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

All of the Travel Rods Available from Tackle Warehouse (July 2024)

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.

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Gear Pete Robbins Gear Pete Robbins

Rico Colors I Live and Die With

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.

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Gear Hanna Robbins Gear Hanna Robbins

Dry Bags Keep the Moisture Out of Where it Does Not Belong

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.

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Gear Pete Robbins Gear Pete Robbins

Lure Colors I Don’t Throw Anymore for No Apparent Reason

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.

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Gear Pete Robbins Gear Pete Robbins

Tournament-Winning Lures for the St. Lawrence River

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.

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Gear Pete Robbins Gear Pete Robbins

Three More Senko Colors for Your Next Bass Fishing Trip to Mexico

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.

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Gear Pete Robbins Gear Pete Robbins

Bass Boat Saver Discount Code

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.

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Gear Pete Robbins Gear Pete Robbins

The Best Strike King 10XD Colors for Lake El Salto

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.

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Gear Pete Robbins Gear Pete Robbins

Simple River Rat Lure Mod -- Flat Rubber Skirts

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.

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Gear Pete Robbins Gear Pete Robbins

Three “Warriors” for Big El Salto Bass

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.

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Gear Pete Robbins Gear Pete Robbins

Who Doesn’t Like a Big Beaver?

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.

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Gear Pete Robbins Gear Pete Robbins

Even MORE Scat-Style Soft Plastic Lures

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.

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Gear Pete Robbins Gear Pete Robbins

A Dozen Articles About Crankbaiting in Mexico

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.

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Gear Pete Robbins Gear Pete Robbins

Sweet Beaver Colors the Pros Use When No One’s Looking

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.

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