My El Salto personal best came on a Strike King 10XD. That’s my first call in the 20 foot zone but there are other options out there. Since I published my first blog on the topic a while back, additional manufacturers have seen the value in entering this market. Here are a handful more that reportedly dive to or beyond the 20 foot range on a long cast using the right tackle.

Any competent angler could have a fantastic trip to Anglers Inn with the provided rods. Additionally, traveling with a rod tube is a major pain in the ass. Don’t do it unless you’re prepared to be hassled and disappointed. I’m in a position where if a few get messed up I’ll be unhappy, but it won’t change my life. That means it’s time to restock my toolbox down there. I’ll be flying to Mexico with a rod tube for the first time since 2016. Here are the sticks I’m bringing.

Insects can merely be an annoyance while you’re fishing, but they can also be harmful or even life-threatening. This article contains ways to prevent bug bites and to minimize discomfort and health issues from any that get through to you.

I have a lot of Shimano rods and reels because I’ve found them to be of high-quality right out of the box and exceptionally durable over the long haul. While I do own one travel rod from G.Loomis, which exists under the Shimano brands umbrella, I don’t have any with an actual “Shimano” decal on them. That’s likely because their three- and four-piece selections in the U.S. market are limited. Their Japanese lineup, on the other hand, is absolutely LOADED with multi-piece options.

I’m just about certain that the first largemouth bass I ever caught on an artificial lure came on the Original Rapala Floating Minnow, probably a size 5 or 7. I still throw a lot of their products, like the DT Series, and of course the Shad Rap, but until I saw them in a Brazilian tackle shop I had no idea that Rapala made rods, too.

Whereas once upon a time we had to wait for ICAST or the Bassmaster Classic to be the sole launch point for new bass fishing gear, now it’s virtually a year-round process. That’s great for a tackle junkie like me, because it means that any time Tackle Warehouse has a sale I have something new I want to order. As we enter 2023, here are four that I have my eyes on.

At Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge it’s hard to settle on a one-size-fits-all boating solution. That’s because the captains may start of the day trolling for marlin on the Hannibal Bank, then popping for tuna, and close out the afternoon pulling baits for inshore species. Same body of water, very different techniques. Owner Shane Jarvis has added a 33’ Freeman named the “Fat Cat” to the fleet.

Now that I’ve caught a few fish on swimbaits and glide baits I’m fully committed to learning more about the technique. I know that there will be a window when my “seat time” pays off, although I suspect that there will be some frustrating hours before that happens. With each additional cast I learn something new, but sometimes it feels like “one step forward, two steps back.”

It was only after attending the Swimbait Universe Gathering that I truly realized how much I wanted to break into the world of low volume glide baits. I’m still pretty green, but eager to learn, so I did something that I’ve been vowing to try for 30 years whenever I’ve wanted to learn a new technique – I committed fully for a day.

Today Brandon Palaniuk has just about every piece of fishing gear necessary and possible, but it wasn’t always that way. He didn’t have much growing up, so he knows the value of a buck. Here are four items he recommends as presents if you simply don’t know what to buy the bass angler in your life.

For years, I just fished with the rods, reels and other gear that was handed to me, but now I have definite opinions about what works and what does not. Therefore, I feel qualified to tell you to buy the following products for the anglers on your list. Most are aimed at either bass fishermen (fisherwomen too!) or travelers.

Despite her inexplicable love for Carolina Rigging, my wife redeems herself with an equal-if-not-greater passion for topwater fishing. Whether it’s a Rico at El Salto, a Kermett Adams chopper in the Amazon, or a mouse-imitator on a remote Alaskan stream, she knows that sometimes it’s better to persevere with a surface lure than something “easier.”

There are plenty of gift options for bass anglers. But what if you’re cash-strapped? Or you just want a little inexpensive something to show someone you care? Perhaps you just need an item or two to hit the free shipping mark. Here are a few items that just about any bass fanatic either needs or wants or could easily use. They won’t break the bank, either.

I realize that not everyone can afford to gift their favorite bass angler a bass boat, a trip to El Salto, or even a Livescope system. Maybe you’re cash-strapped or you don’t know the person too well, or you just need a simple item to fill out your list. Fortunately for you, there are plenty of high-quality items that won’t break the bank. Here are 10 we can recommend.

Put me in a bass boat and you’re going to have a hard time surprising me with any sort of accessories. In a saltwater boat, however, just about everything is new. Even if I’ve seen an item before, I don’t always know the “how” or “why” of the design and construction. Luckily I have Shane Jarvis to give me the straight scoop. Here’s what he had to say about his Tigress Outriggers.

We’ve loved our 3 trips to Casa Vieja Lodge in (with another on the books for February) and our 3 trips to Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge. Nevertheless, one complication is that you don’t need anything new to go. Nevertheless, I try to get a few new things each time for “testing” purposes. If you know someone headed offshore, here are gift ideas that are sure to please.

I’m a topwater addict, whether it’s chasing smallmouths up north or peacock bass south of the equator, but I’d never seen anything like acres of herding dolphins, diving birds, and rampaging yellowfin tuna converging in a tornado of chaos. On our three trips to Panama we’ve landed some finned freaks of nature on top. Here’s what I’ve learned.

Traveling to fish to in different conditions you need specialized gear. That’s especially true if it’s going to rain – because if you’re wet it can be uncomfortable, or even unsafe, and can impact your ability to hook and land the fish of a lifetime. Through trial and error, I’ve built up an arsenal of some of the best gear for wet weather conditions.

On our first of what will likely be many trips to Ballard’s Black Island on Lake of the Woods, we absolutely wrecked the giant smallmouths, but as Hanna has chronicled previously our packing process was a little bit subpar. We had everything that we needed, but not necessarily in the right quantities. When we head back, we’ll tweak them a bit to improve an already-great trip.

Buying gifts for swimbaiters is tough for several reasons. First, it’s a very personalized niche, and most of the addicts I’ve met have very specific tastes. Second, the items tend to be on the expensive side, so if you make a mistake it’s especially costly. Finally, some of the really good stuff is produced in small quantities, and distributed through hard-to-win “drops.” These items are all readily available.