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.
New Lures in Some of Our Favorite Special Colors
We’ve had a fun time listing lures in distinctive color patterns. Whether it’s tilapia imitators or all things bubblegum, if you’ve searched for it there’s a decent chance we have, too. We try to stay up to date with all of the new items at Tackle Warehouse. Here are a few that help us update past columns – shop away!
Clutch Colors for the Boss and Baby Boss
The Clutch Boss has been one of the worst kept secrets on the Elite Series. The second worst is their Darter. Now they’ve added a Baby Boss to the lineup. We caught up with Josh Pladies at the 2025 Bassmaster Classic to discuss “starter colors.”
Big Baits and New JDM Products That Gained Street Cred on the 2024 Elite Series
This was the first Elite Series season I can recall where big gliders showed up in more than just a couple of derbies. There were also quite a few JDM products that gained a following. Most notable among them was the Deps Sakamata Shad.
Clutch Colors from Conventional to Koi
The 2024 Bassmaster Classic Expo is particularly memorable for me because it marked the “mainstreaming” of swimbait culture. The Clutch Swimbait Company was mobbed all three days, but I weaseled my way in to get some info out of Josh Pladies and Justin Kimmel.
Kimmel in the Clutch
If you’re looking for a big blueback herring imitator — or just a chop-style glide bait that you can fish faster than the others — check out the Clutch Darter. NPFL pro has more experience with it than just about anyone and can fill you in on the details.
