The Rapala DT8

The Rapala DT8

Finally, after 10 years I got what I wanted in the Rapala DT series of crankbaits. I’m talking about an 8 size. We’ve had a 4, 6, 10, 14, 16  and a 20. Now, the lineup is complete! For those of you who don’t know, the number designation of the baits tells you roughly how deep they’ll run, depending on line type, diameter and strength. DT stands for dives to. The thing is, though, there was always a gap between the DT6 and the DT10. That’s been fixed with a couple of design changes to make the DT8. First, we […]

The New Missile Mini Swim

The New Missile Mini Swim

Hey everyone out there, ICAST is underway. One of the new products we’re introducing is the new Missile Mini Swim. It’s the real deal, different from all the other swim jigs out there. We’ll start off by talking a little about size. Most swim jigs are big, with a big profile. The Mini Swim is just the opposite. That idea came from our Mini Flip. It’s a smaller flipping and pitching jig and it’s made all the difference in the world when we need something smaller and less intrusive. The Mini Swim will do the same thing for swim jigs. […]

My ICAST pick: The Berkley Maxscent

My ICAST pick: The Berkley Maxscent

The new things that catch my eye at tackle shows like ICAST and really get my attention aren’t the new colors, sizes or minor modifications to existing baits. Anybody can do that. I’m not saying that those things don’t matter. They do, and they often make an existing product better. But the stuff that’s on the cutting edge of bass fishing is what gets me going. Berkley’s PowerBait Maxscent soft baits are in that category. They’ll be a game-changer. I’m sure of it. You’ll notice I called it a soft bait, not a plastic bait. The reason for that is […]

Bass Fishing with the VMC Spinshot Hook

Bass Fishing with the VMC Spinshot Hook

I love to drop shot but I don’t love line twist, and that’s one of the biggest problems with drop shotting. That’s too bad because on tough days a drop shot is one of the most effective ways to put one in your livewell. With that in mind, I set out to solve that problem. That shouldn’t come as any surprise to those of you who know me or who have followed my career. I tinker with everything and, thanks to some first-class professional sponsors, some of my modifications actually make it to fruition. The VMC Spinshot Hooks are in […]