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.
New Fishing Gear Storage Solutions
I could just about live at The Container Store. That’s because I’m always looking for new storage solutions for my tackle. While there are plenty of great options from endemic companies, something need not be stamped “for anglers” to qualify.
Travel-Tested 2023 Holiday Gift Recommendations
I tested a lot of different gear this year and found all of the items listed here to be great products and solid values. Purchase with confidence.
How To Tie on a Drop Shot
Tying on a drop shot rig may look difficult, but it’s actually fairly simple if you have the right teacher. Here’s veteran pro Chad Morgenthaler breaking down the basics of a tactic he uses just about every day.
Building a 6XD Tool Box with Keith Combs
Three-time Toyota Texas Bass Classic champion Keith Combs has won well over $2 million in his career as a professional angler, and a substantial portion of that has come on a variety of Strike King’s XD crankbaits, most notably the 6XD. Here are four of his go-to colors.
Fall Tackle Warehouse Unboxing – Filling in the Gaps
I took advantage of the Tackle Warehouse Labor Day Sale to stock up on odds and ends that I’d neglected to buy back in July — mostly terminal tackle, but maybe a new item or two that caught my fancy as well.
Three New Scat-Like Substances at Tackle Warehouse
Since the Deps Cover Scat became a valued tool for US anglers, numerous manufacturers have introduced their own takes on the genre. This year at ICAST we saw several more, and they continue to squirt out intermittently. Here are a few that have attracted my attention in recent months.
Two Great Danes, a Chihuahua and a Salty Dawg
I have dozens if not hundreds of them, but I’m always onboard to try out a new walk-the-dog topwater lure — especially if it’s from one of my favorite manufacturers. Here are four new ones.
Cooper Gallant’s Streamlined Smallmouth System
The last 3 Elite Series events took place on St. Clair, Champlain and the St. Lawrence, and smallmouth expert Cooper Gallant finished 4th, 18th and 18th, respectively, to climb to 17th in AOY and thereby qualify for his second consecutive Bassmaster Classic. He relied heavily on the following single rod, single reel and two lure choices.
Understanding Thermocline and Choosing the Best Garmin Color Palette
Chad Morgenthaler gave me a quick tutorial in how to use the Garmin electronics system — including an explanation of how the thermocline affects bass behavior and how to adjust color palettes to see more and know more.
Jerkbait Storage Boxes
Jerkbait storage was simpler when there were fewer options and most anglers thought they only worked during the winter and pre-spawn months. I keep fewer of them in the boat than many of you, but they can still be a mess to pull apart when you really need them. Here are storage options that streamline the task.
Follow-Up Baits
More lures and rods come out every week, so rather than update past columns about tackle trends, here’s a catch-all following up on some of those surveys. What do you think of this new gear at Tackle Warehouse?
Hello Dolly! In the Flesh!
Our best tool for big Alaskan rainbow trout this summer was a “flesh fly,” in particular the Dolly Llama. Why do trout bulk up on fleshy meals and why was it our favorite presentation?
My Five Go-To Soft Plastic Creature Baits
Soft plastic “creature baits” are super versatile and there are ridiculous numbers of options. Here are my five favorites, five I use occasionally, and five I want to try soon.
Don’t Fear the Fly Rod
If you love to fish, but you’ve purposely avoided fly fishing, it’s time to try it. Follow these simple steps and you can experience success and enjoyment almost from the start.
My Bass Fishing Hall of Fame Prize Pack Unbucketing
I dropped $20 on raffle tickets at the 2023 Bass Fishing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and won a bucket full of awesome tackle — including gear from Bass Mafia, Epic Baits and Nichols Lures.
JDM Vibrating Jigs
While there are dozens on vibrating jigs in U.S. tackle shops, the Original Chatterbait and the Jack Hammer take the largest market share of them all. If you’re willing to go travel to Japan, or enter the “gray market,” there are plenty of JDM options that tend to be high-end and different from what we see stateside.
Lucky 13 Topwater Articles in One Place
Topwater fishing has more or less been the demise of my bank account. From big largemouths, to bigger peacock bass, to tuna that can eat them both, if I can get a bite on the surface I’m generally happy. Therefore it should not be a surprise that in the 3 years this website has been in existence I’ve written quite a bit about the topic.
Big Squarebills for Thick Cover Beasts
Squarebill crankbaits have always been great tools for extracting big bass from heavy cover, especially shallow. Now we have a variety of models that are much bigger than normal to fit different bites and conditions.
Randy Blaukat’s Megabass Vision 110 Starter Set
If you’re ready to invest in a few Megabass Vision 110 jerkbaits, choose your colors wisely. Veteran Missouri pro Randy Blaukat shares his thoughts on how to get a full range for varied conditions without breaking the bank.
New Big Worms for Your Next Trip to Mexico (or Anywhere Else Big Bass Swim)
You simply should not go bass fishing in Mexico without a supply of big plastic worms. The worm is a 12-month producer at any water level, under just about any conditions, but don’t get stuck exclusively on your old favorites. Check out five new options.