Smeltinator Jig from Northland Tackle

The Smeltinator Jig used by Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson to win last year’s Bassmaster Classic is now available from Northland Tackle.

With 13 colors, four sizes (1/8-, ¼-, 3/8-, and ½-ounce), and five hook sizes (1/0, 2/0, 3/0, 4/0, and 5/0) from which to choose, the jigs come three per card for suggested retail of $7.99

Smeltinator Magic

The 2023 Bassmaster Classic wasn’t the first time that Gussy stacked big weights and solid limits of smallmouth bass on the Tennessee River out of Knoxville, Tennessee. Back in March of 2021, Gussy first put the “moping” technique to use, sinking Kenora, Ontario-designed Smeltinator Jigs to fill his ‘well for weigh-in at the 2021 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite. Gussy went wire-to-wire for four days of the event, weighing 63 pounds, besting second place by an impressive seven pounds. Gussy trailered home to the far north with over $100,000 in his pocket.

Two years later Gussy did it again, ‘moping’ suspended smallmouths with the Smeltinator Jig on forward facing sonar, proving the money method for the 2023 Bassmaster Classic title, the $300K payout, and honors as the top bass stick on the planet.

The Smeltinator is hardly new to the fishing scene. The jig and the moping technique have been dominating the Canadian tournament scene for a decade. Gussy, Northland founder John Peterson, Canadian professional angler Jamie Bruce, and Bryan Gustafson of Bass Tactics have won many tournaments and cashed big checks at events like the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship and Kenora Bass Invitational using the Smeltinator Jig and the moping technique.

The “moping” technique involves fishing a fluke or minnow-style plastic on the Smeltinator Jig and the Smeltinator Underspin Jig over the top of deep suspending smallmouth bass. The design of the jig allows it to hang perfectly horizontal like a real shiner, smelt, or shad. Suspending smallmouths “feed up” on these schools of baitfish. Hanging the Smeltinator above actively feeding fish has proven to yield serious bites and big tournament weights.