DQ is the son of legendary bigfoot hunter – oops I mean In-Fisherman writer/editor 😁 – Steve Quinn, is a bass fisherman, and wears a lotta hats at Rapala including working with their pros and bait development. He was the main man working with his good bud Jacob "Thanos begged me to take him fishing but I said get lost you purple freak" Wheeler 😤 on the new Rapala CrushCity soft-plastics.

With those baits now available for sale, figured it was time to ask DQ a few Qs about how that went down. Let's go:

1. Why did Rapala decide to get into soft baits?

> "I guess the primary reason is that in the big-picture business, soft-plastics is a big category in fishing and Rapala is a big player in fishing so we needed to be more involved with it.

> "We had dabbled in it in the past, and we actually do have a pretty substantial [soft-plastic] business in Storm with the pre-rigged baits...[but they're] not used in tournaments as much. In embracing the bass market...with our hard baits...and the overall direction of the company...it seemed like a logical thing to do.

> "Then if we're going to do it, how are we going to do it. If we're going to do it, we can't have anything holding us back from the best possible stuff we can make. And if we're going to do that, we're gonna do it with Jacob Wheeler.

> "I've had a long relationship with him, we're close friends. And with his position in the market and his understanding of what makes some lures better than other lures, it was a pretty logical decision."

2. What was it like working with Jacob on them?

> "It was an experience I'll never forget. It was pretty cool to have that opportunity. We have a really good working relationship that just lends itself to making it work.

> "It's [also] a lot. He's got a lot of knowledge. He's fast-paced, talking a million miles an hour, so it was kind of sifting through Jacob's discussions and pulling out the nuggets of what our engineers need. ...when he says this or that...I know what's impactful and what we need to know from him. I guess I was like a filter almost.

> "I fish with him a lot and I fish a lot myself. And you need to have that understanding to process what he's saying. ...it worked out really well."

> "The first year was pretty cool. We Frankensteined those 5 baits...it was a really cool experience. Not many guys get to do that. 'Let's make the 5 baits you need to go win tournaments.' That was roughly the initial direction.

> "Now that the [first 5] baits are in stores, the 2nd round of baits is pretty much done, and we're getting ready to start on round 3. We've hired Kyle Wood and [others]...team of us [and] we've got a really good system going now."

Follow-up: Was Jacob changing and refining stuff right up til the launch?

> "Yes. If you can believe that. Even that Freeloader – he was keeping that [deep FFS] technique close to the vest vs it being a trailer. That evolved from the Japanese guys doing it. [Jacob's] Guntersville win...turned that technique into almost mainstream overnight.

> "...the understanding of FFS, seeing the fish and what baits get them to bite. Because a lot of times they don't bite. I at with him at his pool and we shake-and-baked every single lure and jighead combination to get that one just perfect."

3. Did any other pros have input on the baits?

> "No, not out of the gate. It's challenging to work with more than 1 guy initially. But some of the other guys are indirectly involved. Like Jacob calls Kyle Welcher a bit to get his thoughts on stuff. Wheeler thinks Welcher is the most analytical fisherman in fishing. I believe it too. He's got this other dimension of thinking that's really impressive.

> "He's a great person to have onboard for CrushCity...same with Bob Downey: He's a really, really smart guy.

> "If we make a bait that's more geared toward the specialty of another guy, we'll work with him as well. And if Jacob doesn't know [something], he knows who to talk to to get the right information to us.

> "He surrounds himself with good, smart, talented people. And he's always learning. He listens a lot."

[I said that reminds me of Al Lindner, who Dan knows well, and he agreed.]

4. How many more CrushCity baits are coming next year?

> "Another 5."

Can you give us any hints?

> "They're all tournament-winning worthy lures. That's a promise. And...we are making each bait its own thing. If this bait needs to be ElaZtech-type material for floating purposes, that's what we do. If that bait needs to be these colors, that's what we do. We are not limiting any bait. We are just making each bait what it needs to be.

> "That's pretty cool and you need to do something different...it's a pretty flooded market. We got the best factory we could find, the best engineers...we're truly putting our best foot forward to make the best plastics we can possibly make."

5. What's your fave CrushCity bait of the first 5?

> "They're all pretty special but I'd probably have to say Freeloader – because it's so good as a trailer and throwing it as a Fluke, but also this whole new shake-and-bake technique. It's one of those techniques and trends that's really revolutionizing the way people are fishing.

> "Pressured fish, suspended fish – throw this bait on a swimbait jighead, it rocks [I believe left to right] and they bite it. I've never seen anything quite like it. It's almost like an Alabama Rig where it's a whole different dimension.

> "Having a bait with that...versatility is pretty cool. People say it has a similar profile to a Spunk Shad, but it's like a spinnerbait or anything else [in that every one is a little different]. But this is totally different. The consistency, where the salt is in the bait, the flat sides – it's very specific."

Couple quick deals:

1. Interesting deets on the Freeloader. Doesn't surprise me at all the level of nitty gritty detail, but it's interesting that Jacob has to talk about 'em without revealing all the juice.

2. DQ said the next 5 CrushCity baits will be released at ICAST – I guess if Jacob doesn't win a tourney or 2 with 'em first!

1. Larry Nixon is retiring.

Dang it Larry! Ah man I get it. What he said:

> "The Elite Series grind is more than most people could ever imagine. The elements of professional bass fishing are some of the toughest things in all of sports. Over the course of my career I've worn out 2 thumbs, a shoulder, a heart, a knee and an elbow due to competitive repetition.

> "My health is okay, but, believe me everything is just worn out. It's become really difficult to just do normal things like tie knots and other little things.

> "Coming back to B.A.S.S. was one of the highest points of my career. Year 46 – or whatever year this is – was absolutely fantastic. The fans at B.A.S.S. are unlike anything else in the sport. It was honestly like I never left.

> "The camaraderie, the kids (and) the other Elite competitors all made me smile a lot this year because of the reception I got all year."

One of the best of all time, as we all know. Gonna miss you Larry! Love 'n hugs from me – and get going with that podcast! 😁 (Larry's got some stories!)

Larry – If you're gonna fish a local deal out by you, please let me know. I will fly out there so I can tell my kids I fished against Larry Nixon! I'm serious!

2. B-Rad Lee Hallman is leaving the Elites.

Qualified twice which is pretty dang amazing:

> "I think it's just a combination of a lot of different things.... I knew in my heart on the way back from the NY tournaments that I had a lot to think about...I've realized that I just don't burn like I used to in order to compete at the highest level.

> "...our [family] life just isn't built for my family to be able to travel with me all the time. I just don't feel like this lifestyle allows me to stay connected to my family all the time."

Said it before: Takes guts to walk away from an achievement lots of folks would give a limb for. For sure family is the best reason for anything.

Bradley has a talent for media, which has become obvious the last few years, so hopefully he keeps doing that. And maybe him and bud Todd Castledine can tear it up hake 'n bake fashion on the 'Yotas and elsewhere. Wonder Bread jerseys! 😁

3. John Crews gonna try a 22-INCH screen at the bow! 🤯

Gonna need a bucket under it to catch all the dead birds! 😆 Just messin':

> ...I have decided to centralize my electronics to just Humminbird and Garmin. I've come to realize that I get everything I need from those 2 brands....

> ...an NBT Screen on the bow. I'm going to try and use the 22" version to help me see more detail. ...stay tuned to my YouTube channel to see how it ends up. I'll be sure to post my setup when it's done.

4. Hank Parker now with X Zone Lures.

He said he was sick and tired of people seeing Brand Palaniuk on the packaging and saying he was a good-looking dude.

Okay maybe not, but love to see Brandon with an OG Hank bassin' 'stache!

5. CA: Big-bass basser Bill Murphy going into Fishing HOF.

No longer with us. Bill is seen as one of the best big bassers of all time. Glad he is getting some recognition. BassFan also said:

> Roger Stegall, a full-time professional bass fishing guide [in MS]...is also among the inductees. ...over 30 years of experience guiding on Pickwick Lake and is widely known for his prowess in catching trophy smallmouth.

6. MLF gets Suzuki outboards.

Good to see Suzuki getting more serious about the bassin' market. Have only heard good/amazing things about these outboards – even wanted one for my boat.

Wonder if this means Suzuki will have a service trailer at BPT events now or they still won't need one? 🤔

7. Alpha Angler's annual "mega sale" is on.

Order 2+ rods and get free shipping and 20% off when you combine these codes: BFCM23 and FreeZship. (I think those are right – check with the Alfalfas!)

8. FL has successfully bred/stocked shoalies.

9. NC: Common carp being removed from Mattamuskeet.

10. ON: $1.3 mil to decrease phosphorous in Simcoe.

11. FL: IGFA sold its HQ.

International Game Fish Assn = keeper of fishing records. Once again I will say: We need to "control" our own records, pretty sure I know how to do it – what up Bassin' Hall of Famousness peeps??

12. Tire substance is killing aquatic life?

CA commercial fishing organizations are suing tire companies.

Bradley Roy: Gotta fish faster now

Good reminder in case you get distracted by all that bait – from the MLF site:

> "Everyone knows bass really get keyed in on shad each fall – and they seem to be everywhere. With so many shad, it sometimes becomes hard to fool a bass with a lure when there's so much of the real thing swimming around.

> During the fall months, my trolling motor is maxed out. I'm moving down the bank at incredible speeds because I know I need to put the odds in my favor.

> "I often see other anglers slowly picking apart an area. At other times of the year, that can be a great idea, but right now...I want to get my bait in front of as many fish as possible to get a few of them to bite. It may take a little longer than in other seasons to trick one, so I prepare mentally for that and make as many casts as possible in a day."

Good stuff. One more deal:

> "In the fall, the shad are usually tiny everywhere you go. At the Team Series event in WV, they were about the size of my thumbnail."

Few ultra-small bait thinkin's from me:

1. Tail spinner – I'd tell you my fave but promised someone with the last name Howell I'd keep it quiet. It is somewhere on the bottom of this TW page tho! 😀

2. 2 1/4" 3/8-oz Yo-Zuri Rattl'n Vibe Lipless or 3" 1/4-oz Yo-Zuri 3DR-X Pencil walking bait

3. 1.75" or 2.5" Berkley PowerBait Switch

4. 2.25" Great Lakes Finesse Flat Cat on a 1/16- or 1/8-oz Great Lakes Finesse Stealth Jighead

"Do I still get to chase this dream or do I get to hang out with the people that I love and that I've been missing?"

- Elitist Matty Wong talkin', who lives halfway around the world on some island – I think it's Sri Lanka? 😆 Just messin'. Seriosuly – for me THAT is one reason why tour pros deserve the love, the $$ and the media coverage...and I ain't gonna change my mind mang! Little more from Matt E:

> "Life on the road is very lonely at times. A phone call can be (comforting), but it doesn't fill that void."

How 'bout not just pink but pink AND purple? @shiro_lurefishing_japan likes these colors in several different baits and catches 'em!