Most serious bass anglers headed to Lake El Salto or Lake Picachos likely have a pretty good idea of the tackle they’ll need. Nevertheless, even after 20 or so trips of our own we still find ourselves adding to the stash. The best gift you can give the angler in your life is a trip to “Bass Fishing Disneyland,” but if they’ve already got it booked here are some failsafe options that will ensure that they maximize their chances of success.

The first lure I bought at the Swimbait Universe Gathering 4 was the LFOD Munk painted in the unmistakable chipmunk pattern depicted. I’m not sure if it will produce better than the rat baits I already own in black, white and gray but I had to have it. I’ve also learned that some smaller-scale baitmakers have expanded their lineups further into the rodent section of Noah’s Ark.

Whether you want a squirrel, a gerbil or some other pest that might otherwise belong in a trap, there’s a fishy option out there. Unfortunately, many of them are hard to obtain or downright pricey. If for some reason you can’t or won’t get one of the custom models, you’re in luck. Here are some mammalian lures (both shapes and colors) that are widely available.

I’m ashamed and disappointed to admit that I’ve probably ruined more good fishing tackle than many other people will ever own. Between bent tails and broken hardware and rusted-out hooks, I’ve been forced to trash lots of gear that never even saw the water. Accordingly, I try to take care of my stuff. Here are a few things to consider of your rapidly-expanding collection is becoming unwieldy.

Even after nearly 20 years of fishing there’s a ton I still need to learn, including a lot of basics. When should I use certain lures? How do electronics work? Why this? What that? So many questions! Learning from your husband is difficult, so I got Chad Morgenthaler of FutureCast Academy to teach me to fish a football jig.

One way that I normally cope with my anticipation between fishing adventures is through retail therapy. When it comes to chasing tuna and cuberas and billfish, however, I wouldn’t even know where to start. Shane Jarvis provides everything we need so you could show up with just a few sets of clothing, your toiletries, and a cooler to take home some tuna. Nevertheless, I’ve managed to accumulate a few items that will make the trip to the Panama with me.

After 17 years of affiliation with Yamamoto Baits – and many more before that using their products – I’ve gone through tons of plastics and figured out what I like and need. I try to make one big order at the end of each season to restock what I’ve gone through and what I expect that I might need. Here’s what recently came in.

Yesterday I compiled a survey of anatomically-correct bird lures, some of which are readily available. If you’re not ready to take that leap of faith, but still think that lures that resemble birds could be effective, you’re in luck – plenty of mainstream manufacturers have tried to replicate avian snack foods.

While birds may not be a major part of their diets, there’s no doubt that hungry bass will eat them on occasion. I’ve already detailed how “canary” patterns don’t work for me, so I’m leaving them out of this survey, but there are plenty have been plenty avian lures throughout recent years. Here are a few worth noting.

Ace instructor Chad Morgenthaler of Future Cast Academy taught me Livescope and now when Pete asks if I want to run the trolling motor he may be surprised at my answer. Check out what it looks like and all the fun we had finding and catching fish. Contact Chad for a personalized lesson.

With the conclusion of our June 2022 trip to Anglers Inn Lake El Salto, now comes the long winter of our discontent – the extended period of no Mexico trips until 2023. That gives me time to restock myself with proven winners from our past 20 or so journeys South of the Border and also to speculate about lures that I need to pack in my tackle bag for their first trip down. Here are eight baits that have been on my mind in the short time since we returned.

Since I started fishing 18 years ago, I've had lots of polarized sunglasses, but always chose them with an eye on fashion versus function. Lately, thought, I've realized that when it comes to performance there's "more than meets the eye." I decided to ask a panel of accomplished female anglers which shades they wear and why.

For the first time since we went to Africa in 2016, Hanna and I fished an entire trip with nothing but travel rods. We brought two stubby rod tubes to Lake of the Woods last week, and used the multi-piece rods inside of them to conquer seven or eight different species of fish – everything from yellow perch to muskies. Smallmouths were our primary focus and we caught a near 25 pound limit on our third full day.

When we first visited the Amazon in 2011/2012, it was tough to find readily-available walk-the-dog topwaters larger than a Super Spook. That’s why we turned to various JDM hard baits like the Maria Miss Carna 140 and the Imakatsu Trairao when the fish would come up to eat but not crush our prop baits. Fortunately, in the ensuing decade manufacturers have heeded the call for more big dog walking topwaters.

We snuck into the arena before Swimbait Gathering 4 started to ask some of the builders, manufacturers, painters and swimbait hooligans what products made them proudest. We've got rods and boards, rats and bunnies, and all sorts of the good stuff.

Lure colors typically become popular for a reason – they catch fish. But what about “second tier” colors that are reasonably popular, but which may be regional in nature, or not considered must-have everywhere? Here are four fairly popular colors that I’ve bought in multiple styles but have rarely if ever been able to make work.

Plenty of fishing lures and color patterns get discontinued for good reason – they don’t work and/or they’re not popular – but that’s not always the case. For many of us, the fact that a favorite bait is suddenly unavailable somehow makes us think that it’s even more effective than ever before. Here are two colors I rely upon yet have trouble restocking.

Since The Gathering I’ve already gone back to the well, with another bait from 3-OH. I conferred with owner Dave Verzal and since then one of his Wide Load Wake Gills has somehow shown up at my house. This one’s painted by Justin Fleer of Oak Grove Custom Lures in the Summer Gill pattern and like the crappie I fully intend to turn this piece of art into a chew toy.

In 40+ years of fishing I’ve learned that the sport has only one steadfast rule: There are no absolutes. That means that you can NEVER say that something will NEVER work. As I looked through the new introductions from ICAST 2022, I saw quite a few that in the past I might have immediately condemned to the gimmick bin. Here are six products that I’ll put in the “TBD” category until someone kicks my ass with them.

I’m not new to spending lots of money on fishing tackle, but I’m new to the swimbait game and definitely a bit gun shy when it comes to dropping $100 (or substantially more on a single bait). Accordingly, I came up with a loose game plan in advance of the Swimbait Universe Gathering 4. I wanted to be flexible but smart, free-minded but not necessarily impulsive.