Reaction Innovations Kinky Beaver

When Reaction Innovations & Andre Moore broke on the scene years ago with the Sweet Beaver, it launched a whole new segment of creature/craw baits. They are now set to release the Kinky Beaver. Based on what I have seen of web images, it looks like a hybrid Crazy Legs Chigger Craw and the original 4.20 Sweet Beaver.

I am sure these will fly off the shelf and be has hard to find as regular beavers in the colors you actually want or need when they come out in next month or two.

The wedge lip on the normal beaver appendages should kick almost like a rage tail and the middle legs should have a tight added wiggle. It should make a bait that not only flips well, but can also be more versatile for Carolina Rigging, Swimming or as a jig trailer.

The Kinky Beaver appear to be same basic size as the original Sweet Beaver and will be available in all the same great colors.

Buy them here!

Protecting Your Face

The following is an article I can across & written by Jason Baggett, an avid bass fisherman who spends countless days pounding the water for fat bass and good times. I am not sure if this is better reminder to protect your face or tighten the nut on your trolling motor prop, but a good read either way.

Several good friends and I fish the DAV Tournament every year not only to support their efforts and the awesome job they do in providing support to Disabled Veterans, but as a gathering point for all of us friends who don’t see much of each other during the year.

The 2009 event started off with the normal smack talk at the dock that had been accumulating in the months prior, and although it was nothing serious, there were some painful feelings leftover from the 2008 event which included a broke trolling motor cable that ruined the day of my good buddy “Gator”.

I had the privilege and honor of using some of the best bass gear over the years, including a 2009 BassCat PUMA (awesome boat!) & fishing with Bobby Kelly, a good friend of mine from Southern Arkansas. I knew from previous experiences and current conditions, the ride upriver was going to be brutal, and advised Bobby of it as we secured our Save Phace masks onto our blockheads. Now, before you start thinking this is a shameless plug for Save Phace masks, read on…PLEASE!

As we approached Big Piney, I noticed we were first for a reason, the waves had grown to swells, 8ft – 10ft respectively. Good Ol’ Bobby was not only a trooper but believed in me to get us fishing, and not swimming. No prob Bob, we’re in a BassCat! We finally reached our destination, and fishing we go! Fast forward two hours.

Bobby and I decided to run back down the river. We were rockin’ and rollin’ down the Arkansas (wearing Save Phace S.U.M.’s), I noticed the Trolling Motor prop spinning backwards, and then I seen a black dot. WHACK! As I gently took the boat down from running speed, I reached down and grabbed the kill switch and pulled. To this day, I still don’t know why I just didn’t turn the key off. Then I felt Bobby pulling on my life jacket, as I saw an array of swirly black dots, in a semi-knocked out trance. Bobby started asking me if I was “OK”, as I pulled off my mask, trying to gain some kind of conscience of what just happened. I looked at him, and said a bird hit me… a coot hit me!

Bobby now concerned more than earlier, told me, “the trolling motor prop hit you dude.” To my disbelief I was OK! A bit dazed, but no harm done. AMAZING.

After we gathered our thoughts, saying a thankful prayer, Bobby and I both sat there in complete awe of what had just took place. After we both knew everything was OK, we headed back down to Russellville Marina where my wife and son were. When we finally got to the marina we met Gator and his partner, by complete accident. He couldn’t believe

what Bobby was telling him as I talked to my wife and explaining the circumstances, and informed her of where to go to find another prop. After an hour of waiting, we found another prop, and went back to fishing!

Now, even to this day, my good buddy Gator, will call, email or text “Go eat a prop” as a gestural reminder to all of us the dangers that lurk us anglers. I’m not only thankful for wearing the Save Phace S.U.M. that day, but I’m equally thankful that it did what it states: it saved my Phace, and quite possibly my life.

See Video As Well

IMA Beast Hunter has Arrived!

New For This Year
The Beast Hunter mid-range crankbait, developed by legendary Japanese pro Jun Shoji, is the newest offering in IMA’s power-fishing arsenal. Shoji guides on Lake Biwa in Japan, where a world record-tyinglargemouth was caught in 2010. With that laboratory at his disposal, he set out to create a lure that can dominate the 10 to 13 foot range where most of Biwa’s monsters are hooked. He’s succeeded in creating aproduct that will successfully hunt down those beasts.
Designed specifically to come through grass, without hanging up or losing effectiveness, the Beast Hunter coordinates the size of the lure’s body and thickness of its sides with the length and width of the lip. On 14-pound fluorocarbon it dominates the 10 to 13 foot range. With a very natural wobble – not too wide, not too tight – a subdued knocking sound not to turn off spooky bass, the Beast Hunter is a power bait that doesn’t overpower the situation.
Its design incorporates a small fixed weight inside, which maximizes diving depth while preventing the lure from tumbling and getting fouled on the cast. The sidewalls are 2.0mm thick which distributes theoverall weight proportionately throughout the body enabling it to stop quicker as it doesn’t glide forward. The diving angle is also tuned so when you come in contact with the weeds, softly lift up on the rod.The Beast Hunter will back slide and glide right over the vegetation. Every aspect of this lure is made to maximize performance.
Although designed by Japanese Pro, Jun Shoji, the Beast Hunter has been successfully tested by the ima pros here on the U.S. lakes. The Beast Hunter will successfully hunt down the beast of your dreams.

The Diving Angle – Secret to avoiding hang-ups
The “buoyancy level and the diving angle” are key factors of being able to come through grass. The Beast Hunter has a perfect combination of the two so when you come in contact with the weeds, softly lift up on the rod. The Beast Hunter will back slide and glide right over the vegetation.

A Fixed Weight and Extremely Thick Body Shell
At 2.0mm thick, the sidewalls are designed much thicker than other baits. This distributes the overall weight proportionately throughout the body enabling it to stop quicker as it doesn’t glide forward. The thickness also helps it float faster. The design incorporates a small fixed weight inside, which maximizes diving depth while preventing the lure from tumbling and getting fouled on the cast.

Casts like a bullet!
From the body design to weight placement, every aspect of this lure is made to maximize performance. The hooks are shielded by the body and lip to keep it weedless without hampering hooking ability. This also allows for dart like casting for great distance.
S
pecs

Length - 2.64 inches Weight - 3/4 oz Hooks - #2 Depth - 10 - 13 ft.(on 14lbs. fluorocarbon) Class - Mid-range crankbait

My ICAST 2011 Bass Fishing Top Picks

Here are the 5 products I am most excited about from ICAST 2011 and that I will mostly likely purchase. These picks are largely based on my obsession with bass fishing and tournament based fishing. There are a ton of great products & I can’t cover them all in this short post, so here is my Top 5:

Optimum Baits Top of the Line Swimbait – The Line Thru category swimbaits has been very popular for two main reasons, fish catching action & better then average hook-up ratio. The main draw back, has been the position of the hook does not come through weeds & cover very well, plus many were not meant to fish deep. Optimum baits introduced the Top of the Line swimbait this year, which will be awesome for fishing through grass and slow rolling around off-shore structure. I have fished the prototypes, you can fish them much deeper and faster then the original Optimum BLT.

VMC Spin Shot Hooks – The new drop shot hook design immediately caught my attention. No special knot to make your hook stand out and line twist should be nearly eliminated. Likely to be a game changer for drop shotting.

Shimano Stradic FJ – I’ve always been a fan of Shimano fishing reels, when they came out with their AeroWrap a few years back that reduced line twist, I changed all my spinning reels out. I am intrigued by the X-Ship double bearing supported pinion gear with two S A-RB shielded bearings that eliminates pinion gear twist and rotor flex when fighting big bass. Should be another instant winner from Shimano.

Dobyns Savvy Micro Guide Series – The Dobyns Savvy series is what I already consider the best value in the bass fishing rod market today. Now they are launching additional models with micro guides at the same price point, sounds too good to be true. They are also launch their Coalition Weapon Series originally targeted at the Army Bass Anglers; main feature on these is an Army-like camo motif.
Response has been so positive; Dobyns now plans on bringing the rods in as permanent fixture to a wider audience.

IMA Beast Hunter – Is a new deep diving crankbait with a great name and same attention to detail you have come to expect from Ima Lures. Designed by legendary Japanese pro Jun Shoji, who guides on Lake Biwa & has a great test ground there to get baits exactly right. The sidewall plastic is 2mm thick which is extremely thick for a crankbait. The reasoning is they wanted the weight in the bait to have a narrower channel so the crankbait wouldn’t roll & helicopter on long. Also angle of the lip was studied for a long time to make it dive at the right angle that would allow it to get down but not get bogged up in grass. If you make the dive angle to steep on a crankbait, it will get down and under the grass and the bait will hang a lot more. The bait comes in at a more gradual angle and if you just slightly raise the rod up quickly, the bait will free itself easily from grass which triggers a lot of strikes. Look for this bait around September 2011.

Sometimes I wonder if I love bass fishing for the sport or because I am such a tackle junkie….

Father's Day Bass Fishing Combo Deal

Get a Sweet Rod & a Super Reel for a super nice deal! If you have not tried Dobyns yet, you are missing out! Check out the rod pages to see the deals!



Offer ends when reels are gone!

Don't forget about the Shaker

Did a bit of fishing this spring. One thing that became apparent in low to mid 50 degree water; the IMA Shaker with it's flat sides and more subtle action is out producing the new highly touted IMA Square Bill designed by Bill Lowen.


Pictured above is the nicest bass I caught, put a bunch in the boat on an IMA Shaker thrown on 12lb Fluoro on my brand new Dobyns 684 CB Crankbait Rod, pretty sweet rod for jerkbaits and light wooden baits like the Shaker, Shad Raps and several other baits.

Both great baits, but early in the year, its hard to beat the profile and action of the Shaker, so my advice, while the traditional Square Bills are getting all the headlines right now, in the early spring, stick with the Shaker for a few weeks. Then when water hits 60 degrees and up, pick that Square Bill up and do work!


As you can see, they were eating the SHAKER!