Our best tool for big Alaskan rainbow trout this summer was a “flesh fly,” in particular the Dolly Llama. Why do trout bulk up on fleshy meals and why was it our favorite presentation?

Soft plastic “creature baits” are super versatile and there are ridiculous numbers of options. Here are my five favorites, five I use occasionally, and five I want to try soon.

If you love to fish, but you’ve purposely avoided fly fishing, it’s time to try it. Follow these simple steps and you can experience success and enjoyment almost from the start.

I dropped $20 on raffle tickets at the 2023 Bass Fishing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and won a bucket full of awesome tackle — including gear from Bass Mafia, Epic Baits and Nichols Lures.

While there are dozens on vibrating jigs in U.S. tackle shops, the Original Chatterbait and the Jack Hammer take the largest market share of them all. If you’re willing to go travel to Japan, or enter the “gray market,” there are plenty of JDM options that tend to be high-end and different from what we see stateside.

Topwater fishing has more or less been the demise of my bank account. From big largemouths, to bigger peacock bass, to tuna that can eat them both, if I can get a bite on the surface I’m generally happy. Therefore it should not be a surprise that in the 3 years this website has been in existence I’ve written quite a bit about the topic.

If you’re ready to invest in a few Megabass Vision 110 jerkbaits, choose your colors wisely. Veteran Missouri pro Randy Blaukat shares his thoughts on how to get a full range for varied conditions without breaking the bank.

You simply should not go bass fishing in Mexico without a supply of big plastic worms. The worm is a 12-month producer at any water level, under just about any conditions, but don’t get stuck exclusively on your old favorites. Check out five new options.

For some reason I frequently forget about the Rapala DT series of crankbaits when we go to Mexico, even though we’ve had some great days with them. Here are five colors you should consider for your next trip South of the Border.

Louisiana bass pro Clark Reehm wants to make your next trip to Mexico truly EPIC with a suite of lures and terminal tackle that were carefully designed for peak bass fishing performance.

By now, all dedicated crankbait anglers have become used to a semi-standard bill-to-body ratio. Once in a while, though, a manufacturer comes out with one where the bill looks outsized. Done properly, it allows for a small profile lure that gets down in a hurry.

It took a near flawless system of equipment for fourth year Elite Series pro Kyle Welcher to beat a stacked field for the Angler of the Year title. A big part of that success resulted from his tactical use of Sunline’s various products.

I have extreme confidence in Dan Brovarney’s Wisconsin Swim Jigs, and while I can’t completely pare down my color selection, I’ve narrowed my confidence colors to a limited array. What are your favorites?

The Ringworm — made popular by companies like Rebel in the 1970s — remains a killer lure on tough fisheries, especially rivers. It’s getting tougher to find them, but a few options remain in tackle stores.

We’ve had some tremendous days in Mexico with spinnerbaits and Chatterbaits, but one lure category that we haven’t discussed nearly as much is the swim jig. Sometimes we even forget about them, but they’re really valuable mop up tools.. Be sure to pack a handful on your next trip.

For a while, a 1-ouncer was the gold standard for getting through thick mats, but trash mats were too thick even for that. Slowly we started to get bigger weights, usually up to 1 1/2 ounces and your favorite brand likely runs to that size. However, if you need something beefier, there are even heavier options.

I’ve known the power of the Roboworm for nearly two decades. While I often turn to soft plastics like the Berkley Flat Worm or the Yamamoto Shad Shape worm to dropshot, when in doubt the Robo gets the call. While I own quite a few, the following are my standbys.

Tackle Warehouse, the most well-stocked online retailer in the U.S., has quietly expanded their supply of multi-piece rods in recent years as U.S. manufacturers have jumped on the bandwagon. If you’re looking to buy one (or more), they keep an incredible amount of inventory in stock, and if your need to travel has arisen suddenly you can generally get the rod in a day or two for a fairly minimal upcharge.

If you’re only going to get one topwater popper to fish for bass, make it a Lobina Lures Rico or Rio Rico. Nevertheless, these lures are not an insubstantial investment, so you’ll want the best colors. Many people argue that only the paint on the bottom of these lures matters, but I tend to fish better if I have confidence. Here are five favorites.

Whatever type of fishing you do, fresh or salt, you are by definition around water. Lots of water. That’s good for the fish, but not good for many of your belongings. Water can cause immediate and long-term damage to your clothing, cameras, phones and other critical gear. That’s why we take dry bags on just about every vacation.