time favorites.

I’ve purchased six new items that I think will make me happier and more efficient on our upcoming trip to Alaska — everything from a collapsible water bottle to a “dog leash” to hold my phone.

The Sweet Beaver defined a genre of creature baits, one that has become incredibly popular in a short period. The sizes around the 4” range tend to be most popular, although 3” versions get the call quite often, too. But what if you’re fishing for larger fish eating especially large prey? You might need a bigger version.

The flood of scat-style baits started in the US by the introduction of the Deps Cover Scat continues at a fast pace. Clearly there’s demand and now there’s no excuse if you can’t find an option that works on your local fisheries. Check out a few more that were introduced at ICAST 2023.

If you go bass fishing in Mexico and you’re not fully prepared to throw big crankbaits, you’re putting yourself at a disadvantage. Here are a dozen articles that will help you dial in your gear and your approach when the bass are eating a big plug.

Before I leave El Salto, I take an inventory of which lures I need to replenish. I check key categories to make sure that they’re well-stocked in the right colors. Our 2023 trip was heavy on cranking. Tackle Warehouse had a sale a few weeks out after we returned. Here’s my unboxing.

The Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver changed the nature of the flipping game. It spawned the category of “beaver baits” and became the preferred choice for most mat flippers. You can get by with standards like Watermelon Red, Black Red Flake, Black Blue Flake and Green Pumpkin – but the pros also have some lesser-known favorites.

Ribbed swimbaits like the Keitech Fat Swing Impact catch fish everywhere and can be used in a wide variety of depths, water colors and types of cover. We've used them to swim through ankle-deep grass on the Potomac, and across deep rocky structure on El Salto. They make excellent trailers, too, and excel on an Alabama Rig.

I received Fishing Tackle Retailer’s ICAST issue last week and the ads and articles inside led me to ponder the trends and winners that we’re likely to observe. Based on what I saw, here are my pre-ICAST thoughts on gear for anglers in general and traveling anglers in particular.

The Megabass Vision 110 was the first lure I purchased that cost over $20, and it was worth every penny. That GP Pro Blue model lasted a long time, through multiple treble hook changes, before I eventually cast it into a rock and broke off the bill. Like many JDM lures, they come in a wide array of premium paint jobs. Here are 5 of my confidence colors.

You may be intrigued by the draw of swimbaits but your budget or your stomach might not be able to handle a triple-digit price tag. If you’re not ready to invest $200+ for a Pizz or $400+ for a Hinkle, you may still want to try something rarer and slightly more expensive than the mass production options available at your local tackle stores.