Daiwa Tatula MQ Elite Spinning Reel – I love finesse fishing, so this reel immediately caught my attention. It’s light as a feather but still feels substantial, if that makes sense. Nearly every component incorporates Daiwa’s AIRDRIVE technology, including the rotor, spool and bail, which is why the reel feels almost weightless. The oversized gearing delivers an incredibly smooth retrieve while maintaining plenty of power. Even when you crank the handle quickly, the reel stays perfectly balanced with no noticeable torque or wobble. The tolerances are incredibly tight, and the drag is silky smooth.
If you’re not scoping, you’re hoping. I don’t completely buy into that saying, but I do believe minnow shaking isn’t going away anytime soon. If you’ve ever presented a minnow-style bait around heavy cover with a traditional jighead, you’ve probably hoped the hook found a bass before it found a limb. VMC addresses that problem by adding a brush guard to its popular Minnow Shaker jighead. It may seem like a small change, but it’s one that should save plenty of frustration — and put more bass in the boat.
Underspins still don’t get the respect they deserve, and I’ll admit I’ve overlooked them myself. They catch a pile of bass — when they don’t foul on the cast. After watching the Alpha in the demonstration tank at ICAST, I came away impressed with its engineering. A double-swivel connection leads to a ball-bearing swivel that positions the blade well beneath the head, greatly reducing fouling while allowing it to spin with the slightest turn of the handle. The head also isn’t made entirely of lead, allowing FishLab to maintain a larger profile without adding unnecessary weight, making depth control easier. The finishing touch is that it comes pre-rigged with a perfectly matched soft-plastic body that both kicks and rolls on the retrieve.
There are plenty of opinions these days on the best way to rig an urchin-style bait. Considering Gamakatsu is bringing the original Coike to the U.S. market, though, its recommended setup deserves a close look. While the company also offers a double-hook version, representatives said this model is their preferred choice for blind casting around cover. The weed guard helps prevent snags — which is important because these baits aren’t cheap — and the small clip beneath the shank accepts a variety of weights, making it easy to fine-tune the presentation for different conditions.
I had the chance to talk with Andrew Gardner, the lure designer who carved the original prototype from a block of wood before it went on to win Best Freshwater Hard Lure at ICAST. Gardner is an angler first, and he spent years refining the design before handing it over for production. Yes, it looks incredible — his paint schemes deserve a place in an art museum — but it also performs. The three-piece body packs plenty of action into a compact profile and tracks true without blowing out at higher retrieve speeds. Gardner said he’s caught plenty of bass waking the bait across the surface, but he’s also fooled some giants by cranking it down 2 to 3 feet.
Throwback Swimbaits Metro Glide LT – I’m definitely not a glide bait expert, but it’s hard to beat that bite when it’s going on. The original Throwback Swimbaits Metro Glide is that perfect 7-inch size that glides beautifully and is handmade. The New LT is an ABS rendition that brings the bait to a much more affordable price of about $50 compared to the original model’s $140 price and still has a very similar fish catching glide.
Like a lot of bass anglers, I’ve spent the last few years “investing” more money in glidebaits than in my 401(k). I mean, I don’t regret it, but I’ve also forked over a lot of cash for some custom and semi-custom baits that haven’t all given me the kind of return I’d initially hoped. That’s why I’m stoked to have another premium, tournament-grade option at a reasonable price point. The Rapala PXR Stryda 180 will set you back about $60. Like everything from Rapala, you can believe it’s going to be well-tuned right out of the package, but the designers — including Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series pro Carl Jocumsen — made it even easier for you to dial in the Stryda just how you like it with the new Screw Driver System. The system includes custom weights that screw into the belly of the bait, allowing you to easily adjust the sink rate without having to fuss with stick-on weights or lead wire that could throw off the bait’s action. Rapala describes it as a “choppy-style” glidebait, which is a great choice for target fishing, and I’m also looking forward to taking this bait up North in the summer and sinking it down to deeper bass along outside grass edges and dropoffs.
Speaking of glidebaits, if you’re dialed into the JDM scene, you’ve probably already heard of the Shimano Calcutta Conquest DC A. It’s the first reel in the heavy-duty, round-body Calcutta family to feature Shimano’s Digital Control (DC) braking technology, which automatically adjusts braking during the cast to maximize distance while minimizing backlash. Serious swimbait anglers have been importing this reel from Japan, but that’s no longer necessary because the Conquest DC A has finally landed in America. The reel features two external brake dials. The first lets you choose a universal braking mode (low, medium or high), while the second fine-tunes that mode with one of five braking settings. At $650, the Conquest DC A isn’t for everyone. But for swimbait specialists who want saltwater-grade toughness, it’s a sweet choice for throwing many popular glidebaits and can double as a cranking reel. If you want a more affordable DC option, Shimano also introduced a Curado DC 150 at ICAST.
Sadly, I’m old enough to remember the ChatterBait’s breakout season in pro bass fishing. Since then, Z-Man has evolved the ChatterBait product line into a massive array of specialized options, including several new models introduced at ICAST. There are two I’m really excited about. One is the ChatterBait PZ2. I throw a ChatterBait all season long, and for a lot of that time I’m fishing in Lake Erie marinas and around canal docks in the rivers connected to Erie. These are fixed docks, and many of them have been broken down and been rebuilt over the years. So there’s a lot of extra hardware in the water that is annoyingly snaggy. It’s not the kind of place to throw a $20 bait. The PZ2 is the answer. It costs $7.99 but still has premium features, like a 5/0 heavy-duty hook and a ridged bait keeper to hold trailers in place while skipping. The other cool new model is the Elite EVO HD. It’s based on the standard Elite EVO but is upgraded with a super-beefy 5/0 hook and a welded line-tie ring so you can wrench big bass out of thick cover on braided line. Z-Man says it’s 40% stronger than the standard Elite EVO. MSRP on the HD model is $12.99.
Bluetooth speakers are a big part of my summer, from grilling at home to hanging out with the family at the beach or on the boat. The thing is, I don’t want to carry some oversized unit. Turtlebox has the answer with the new 5.3-pound Cub. It’s a downsized version of the flagship Original Gen 3, only in a smaller package. Unlike the ultra-compact Turtlebox Ranger, the Cub floats. That’s good news for anglers. You can save the Ranger for your golf bag and leave the Cub in the boat. Battery life on the Cub is about 14 hours, which is plenty for a full day in the outdoors. Turtlebox delivered another tough, rugged speaker, backed by a cool outdoor brand that supports the fishing industry, making the new Cub worth a look if you like having a good time. It’s available for $330 and in four colors.
My B.A.S.S. colleagues in Birmingham, Ala., may not appreciate a quality insulated rainsuit as much as I do, but they also don’t have to contend with a climate that can deliver snowflakes as early as Thanksgiving and as late as Easter in some years. That’s what I face in northern Ohio. So if I want to get the most out of a fishing season, it’s essential to have quality waterproof gear designed to handle the cold. Those shoulder seasons are why the AFTCO Hydronaut Insulated Jacket and Bib set caught my eye. Insulated suits fall short for many reasons, from lack of mobility to bulkiness to heavy weight. In the Hydronaut suit, it appears AFTCO got it right. The insulation is soft and light for a comfortable wear. There are plenty of pockets, waterproof zippers and a well-designed ergonomic cut for active fishing. Cost for the combo is $798.
BUZBE Basic Deep – Urchin Bait Box — Purpose-built for one of fishing’s fastest-growing lure categories, the BUZBE Basic Deep Urchin Bait Box provides a dedicated storage solution for urchin-style baits. Custom wire-post organizers, locking dividers and a rugged waterproof design keep every bait protected, organized and ready for the next cast.
Evolution Fishing Creature Keeper Case – I was definitely late to the urchin game relative to the rest of the bass fishing community. Not that I didn’t realize how effective they are, but I just delayed making a big order until fairly recently. Like most, I quickly realized that storing these baits is quite the challenge considering they come in big bulky boxes that take up a lot of room in the boat. The Evolution Fishing Creature Keeper Case immediately caught my eye as a potential solution to that problem.
