Looking more in-depth , we ’ re seeing an evolution of mid-range lures – something the crankbait market has needed . Prior to this , most effective crankbaits were specialty models . We had the deep- and ultra-deep divers , and very advanced shallow squarebill models , but not a lot of options in between .
We ’ re now seeing more attention and development given to baits running in the 4- to 8- foot depth ranges . DeFoe ’ s notoriety – and the investment by brands like Rapala , Spro , 13 Fishing and more – have opened up the mid-depth market and put baits in our hands that cast better and run true at various speeds . Look for this trend to continue , proven by the world of high-speed tournament angling .
the chatter about bladed jigs
Bladed jigs placed nearly as high in the win column , continuing to perform well on tour , as they have for the past several seasons . Much like crankbaits , the ChatterBait and its counterparts perform under a wide variety of water types and catch all forms of bass .
Originally dubbed a “ grass bait ,” bladed jigs are now a go-to pick for anglers plying brush piles and flooded trees . The lures skip exceptionally well , making them the perfect choice for boat docks , and ingenious anglers are using heavier weights to probe deep ledges and offshore structure . A quick peek at the Z-Man website lists 17 different ChatterBait models now available . Truly , this lure is a household name in bass fishing and also now qualifies as a category bait .
We ’ re also seeing a lot of lure mods , and that ’ s sure to continue . Weights and blade sizes were first to change , now accompanied by blade shape and material changes . I look for this to continue , as manufacturers get a better understanding of what makes a bladed jig so good . We may see some major revisions of body style , as well , allowing us to crank a bunch of products cleanly through cover .
In the long run , I think there will be a bladed lure built for all levels of the water column .
Z-Man / Evergreen ChatterBait
Jack Hammers
PHOTO COURTESY Z-MAN FISHING PRODUCTS
Googan Baits Rattlin ’ Neds
Big Bite Baits Smallie Smashers
plastic is still a player
Drop-shot plastics still can ’ t be beat for Northern smallmouth . It was no surprise when all three final tournament locations – the St . Lawrence , Champlain and Lake St . Clair – featured drop-shot anglers in the winner ’ s circle . Other finesse rigs are filling in , too . Neko rigs have proven to be the real deal , and Jacob Wheeler pulled out a Tokyo rig to catch bedding smallmouth on the St . Lawrence .
Such presents a way to use heavier tackle , a nice option given today ’ s oversized bronzebacks . I see this trend continuing most . Personally , while spending hundreds of days on Lake St . Clair a decade ago , I found ways to convince mega smallies to eat lures fished on big line and oversized casting gear . It made for a far more effective fight .
The Bass Pro Tour ’ s top performers list also includes a worm rig that had been waning in popularity : the wacky worm . I remember a time when this rig caught just about as many tournament bass as any other soft plastic method , especially in the spring . But touring pros stepped away from wacky worm fishing , most likely with the advent of the stick worm . Today , we ’ re seeing a renaissance of sort in the weightless worm rig .
Now , just like years ago , the thing gets bit . A wacky worm has proven to be a great way for BPT anglers to milk a spot for a few more scoreables , and hooked fish rarely come off and can be easily landed by hand .
Other types of plastic worms played a heavy role this year , for sure . The old-school Texas rig was credited twice , as were Ned rigs . It ’ s funny how popular bass fishing lures seem to always live at both ends of the spectrum in terms of complexity . One minute , we ’ re drooling over the most realistic , hand-painted baits that exactly mimic baitfish ; the next , we ’ re dragging around plastic that looks like leftover scraps from the Worm Bin .
DECEMBER-JANUARY 2022 | MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM 25