NEW YEAR
NEW GEAR
strike king chick magnet jr .
When the Chick Magnet hit the scene in 2021 ( earning acclaim at ICAST for its impressive design ), it set the standard for mass-produced flat-sided crankbaits thanks to input from Andy Morgan and his decades of experience throwing ( and winning with ) flat-sided plugs in east Tennessee . This year , Morgan and Strike King upped the ante with a smaller version of that bait in the Chick Magnet Jr ., a flat-sided crank of similar dimensions but at nearly half the weight that swims a little shallower than its big sibling .
Flat-sided plugs shine in cold and stained water and on pressured fisheries , and in those situations , smaller is often better . That ’ s where the Chick Magnet Jr . comes in . And as is the case with the original Chick Magnet , the Jr . provides balsa performance in a more durable package that also casts better thanks to Strike King engineering and Morgan ’ s keen eye for detail .
$ 9.99 | strikeking . com
Color : blue rock craw
duo realis rozante perj 95f wakebait
Somewhere between a glide bait and a true wakebait , the Rozante Perj 95F from Duo Realis is an innovative and attractive option for targeting big bass in all kinds of scenarios , from probing shallowwater cover to calling up aggressive bass from the depths . It features proprietary ball bearing joints connecting the three sections to allow the bait to move in ways most bass haven ’ t seen before .
In addition to natural wobble and roll that make the Rozante Perj 95F a unique offering , it ’ s also equipped with three sticky sharp trebles to improve hookup ratio and comes in five brilliant colors from subtle ( ghost chartreuse ) to in-your-face flash ( Inakko ). And at $ 27.99 , it also finds the sweet spot in a large topwater / shallow subsurface category filled with high-price offerings .
$ 27.99 | duo-international . com spro mike mCclelland mCsTick 110 + 1
MLF standout Michael Neal has made a lot of money with the SPRO McStick 110 , thanks in big part to how well it pairs with forward-facing sonar . Now , there ’ s a deeper-diving version available that adds a significant amount of diving depth to the original 3-to-5-foot suspending jerkbait and adds a little versatility to the lineup .
The McStick 110 + 1 dives 9 to 12 feet depending on line size and gives anglers another great option for targeting suspended or bottom-dwelling bass in deeper water . It has a tight wiggle and nose-down posture on the pause , seven realistic finishes and enough flair to draw in even the wariest of bass . It also suspends well in ultra-cold water to give lethargic bass a little more time to make their move .
$ 14.93 | spro . com
Color : ghost magic purple
berkley money badger crankbait
The new Money Badger from Berkley is a jack of all trades in the crankbait arena . It ’ s made to share elements between baitfish and crawfish imitators , and while its action is akin to hard-thumping balsa plugs , it ’ s also equipped with Berkley ’ s tungsten weight transfer system and FlashDisc technology for ultimate casting distance , tuning , tracking and stability .
What ’ s more , the Money Badger lineup consists of five different size offerings ( 1 1 / 2 inches to 2 3 / 4 inches ) in weights from 1 / 5 ounce to 3 / 5 ounce and diving depths from 4 to 13 feet . Combine that with 22 color options and you have a lineup of terrific crankbaits with all the versatility you could possibly need .
$ 7.99 – 8.99 | berkley-fishing . com
Color : black gold
Color : inakko
daiwa yamamoto neko crawler
Color : brown purple laminate
yamamoto slinko
Color : watermelon moondust
A collaboration between Daiwa and Yamamoto , the new Neko Crawler worm is the most refined and highly specialized tool for catching big bass on a Neko rig . Everything about the Neko Crawler is designed for the task , from the flat front end ( to easily accept and hold on to nail weights ) to the bulbous tail end that dances around and moves water as you work the bait . A thin , ribbed body adds to the presentation and completes the look of a killer Neko worm that can replace the others in your arsenal .
The Neko Crawler , at 5 inches long , is in the Goldilocks zone of size for many other soft plastics applications , too . It ’ s available in 10 great colors and will only set you back about a dollar per bait ($ 8.99 for a pack of eight ).
$ 8.99 | daiwa . us
The folks at Yamamoto were genuinely excited to roll out the new 5.5-inch Slinko at ICAST 2022 – and seemingly for good reason . Any time you can take a bait as iconic and ubiquitous as the Senko , make some subtle and not-so-subtle changes and have a result as good as this , there ’ s a lot to be enthusiastic about .
The Slinko takes the Senko and adds the appearance of extra bulk , though the aggressive ribbing along the entire body of the bait doesn ’ t add a ton of actual mass – just the illusion of mass thanks to those ribs . As a result , the Slinko is super buoyant ( perfect for weighted applications like Neko rigs , Carolina rigs and shaky heads ) and allows for optimum hook penetration . It ’ s available in all the Yamamoto colors you love for $ 7.99 ( packs of seven ).
$ 7.99 | baits . com
62 MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | DECEMBER-JANUARY 2023