Tournament News Powered By Lake Drive Marine
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p>American Baitworks Report
NetBait Tackle is advancing the company’s line of soft plastic baits with the new STH Finesse Series.
The collaboration between the two American Baitworks Company brands will expand the NetBait product selection with three new series of products: Finesse Series Drifter, Finesse Series Crush Worms and Finesse Series Tubes.
The new NetBait STH Finesse Series products have been designed almost exclusively for fishing smallmouth bass, as well as highly pressured and finicky fish where subtle bait actions and reduced bait profiles are critical to generating more bites.
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Z-man Report
A traditional exposed-hook mushroom jig excels where little to no cover carpets the lake floor.
Yet it’s often in those underwater jungles — grass, brush, rock and boat docks— where bass like to live and lash out at unsuspecting prey. That’s why Z-Man designed the definitive weedless Ned Rig tool, the NedlockZ™ EWG Jighead.
“The NedlockZ EWG Jighead goes where regular Ned Rigs can’t,” declares Z-Man pro angler Brian Latimer, known to friends as, B-Lat. “Anglers are always asking me how to fish a Ned Rig in heavy cover. Now I can tell them, Z-Man’s got just the jig for you.”
Combining a magic-mushroom-shaped NedlockZ jighead and a custom, heavy-duty size 1 VMC extra wide gap EWG hook, the NedlockZ EWG offers easy weedless or “Texposed” style rigging. Custom-forged to match all the best finesse baits, the special EWG hook features a molded keeper barb to lock the bait tight to jighead—superglue optional—even after hard casts or missed hooksets. The hook’s size has also been tailored to accentuate and max out the action of small softbaits, such as the Finesse TRD™ or B-Lat’s favorite Hula StickZ™.
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VMC Report
VMC Crossover Pliers
VMC’s innovative new Crossover system maximizes efficiency for rigging soft plastics and worms on VMC hooks to catch and land big bass.
The system comprises patent-pending Crossover Rings, which feature a dual-channel hood for easy Neko or Wacky rigging, and pliers specially designed to quickly insert soft-plastic worms into the rings.
Crossover Rings are available in three colors (clear, black, green pumpkin) and five sizes (4, 5, 6, 7, mm). They come 10 per pack and have an MSRP of $4.99.
Made of lightweight, durable plastic, Crossover Pliers come with built-in compartments within the handles to store and organize Crossover Rings. Each pair of pliers comes with four 6 mm Crossover Rings and has an MSRP of $14.99 (US).
VMC Crossover system
To rig a soft-plastic worm with the Crossover system, first slide a Crossover Ring over the Crossover Pliers’ closed jaws. Compress the handles to open the jaws, stretching the Crossover Ring. Then, insert and position your worm into the Crossover Ring. Slowly close the pliers’ jaws by releasing tension to the handle while stabilizing the Crossover Rings position. Finally, holding one end of the worm, pull the pliers away from the rig.
And within minutes, you’re ready to catch the big one.
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p>Berkley Report
Berkley Hit Stick Jerkbait
While it’s true that balsa baits have long been favored by lure makers and anglers for their ability to deliver a desirable action, they lack in durability and consistency due to the imperfections that are inherent in natural materials.
After extensive research, Berkley scientists developed the new Hit Stick, a durable, polycarbonate, floating minnow-style bait that delivers the large, rolling action of a balsa bait.
The Hit Stick achieves the unique, high-speed rolling action of balsa baits by using FlashDisc™ technology. The integrated FlashDisc weighting in the Hit Stick also means every bait has consistent action and tracking. The construction also allows the Hit Stick exceptional durability to withstand toothy bites and keep the bait swimming consistently.
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Big Bite Baits Report
Big Bite Best Flipper Ever (BFE)
New Big Bite Baits and jigheads for 2021 are as follows:
BFE: The Best Flipper Ever(BFE) was designed by Bradley Hallman to be the best flipping bait for any condition, anywhere in the country. It has the profile of a tube style bait, but a solid body with rings. The goal was to have the glide and fall of a tube style bait, but to have a more durable product with a higher hook up ratio. The rings give the bait a larger appearance, without the bulk to impact hooking ratios. The tail section is also thin to glide and wiggle for a subtle movement. It can be used around grass, wood, rocks or docks with a wide gap or straight shank worm hook. MSRP $3.99
Magnum Worm Head: Our staff has been using prototypes of this new jighead with great success in tournaments. The arrowhead design of the head helps it stay in contact with the bottom and comes thru rocks or brush. It is molded with a 6/0 Gamakatsu heavy wire hook to stand up to hard hooksets, big fish and heavy line. It is great when rigged with our 8” Finesse Worm. MSRP $5.99.
2.5” Baby Kamikaze Swimon: The Kamikaze Swimon has a new baby brother. We now have a 2.5” Swimon which is the perfect size for crappie. It features a vertical profile with forked tails to look just like a baitfish. The tails feature a series of ridges and holes that make the tails swim with the slightest motion and leave a bubble trail fish can follow. It has a solid ringed body to rig perfectly on any jighead and comes in 17 colors. MSRP $2.49.