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Here's a weird deal that happened to me and, strangely, a good bud: We teared up when we saw the Top Gun Maverick movie (we didn't see it together lol). Made me realize I'd been balled up inside – from the last 3 years I got in a place where I was expecting the worst. Not in bassin' but life stuff (nothing terrible). My bud said he's been "one foot in front of the other, persisting and enduring."
I realized pretty fast that "tightness" has been causing a subtraction of faith for me. Faith and fear can't co-exist because it's one or the other, and if I don't have real faith and hope, that's not good. If you look at the New Testament Greek, faith means "belief, trust, confidence" and hope is actually sorta active: "expectation of what is sure."
So if you're in the same boat, I feel you. But we should have an active, confident expectation of what is sure. Awesome.
On an entirely different note: My wife is a tennis player and fan. She told me that the recent Wimbledon winner's dad was caught filming his son's opponent's practice. No DQ (I don't know the rules) and apparently zero mention of it during the championship match – which combined to me smells like covering up a controversy/rule violation, aka the ATA taking the easy but wrong path. Maybe not but you get my drift.
More baits 'n gear including pro-designed stuff, plus more News, etc in TOMORROW's (probably) BB = ICAST part 2!
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If your email program cuts off the bottom of the email click "View this email in your browser" up top to see the whole thing. Sorry bout that – email programs keep changing stuff.
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Again the disclaimers:
- Just talkin' brand new for ICAST stuff.
- I didn't and couldn't see everything myself.
- LA bass-head Jason Pittman and his bud Darrick Neale were more BB eyes and ears (thank you guys!) but between us we also didn't see everything.
- None of these products are proven yet by us regular ol' fishermen.
- Some companies you know did not exhibit at ICAST so any new stuff they just came out with won't be in this ICAST coverage. Also some folks at ICAST did not have brand new stuff, meaning not just new colors or whatever.
- This is just one guy's 2c. Not saying they are "the best" or whatever, just what stood out to me.
1. 4" Rapala CrushCity Bronco Bug
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After Jacob Wheeler and the Rapala peeps took 2 years to design and test 5 soft-plastic baits (all we know about anyhow), I'm pretty dang sure these baits are good. For me, the Bronco Bug is the most interesting because Jacob said so and:
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Word is the key to getting that claw kick is a 3/8-oz weight....use a 3/0 or 4/0 hook. Now look at the little legs on the side when it drops:
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Anything that says "Senko" is a #dangwinner until proven otherwise so for me this is a no-brainer:
> ...same length but boasts a 20% larger diameter, which provides a faster fall rate, better casting distance, improved reading on sonar, and better visibility to the fish....
And the regular 4" and 5" Senkos will soon be available in "morning dawn"....👀
3. Z-Man ChatterBait Elite EVO
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It's replacing the current ChatterBait Elite and here's the main deal: It hunts. Z-Man says it hunts more than any other ChatterBait. 👀 Z-Man product development dude Jose Chavez:
> "We chiseled the head to move with a knuckleball effect, promoting an easy hunting action. It has a blunt nose with streamlined top and side sculpting, so when the lure tries to hunt, it can do so freely and erratically."
Also:
> Hybrid molded split grip and wire keepers hold all types of trailers securely.
> Highly detailed pro-designed head paint schemes and skirt color patterns, oversized lifelike 3D eyes.
> Wire-tied 100% silicone skirting for increased longevity.
> Stainless-steel blades offered in plated, painted and glitter coated finishes.
3/8- and 1/2-oz and 12 colors. Here's a longer YT vid of ChatterBait "Stephen" Browning fishing it.
4. Rapala PXR Mavrik 110 Jerkbait
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The launch of this bait kinda got steamrolled by the CrushCity launch, but remember that Jacob Wheeler, Patrick Walters and others have had good finishes with this bait this year – they just couldn't say exactly what it was. Believe it's supposed to be the best jerkbait Rapala has ever built. Couple quick deals on it:
- Weight transfer system
- Hard cutting action
- Suspends in a head down position
- Molded external scales, gill plates and large 3D eyes.
- VMC RedLine Trebles
No deep version yet. Otter DeFoe:
> "This is the best suspending jerkbait that I've ever fished."
A big statement even tho Ott only fishes crankbaits...😁 Here's a 5.5-minute YT vid on the bait with Ott, Wheeler and some more pros.
5. Lunkerhunt Compact Popping Frog
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Lunkerhunt has had some diehard bass and tournament guys involved in bait design for a couple years now so some serious bassin' stuff is starting to come out. This is one of 'em.
Fished this at the ICAST pond, and after backlashing on the first 2 casts (lol) the thing that blew me away about this frog was that sometimes when it pops forward, it then backs up – or pops backward, or maybe pops and jumps back to where you popped it from, if you get what I mean. It also sits a little flatter than most frogs.
Elitist Matt Arey said it's also a little bigger than the Lunkerhunt Compact Frog, which he really likes – here they are side by side:
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Designed by Wild Bill Siemantel, the big deal with this bait is that it has 2 blades instead of one. That means several things, including:
- You can reel it slower and still keep it up top (I reeled it slow and it was on top and loud)
- It tracks true
- 6 metal-to-metal contacts so it will squeak more
- You can bend 1 blade to make more noise or splash, and because the whole deal is articulated and you have another blade it keeps tracking straight
Also has a shorter profile and comes with a FishLab Nature Series Frog.
7. VMC Swingin Ned Rig Jig
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Stoked to fish a shallow-spool reel finally – meaning I like REVOs and I know they like me back. 😁 Yep that shallow spool means it's a skip/pitch/flip so it has an 8.1:1 retrieve, and so many high-tech features the Justice League adopted it as their official reel:
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Heard Batman specified the colors...🦇
10. St Croix MojoBass Glass Rod
This rod is NOT new but I have to mention it. Can't remember the last time I had a St Croix rod in my hands and not sure why I picked the glass one to make some casts in the pond – because I mostly don't like glass rods. What I mean is, most of 'em deaden the bait's feel too much for me. Having said that, most pros like glass/hybrid rods so....
That disclaimer outta the way, that rod was the most sensitive and best glass rod I've ever had in my hands. I still can't believe it's glass, but St Croix's rod man Ryan Teach swore it is. (Can anyone give Ryan a character reference? lol)
I was reeling a bladed jig and it was hitting about as hard as if I was fishing a regular rod. Which I like, and so did Aaron Martens if that means anything to ya! It also put the bait exactly where I wanted it to – not to the left or to the right (Isaiah 30:21 and Proverbs 4:27 👊).
What made this even crazier to me is the rod I was fishing was a 7' 2" HEAVY Mod. Heavy??
Word is some other St Croix glass rod is even better. If so, lookin' forward to casting that one!
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More baits that stood out to me at ICAST
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Seen some whining online that this or that bait is a copy of another – c'mon man. Yep that's the ol' negative interwebz, but will say the the obvious facts that it doesn't take years of design and testing just to make a copy, that almost all baits are tweaks of prior baits, that Japanese baits are based on US baits (duh – bass fishing started here), and if a guy is so principled about this stuff he better only be fishing with Creme worms, Rogues and Big O cranks...and only be driving Fords (a Model T) and eating White Castle burgers (the OG).
FINESSE
1. Berkley PowerBait Power Switch
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Been assured multiple times that this is the real deal for forward-facing sonar peeps (but not only). Berkley must believe it because they're launching it in 6 sizes, from 1.75" to 5".
Word is it can be fished multiple ways – I'm waiting on a boat ride to see it with my own eyes. Notice the carefully engineered horizontal hang and some other stuff about the head....
2. 3" Yamamoto Scope Shad on a Buckeye Scope Head
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Lookit that deal! Only deal is: The Scope Head was designed by Jacob Powroznik = sketchy. 😁
3. Buckeye Spot Remover Ned Head
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Mark Daniels Jr designed it, uses the Buckeye Spot Remover Jig head in Ned form, looked real good in person. 6 sizes and 2 colors, not on TW yet....
NON-FINESSE
1. Berkley PowerBait Nessie Glide Bait
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First of all, Mike Iaconelli helped design this bait – which honestly is a minus but I wanted to get that outta the way...HAHAHA Ike! Okay, just messin'. The deal with this bait appears to be to me 2 things:
1. It's a SOFT big swimbait, made outta PowerBait.
2. You can fish it shallow and sloooooow if you want to (slow sinking bait).
> ...3 different sizes – 5", 7" and 9" – the PowerBait Nessie presents a big profile bait, with PowerBait infused taste, which is able to be retrieved at various speeds and cadences due to the stabilizing fins that keep the bait running consistent at all times. ...unlocks an entirely new and unique use of a glide bait
> "...provides avid anglers and big-bait fishermen with yet another tool to present to fish that never have seen such a presence under docks, overhanging trees and more."
MSRP = $7.99, $9.99 and $12.99.
2. 1/2-oz War Eagle Jiu Jigsu Jig
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You might recall that Jason Christie blew this jig up when he used it to win the 2022 Classic. Well that was a 5/8, the only size it came in. Now it's available in 1/2-oz, which Jason himself requested:
> ...wanted a slightly smaller size for flipping and pitching extra shallow cover and getting his jig in the ideal spot with the least possible commotion.
Same modified Arkie-style head with a recessed line tie, Hole-In-One Skirt, weedguard, keeper and 12 colors. This one has a 4/0 Owner Zo-Wire Hook
War Eagle also released a new Pro Football Jig in 1/2 and 3/4.
3. 7" Nichols Bass Mafia Big Larry Spoon
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Designed by Chris Zaldain, who is building an arsenal for when that tournament hits where big baits will fool the bigs and he will land 'em. This is the lastest deal.
You might recall he loves that impossible to find 2.5-oz Daiwa Steez Spoon he fished to finish 5th at Gville in 2021. Well sounds like he went out and got him a newer, better version of that. Coupe things he said to me at ICAST:
- This one has a deeper cup that gives it more of a twirl instead of a flutter
- Gizzard shad profile
Said he fishes it on a 7' 9" H 13 Fishing Muse Rod and 13 Fishing Concept A2 Reel:
> "I started using braid to fluoro – a braid mainline to a swivel, to a 30-lb fluoro leader...with a deep cranking rod or swimbait rod, and I'm not losing as many as I used to."
He uses 50-lb Seaguar Smackdown Flash Green Braid to Seaguar Gold Label fluoro.
4. Berkley Powerbait Paddlin' PowerStinger
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Finally a version of their Jigging Rap "ice jig" made for bass fishermen – Elitist Cody Huff helped 'em with it:
> "This thing falls like a missile and is a fish-catching machine. That erratic action – the bass can't handle it. It gets them really excited. They think something is running away from them."
- Falls fast and straighter (tighter circle) than the original
- No nose hook
- Weighs 1 1/8 oz
- For forward-facing sonar in particular
2. FishLab Nature Series Topwater Frog
Soft-plastic with a swimbait tail that is upside down, which causes it to plop across the surface like a subtle Plopper. Kinda Speed Worm-ish too? Bill Siemantel likes to use a 4/0 Owner Beast Hook in it.
Short YT vid with Bill explaining it here.
3. Strike King Gravel Dawg 8 and 10 crank
> Delivering a wide wobble action in a bite-sized 1.5 profile....
> KVD: "I have been fishing prototype versions of the Gravel Dawg for over a year and I knew right away that it was going to be special. It runs true through all types of cover – rock, brush, grass."
At this point anyone who doubts a KVD co-designed crankbait needs to have their oil checked. Same for the new KVD Elite 200 and 300 Deep Jerkbaits.
4. Teckel USA Sharker Frog
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Teckel didn't have a booth at ICAST but owner/bait designer Hideki Maeda was there and had this frog. Very cool. Has a weight on the bottom so it sits right all the time. YT vid showing the action here.
PSA that the Teckel USA Honker Frog is now available in matte black.
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1. We lost David Barnes Sr.
He fished a bunch of B.A.S.S. events in the late '70s to early 2000s and some FLW stuff as well. He was the first inductee in the Maine B.A.S.S. Nation Hall of Fame and wrote a book titled "Maine Bassin'."
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My fave lines from his obit:
> ...David was also a true Patriot, Christian and family man. His love for God, his family and country were unmatched. It's hard to condense such a special life in a short obituary but one undoubtable thing is that David went home to be with his Lord and Savior, and he would want every one of his loved ones to abide in Christ also.
Amen to that. Bless you bassin' brother. Please pray for his family and friends. ✝️🙏
2. Alton Jones has a new boat and is getting back after it.
> ...awaiting him in MI will be a brand new Ranger...with Garmin electronics, Power-Poles and Pro-Guide Lithium batteries. That boat will come from the inventory of D&R Sports Center in Kalamazoo, MI...owned in part by Randy VanDam, the brother of Kevin VanDam and father of fellow BPT pro Jonathon VanDam.
> Virtually all of his plastic tackle trays and storage bins shattered due to the force of the collision, and when his truck rolled onto its side "thousands and thousands" of lures spilled across into a roadside field. He wasn't able to recover many of them.
> "I can just picture it – in 500 years there's going to be somebody out there with a metal detector just finding these lures. 'There used to be a lake here.'"
Lol, let's go now! Glad everyone seems to be doing okay.
3. Ott DeFoe's new crank: Rapala Deep Tiny 07
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The 4th Ott-designed bait for Rapala, this'n is 2.25" long, 5/16-oz, gets to 7' and has Ott's fave all-time hooks: #5 VMC black nickel 1X hybrid trebles (short shank). Circuit board bill, tight wobble.
Ever notice all Ott's baits run shallow? Dude has done pretty well for himself shallow....
4. New version of Alton Jr's Geecrack Bellows Shad coming.
Gonna be made outta of one of those unbreakable plastics:
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I was like, "Hey Alton I see some Bugpee on your shoulder man..." 🤣 And found out it's pronounced: JEE-KRAK!
5. New 1/4-oz size Bryan Schmitt Lil' Schmitty swim jig.
A true compact swim jig from Hayabusa. Comes in several fishing catching colors. Wonder if other pros will beat Bryan on this smaller-sized jig too? 😁
6. Gerald Swindle's new G-Buzz Buckeye buzzbait.
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The same buzzbait Gerald figured out and built for himself:
> "Every little thing matters when it comes to a buzzbait. The G-Buzz is something that I've patched together over the years through a bunch of trial and error."
> Featuring a unique bend to the wire frame that Swindle has dialed in over the years to maximize hookups.... "The finest details of this thing, down to the blade and rivet, are tuned to my specifications. It's proven."
Comes in 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 and 5 colors including pink, carp and ayu – just messin' about those colors but Buckeye did come out with a pink buzzer!
7. New KastKing Skeet Reese Icon reels
Only the baitcasters are out now but spinners are coming. Guess how you can tell they're Skeet's reels:
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8. New Brett Hite Evergreen rods.
Combat Sticks ($230) and Super Combat Sticks ($450). Also spinning. I was like, "B-Hite, no Mortal Kombat Sticks??" 😂
9. New 3.75" Perfection Lures David Dudley Flippin Bait.
Hahaha love the name! Innerestin' shape:
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10. JVD says Saginaw Bay has tons of LARGEMOUTH...
...and looks like Okeechobee??
> "It's nothing to go out and get 75 to 100 bites a day largemouth fishing...flipping, punching with a 65-lb braid and big weights, and frogging. If the BPT was still the catch-all-you-can format, largemouth would dominate and you'd see some really big numbers. Possibly record-breaking numbers."
I might brave the horrendous airline situation to be at that deal – to see the greatest of all time fish his last regular-season event. But not sure if I can go up there and not fish???
11. Bobby Lane says the new Berkley frowg is so soft that...
> When anybody buys a frog, they want to know how soft it is. We put a hole in the package so you can actually touch the bait and find out. We wanted to make the baits super soft for better hooksets but not so weak they could tear.
Talkin' the new Berkley Swamp Lord frogs – regular and poppin'.
12. Brandon Palaniuk's jerkbait/glide bait rotation.
Good post on the Bassin'Fan, worth a read:
> When bass feed on smaller baitfish, the Megabass 110 Max LBO jerkbait is larger than a Vision 110 but doesn't dive as deep as the Kanata or provide as much flash. He will rotate between the two until he finds which best compliments his glide bait approach.
13. TX/LA: 57.03 won a 2-dayer on Toledo Bend.
The Show Team Series, 2nd was 54.22, both 1st and 2nd teams weighed 30+ on day 2. 🤯 Didn't see a good pic of the winning limit....
14. DC: Congress is trying to ban federal lead tackle/ammo bans.
On Fed lands. Let's see what happens.
Headline of the Day
Left Wing Group PETA is Using Artificial Intelligence ChatGPT to Rewrite The Bible – Aims to Eliminate Animal Cruelty and Veganism to Younger Generations
Just in case you still don't believe that the agenda of these crazy groups is way beyond what they say it is....
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Brent Chapman serves up shallow M&Ms in the summer
From the MLF site:
> His baits are more "snack-sized" than full-meal platters, and he serves them up right in the fish's face so they can't not bite.
> "Stick with small jigs or compact creature baits. The flipping tube is a favorite of mine. It's fallen off the radar, but day in and day out it's a phenomenal lure. And put it on top of their head – whether it's docks, laydowns or matted vegetation, just drop it right on them.
> "Think of your lures like you would a bowl of M&Ms someone puts out. Even when you're (not hungry) you'll still grab that snack. Bass are the same way. Drop that little snack on them and they won't pass it up."
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"This is an all day thing. You get up super early, you're out on the water super early, in the conditions no matter what it is, whether it is pouring or it's 100 degrees out, you are out there for however long it may be."
- Heck yeah mang! 💪 That's IA HS tourney angler Evan P talkin'. Think about someone Rick Clunn's age doing that plus traveling all over the country. Amazing.
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Mail temporary halted in Travis Heights, TX neighborhood due to intrusive hawk presence
Assuming that's not Roy Hawk 😁 here's my suggestion: When you go outside take a tennis racket.
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Jay Kumar's BassBlaster is a daily-ish roundup of the best (sometimes worst) and funniest stuff in bassin', hand-picked by me – Jay Kumar. I started BassFan.com, co-hosted Loudmouth Bass with Zona, was a B.A.S.S. senior writer and a bunch more in bassin'. The Blaster is the #2 daily read on any given day in the wide world o' bass so thanks for readin'!
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