Despite the fact that we continue to identify more and more travel rods available in the US and abroad, there continues to be a massive search for the perfect three-, four- or five-piece swimbait stick. Fortunately there are still some companies making rods that you can throw into your luggage and be ready to sling the big baits. Here are three recent entrants.

I have been to Canada a few times: Toronto, Ontario, Lake St. Clair, and Montreal. Next up we are going to Ontario to fish at Ballard’s Black Island Lodge for walleye, musky, northern pike, smallmouth and more. I’ve been packing for weeks and I have three new items I am bringing. Let me know what you think.

Whether you’re heading across town or across the globe, packable quality gear is an asset for any angler. In the past, sometimes objects labeled “packable” or “travel” meant a diminution of performance, but increasingly you can get these items with no drop off in quality. Here are some ICAST 2022 introductions that are universal in nature.

Many boaters spend thousands or tens of thousands of dollars on accessories like high-tech graphs and shallow water anchors. Those definitely help you catch more fish, but they can't do your job if you don't get to the lake or river safely. Here are some simple and inexpensive products that'll make your boat safe on the roads, legal on the water, and looking much better for years to come.

As I started to prepare for Swimbait Universe’s Gathering IV, I decided to put together at least a very general shopping list. With many individual baits expected to cost somewhere in the low triple digits, I wanted to make sure that whatever I acquired was needed and likely to be used. With that in mind I took an inventory of the big baits I’ve acquired.

Many anglers know about southern Africa’s great bass fishing. What they don’t know are the top five ‘must have’ baits of Africa’s top anglers. They surprise us with a mix — some known, some-lesser known, and one homemade.

In March of this year, I wrote that when I returned to Anglers Inn El Salto in June I was going to back to the basics. I’m proud to say that I followed through on that plan. Perhaps that is just the way we fished or what the fish were eating. Or maybe I finally listened to my conscience and did what I said I was going to do to prove a point.

I’ve previously written about some of the lures that every old-timer on the Potomac River had placed on their deck, as well as a very special river buzzbait that’s no longer made. I may have also been the one to introduce the concept of “spongeworthiness” to fishing, but now I’m going to take it one step further. I’m going to meld those past columns and describe three Potomac River killers that are in short supply – at least in my boat and my garage.

Mexico is the perfect testing ground for new stuff that I might take all around the globe: There are great shallow water, deep water and mid-depth bites; the fish grow big and mean; and there are times when you happen onto massive schools and get put the hardware to the test. That’s why I look to ICAST “reveals” for new stuff I could test out South of the Border.

As we’ve written before, we keep a hefty stash of tackle at Anglers Inn for our return visits to the lake, but after each trip we undergo a semi-methodical restocking. Our June 2022 trip amplified the need to order some more hard baits and swimbaits, and fortunately Tackle Warehouse started a sale just a few days after our June 25 return. Check out what I bought and why.

The brief window of opportunity to throw my SPRO size 50 rat paid off with three brutal strikes and three above-average bass. If you’re headed to El Salto or any Mexican lake, bring some rodents.

I might never get the chance to walk the red carpet but I am going to do everything I can to look darn good riding down the lake. Academy Sports has a lot of quality products at reasonable prices and I wish we had one near home. During a trip to Lake El Salto I tried out some of their gear to see if it met my standards for being both fashionable and functional.

A tow vehicle is a very personal decision and highly dependent on what you’ll be pulling and where you’re headed. I’ve stuck with SUVs my whole fishing life, but I’m planning to make a change down the road.

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.

There were plenty of goodies brought to light at the Bassmaster Classic, and we’ll see many more from ICAST. There may be another surge closer to Christmas. That does not mean that the designers and manufacturers can take intermittent breaks of several weeks or months. Here are some products that might be of use whether you’re headed to Mexico or Brazil or anywhere that requires travel-friendly gear.

Yeti makes nearly-indestructible products that pro anglers rely upon and we’ve become converts to their quality. Check out what some pro anglers (both freshwater and saltwater) said are their “ride or die” Yetis.

Even if you live hundreds of miles from the ocean, you’ve probably seen signs of Salt Life on the backs of various vehicles. If you’ve always wondered what that meant, you should know that this “lifestyle brand” makes lots of women’s fishing clothing that is breathable, UV protective and flattering – something that is not always easy to find in one package.

I absolutely love Mexican food. I mean, I could eat it every night of the week. Of course I’d be 400 pounds and unable to operate the trolling motor, but I’d die fat and happy. Here are some Mexican-themed baits and colors that may fill the void.

When people who don’t fish or don’t pay careful attention to such things see my new boats, some of them occasionally remark that it “looks just like the last one.” Nevertheless, every one is different. I just took delivery of a 2022 Bass Cat Puma STS, the company’s newest 20’ model, and I’m pretty thrilled with the way it turned out. Here’s a video outlining some of the accessories that differ from those that I’ve used in the past.

On our recent trip to Islamorada, Florida, we tested out Gill’s new XPEL Tec line of shirts. The various tops in this lineup feature Gill’s plant-based XPEL finish and high UV (50+) protection. The shirts are lightweight, wick moisture away from the skin and have flat locked seams for comfort. The XPEL finish consists of water repellency, stain resistance and odor control.