Fall baits ‘n stuff special issue – part 1!

Studies have proven that bass love topwaters just as much as we do. Talkin' 'bout single-line "studies" we've done ourselves lol. Anyhow, one thing great about the fall is that bass'll eat just about anything which includes topwaters which means just about any topwater. You've got your faves, here's a few that might be new:

1. 3.5" Heddon Super Spook Jr – Just my fave year-round size, easy to walk, catches 'em even if you have smaller ones. Here's a deal: 3 Spook Jrs for $17.49:

2. 3" Heddon Super Spook BOYO – New size from Heddon, gotta think it's good for fall schoolers/shad-feeders. Stetson Blaylock says it can be thrown on a casting rod so.... Little trick if you’re fishing clear water or pressured fish: Drill a tiny hole in the rear of the bait near the lead weight, then take a tiny dab of superglue and stick it in the hole. Word is this will seize the weight and make the bait silent.

Check Stets walkin' it:

3. 3.25" Heddon Spit'n Image – Mentioned in a recent Blaster, one of those that sometimes just catches 'em (every species) and a little different-looking/action too.

4. Yo-Zuri 3DB Pencil (100 and 125) – First I gotta point out again that Yo-Zuri baits (quality, color) are an insane value for the price. Now here's MLFLWer Mike Surman talkin' this bait, which you might not be thinkin' 'bout for this time o' year:

5. Berkley Drift Walker (110 = 4.25") – Great walking bait for when it's slick – a more subtle action but still easy to walk. Berkley J-Walker 100 (4") otherwise.

You can see the size 'n low-profile shape of the Drift Walker there ^. Click it to watch a short good YT vid of Justin Lucas talkin' 'bout the Drift Walker.

6. 4" Teckel USA Kicknocker Pup – Haven't fished it but always curious about Hideki's new ways of looking at topwaters....

Surface/subsurface wakers are fun to fish if you haven't done it in a bit and can for sure pull 'em up. Also not as much work as a walker and a different look for the feesh:

1. Hardcore Noi-Z – Comes in 105 (4 1/8") and also 85 (3 3/8") sizes. Here's MLFLWer Spencer Shuffield talkin':

He likes "ghost pearl shad" (top) and UV smelt:

Fishes it on a 7'4" MH Phenix M1 Rod, a Daiwa Zillion Reel (7.3) and 14-lb Yo-Zuri T7 fluoro:

2. 4" Fishlab Bio-Shad – I've fished it, real deal for me. You can fish it fast or slow, good action, I have one tied on in the rod box.... Here's "shad" and "chartreuse shad":

5. Rapala "Brokenback" Jointed Minnow – If you can cast it, that OG action will get 'em to show!

6. Rapala BX Waking Minnow – Not jointed but can be real good in cold water....

7. Triton Mike Bucca Bull Rat – Okay if you're fishing a rat you're not fishing for dinks. I'm no rat expert but I know Mike makes good baits so here you go. 4.75" of a lab rat-lookin' deal!

1. Yo-Zuri 3DB Pencil Popper – Not yer usual fall bait maybe, but check what BASS Opens angler Cole Sands be sayin':

2. River2Sea Whopper Plopper Silent – Always wanted to try the silent version. I sometimes have more confidence in the silent versions of baits (or knocker versions).

3. Berkley Choppo – Similar to the WP but different sizes and different finishes like this new one, "HD threadfin shad": 👀

And pickya fave frogs too!

Lil downtown New Yawk accent for ya ^ lol. Here we go:

Two words for you on this bait and you already know 'em: Hank Cherry. Hank's particular about jerkbaits like Einstein was about calculators. Hank also writes songs about jerkbaits (believe it's only polkas?), keeps jerkbaits in every room of his house (yep, even the laundry room), and also once had a dog he was gonna name "Rogue" but instead named it "Weighted Rogue." 😂

You get what I'm sayin' mang! When a baitmaster designs a bait, it's a must-try. When a baitmaster wins a Classic on a new bait of that type that he designed, it's a must-buy, at least in my way of thinking: Hank Cherry jerkbait OCD + Berkley secret lab = win.

Here's "Hankie pankie," "bronzeback" and "perch":

Remember that Hank didn't just design the bait, he designed THE COLORS too. Look at 'em all – they've got some dang good'ns!

Hank fishes it on the 6' 10" M Abu Garcia Winch Rod with an Abu Garcia Zata Reel and 12-lb Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon.

Lol that's what I thought when I saw it! But then I had to think – what really is it? Is it a "new" type of bait? I mean, I saw this one and another one like it at ICAST so maybe something new is happenin'?

Anyhow, yep it's a jerkbait with a plastic blade in the middle slot. It can be jerked like a jerkbait or just reeled, or a combo of those 2 retrieves:

It's 4.3", 5/8-oz, has a weight-transfer system for casting, floats and dives to 4-6'. I'm sure it ketches 'em – let's see if it ketches on. Not at TW yet....

3. Rapala Shadow Rap Shad – TW says it's a "bestseller" so you know what that means.... #ketchesem

4. Yo-Zuri 3DB SP 110 – Good bait with new colors designed by their pros.

5. Megabass Vision 110 – Never seen it before but Chris Zaldain digs it...😂

6. Lucky Craft Lightning Pointer 110SP – Never tried it but curious about it....

7. 13 Fishing Loco Special – This bait got some buzz and pro folks were quietly using it...🧐

8. Smithwick Rogue – The original-ish (this version) and still ketchin' 'em – and I'm digging this "lemon lime crush" color, maybe cuz I'm part smallmouth bass??

Simms INSULATED Challenger Jacket and Bib – Instead of piecemealing some gear to gitcha warm 'n shed rain, the Simms Challenger Insulated Jacket and Insulated Bib keep you dry AND toasty:

MSRP ain't cheap – $299.95 each – but you know you get what you pay for, ESPECIALLY with rain gear!

Or go non-insulated with the regular Challenger Jacket and Bibs = great, I've got em.

Exstream Hooded Jacket – Love it, already wearin' it every day: PrimaLoft Silver Thermoplume with Cross Core technology on the inside, Toray 100% nylon pre-quilted 20D down tube with DWR:

Last but not least, it pretty much ain't possible to fish when your hands (or at least my hands) get too cold so here's you some options:

Clockwise from top L:

ProDry Glove: $129.95

Gore-Tex Infinium Flex Glove: $54.97 - $89.95

Lightweight Wool Flex Glove: $69.95 – I want these!

Wool Half Finger Glove: $29.95 – I have a different brand of these, decades old, still work great.

2. Rapala Rain PRO Suit – Jacket and Bibs

Not sure why Rapala got into the foul-weather gear biz – always thought MN peeps just fished in shorts and flipflops, even in the winter:

Hahaha WTHeck?? Peeps in MN never get cold man! I mean, they fish ON ICE! How crazy is that?? 😂 Okay, anyhow BEFORE it's ice it could rain on 'em 😁 so here's the Rapala RAIN Pro:

$199.99 apiece.

Merino is the good wool. Warm, soft, light – it's good. Any other wool, except from llamas or alpacas or whatever, is eeeeeeeevil man. Evil. No good. It's like wearing a combo of sandpaper, burlap and cowhide. No thanks!

🤣 for real!

BUFF has some #winner new merino stuff, and I say that because BUFF's stuff has all been good in my experience. Here's some new stuff I dig:

Clockwise from top L:

- End of part 1 of 2 yo! Part 2 comin' this weekend! -