Every year before the Classic, Berkley will introduce new baits to the public. Some of these baits might have been used by pros prior to the Classic and some are brand spanking new. I just got word that for the 2010 Bassmaster Classic, Berkley will be introducing these new baits and they will be available in January as they are being trucked to retailers as we speak.

I’ll give you a brief list of baits that will be released and a more detailed article later on TT with specs and all.

1) There will be a 3 inch Crazy Legs Chigger Craw. A lot of anglers have had success with the larger version and now there will be a smaller size for more finesse application. It will be made from PowerBait and will have the same action as the larger.

2) 3 inch and 4 inch Minnow bait made from PowerBait instead of Gulp!. Why the PowerBait scent instead of the Gulp!? It seems like bass anglers never got into the Gulp! stuff, so that’s why Berkley is coming out with the same bait but with PowerBait.

There will be more baits being introduced mid-year which we’ll give you the scoop on later on.

More details on the Classic baits coming after the New Year on TT.

Every few years someone always invents a knotless hook. They appear to be a great concept but after a short period of time we always see those companies fade away. Have you ever tried a knotless hook and what do you think of them?

(In 2004: Preston knotless hooks that we covered at a local show  http://www.tackletour.com/reviewfh2004.html )

New for 2010 is easy2HookUSA knotless hook. Here’s what they have to say about their product.

Outdoor Specialty Innovations, Inc., (OSI) a manufacturer and marketer of unique, high quality fishing accessory products launches the new, internationally patented easy2HookUSA “knotless” line of fishing hooks at the 2009 ICAST show in Orlando, FLA.

According to Ron Baskett, the company’s founder and CEO, the new fishing hooks do not require anglers to utilize a “knot” when tying their lines to a hook, but rather,  employ a “loop” “wrap” and “pull” tight process that totally eliminates the need for tying a knot ever again!!

“Our new hooks eliminate the time consuming necessity of tying knots and do so without sacrificing the integrity of the line itself,” Baskett said, “this is a revolutionary approach to an age-old-angler frustration. With easy2Hook you can attach your lines in seconds and thereby increase your chances for a successful fishing trip simply because your line is in the water a greater proportion of the time”!!!

Baskett believes the easy, convenient and hassle-free “knotless” feature of easy2Hooks will change the future purchasing habits of many anglers around the country and will also attract new participants to the sport who in the past found traditional hooks frustrating to use.

SkippyFiSH lures trigger the genetic response in all game fish to attack! They can’t resist, They must FEED! This is the most realistic LIFE LIKE TECHNOLOGY ever used to catch fish. All SkippyFiSH lures are injected with the perfect blend of SCENT to give you the maximum advantage. The life like texture of our lures force fish to hold on longer allowing you to set the hook and catch more fish. SkippyFiSH can be used to skip under docks, trees and other hard to reach areas where bass and other game fish like to hide. Grass beds and Lilly pads are no match for SkippyFiSH. Our lures are completely weedless allowing you to catch fish in areas were other lures would never think of going. SkippyFiSH are great for drop shot rigs & carolina rigs. Try them on jig heads as a swim bait at various depths for suspended fish. Multiple skips across the water simulate bait fish scattering and running for their lives as predator fish begin to feed and FEED they will, plant your feet, hold onto your rod and Enjoy the Ride, for you are …SkippyFiSH!

Available in 8 colors and two sizes: 4 and 6 inches

A pack of 10 runs for $4.19 (6 in) and $3.79 (4 in)

Rigging Methods: http://www.skippyfish.com/rigs.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiZsGRr0DC4

I was surfing the web and ran into this “new” company called Trigger X. They make biodegradable soft baits that’s impregnated with their “Ultrabite Pheromones” which according to their video took 7 years to perfect (development and test). They have plastics for Bass, Walleye, and looks like inshore species. I have to say they do have some good looking plastics that I’m sure would catch fish since they are proven designs… but… the ultrabite pheromones? Hmm… has anyone tried these yet?

Vertical jigging is a very effective method on catching both freshwater and saltwater fish. There are many manufactures producing metal jigs and spoons for this technique but some are better than others. This brings me to  P-Line’s Laser Minnow which I first saw at the Long Beach Fred Hall show at the beginning of 2008.

The body of the lure looks great but I did find that the wire loop they used are very thin, thinner than my favorite MegaBait Live Jigs.  This is a problem not only for saltwater anglers but also vertical fishing for freshwater species. If the wire breaks on a big bass that would be heartbreaking. I’ve broken the wire before while vertical jigging for rockcod.

I’ve contacted P-Line about this but never got a response. Hope they are listening.

So…  my number 1 goto lure for rockcod and lingcod fishing is still  the Megabait Live Jig. (http://www.tackletour.com/reviewmegablivejig.html) This lure gives good action on the drop and is deadly when jigged for rockfish. I’m able to bounce the rocky bottom and completely bend the wire without it breaking.

MegaBait Live Jig

While at Lake El Novillo in Mexico Jonah from Hi’s Tackle Box brought some of the new Jackall Ninja Swimbaits for us to check out. Though I didn’t have a chance to fish this new swimbait because my focus was on the Crankbait rod wars, I did dunk it to check the action, and I have to say it runs pretty nice with Cal agreeing to the Ninja’s tail kicking action.

Colors available: CA Trout, Chartreuse Shad, Tennessee Shad, SS Shad, and Hitch

MSRP: $24.99

Cal and I are back from fishing Lake Novillo, Mexico. We flew to Hermosillo with Jonah from Hi’s Tackle Box, Dean from Blackwater International, and Justin from Anglers West TV. At the Hermosillo airport, owners Bob and Bill of BMB picked us up and drove the group to their bed and breakfast that’s just 2 hours away. The house is located in San Pedro de la Cueva that’s only a slow 10 minute tow to Lake Novillo. A complete article will be posted on TackleTour.com shortly. http://www.tackletour.com

We were there for a few reasons but our main focus was on the Crankbait Rod Wars, and did we have a good crankbait bite on Lake Novillo that allowed us to truly test the gear for the Year of the Crank. Aside from crankbaits, lures such as Zoom lizards, Senkos, Powerbait 10 inch worms, paddletail swimbaits, poppers, jigs… sheez, almost everything worked out there.

The lake has a lot of bass, Northern and Florida strains, and catching 4 to 7 pounders are very common with double digit bass lurking nearby. The bass in Lake Novillo are aggressive! They hit hard and don’t stop fighting until they are released back into the water. I lost a big one after it jumped clearly out of the water 4 times and finally spitting the hook right by the boat.

Anyways, enjoy these photos…