SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
A CLOSER LOOK AT A FEATURED PRODUCT FROM ONE OF TBF ’ S VALUED SPONSORS
LONGTIME TBF SUPPORTER BERKLEY DRIVES SOFT BAIT EVOLUTION
It ’ s a safe bet that , coast to coast and all season long , The Bass Federation members catch more bass on soft artificial baits than all other lure types combined . And it ’ s for a good reason : That deadly combination of lifelike feel , profile and action triggers solid strikes , even when a fisherman can ’ t buy a bite on other baits . An enticing cocktail of bass-busting scents and flavors make some soft baits even more effective .
Longtime TBF sponsor Berkley has been building basscatching baits with those traits for years . The company ’ s softbait roots date back to 1985 , when it hired the now-legendary fish research scientist Dr . Keith Jones . With the aid of equally talented chemist John Prochnow , who joined Berkley in 1986 , Jones quickly improved the company ’ s existing family of Strike fish attractants while secretly developing an extremely effective new bait .
That new concoction was Berkley PowerBait , which featured a pliable , soft body laced with natural attractants . The blend caused fish to hang on to the bait up to 18 times longer once they bit – giving anglers more time to set the hook . PowerBait hit the market in 1988 with the release of Trout PowerBait , which was an instant success story . Jones and Prochnow were far from finished , however . They pressed forward in their laboratories in Spirit Lake , Iowa , tirelessly researching what trips bass ’ triggers .
In 1989 , they released the PowerBait Power Worm and Power Grub , a pair of PVC-based baits infused with natural attractants .
PowerBait gained widespread favor among millions of anglers . That initial success in turn fueled the development of a long line of PowerBait products that continues today .
Traditional PowerBait excels with active presentations aimed at fish that are using their vision and lateral line to track down prey . If PowerBait wasn ’ t enough , Jones and Prochnow eventually created Gulp ! to add offerings that could attract fish to the angler ’ s bait by smell and taste .
Brought to market in 2003 after years of research and testing , the water-based bait releases water-soluble scents , making it ideal for slow-moving and stationary presentations . Once Gulp ! reached store shelves , savvy bass anglers quickly adopted it for fishing smallmouths on drop-shot rigs .
Berkley expanded anglers ’ options by adding Gulp ! Alive ! to the family shortly thereafter . Gulp ! and Gulp ! Alive ! are similar products , except Gulp ! Alive ! is packed in natural juices that constantly recharge its power of attraction .
In 2011 , Berkley added yet another soft-bait alternative with the introduction of its Havoc series . Led by initial offerings including the Devil Spear , Craw Fatty , The Deuce and Pit Boss , the family quickly expanded to an array of exciting shapes and actions .
“ Havoc is geared toward our pro-staff ’ s passion for detail in terms of shape , action and colors ,” says Jones , noting that Havoc is poured from a more palatable plastic than others on the market . As a result , Havoc fills the bill for running and gunning with aggressive , fast-moving techniques .
Berkley announced its latest innovation , PowerBait MaxScent , at ICAST last July . This new family of baits combines the best properties of PowerBait and Gulp ! in one highly effective package .
In a nutshell , MaxScent baits are durable and long-lasting , but the soft material also releases a scent field into the surrounding water . As a result , they attract bass from a distance , and they ’ re sure to have an impact on TBF events this season .
MaxScent options include the General , a 5-inch stickworm that wobbles seductively on the fall ; the Kingtail , a thick , 8-inch , curly tailed worm sporting reversed ribs for greater scent dispersion ; the Lunch Worm , a meaty , 6-inch , curly tailed ribworm great for fishing in grass and when Texas-rigging cover ; the Meaty Chunk , a 3-inch jig trailer with long , flappy pincers and added material for extra strength ; the Flatnose Minnow , a thin , 4-inch bait that dances like a live minnow when paired with a drop-shot rig ; the D-Worm , a 5 1 / 2-inch worm blessed with a lively bulbous tail that ’ s perfect for drop-shotting and shakyhead applications ; the Creature Hawg , a 4-inch creature-style bait ; and the Hit Worm , a thin , 4 1 / 2-inch finesse worm that excels in a variety of rigging options .
Collectively , Berkley ’ s PowerBait , Gulp ! and PowerBait MaxScent families allow TBF members everywhere to choose bass-catching soft baits that fit their styles of fishing and favorite presentations , and match the conditions virtually anytime they hit the water .
Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Nose Minnow
february-march 2018 I flWfIshIng . com
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