SOFT BAITS
LET ’ S BE HONEST about this : You ’ re probably going to catch more fish this year on soft plastics than anything else . Thankfully , manufacturers continue to develop shapes , scents , colors and sizes that compel you to try them ( and fish to bite them !). Here are the soft baits we ’ re betting on in 2022 .
Berkley PowerBait Agent E
Of course , I have to throw in the bait I helped design , because it ’ s a bait that bass have never seen before . Anytime you can show a bass a bait they ’ ve never seen before , your catch rate goes through the roof . This bait truly represents a goby , bluegill or crawdad . I feel like we made this bait absolutely perfect : From the fiber weed guard to the hook to the rattle to the hard nose – along with the Powerbait scent and the paint jobs – I just have a ton of confidence in this bait . $ 10.99 at TW / berkley-fishing . com — Edwin Evers , MLF pro
Strike King Midsize Rage Bug
The Rage Bug is arguably one of Strike King ’ s best plastic shapes , and with the Midsize we now have the Rage Bug in four sizes , from a 3- inch size up to the Magnum Rage bug in 4.5 inches . This new 3.38-inch Midsize is a more subtle size that ’ s great for smallmouth fishing . $ 5.99 at TW / strikeking . com — Kevin VanDam , MLF pro
13 Fishing Lunch Bug
Sometimes simple is best , and simple is what you get in the design of the 13 Fishing Lunch Bug . With a slender , cylindrical body ( making it exceptionally weedless for flipping and punching ) and two large appendages for moving water and imitating one of a bass ’ favorite lunch items , the Lunch Bug packs a big punch in a small , simple package . Available in 10 colors . $ 5.99 at TW / 13fishing . com — The Editors
Savage Gear Pulse Tail LB Swimbait
Available in 12 hyper-realistic colors , the 5 1 / 2- inch Savage Gear Pulse line-through bluegill swimbaits were designed from 3D imaging of real bluegills and use materials perfectly suited to match the movement of the real thing . The line-through design is perfect for keeping fish pinned given the weight of the bait ( 3 ounces for the slow-sinking model , 3 1 / 3 for the moderate ) and come in at an attractive $ 15.99 at TW . / savage-gear . com — The Editors
SPRO Bronzeye Popping Frog 40
We came out with the Popping Frog 70 in 2020 , but the Popping Frog 40 went in the other direction . This is is a great little bait for ponds , smaller rivers and streams – it ’ s a low profile ( frog ). It ’ s more of a spinning rod application : 15-pound braid where you can get some distance and good hook-up ratios . $ 8.39 at TW / tacklewarehouse . com / SPRO — Dean Rojas , MLF pro
Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm ( 4.25 inch )
A MaxScent version of the Flat Worm , one of the best soft plastic baits I ’ ve ever used to catch smallmouth and largemouth : I ’ m in . I made Heavy Hitters thanks to the 4.25-inch Flat Worm : it caught me a 5-pound , 5-ounce smallmouth on Lake St . Clair in the final event of 2021 . $ 6.99at TW / berkley-fishing . com — Bobby Lane , MLF pro
Googan Baits Dart
I was able to win a tournament on the Dart this year . It ’ s a soft-plastic jerkbait that comes in a variety of shad colors and it ’ s been awesome for my soft jerkbait needs as well as a ChatterBait trailer . It ’ s been a very versatile bait for me and the green pumpkin purple color , new for this year , has been a staple for me . $ 5.99 at TW / googansquad . com — Matt Becker , MLF pro
Z-man Hella CrawZ
I had a big hand in developing this bait with Z-Man and I believe it ’ s one of the best allaround soft plastics you can buy . It ’ s a great bait for pitching and flipping , but it also works wonders as a jig trailer . Whatever you want to do with a craw-style bait , this thing can do . $ 4.49 at TW / zmanfishing . com — Mark Daniels Jr ., MLF pro
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