New JDM Gear at Tackle Warehouse for Big Mexican Bass
It’s been unusually long for us since our last trip to Mexico’s Lake El Salto or Lake Picachos. When we finally return the fish will have been lightly pressured for a while. That should lead me to revert to the basics when we get there, but that’s not my nature. Yes, the proven winners will all be in the boat, but the longer I’m away the more my mind spins with things I’d like to try.
Fortunately, the tackle companies keep on innovating, and the JDM manufacturers take it up a notch. I monitor Tackle Warehouse so you don’t have to, and one of the items that recently caught my eye was the Deps Korrigan Break 800 Crankbait. Everything that Deps makes that I’ve tried has been exceptional and I’ve a big fan of their Evoke crankbaits, but I don’t know that they’ve ever had something that dives this deep – a reported 33 feet on 16 pound test fluorocarbon. It’s got a weight transfer system that should pretty much let you empty your spool. They’re not cheap, but I’ll probably invest in one in Sexy Shad UV and one in Ghost Ayu and hope that my guide is talented with the plug knocker.
While I was there, I found a few other new JDM lure options that’ll go in my tackle bag for what will hopefully be a triumphant return.
We’ve used the smaller Dark Sleepers on riprap and bluffs, not really like a swimbait but more as a jig. This bigger profile should appeal even more to the big Florida strain bass.
A big creature bait can be flipped into trees and bushes, fished on the back of a Carolina Rig, or used as a jig trailer. I’ll probably get some of these in Black Blue or Watermelon Black and soak ‘em in Taku’s favorite Bite Powder.
A fluke has been a staple in Mexico for years, generally fished weightless, but I probably haven’t used it as much as I should. Now that I’ve had friends “ping a minnow” down there, it could serve double-duty for that, too.
This five-inch soft swimbait – especially in the 3DR Kogill color – just about perfectly mimics a snack-sized tilapia. We need to throw more of this style of lure where we’d otherwise use a spinnerbait or Chatterbait, and while this one isn’t cheap it’s one I’d feel comfortable fishing in and around the thick stuff.
What did I miss? After about 20 bass fishing trips to Mexican lakes I’m really feeling this extended absence. I hope that I don’t jerk the first fish that bites into next week.
