I got Two New Baits

Just got a couple new baits from Jackall. Been to busy to get out and use them, but they look sweet. The first is the Jackall Aragon which is nice little jointed crank that is supposed to make noise as the body hits itself. The 2nd lure, a Jackall Mask Vibe, is a hybrid lipless crank soft sided bait. It has the head of a lipless bait and the body of soft plastic with a realistic fleshy feel and look.

Check back for reports on how they work.
HellaBass
RichLindgren.com
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Aaron Martens Scrounger

You may have heard about this bait before, now you can get them

Aaron Martens Lures The Scrounger
The Scrounger creates vibration and an incredible realistic action that works on all species of game fish. It has a live bait swimming action. Easy to fish and practically snag-free. A secret on the pro tours is now available to everyone!

From what I can tell, I think it's actually a bit similar to a chatterbait style lure, just take your favorite plastic bodied lure, like a shad, grub, creature or whatever and swim it in the areas you want. Aaron has been using these baits for a long time and now he is producing them and making them available under his new lure company. I think I will have to get a couple packs to keep in the boat ;)

P.S. I changed the template a bit, hope you like the new look!

HellaBass
RichLindgren.com
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Berkley Trilene Releases new Fluorocarbon

You probably have heard plenty about many bass fishing pros using the new Berkley Fluorocarbon and how great it is and how its not available to the public yet, well now it is!

Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon Line
Get the new line that everybody is talking about! Berkley has 48 B.A.S.S. and 33 FLW Pro’s already currently fishing with this line. The line boats the following properties:

-Ultimate Invisibility-The invisible fluorocarbon. Similar refractive index as water so fish can’t see it.

-Ultimate Impact Strength-Proprietary 100% PVDF formula specially processed for the ultimate in impact strength.

-Higher Strength per Diameter-The ultimate fluorocarbon, diameter for diameter.

-Excellent Manageability-Lower memory for superior casting.

I never had good luck with Vanish, but this is supposed to be far superior line, I will probably order a spool or two and give it a whirl. Interestingly enough it comes in clear & green. I like the sounds of green fluorocarbon....

Would love to hear from anyone else that has tried it,
HellaBass
RichLindgren.com
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Fantasy Football Jigs

Fantasy Football meats Bass Fishing
I just got a bunch of new Fantasy Football jigs from Picasso which is a Fish Harder company. These are sweet looking football heads, great head and hook. The hook is just about right, heavy enough so you can lean on big fish and fine enough so you get good hook sets on long casts. I was impressed on how well the jig stood up by itself on my desk, just think if it had a trailer on it under water :)



They come with a nice rattle that is removable and it has a nice trailer keeper molded onto the shank of the hook which I really like. I got some spots all picked for these when I return from Europe :)

Tight Lines,
HellaBass
RichLindgren.com
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Rapala X-Rap Shad Rap, is it worth the Hype?

There has been a lot of hype and talk about this bait. You have to admit, it makes a lot of sense to combine two great baits in the Shad Rap & the X-Rap both made by one of the best hard bait makers of all time.

Rapala X-Rap Shad Rap
Rapala has taken the X-Rap technology and combined it with the Shad Rap to create the X-Rap Shad! Fish should get ready to take a boat ride. The X-Rap Shad with its 3D holographic eyes, internal holograhhic foil, and flash foil teaser tail will become the most sought after crankbait instantly. The new 06 size is the perfect size and runs 6' to 11' for a variety of fish, especially bass.

I am guessing this will be must have in just about every tackle box in no time....

HellaBass
RichLindgren.com
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Ready for a Shakedown?

I just ordered some new shakey head jigs and I am pretty excited to get them & put them to the test bass fishing. These are designed by Mr. Clausen himself and he knows a little bit about Shaking a finesse head for bass.

Picasso Luke Clausen Shakedown Jigs
Picasso Luke Clausen Shakedown heads use a patent-pending flexible nickel titanium spring (bait keeper) along with a cross-eye Gamakatsu hook to give you the best “shakey style” head on the market. The flexible nickel titanium spring always comes back to position after each fish without breaking.
Because of its super soft elasticity, the spring allows the entire hook gap to be maintained during hook set. The “give” of the spring allows anglers to lock down and shake their plastics in cover or skip docks without ever losing or tearing the soft plastics. Because of the spring’s small size, finesse worms (such as Roboworms or other thin hand poured plastics) can be rigged very straight with no “hump.” It also prevents the plastic from tearing.

The Luke Clausen Shakedown heads are coated with the super tough Duraseal™ process, increasing the sensitivity and allowing them to hold up like no other on the market. This Duraseal coating is the same coating that is used on Tru-Tungsten Sinkers and Jigs, its an excellent finish. I just ordered several of each size in Black & Brown/Purple Fleck. I plan to give a full report when I get them in ;)

HellaBass
RichLindgren.com
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Do Bass Fishing Scents make Sense?

I saw that Mustad has just released a couple new fish attractants. I believe these are a relaunch of Mustad Ultra Bite attractant that was out a year or so ago, but the marketing was not so good and the dispensing was not so good. Looks like they fixed that with a pump applicator as well as a gel, which I kind of like gels for my Jigs.


Mustad Activate Spray
Use the Activate Spray for easy application. Includes glitter flecks for added attraction. Re-Apply when flecks have washed off bait. 3 oz pump spray

Mustad Activate Gel
Activate Gel is a sticky formulation for longer lasting pheromone release. Squeeze on the bait and spread over to form a thin coating with your fingers. Then watch the results.

Why it makes fish feed

Formulated with Phero-Tech - today's most sophisticated pheromone technology

Activate causes a sensory feeding response that attracts fish and stimulates feeding.

Extremely easy to apply to baits, lures and chum.

Personally, I like to use scents and attractants when I fish for bass. I feel there is no down side to using them and I think at the bare minimum they do a decent job of masking any offensive odors that my hands may leave on my baits and I think in the long run they will get you more bites. They also act as a lubricant when you lure is sliding over and through wood & weeds ;) I am pretty sure, less hang ups will mean more bites as well!

I have never used these products as they are brand new, but I utilized another pheromone based gel last year on my jig and I think it really helped. What attractants do you all like to use or do you think that all these scents are bunk?

HellaBass
RichLindgren.com
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The 'Buzz' on frogs & toads for Bass Fishing

In case some of you are not aware, there is a deadly creation out there called the Buzz Frog or Swimming Toad out there and bass are crushing them. Its basically a hybrid baits that takes the allure of a frog and a buzzbait and wraps it into a soft plastic package! From what I can tell, Zoom started it with their Horny Toad and now just about everyone has a spin on it. Check out a sampling below. They work in places regular frogs don't and the hook % is much higher with these ;)


Zoom Ultravibe Horny Toad - This is where it all started

Sizmic Toads - Sizmic made a splash shortly there after, they have some floating & chugging versions as well.

Gambler Cane Toad - This is my personal favorite & I think it has the best sound

Berkley Gulp Bat Wing Frog - Not sure how important scent dispersion of Gulp! is for topwater...





Kicker Fish Xplodin' Toad - never used it, but looks like a solid design



Mann's HardNose Swim Toad - I have heard good things about the durability of this product, more fish per bait



Yum Buzz Frog - This is probably my second favorite one that I have used



V&M Bayou Bull Frog





Wave Worms Tiki-Toad



NetBait Paca Toad - Honestly, this one puzzles me, does not seem like it would create much of a disturbance, maybe for more subtle presentations, I think it would be a great jig trailer...

I think all these will put bass in your boat, I would be interested to hear which are your favorites or if you have comments on the models I have not tried yet. Either way, if you do not have any, you are missing out!

HellaBass
RichLindgren.com
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Evolutionary Bass Fishing Jig?

Sorry its been awhile since I have made an entry. Fishing Amistad and traveling for work have limited time. This jig just seems to popular not to touch on it.

Mega Strike Evolution Jigs
The Most Innovative Jig Ever Built. ALWAYS lands in STANDUP position no matter what!!!! The Evolution Jig is the first real innovative jig design to come along in over 40 years. Our NEW, Advanced Skirt Forward Technology, along with our virtually invisible Fluorocarbon Weed guard, makes this the jig of choice. Evolution is the only jig to also have our patent pending flaring disk and skid plate. These qualities allow the Evolution jig to respond to every movement of the rod tip, continuing to keep the Evolution Jig in an upright crawfish defense stature.

Finesse Jig: available in these sizes: 3/16, 5/16, and 7/16
Heavy Cover Jig: Available in these sizes: 3/8, 1/2, and 3/4
Jigs are sold in packs of two.

In short, this is a premium jig, that has some very unique characteristics. Most of us think are jigs stand up, but I am guessing they are nothing like this one.

HellaBass
RichLindgren.com
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Check out the new Phat Flies

The all new Spro Phat Flies
The SPRO Phat Flies were designed to take Float and Fly bass fishing to a new level. Not only designed to catch fish in the harshest conditions, these jigs are designed to catch big California trophy bass. Colors painstakingly matched to the most prevalent baitfish in North American waters. Perfectly balanced to sit horizontal under the bobber. Built with the worlds sharpest Gamakatsu hooks. The SPRO Phat Flies are the best on the market, period! These look awesome and I think they will be deadly in the winter through early spring. So if you live in middle to northern part of the country, buy them now and put them to use. Here is a link to a radio show explaining how to use them and their effectiveness.

HellaBass
RichLindgren.com
Bassin' Blog
Rich's Bass Fishing Forum

More Great Bass Fishing Baits from Japan

Most of you have heard about Lucky Craft and Daiwa fishing lures and aware they make very high quality hard baits, but there is another emerging player in this game and that is Jackall Lures.

Jackall is an established Japanese Fishing Lure company founded by pro fishermen and ex lure designers from the other major Japanese lure houses. Jackall is focused on creating innovative fishing lures using the latest in engineering technologies. Their fast prototype fabrication methods combined with immediate pro staff in the field fishing tests allows them to create some of the most techonologically advanced and finely tuned fishing lures in the industry. Jackall Lures USA has field tested the Japanese lures in the U.S. for a number of years and has released ONLY the lures field tested and approved to catch fish in the U.S. The lures made available here have been proven to catch fish in the U.S.!

HellaBass
RichLindgren.com
Bassin' Blog
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Two Hot New Plastics from Zoom

I am sure you have all used Zoom Plastics at some point and know that they make high quality fish catching soft plastics in an endless rainbow of colors....

Check out their two latest additions for 2007:
Zoom Super Speed Craw

I love and use the original Zoom Ultravibe Speed Craw all the time, and my only complaint was how small it was for some situations, I cannot wait to get me a couple bags of these in Green Pumpkin!!!

Zoom Grass Craw
The new grass craw is very similar to the Gambler B.B. Cricket which is a popular matt flipping bait in Florida.

These both will be fantastic flipping baits ;)

HellaBass
RichLindgren.com
Bassin' Blog
Rich's Bass Fishing Forum

Lucky Craft Splash Tail Topwater Bass Fishing Prop Bait

So how many of you have dabbled with the high-end Japanese bait?

I have found that some of the best lures are their topwaters, I have had exceptional luck with the Lucky Craft Sammys, Gunfish, and Splash Tails. You can check out the Splash Tail in detail here and I will follow up on some of the other baits in the future.

Check out a nice YouTube clip of the SplashTail.

If you like the Smithwick Devil’s Horse you will love the Splash Tail!!!

HellaBass
RichLindgren.com
Bassin' Blog
Rich's Bass Fishing Forum

Get Shakey with it!

Shakey heads have been the craze for quite some time lately and there are more and more options to choose from when it comes to Shakey Style Heads. Many of the new options are not just your father's lead ball heads anymore ;)

Here are a bunch that I have found:

Tru-Tungsten Ikey Head Ball Buster Jigs

CritterBait Critter-Shaker Jigheads

HookerZ Shakey Heads

Bagley Shaky Head Jigs



Buckeye Lures Spot Remover Pro Model Jigheads



Envision Sweet Spot Jig Heads





Reaction Innovations Screwed-Up Jig Head



Spotsticker Jigheads




Everyone of these jigs has their pros & cons, whether it be keeper method, cost, hook quality, how it stands, how it comes through cover. My favorites are the Tru-Tungsten Ikey Head Jigs, but you will see everything from the most traditional ball heads with molded barbs to flat head designs and much more. Which is your favorites and which new ones do you want to try?

HellaBass
RichLindgren.com
Bassin' Blog
Rich's Bass Fishing Forum

Secret Weapon Sidearm Spinnerbait

Raising the bar on spinnerbait versatility and performance with the Secret Weapon Sidearm Spinnerbait. Customizing your spinnerbait has never been easier -- or more effective!

A must have for your Bass Fishing Arsenal!!
Like our original QuickStrike Spinnerbait, the Secret Weapon Sidearm employs free-floating, interchangeable, in-line spinner blades. It creates a unique flash and vibration with its two side-by-side spinner blades. This arrangement creates even more fish-attracting commotion in the water than tandem blades mounted in series. It also creates additional lift, enabling you to retrieve this lure at slower speeds than is possible with conventional spinnerbaits. Great for fishing above submerged vegetation or slow-rolling along the bottom, the blades twirl at the slightest turn of your reel handle.

Unlike other dual-blade spinnerbaits, the Sidearm's V-frame blade bar pivots freely, allowing the lure to pass easily through vegetation and cover. Once free of obstructions, equal drag quickly aligns the blade bar and spinner blades.

The Sidearm excels as a single-blade, short-arm spinnerbait, too. Simply slide the double-barrel metal sleeve down the frame to open the R-shaped terminal loop. Remove the blade bar, pinch the loop closed and slide the sleeve back in place, and then clip on a Colorado, Indiana, or Turtleback blade attachment, and you have an incredible short-arm spinnerbait, ideal for bottom crawling or as a drop bait for docks, piling, ledges and bluffs.

Need a tandem spinnerbait instead? Just clip two inline blades in series. In seconds, without tools, you can adapt your spinnerbait to take advantage of changing conditions on the water. Don't be caught short without the perfect spinnerbait. With a few Secret Weapon lure bodies and a handful of blades, you can tweak and test blade configurations until your lure is ideal for every situation.

This lure is available in two weights (5/16- and 9/16-ounce) and ten popular patterns for stained or clear water. Look for it soon in Sidearm ProPack and MasterPacks.

The most versatile and innovative spinnerbait system just got more versatile, flexible and better to help you land more fish

HellaBass
RichLindgren.com
Bassin' Blog
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Finesse Wacky Jig!

This jig originates from Japan and so does the technique and application it is designed for, which kind of a shakey - wacky type fishing.

Zappu Inchi Wacky Jig Heads
The Japanese anglers are a very studious bunch. They are always working on new and creative techniques. The drop shotting technique that the Japanese introduced to America several years back has become a household term in bass fishing recently, and now the Japanese have created a new technique called INCHI WACKY or Jig Head Wacky. This technique has taken Japan by storm over the past 12 months and for good reason. Two Japanese Bass Pros, Takuma Hata of Zappu IncAndnd Toshiro Ono of Jackall Inc pioneered the craze.

As the name suggests, it's a very straightforward rig and easy to put into practice.

Benefits of the Rig
1. You can get more distance on the cast.

2. You can fish deeper areas.

3. The bait falls quicker.

4. You can keep in contact with the bottom easier.

5. Most importantly it creates a wicked irregular action that looks exactly like a real worm squirming in the water.


Why It Works
The Japanese anglers firmly believe that this irregular action has a very appealing, teasing action that bass cannot resist. Both Hato and Ono believe this bait is ideal for fishing deeper water and tougher conditions. Areas such as rock piles, drop offs and other vertical structure points are perfect situations where the Jig Head Wacky Rig will produce.

Japanese will always say that you have to have an image in your head of what you want the jighead and worm to be doing. The ideal image you want to see is the ball part of the jighead going flip flopping up and down and that's it. If the jighead is doing that, then the worm will be doing its thing. The great thing about this rig is that you can create so much action in the worm and the worm doesn't even have to be moved in at all. Otherwise saying you can keep the bait exactly where you want it to be and stay there.

The How To
In order to do this, there is a secret, and that is keeping a good amount of slack in the line. By keeping slack in the line you can shake your rod constantly to produce the wicked irregular action and still keep your bait exactly where you want it.

When fishing bottom structure you will want to cast out the Jig Head Wacky and let it free fall to the bottom. While the jig falls the weight from the jig head causes the worm to roll back and forth. After it hits the bottom you will want to shake it and continue to wind up slack and then free fall it back to the bottom. Remember that this is an exposed hook so this is not a deadsticking technique. Leave that type of fishing for your regular weightless wacky rig. The fish will often attack as the bait free falls after you shake it.

The Jig Head Wacky is also very effective on suspended fish in mid water. The key in working this bait is again the slack in the line. You will want to cast the line out and as you reach the area the fish are holding in you will want to slowly shake the bait and as you swim the jighead back in.

The Rigging & Tackle
Like with all techniques, the tackle you use plays a huge role in the outcome. The key to the Jig Head Wacky Rig is in the rigging. When rigging the worm, it's vital that you position the hook correctly by inserting the point of the hook in the middle of the worm and have it exit on a 90 degree from the insertion point. This is so the worm is fixed good and tight on the hook and it makes for a better irregular action. The Japanese have experimented with different hooks and have found that a V shape angled hook keeps the worm permanently fixed on the hook. The most commonly used jig head weights are 1/32oz to 1/16oz but vary upon the size of the worm and the depth at which being fished.

When using the Jig Head Wacky Rig, the Japanese anglers like to use fast tapered rods that are rated light to ultra light. A popular length in Japan is 6 foot because they feel it's easier to handle lighter worms with a shorter stick. 4-pound fluorocarbon line on a spinning reel is also the choice for many Japanese anglers who have mastered the Jig Head Wacky Rig. When working the rod, it is vital to keep a good rhythm and a constant up and down speed in a 10-11 o'clock positioning. Recently pro anglers are even using a 3/8-1/2 oz football shaped jig around heavy rock area and have said that slowly dragging the bottom is also very effective. The most popular used worm styles for Jig Head Wacky consists of Zoom's swamp crawler, Jackall's Flick Shake, Gary Yamamoto Cut Tail, Optimum Bait's Twin Teaser, and Berkley Gulp! 5'' Wacky Japanese Crawler.
Click to Buy

Here is a video of me & buddy catching some nice smallmouth bass on this technique!


HellaBass
RichLindgren.com
Bassin' Blog
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Bass Fishing with Beaver Baits

I am sure many of you have found out how great Reaction Innovations Sweet Beavers can be... On the other hand they can be kind of pricey and they tear up somewhat easy. So here is a list of similar style baits by other manufacturers, some you may know, some you may not. They are all a little different and will catch Bass ;)
Gambler Ugly Otter


Culprit Water Beetle


Berkley PowerBait Beast





Roboworm Sour Puss




Venom Sweet Dreams

Yum Wooly Bug

And there are many more, so try some of these baits and see how they stack up against the original.

HellaBass
www.RichLindgren.com
Bassin' Blog
Rich's Bass Fishing Forum

New Innovative Gamakatsu Hook Design

Gamakatsu Skip Gap Hook
The new Skip Gap Hook from Gamakatsu is the hook every dock skippin’ Bass angler has been waiting for. Many soft plastics will slide off of the offset or simply come off when thrown hard against the water in an attempt to skip it under a dock. This is especially true on really hot days when the plastic can get extra soft. This unique patent pending hook is designed to hold soft plastics firmly in place so that no matter how hard you throw it, the plastic bait stays put. Unlike other hooks that have attempted to do the same thing, there is no special rigging required for this hook. Simply Texas rig it like any other wide gap style hook and it’s ready to go. The wide gap is built to handle thicker baits like tubes, but is also ideal for stick type baits and regular soft plastic worms. Sizes: 1/0 – 5/0.

HellaBass
www.RichLindgren.com
Bassin' Blog
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KVD DVD 3pk for only $7.46!!!

Check this out! Go to Basspro.com and search for 'VanDam DVD' it is a Christmas Special, what a fantastic deal.

Fish like a pro with some helpful insight from Kevin VanDam, the two-time
Bassmaster Classic Champion and three-time B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year! This DVD
Set includes three popular VanDam videos: ''Proven Spinnerbait Techniques,''
''Changing Conditions'' and ''Pitchin' to Heavy Hitters.''
VanDam reveals
his proven and tournament winning techniques in these Bass Pro Shops exclusive
videos. Each DVD is loaded with essential tricks and tips that have helped make
VanDam one of the sport's most popular and successful anglers. 158 minutes.
A terrific addition to any fisherman's video library!

Its a great set of DVD's I bought them at BassPro earlier this year at full price.

HellaBass
www.RichLindgren.com
Bassin' Blog
Rich's Bass Fishing Forum

The Buzz!

Check out Tru-Tungsten's New Elite Series Buzzbait, it looks Killer!
Tru-Tungsten® Buzzbaits are designed by Larry Niixon with an extremely low profile, allowing for incredible action and feel. Super-sharp Black Nickel Hooks are used, and the Hydro-Silk high-tech polymer skirt not only floats in the water with incredible life-like action, but also holds a scent and will not melt.
Adjustable for clacker or commotion action for louder or more subtle sound
Planes at any retrieve speed
A Duraseal™ coating is applied for a colorfast, ultra-smooth finish
Spring-tempered piano wire for extra vibration
Joint technology makes for more hook sets
Flexible collar for jointed hook ensures hook tracking and stabilization
Free Bleeding Bait Hooks™ trailer hook
Hand-painted
25% longer and more accurate casting

Click on Image for more details! What a perfect stocking stuffer for yourself or your favortie bass nut ;)
HellaBass
www.RichLindgren.com
Bassin' Blog
Rich's Bass Fishing Forum