Tournament News Powered By Lake Drive Marine
Friday, October 10, 2025
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Northland Tackle Report
Northland Minnesota Mullet
Hair jigs have been a bass secret for years, with some companies even offering their own commercial versions of what top-finishers secretly tie on when it’s time for a kicker fish.
The problem? Most largemouth-intended bass hair jigs are too stiff, with more feathers than fluff. Northland took the opposite approach, creating a jig that has all the best attributes of a tiny marabou jig for rod-whipping giant bronzebacks (which Northland also makes) and combined it with a classic bucktail hair jig design.
Yes, the new Northland Minnesota Mullet has loft – and lots of it, for fishing everything from shallow water, over summer weed tops, to open water where largemouths go crazy eating young-of-the-year and even larger panfish. The Minnesota Mullet is a big, flowing, hovering, water pushing machine. The big hair features a synthetic fiber material that creates a breathing, lifelike appearance in the water while also providing flotation to the jig. This will allow you to hover the bait over flats, weed beds, and suspended fish while pulsing the hair, and its tantalizing back feathers tease big bass and other predator fish to absolutely annihilate the bait.
Northland lure designer, Sam Larsen, offers: “Most of the best fish-catching baits are simple in design. We took that direction with the Minnesota Mullet, which is made of three materials on a premium Northland Elite Series Mimic Jighead with 60-degree upward hookbend and heavy wire for solid hooksets. We utilized a unique, synthetic fiber with a lot of loft, buoyancy, and flow; a couple chicken feathers off the back that undulate like a trailer; and just the right amount of tinsel. Then you have the thread tied farther back on the jig hook shank so it’s really streamlined.”
“Especially in the upper Midwest, tournament bass anglers are going to town fishing big hair jigs for bigger bass. We knew we could create a better jig to use in the same manner in-the-know anglers have been doing for the past several years. There’s really nothing like it, especially given that we added an entire extra step to the jig production process by applying vertical lines to the material to give it an even greater forage-matching appeal. These baits look like the real thing that big bass eat,” continues Larsen.
“There is no other bass hair jig that hangs, pauses, breathes, and sheds water so easily, while remaining easy to fish. It gives the right suspending action while having a lot of material to push water—notify big bass of its presence—and really stimulate their lateral lines.”
Currently available in ½- and ¾ ounce with other weights to follow soon. Right now, there are four forage-mimicking colors include Perch, Crappie, White, and Green Bluegill, with a bunch of additional patterns coming down the pipeline. MSRP: $14.99.
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New smaller outboards from Mercury Marine
Mercury Marine has introduced 8 and 9.9hp EFI FourStroke and 9.9hp EFI ProKicker™ outboard engines.
These new outboards feature an advanced Mercury electronic fuel injection system designed to provide boaters, fishing enthusiasts and pro anglers with easy starts and efficient performance.
“In recent years, Mercury Marine has pushed the envelope at the top of the outboard performance range with our 350-400 and 600hp Verado engines, but at the same time, we have focused on developing the next generation of outboards in our lower portable range,” said John Buelow, Mercury Marine president. “Redesigning the 8 and 9.9hp family to include EFI delivers a host of consumer benefits such as faster starting and better fuel economy, which builds on our commitment to continuous improvement and delivering high quality products.”
Lightweight and efficient
Thanks to EFI technology and other enhancements, these engines deliver up to 27% better fuel economy than earlier carbureted models in the same horsepower range. They are light enough to be portable, making them ideal for powering spontaneous adventures on the water in trailerable fishing boats and other small craft, including inflatable tenders. Pound for pound, these outboards produce more top-end horsepower than prior-generation carbureted engines, at a substantial weight savings compared to most EFI outboards in their class.
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Mercury Report
Mercury Marine Avator™
Mercury Marine has launched the Avator™ 75e and 110e electric outboards. These new models are the latest to join Mercury’s all-electric propulsion lineup, which also includes the Avator 7.5e, 20e and 35e outboards.
Since its launch in 2023, Mercury’s Avator electric propulsion series has won multiple design and innovation awards in both the marine and electronics industries. Most recently, the Avator 20e and 35e received 2024 CES Innovation Awards in the Sustainability, Eco-Design and Smart Energy category as well as 2024 Boating Industry Top Products Awards.
“We are proud of all the recognition we have received for our Avator electric outboards to date, and we are excited to introduce our most powerful new models yet,” said John Buelow, Mercury Marine president. “The 75e and 110e electric outboards are well-suited for powering a variety of vessels, including pontoons, runabouts, skiffs and RIBs, providing more people with a user-friendly, sustainable boating experience.”
Powerful performan
Featuring Avator’s industry-first transverse flux motor technology, which delivers instant torque and reliable, efficient power, the new 75e generates 7500 watts at the prop shaft, which converts to 10 horsepower. The 110e generates 11000 watts at the prop shaft, which converts to 15 horsepower.
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Rapala Report
Rapala RapStack Tackle Trays
When you’re more organized, you have more time to catch more and bigger fish. The key is putting your fingers on the right lure at the right time and knowing exactly where it is, is the key.
New Rapala RapStack Tackle Trays are designed for keeping your tackle protected and in perfect order with heavy-duty construction and smart design.
Suitable for hard baits, soft baits, terminal tackle, line, tools and other accessories, Rapala RapStack Trays offer a secure, quick-latch system for single-hand access. Re-writable labels (2 included) allow anglers to label their trays however they like – by different types of lures (saltwater or freshwater), different species (bass, walleye, trout), or different techniques (casting, trolling, jigging).
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Rapala Report
CrushCity™ Freeloader™ by Rapala
True to its name, the CrushCity™ Freeloader™ by Rapala has moved into Jacob Wheeler’s tackle box and won’t move out.
Before the lure was even released to the public, Wheeler used it as part of his winning strategy at a Bass Pro Tour event on Alabama’s heavily pressured Lake Guntersville. That same week, Minnesota angler Adam Rasmussen employed it to win a Bassmaster Open on nearby Wheeler Lake. This “Freeloader” quickly earned its keep.
Collaborating with Wheeler, the product engineers at Rapala sought to create the ultimate chatterbait/spinnerbait trailer bait. It can be used as a vibrating jig trailer, alone as a swimbait, or for countless other traditional and novel soft plastic presentations.