Hanna Robbins and Jennifer Combs with a cooler full of crappie from Lake Sam Rayburn

The Outdoor Gear We Recommend

We may have a little bit of a hoarding problem. Good gear need not be expensive, but it has to improve the experience in some way. Whether it’s the right rod, a certain bait, or the world’s best rainsuit, we’ll give unfiltered opinions on what we use and why we use it.


No tackle shop on earth provides more specialized gear for bass than Tackle Warehouse. If you want it, they've got it in stock — whether it's a proven winner or the newest items on the market — and their service is exceptional.

Gear Pete Robbins Gear Pete Robbins

Budget Glide Baits That are Legit

We’ve spent plenty of time trying to learn about high-end big baits and we’ve also discussed some of the mid-priced models. If even that latter category doesn’t fit your budget, don’t despair. You can still get into the glide bait game for not much more than you’d spend on conventional lures. Here are three that have widespread appeal.

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The Search for the Perfect HPFC Shirt

We’re looking for shirts to represent our brand — the tough thing is finding something that’s reasonable and represents the breadth of our content and the trips that we offer. Help needed!

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Packing Reels for Lake El Salto May 2023

After 20 fishing trips to Mexico, I’ve learned that packing an adequate supply of the right reels can make for a more productive trip. There’s no one-size-fits-all formula for choosing, but make sure they’re in tiptop shape. I’ve had the opportunity to utilize an incredibly wide range of reels — here’s my selection for May/June 2023.

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Deps Cover Scat Alternative Colors

We’ve messed around with the Deps Cover Scat a fair amount. Most of our efforts have involved basic colors including black (with and without flake), various shades of green pumpkin and watermelon. If you’re looking to differentiate yourself from the crowd, consider checking out one of the following lesser-known options.

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New Dubro Rod Racks at Tackle Warehouse

I recently published a blog about how I store my fishing rod collection above my boat in the garage. I’ve relied upon the Piranha rod racks for over a decade and they’ve yet to let me down, but if you’re looking for a different option, Tackle Warehouse recently added more.

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Gear Pete Robbins Gear Pete Robbins

New Lures and New Approaches for El Salto – May/June 2023

We’re headed back to El Salto for a week at the end of this month. We’ve been going multiple times a year for a decade-plus, and we’ve narrowed down the lures that we’re most likely to use, but I still reserve some time each trip to work in new possibilities. Here are four new lures that are already packed and ready to go.

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Gear Hanna Robbins Gear Hanna Robbins

My Table Rock Fishing Trip Wasn’t Crappie

Samantha Sukupcak and I headed to Table Rock Lake to fish for bass with Chad Morgenthaler — but he also taught us how to “shoot” for crappie under docks and into marina slips. It’s a great technique that’s easy to learn.

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Super Six Plastics to Simplify Your Mexico Bass Trip

You may have your favorites, and even some double-secret-probation killers, but I truly believe that the "Keep it Simple, Stupid" methodology is best. Build around proven winners and go from there. If you have an ample supply of the following six plastics, I guarantee you that you'll be able to catch big bass just about every day of the year.

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Much Love for the Spinnerbug

Spinnerbaits may not get as much love or as much press as they used to, but they never stopped working. We always pack a handful (or a binder) any time we’re traveling to fish for bass.

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Megabass for Mexico

Megabass makes premium fishing products that have become staples in nearly every bass angler’s boat. Here are some that we like in Mexico at El Salto and Picachos.

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“Do You Have Garlic?”

The aroma of garlic gets the salivary glands flowing. You may have experienced this unmistakable smell when walking into a restaurant or mom’s kitchen. It gets stuck in your mind and prevents you from thinking about anything else. But it’s not just about food. Spike-It products will help you catch more and bigger fish.

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Bass Fishing and Dessert Go Together Like Cake and Ice Cream

If you cannot live without either fishing or desserts, fortunately they’re two great tastes that taste great together. The Floating Worm has been recreated to resemble the nostalgia of the old school Bomb Pop popsicle. The swimbait-obsessed team at Lateral Vision has gone down that same route in partnership with Basstrix. The list of sweet bait names and colors doesn’t stop there.

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Getting Hammered on Spinnerbaits

Back in March I posted a video about the ¾ ounce tandem willow spinnerbait that produced my personal best 12 pound largemouth at Camelot Bell. Some of you have requested my thoughts on why I used “hammered” blades on that day. If you think that the bass on your lake have become too accustomed to smooth spinnerbait blades, add some of these into your arsenal.

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Tackle for My Personal Best Smallmouth

I’ll never get tired of writing about my personal best 6.40 pound smallmouth – at least until I catch one 6.41 pounds or heavier, at which point it will become a quaint and semi-passé memory. Unfortunately, I may eventually forget my tackle so I’m putting it all here for posterity.

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New Mustad Trebles for Travelers

A treble hook that bends out or that doesn’t hold a point is going to eventually let you down. That’s why we always make sure our lures have hefty, premium versions and that we bring spares. We’re also constantly on the lookout for new heavyweight versions and Mustad’s new Jawlocks fit right in that sweet spot.

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Aggregated Guide to Tackle For Bass Fishing in Mexico

Prior to just about every trip to Mexico, friends ask us about packing the right tackle and enough of it. I wish there was a proven formula for every given day of the year – as in “Bring exactly five X, 10 Y and 12 Z and you’ll be completely covered,” but there’s not. It’s fishing, and the only rule is that you have to expect the unlikely.

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Basic Lure Selection for Mexican Bass

I know the “must haves” and while every veteran traveler has their secrets, and every newcomer has lures they want to try, I’ve put together a list that’ll get you bit every day of the year down there.

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“Generic” Bass Lures With Name Brand Results

When interviewing bass pros about their lure choices, when referring to their sponsor’s soft stickbait they’ll often state, “You know, their version of the Senko.” The Yamamoto category leader isn’t the only one, though. Here are some other examples of lures where the specific has become the name for the entire category.

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Advanced Braided Lines

As we’ve started traveling internationally and fishing for a wide variety of species, I’ve learned about many premium brands of braided fishing line. Not surprisingly many of them are from Japan. Here are some, plus an explanation of the PE System.

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All of the Multi-Piece Rods Available from Tackle Warehouse (Updated Spring 2023)

Tackle Warehouse, the most well-stocked online retailer in the U.S., continues to expand 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.

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