Category: Lures

2021 Fishing Recap – Lures Part II

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Part II of the lure recap moves on to the most productive choices from 2021.

Creatures
Berkley Havoc Pit Boss, Yum Crawdad (green pumpkin) – 8 bass
Top Bass: 18” 2-14 September 27 Lake Storey
Comments: Unless the bass force me to slow down, I don’t. Thus, there are not a whole lot of catches on these slower moving, structure bumping, tight cover lures. The eight catches on these lures came during early fall on either Lake Storey (4 bass) or a pair of Snakeden lakes (4 bass). Each of the bass were caught while jigging the Texas rigged lure through shoreline wood cover. I enjoy catching fish in this fashion but relied more on faster moving baits for nearly all my 2021 bass.

Chatterbaits
Z Man Chatterbait (bluegill or white with various Zako trailers) – 17 bass
Top Bass: 16” 1-12 October 10 Snakeden Hollow
Comments: After a high-water mark of 43 bass on chatterbaits in 2020, the totals dipped again in 2021. The decrease was largely because I rarely threw the lure. In fact, 16 of these 17 catches came during an October 10 hike to a Snakeden lake where the bass just eat this thing up (unfortunately, only one was decent size). The chatterbait has never really took hold in my arsenal although I am aware that other anglers swear by the lure. There were several days in 2021 that I had one tied on to start the day and it never even got wet as other presentations got the job done.

Spinnerbaits
War Eagle WEG02RKTW38 (white/chartreuse) – 31 bass
Top Bass: 17” 2-7 May 4 Knox County, IL private strip mine
Comments: I am about as old school and stubborn as they come in my lure selection and my lone spinnerbait choice bears this out. The fact that I regularly use a spinnerbait is also a bit of a throwback as the lure isn’t as popular as it was when I dove into this bass fishing thing back in the 1980s. However, my spinnerbait arsenal has changed considerably with a new batch of hand-crafted spinnerbaits just received from an old friend and baseball teammate. Stay tuned.

Lipless Crankbaits
Strike King Red Eye Shad (sexy shad or orange craw) and Xcalibur Real Series XR50 (chicken pox) – 45 bass
Top Bass: 20” 4-3 June 19 Snakeden Hollow
Comments: It doesn’t get much faster than a basic lipless crank retrieve and that’s just my speed when I can get away with it. And while you may need to tone it down a bit in colder water, these lures get the job done throughout the entire open water calendar. The 45 bass represent a fifty-percent decline from the 89 bass caught on the lure type in 2020. Much of this has to do with my time spent on the Hennepin Canal as most of the areas that I fish on the corridor do not set up well for such a presentation. In contrast, several strip mines and Lake Storey contain some prime lipless crankbait structure in the form of flats, points, and ledges.

Plastic Worms
Senko wacky rig (various colors) – 82 bass
Top Bass: 20” 3-6 July 21 Hennepin Canal
Comments: Plastic worm exclusively means the wacky rigged 5” Yamasenko (Senko for short) in my arsenal. After a down year of 39 bass in 2020, the Senko wacky rig bounced back by more than doubling the catches of the previous year. What more can I say than it is a winner, catching bass everywhere that I fished from May Day to Halloween. In addition, my new stomping grounds along the Hennepin Canal set up well for this presentation and the Senko got the job done. It currently holds the spot for Top Canal Bass and landed a pair of three-pounders on my prowls.

Crankbaits
Various (see above picture) – 104 bass
Top Bass: 18” 3-1 April 2 Knox County Strip Mines
Comments: A variety of crankbaits pushed this category into triple digits and made it the top producing lure type for the second straight year (100 bass in 2020). From shallow (Mann’s Baby 1-) to mid-depth (Shad Rap, Bomber Flat A and Strike King Squarebill) to deep (Strike King Pro Model), this collection of crankbaits found a lot of fish. These lures are in my wheelhouse as they allow me to fish at a fairly rapid pace, cover lots of water and bang into as much stuff as I can on the way back to the boat. And from the results, it is apparent that these tools work well when employed in the right spots at the right time with the right presentation, that’s fishing.

And with that, we wrap up the recap of the usual set of tools that were used to fool the bass in 2021. On the water, the focus is on finding the right tool at the right time, so I always enjoy the year-end analysis to see how it all shook out in terms of totals. I was pleased with the results and execution even though I did not step to far out of my comfort zone in terms of lure selection. However, in the next chapter of the 2021 recaps, I did take a stab at uncharted waters and was pleasantly surprised. Read all about it as coming up next, we explore “Locations.” Talk to you later. Troy

2021 Fishing Recap – Lures Part I

Posted on by Troy Jackson

As the 2021 recap continues, we look at every single lure or bait that fooled my bass. Staring from the fewest catches and working our way up to the top producers we look at the numbers and notes from last year. Scroll on for the first of a pair of lure posts.

Jigs
Googan Gridiron Jig (PB&J) w/ craw trailer – 1 bass
Top Bass: 13.5” 1-1 March 20 Snakeden Hollow
Comments: Landing a lone bass on a jig was a strange find upon reviewing my 2021 results as this cold-water winner posted 33 bass in 2020. The lone catch of 2021 was my third bass of the year and was logged on my first outing. I did employ it again to end the year on my November outing, but it failed to produce another bite. Overall, an odd year for this lure as I typically lean on it to get an early and late bass bite.

Livebait
Waxworm on a 1/64 oz jighead hung from a slip bobber – 1 bass
Top Bass: none at 12” or better
Comments: Not much to say about this incidental catch while out with my boys prowling the strip pits in search of whatever would bite a waxworm. Which is just about anything if you use them enough.

Propbaits
Whopper Plopper (I Know It) – 3 bass
Top Bass: 13” 1-0 July 18 Hennepin Canal
Comments: Like the Rebel Pop R (see below), this lure causes a commotion and can hover in the bass’ face if needed. The Whopper Plopper’s lone day of glory came on The Canal when catching a trio of bass on a July evening. In my prowling of the internet, I have seen a fellow angler who has much success with this bait at a different location on The Canal, but I have not given it much use beyond that July evening. Part of the reason would be old habits and part of the reason is that several of my spots on The Canal make presentation difficult due to casting from an elevated platform.

Stickbaits
Zara Spook (black shore minnow or natural frog) – 3 bass
Top Bass: 15.5” 1-11 May 1 Knox County, IL public strip pit
Comments: Me and my Zara Spook were tight back in the 80s and 90s but these days it doesn’t get wet very often. I employed it in three specific situations this year and found a trio of takers. The most rewarding of the bunch was the Top Bass on the lure. I had spotted it cruising sub-surface vegetation and needed a lure that would hopefully irritate it and trigger a reaction strike. It took a couple retrieves and one missed strike, but the plan worked as the classic lure did its job.

Poppers
Rebel Pro Pop R Zell Rowland Model (two colors) – 4 bass
Top Bass: 17.5” 3-1 September 25 Hennepin Canal
Comments: I ran into a spot on The Canal where aquatic vegetation hindered many presentations and the bass were not responding to my regular topwater offerings (buzzbaits, stickbaits, frogs). I felt that what I needed was a lure that would make a racket yet stay in their face for as long as I wished to pause. My choice was the old Pop R that is pushing antique status, having resided in my tackle for close to 30 years. The lure and one of its top proponents, tournament angler Zell Rowland, make for an interesting tale but that is for another time. For 2021, the bait was the right tool in a pair of specific situations and came through as intended. Nearly six pounds of bass (3-1 and 2-11) on the first two casts on a fall sunrise canal prowl makes a guy feel like he knows what he is doing after all these years.

Buzzbaits
Booyah Buzz (white or black) – 6 bass
Top Bass: 20.5” 4-4 October 10 Snakeden Hollow
Comments: 2021 saw the lowest total buzzbait catches since 2012 when there was not a single buzzbait bass posted. From 2012 through 2020, I fooled a total of 363 bass on a buzzbait with 2015 being the lowest total (18 bass) and 2017 being the highest total (138 bass). Now, I dig throwing buzzbaits and I have been known to try and force feed these baits to the bass. However, a fundamental tenet of fishing is that the fish will tell you what they want. In the case of 2021, the bass often told me that they weren’t interested in a buzzbait, and in this rare instance, I listened.

Swimbaits
Bass Pro Shops 3” Speed Shad (smallmouth magic) – 8 bass
Top Bass: 16” 1-13 May 23 Knox County public strip pit
Comments: Being a creature of habit, I’ve never really gotten into the swimbait swing of things. But a couple trips with a tough bite can get the wheels turning and even convince me to try something different. While shifting gears did not produce anything brag worthy, it was cool to get rewarded with a few bites when my normal offerings were getting snubbed. The presentation featured a 3/8-ounce belly weighted hook and a moderate retrieve to keep the bait moving over a collection of subsurface vegetation.

Part I in the books and Part II headed your way later this week. Talk to you later. Troy

2020 Fishing Recap – Lures

Posted on by Troy Jackson

No fishing recap would be complete without a look at the tools that fooled the bass. The full breakdown follows, working from fewest to most catches by lure type.

Stickbaits
Zara Spook (black shore minnow or natural frog) – 10 bass
Top Bass: 15” 1-9 May 3 & 15 Knox County. IL public strip pit
Comments: Me and the Zara Spook go back to the mid-80s. It is one of my legendary lure selections but that’s another story. Mid-spring, a shallow, expansive flat with scattered weeds and a sky with scattered clouds were just the ticket to tie on an old friend.

Jigs
Strike King Rattlin’ Jig (black/blue or green pumpkin) w/ craw trailer – 33 bass
Top Bass: 21” 4-12 April 26 Knox County, IL public strip pit
Comments: I don’t slow down much, but when I do, it’s hard to beat a jig and trailer. These compact bottom bouncers are a winner, particularly early and late in the season. 2020 saw the jig land Top Bass, a lake record that kind of surprised me in a pothole and topped the old record by more than a pound.

Buzzbaits
Booyah Buzz (snow white shad or bleeding shad) – 34 bass
Top Bass: 20.5” 4-0 July 1 Snakeden Hollow
Comments: I force feed these topwater winners once the bass show interest in the spring. Throughout the summer, they are a mainstay with the anticipation of some explosions running high in those first few hours around sunrise. One of those explosions was a new personal best on an old lake at 5:32am on Snakeden Hollow’s 30th birthday.

Plastic Worms
Senko wacky rig (primarily smoke) – 39 bass
Top Bass: 20.5” 3-11 July 1 Snakeden Hollow
Comments: For various reasons, the Senko wacky rig just didn’t rack up the numbers like it has over the past 15 years. Other lures were productive and a strange year in terms of diminished water clarity on a lot of my fishing holes left the Senko on the bank or boat deck. However, come April I always have one ready and I don’t expect that to change in 2021.

Chatterbaits
Z Man Chatterbait (bluegill with various Zako trailers) – 43 bass
Top Bass: 19” 2-12 September 12 Knox County, IL public strip pit
Comments: Despite glowing reports from many other anglers, I’ve never really relied too much on chatterbaits. However, in 2020 I did commit to tossing one around more frequently and was not disappointed. The 43 bass total and the 2-12 Top Bass both represent high water marks on the lure and here’s to topping both in 2021.

Spinnerbaits
Stanley Vibra Shaft or War Eagle (Blue Glimmer or white/chartreuse) – 70 bass
Top Bass: 17” 2-7 May 4 Knox County, IL private strip mine
Comments: The good, old spinnerbait seems to have seen a decline in publicity since its heyday in the 80s. That will never happen with me as I cut my bass fishing teeth on these lures. In fact, 42 of the 70 spinnerbait bass came on Stanley Vibra Shaft spinnerbait that I call the “Blue Glimmer” that is nearly 30 years old.

Lipless Crankbaits
Strike King Red Eye Shad (sexy shad or orange craw) – 89 bass
Top Bass: 17.5” 2-8 May 14 Knox County, IL private strip pit
Comments: If I can fish fast, I do. In terms of retrieve speed and effectiveness, it is tough to beat a lipless crankbait. They produce all through the year and have always amazed me at being able to nab a few in the cold water of early spring.

Crankbaits
Various (see above) – 100 bass
Top Bass: 19” 3-9 Aug 3 Lake Storey
Comments: A fair collection of these lures put this category on top as they fooled nearly one quarter of my 418 bass. From shallow (Mann’s Baby 1- and a new Strike King wake bait) to mid-depth (Shad Rap, Bomber Flat A and Strike King Squarebill) to deep (Strike King Pro Model) this crew of crankbaits found a lot of fish. Once again, these lures allow me to fish at a fairly rapid pace, cover a lot of water and bang into as much stuff as I can on the way back to the boat.

And the 2020 wrap-up is not quite done yet. I still have a look at my 2020 fishing partners and hope to post some video highlights when I get time to edit. Hope you will tune in again and talk to you later. Troy

Lure Lunacy Final

Posted on by Troy Jackson

 

And the winner is…

Blue Glimmer (Storey Region #3) vs. Senko Wacky Rig (Snakeden Region #1)
Matchup: The final pits a couple lures that qualified for a Legendary Lures series that I wrote back in 2012. Ten lures were selected and these two made the list for not only their productivity but also their impact.

Blue Glimmer: The actual name for this bait is the Stanley 3/8 ounce Vibra Shaft Rainbow Glitter Series Spinnerbait in the Blue Glimmer pattern. Like I’m really going to write that in the log book or offer it up as a boat ramp tip in its entirety. Of course, if it didn’t produce it wouldn’t matter as the lure would have simply faded from use without much fanfare. Or without a nickname. And that’s also part of what makes this lure special and worthy of inclusion in the championship match. Beyond practicality, the “Blue Glimmer” nickname also represents a term of affection combined with a thumbs up for a job well done. Oh yeah, it just sounds cool, too, which is, well, cool.

Senko Wacky Rig: Do you know where you were at 7:48am on May 22, 2005? I sure do. South end of Lake Bracken’s Snake Island, spinning rod in one hand, first ever Senko Wacky Rig bass in the other (16.5” and 2-5 weight). Fishing with Dad that morning I had a total of four bass on other baits between 5:30am-7:45am when I opted for the Senko out of desperation. When we called it quits at 10:30am, I had sixteen more bass in the log all courtesy of the Senko as I never put it back down. Fifteen years later, I’ve got it on a rod most every time out once the water warms in the spring.

 

Result: This one is quite a matchup as these two baits obviously have a lot of history and have made for just a few fish stories. The champ represents a lure that has come to dominate not only my lure selection but also a few others that I know. It’s both new angler and kid friendly as my boy, Jayce, has taken a liking to this thing. As a result, it’s put a big smile on that boy’s face a few times. Of course, those smiles are contagious to this proud dad. Finally, when a lure becomes your generic term for any similar lure or presentation, you know that it has left a lasting impression. Like Kleenex or Scotch Tape, the winning “Senko” refers to the wacky worm approach no matter the imitation. Congratulations to the Senko Wacky Rig for the victory and well done by a quality runner-up in the Blue Glimmer.

First Senko Wacky Rig bass  7:48am on 5/22/05  – It’s not always the biggest bass that makes the biggest splash

It’s been quite a ride for what turned out to be a more ambitious undertaking than I initially thought. The original intent was to provide a little distraction from our odd times through an outdoor related substitute for the “real” tourney. And I guess I did just that while getting to tell more than a few fish stories along the way. Even threw in a little basketball lore and some song lyrics to enhance the tourney journey. Sure, it got me distracted from some of the other things that could have been attended to while the world is out of whack. But you only get one shot at such a project without the real March Madness trying to steal your blogging thunder. Well, let’s hope so, at least.

Whew!

And talk to you later. Troy

Lure Lunacy Semi-Finals

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Well, the results are in a bit later than anticipated but I spent yesterday afternoon and most of the evening actually putting some lures to use during a much needed fishing trip. In fact, all of the lures below got in on the act. But that’s another story or two for next week.

For today, it’s a look at how the semi-final contests went down as I throw in yet a couple more new wrinkles. Results were recorded lakeside during my fishing trip and the videos feature the Top 4 bass for each lure since we have reached the Final Four.
(Disclaimer: a pair of jig bass were not included due to no existing photo for one catch and I failed to confirm permission to use another photo with the angler).

 

 

Blue Glimmer (Storey Region #3) vs. Red Eye Shad (Emiquon Region #2)
Matchup: Both of these baits were kind of next generation lures for their lure type. The Blue Glimmer (actually 3/8 oz. Stanley Vibra Shaft Spinnerbait in the Blue Glimmer pattern) took over spinnerbait duties in the 90s from the old Mann’s Hank Parker models. The Red Eye Shad assumed the lipless crankbait role back in 2011 taking over from the Rapala Rattlin’ Rap.
Result: While the Red Eye Shad moves towards ten years of consistent production, the Blue Glimmer has resurfaced with a bit of reconstruction via skirt replacement to do battle again. Therefore, the former disadvantage faced by the Blue Glimmer long being out of production is no longer a hindrance. As a result, the tried and true old school bait pulls off a mild upset as it’s slightly slower pace and potential structure hugging ability derail the fast moving lipless crankbait.

 

Jig & Pig (Little John Region #1) vs. Senko Wacky Rig (Snakeden Region #1)
Matchup: This pair of lures feature a hand-off of sorts that works out to cover the fishing calendar with some solid bass catching potential. The jig & pig shines in the early, cold water period before stepping aside as the water warms when April moves along. From there the Senko steps up as a bass fooling machine through the summer before handing over the reins to the jig and pig to finish off the year.
Result: Both of these lures received #1 seeds for a reason and their variations in seasonal effectiveness make for a tough matchup. There’s no doubt that I’ll have a jig & pig on to start and finish the year but the Senko flat out changed the way I fish. Particularly on the strip mines where I do a great deal of my casting. This is one presentation that lived up to the hype and that makes it the winner in this battle.

The Lure Lunacy Final is set with an old legend looking to take down a new legend. Lots of log entries with these two lures so it is certainly a match full of memories. One more walk down Memory Lane slated for Monday will determine which lure takes home the Lure Lunacy title. Hope you’ll tune in for the finale. Talk to you later. Troy

Lure Lunacy-LJ/Snakeden Finals

Posted on by Troy Jackson

The Final Four is about to be set based on the battles below.

Little John Region

Jig & Pig (1) vs. Booyah Buzzbait (2)

Lyric (Jig & Pig): “The jig is up the news is out.” Renegade – Styx (1979)
Lyric (Booyah Buzzbait): “Lights out, ah ha, blast, blast, blast.” Lights Out – Peter Wolf (1984)

Matchup: Big bass potential is an appealing feature of both baits in this battle. However, they get the job done in different conditions and different fashions. The jig shines in cold water while the buzzbait typically stays home until the water warms. The jig is a slower, bottom bouncer as opposed to the buzzbait which speeds through the surface with a crazy racket. And finally, the jig is an in your face, in your home presentation for the bass while the buzzbait rings the dinner bell far and wide.
Result: This one goes right down to the wire, much back and forth in determining the victor. Both have some big bass potential as the jig is productive in the early season when big bass catches are always a possibility. Wielding a buzzbait early or late in the day during warm water also has the same potential as those big bass are a little less wary. In the end, this one ends on a buzzer beater and the buzzbait goes down while the jig & pig fights on in the Final Four.

 

Snakeden Region

Senko Wacky Rig (1) vs. Mann’s Baby 1- (3)
Lyric (Senko): “Oh but they’re weird and they’re wonderful.” Bennie and the Jets – Elton John (1974)
Lyric (Baby 1-): “Every time I think of you it always turns out good.” – Every Time I Think of You – The Babys (1979)

Matchup: This is what I call the “I told you so” contest. Back in the 90s, a fishing buddy and co-worker they call “Woody” introduced me to the Mann’s Baby 1-. Knowing that he knew how to catch some bass I followed his advice, bought a few and never looked back. Similarly, when I finally got wise and bought into the Senko wacky rig that anglers raved about in major magazines, I also found it to be a winner.
Results: I am a creature of habit so often it is tough for me to change my ways or venture into new baits or presentations. In the case of these two lures, that was a mistake. The Senko will win this one running away but for my “I told you so” advice, you would be wise to put these two lures to use if you haven’t already.

 

Thus, the Final Four is set and we will now enjoy a much needed break before the Lure Lunacy semi-finals launch next Saturday. But have no fear, there is some other blog stuff in the works beginning with our latest Monday Top 5 Update. And somewhere along the way, I need to work in last week’s Friday Flashback. Talk to you later. Troy

Lure Lunacy – Storey/Emiquon Finals

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Half of the Final Four will be set following this pair of Region Finals. And a new wrinkle for this post includes a pertinent lyric for each lure. On with the fun…

Storey Region

Zara Spook (1) vs. Blue Glimmer (3)
*Lyric (Zara Spook): “It’s you and me forever, Zara, smile…”
Zara Smile – Hall & Oates (1976)
*took a little liberty with the lyric and title to make it work
Lyric (Blue Glimmer): “Hey, there, Mr. Blue, we’re so glad to be with you.”
Mr. Blue Sky – Electric Light Orchestra (1978)
Matchup: Both lures in this battle have seen their heyday, somehow winding up on the bench when it formerly was their time to shine. The Zara Spook has been replaced by a couple other topwater presentations as new lures and new models hit the market. The Blue Glimmer was replaced out of necessity as Stanley Jigs ceased production of the bait many years ago.
Results: Each of these lures scream for a comeback, perhaps 2020 is the year pending how the current national health situation plays out. Even though I have plenty of Spooks on hand versus a lone intact Blue Glimmer bait, the latter is going to gain entry to the Final Four. With the aid of some spare skirts I do have several frames of Blue Glimmers that can be put back in action. Sort of a Steve Austin thing as “we can rebuild it.”

 

Emiquon Region

Creatures (4) vs. Red Eye Shad (2)
Lyric (Creatures): “But all the while you hear a creature creepin’ up behind, you’re outta time.”
Thriller – Michael Jackson (1983)
Lyric (Red Eye Shad): “Red! Knock’s ‘em dead, some like it hot, I like it red!”
Red – Sammy Hagar (1977)
Matchup: Slow vs. fast, finesse vs. power, tortoise vs. hare? Creature baits get real up close and personal with their quarry while the Red Eye Shad calls out to the bass with its rattling and vibration as it blazes through the water column.
Results: Nothing wrong with the old saying that “slow and steady wins the race” as that can certainly be the case with those that comprise the creature collection such as muskrats and craws. But I like to cover a lot of water when I can get away with it and the up tempo game of the Red Eye Shad is right up my alley to win this one going away, don’t blink or you’ll miss it.

Half of the Lure Lunacy Final Four is now set with a classic set to face a contemporary. Final two regions to come so stay tuned. Talk to you later. Troy

Lure Lunacy-LJ/Snakeden Round 3

Posted on by Troy Jackson

In the final half of the Sweet 16 collection of lures, things get old school, create a buzz, turn wacky, and we finally get a resolution to the much anticipated “Baby” showdown.

Little John Region

Jig & Pig (1) vs. Shad Rap (4)
Matchup: These two lures have done battle before as they often vie for the bookend bass of each fishing year. Cold water specialists that you should have on the end of your line right now.
Results: While the Shad Rap can somehow entice that cold water bite when other baits can’t get it done, the jig & pig generally gets bigger bites. Generally speaking, when I get out in the cold water period I only have a narrow window of time on the water. In that time I am basically looking for one bite. And I’ve seen some good ones on the jig & pig which push it on to the region final.

KVD Squarebill (3) vs. Booyah Buzzbait (2)
Matchup: The KVD Squarebill owes a debt of gratitude to the Poe’s Crankbaits that bowed out in the first round of our tourney. Built to deflect off of structure, and with a little practice, these lures can save you a few bucks and nab you some more bass. Be very careful when you pick up a buzzbait. If the timing is right and you run into some early quality bites, you may be in trouble.
Results: Crankbait effectiveness is taken up a notch when you can run the bait into something whether it be wood, rock or the lake bottom. Sure is fun to get that thump after a bump but the explosion of a surface buzzbait strike is over the top. Every once in a while one of those buzzbait bass will fool you too, just barely slurping the bait in with hardly a ripple. You never know until you set the hook but wait for the weight before you do so. Easier said than done on our topwater winner that moves on to the next round.

 

Snakeden Region

Senko Wacky Rig (1) vs. Rapala Floating Minnow (4)
Matchup: Tackle selection got a bit wacky back on May 22, 2005 at Lake Bracken when I broke down and tied on a plain looking worm to try out a new presentation. As they say, “The rest is history” and I’ve had one tied on ever since. Speaking of history, the Rapala Floating Minnow, originally crafted in Finland circa 1930s, caught the eye of American anglers in the 1960s. All these years later, the tackle aisles are still stocked with the “Original Floater”
Results: Shame on me, perhaps, that my last floating minnow catch came in 2006. Dad has busted it back out on several occasions in the meantime but I seemed to have forgotten my roots. Such can be fishing these days with overwhelming offerings tugging at an angler’s mind. The Senko, on the other hand, has been on a spinning rod nearly every trip since that tackle changing first catch back in 2005. The Senko moves on but I’ll make a note to dust of the Rapala this spring if conditions permit.

Mann’s Baby 1- (3) vs. Baby Brush Hog (2)
Matchup: The media blitz for the “Battle of the Baby’s” has hit a fever pitch in the days leading up to this matchup. Fierce allegiances have spiked merchandising, The Babys rock group has seen a resurgence in radio airplay and internet hits and a variation on a popular 70s soft drink jingle has resurfaced. Anybody recall the original version of “I’m a baby, he’s a baby, she’s a baby…wouldn’t you like to be a baby, too?” Okay, maybe not, but I could see it happening.
Results: When the bass tell me that I need to slow down, I occasionally listen. And when I do, I often reach for the Baby Brush Hog. Just did that last year in fact, so the Zoom creature represents a contemporary lure. As does the Baby 1- which also reeled in a few in 2019. The fast moving Baby wins out in this matchup as that’s my speed and for many years my lifestyle with four kids.

 

We have our Elite 8 baits and little rest for the contenders (and the blogger) as the show must go on. Talk to you later. Troy

Lure Lunacy – Storey/Emiquon Round 3

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Back in business with the first two regions of the Sweet Sixteen. No sense in giving a rambling intro as the lures speak for themselves.

Storey Region

Zara Spook (1) vs. Mepps (5)
Matchup: A classic battle that originated for me in the mid-80s. Both lures were already legends when one found me and I found one. The Mepps was a fixture in Dad’s arsenal and one of “only two lures you need to catch some bass” (more on the other one tomorrow). The Spook was something Brent and I read about and couldn’t pass up at a tackle wholesale outlet on Grand Avenue ran by Dom and Pete Calderone.
Results: While both have faded from regular use among me and my fishing partners, they each hold many memories. Not only the memorable catches but the origins of how this whole thing once began with a handful of lures and a head full of dreams about landing some big bass. As these lures come in neck and neck in the sentimentality factor, the fact that the Spook produced more of those big bass gives it the edge in this matchup.

 

Blue Glimmer (3) vs. Booyah Spinnerbait (2)
Matchup: This is a spinnerbait battle that began with a homemade lure crafted by my baseball coach and early bass fishing mentor, Gary “Bru” Bruington. That one was lost to the ages somehow, initially giving way to a Roland Martin Blue Fox model and then a batch of Mann’s Hank Parker spinnerbaits. Thirty five years after receiving that first spinnerbait, these two winners slug it out for the current spinnerbait title and a spot in the Elite Eight.
Results: The Booyah models are the spinnerbait stars when I hit the water these days as The Blue Glimmer has long been out of production. One of my last two Blue Glimmers bit the dust at Lake Storey a few years ago courtesy of a broken blade while fooling one last bass. I do have a final spare Blue Glimmer in the package so the bait indeed can live to cast another day. Which is just what it does in defeating the formidable Booyah Blades.

Emiquon Region

 

Swimbait (8) vs. Creatures (4)
Matchup: So some of these swimbaits are actually bigger than a lot of the bass this aging wannabe bass angler catches. Pretty cool looking but at a price that stops me in my tracks. After all, if I hang one of them in a brushpile I’m either going swimming or pulling out a hanky to dry my tears. Creature baits on the other hand, while not a dime a dozen, are certainly more in this frugal fisherman’s price range.
Results: Jaw dropping bass pics from giant swimbait action sure do get my attention. But, there’s a price in terms of both financial and time investment. I’m just not committed enough to that niche to spend my day looking for one or two big bites. Tried that one before as a muskie fisherman. Nope, I’ll take my chances on a big bass eventually showing up among the collection of small to mid-sized bass that eat my muskrats and craws. Victory to the creatures.

 

Rapala DT (3) vs. Red Eye Shad (2)
Matchup: We’re talking evolution and legacy in this matchup of differing crankbait styles. The Rapala DT Series comes from the legendary lure maker that first introduced the floating minnow, then divers such as the Shad Rap and Fat Rap along with a stab at a topwater bait in the Skitter Pop. The Red Eye Shad comes from a legacy of lipless cranks such as the Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap and Rapala’s lipless model known as the Rattlin’ Rap.
Results: Quite the matchup here as the Rapala DT series hauled in an amazing bunch of Emiquon Preserve bass including my personal best. The Red Eye shad was no slouch down there either but truth be told, those bass were duller than the trebles on some of my vintage crankbaits. In the end, it’s the Red Eye Shad with the win. Confidence and the added cold water effectiveness indeed make this a lure for all seasons.

 

 

Full videos scheduled at Troy Jackson Outdoors You Tube (click here)

More to come with the Little John and Snakeden Regions tomorrow night. And have no fear, the Friday Flashback will appear with a slight delay as the “essential employee” status trumps “dedicated blogger”. Guess what pays the bills? Talk to you later. Troy