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.

Pete Robbins Pete Robbins

Our Top Five Strike King Lures for Big Mexican Bass

Here are five lures from Strike King Lure Company that will be in my Mexican tackle bag for the foreseeable future, with my favorite color of each listed. Let us know your Strike King favorites for South of the Border.

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Gear Pete Robbins Gear Pete Robbins

Best Ultra-Deep Diving Crankbaits for Offshore Mexican Bass

One of my favorite parts of heading to Mexico in May and June is the opportunity to load the boat with big, deep-diving crankbaits. When fish gang up on offshore structure at El Salto and Picachos, there’s no better way to fire up the school and keep them biting than a big diving plug. By “ultra-deep,” I mean something that’ll consistently get down past 20 feet.

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Gear Pete Robbins Gear Pete Robbins

Less Costly Tackle Solutions for El Salto and Picachos

Restaurants may sometimes have a strict “No Substitutions” policy, but here at Half Past First Cast we’re not that rigid. If you need to save a few bucks on your trip to El Salto or Picachos, we have some ways to shave down your tackle-buying bill.

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