We kick off “Lure Lunacy” with the early results via the wonder of scheduling blog posts in advance. Yes, I am at work but through the magic of technology and a dose of imagination I am able to share a makeshift substitute for our missing madness.

Storey Region – Round One

Zara Spook (1) vs. Vibratron (16)

Matchup: A classic topwater with origins dating back to the 1940’s takes on a funky spinnerbait that I have no idea when I purchased or if it ever hit the water.

Result: Vast experience and some great catches easily push the Spook to victory over the largely unknown spinnerbait

Sidewinder Worm (8) vs. Rapala Fat Rap (9)

Matchup: An 80s flashback here with both of these baits being mainstays in my meager tackle collection back when I first decided that I would try to be a bass fisherman.

Result: A heated old school battle with the Sidewinder eking out a victory amid memories of learning how to fish a Texas rigged plastic worm.

Mann’s 4- (12) vs. Mepps – (5)

Matchup: An original lure from the 80s tacklebox competes with a precursor to the current batch of squarebilled crankbaits.

Result: Dad made sure I was well-versed in the effectiveness of a Mepps inline spinner and it stills has a spot in the tacklebox. The Mepps moves on to the next round while the 4- moves back into the garage.

Bomber Flat A (4) vs. Lizards (13)

Matchup: A favorite cold water crankbait battles a slow moving bait that has given way to more interesting creatures over the years.

Result: I’m more into cranking and reeling so the Flat A pulls out an easy victory over the flipping and bed fishing presentations often used with lizards.

Chatterbait (6) vs. Rattlin’ Rogue (11)

Matchup: A versatile moving bait in the chatterbait matches up with the slow twitch and suspend profile of the jerkbait.

Result: I know folks swear by the chatterbait and I’ve seen their results but I just haven’t got it to work for me. I’m not a slowdown guy either but we have an upset in this case as the Rogue also sets up well for a more frantic retrieve at times.

Blue Glimmer (3) vs. Dardevle Spoon (14)

Matchup: The Blue Glimmer is no longer in production so I have guarded my last intact model to the point of not taking it out of the package. Some nostalgia on the spoon though as I discovered a couple in a tacklebox of my grandpa’s when he passed away in the 80s and they would fool more than a few farm pond bass along the way.

Result: Despite the longevity of the Dardevle Spoon, it is no match for the good, old Blue Glimmer spinnerbait.

Rat (7) vs. Mann’s 20+ (10)

Matchup: Another pair of 80s baits in a classic battle on completely opposite ends of the spectrum in the water column. Rat explosions on the surface mat are a blast while the pole bending retrieve of the original deep diver made it feel like you already had a fish as the Mann’s 20+ dredged formerly uncharted crankbait territory.

Result: The Mann’s 20+ was a revolution and takes the victory by going where a crankbait had never gone before.

Booyah Spinnerbait (2) vs. Ghost Minnow (15)

Matchup: The Booyah Blade represents my go to spinnerbait over the last decade or so while the Rebel Ghost Minnow was a flash in the pan. The Ghost Minnow just tore up the strip mine bass for me and Dad in 2003 but then completely fell off the radar after its “One Shining Moment.”

Result: Booyah in a runaway victory after the Ghost Minnow darted out to an early lead.

One region in the books courtesy of a couple clicks to launch the previously compiled results during lunch hour. Back to work shortly as lunch hour fades. Tune in later tonight as the Emiquon Region results head your way for a nightcap. Talk to you later. Troy