Northwest Fishing Reports

Dang, this took much longer to complete than I originally thought.

I've attempted to create a consolidated list of "new" swimbaits that are or will be available for the 2009 season. Please note that when I say "new", I'm including new baits released since about mid 2008. There are also a few entries that deal with new colors, features, etc. to existing baits. I know a number of these "new" swimbaits have previously been discussed in this forum but I hope that there is at least one item in the list that is new to each of you.

Now for the boring details of how this post is arranged:
- I started by identifying three links to reviews of the November 2008 Bass-A-Thon where a number of new baits were unveiled.
- I followed this by identifying 6 on-line retailers that sell swimbaits. Please note that in some cases the on-line retailers are the only places to view a specific new swimbait. I've assigned a reference number to each retailer.
- I ended by identifying 28 swimbait manufacturers and their new swimbaits. In cases where the manufacturer website doesn't show the new swimbait, I refer you to an on-line retailer to see and/or purchase the new swimbait. A "(?)" in front of a swimbait indicates that this bait is rumored to be in development and I'm hoping to see it in 2009. In the case of the 3:16 baits, prototypes exist but it is unclear if the designs will go into production.

Here is to your personal best largemouth, smallie and/or spot in 2009!

Tim


DISCLAIMER: Please note that I'm not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the manufactures or retailers identified in this post. In addition, please don't take this list as a recommendation for any specific manufacturer, bait or retailer.


Anglers Marine 2008 Bass-A-Thon Reviews (New Swimbaits Are Shown/Discussed)
- Rob Belloni's 2008 Bass-A-Thon Review http://www.calfishing.com/dc/dcboard.ph ... 0779&page=
- Tackle Tour's 2008 Bass-A-Thon Review http://www.tackletour.com/reviewbassathon08.html
- Hooked Up Tackle's 2008 Bass-A-Thon Review http://www.hookeduptackle.com/46.html?p ... 6a1FTgdxy4


On-Line Retailers [NOTE: I have purchased from all of these retailers in the past]
/1/ Bass Tackle Depot http://www.basstackledepot.com/
/2/ Hooked Up Tackle http://www.hookeduptackle.com/
/3/ Outdoor Pro Shop http://www.outdoorproshop.com/
/4/ Performance Tackle http://www.performancetackle.com/
/5/ Swimbait City http://www.basstackledepot.com/
/6/ Tacklewarehouse http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/


A.C. Plugs http://www.acplugs.com/
(I don't know anything more about these baits than what is shown on the AC Plug website)
- New soft plastic Bluegill
- New Hardbait Lineup
- New soft plastic Castaic Rev 2.0

Bait Smith http://www.baitsmith.com/
- New 9.5-inch soft plastic Magnum Trout [Also available at /2/ and /5/]
- New 5-inch soft plastic Shad [Also available at /2/]
- Exclusive new 6-inch trout colors only available at /3/

Basstrix
- New soft plastic 4-inch Extreme Vibration Tube (looks like a fatter version of their original paddletail) [Available at /1/]

Bettencourt Baits http://www.bettencourtbaits.com/
- New Bullhead/Catfish swimbait http://bettencourtbaits.com/forum/viewt ... ?f=12&t=25

Black Dog Baits http://www.blackdogbaits.com/
- New 6 & 8-inch molded (hard plastic) Lunker Punker [Available at /1/]
- New Billed Shell Cracker (aka Bill Cracker) [Available at /1/]
- New Shell Cracker colors [Available at /1/ and /6/]
- New Tail Wagger colors [Available at /1/]
- Custom baby bass 6 & 8-inch Lunker Punker only available at Black Dog Baits
- Discounted blemished 6 & 8-inch Lunker Punker only available at /6/

Castaic http://www.castaicswimbait.com/
- New soft plastic 4, 6, 8 & 10-inch Catch 22 swimbait [Also available at /6/]
- Redesigned hard plastic Rock Hard trout swimbaits [Scheduled to become available Jan 15/09]
- New hard plastic Rock Hard sunfish & baby bass swimbaits [Scheduled to become available Jan 15/09]
- Redesigned Hard Head Quick Snap trout shaped swimbaits [Were scheduled to become available Jan 1/09]

CL8Bait http://www.cl8bait.com/
- New hard plastic 9-inch swimbait [Also available at /2/ and /6/]

Heavyweight Bass Classic Exclusive Colors http://www.heavyweightbassclassic.com/
- 6 & 8-inch Huddleston Trout
- 3:16 Wake Jr

Huddleston http://www.huddlestondeluxe.com/
- Reduced prices for 6 & 8-inch trout [Also available at /1/, /3/ and /5/]
- New phantom colors for 6 & 8-inch trout [Also available at /1/ and /3/]
- New 6-inch weedless trout. ROF12 available for ordering now. ROF5 coming soon.
- Huddle-Bond glue for repairing soft plastic baits. Available in clear or 5 different colors.

Jerry Rago
- New hard plastic 3.5, 4, 5.25 & 6.5-inch walking Delta Rat [Available at /3/ and /6/]
- Increased availability of earlier hard swimbaits. See /3/ for a list of earlier swimbaits. Contact /3/ and /5/ for more information.

John Hopkins http://www.johnscrankbait.com/
- New Smallmouth & Striper swimbaits [I don't remember where I saw this announcement]
- New Perch (glow belly) & waking Largemouth swimbaits http://www.tackletour.net/TTForums/view ... ef#p260323
- New slow sinking Crappie & Tilapia swimbaits http://www.tackletour.net/TTForums/view ... ef#p260323

Josh St. John http://www.jsjbaits.com/
- New hard plastic 3-piece 7-inch Snack Sized Trout [Also available at /1/, /3/, /5/ and /6/]
- New hard plastic 4-piece 7-inch Snack Sized Trout [Only available at /3/]
- New hard plastic 6.5-inch Snack Sized Bluegill [Availability date hasn't been announced]

KGM Custom Baits http://www.geocities.com/kgmcustombaits/
(I don't know when these originally were released but I first saw them during summer 2008)
- 4.75 & 5.5 inch soft swimbaits [These have been available at both Auburn Sports & Marine and Three Rivers Marine]

Leviathan Big Bait Co.
- The 8 & 10-inch 2x4 is now available at /2/

Mattlures http://www.mattlures.com/
- New 5.75-inch Hard Bluegill series
- 9-inch Woody wakebait is on sale for $19.95 ($10 off the original price)

MS Slammer http://www.msslammer.com/
- "New" tails on the Mini Slammer. I don't know when Mike made the change but the baits now come with a RonZ 6-inch eel tail. Replacement tails can be ordered on-line from Saltwater Edge in Middletown, RI which is one of the retail sources identified on the RonZ website http://www.ronzmfg.com/.
- You can now purchase replacement tails for the original Slammer baits on-line through the ebait site identified on the Slammer website. To order the tails, select a Slammer bait on the ebait site then scroll to the bottom of the page to "Related Item(s)".

NatesBaits http://www.natesbaits.com/
- New hard plastic 14-inch El Grande wakebait [Also available at /2/]
- New hard plastic 11-inch Trout swimbait [Also available at /2/]
- New hard plastic 11-inch Lil' Largemouth swimbait [Also available at /2/]
- Two new hard plastic 5.5-inch Bluegill colors (green sunfish & redear sunfish) [See /2/]

Optimum Baits http://optimumbaits.com/OB2/
- New soft plastic 3.75 & 5.25-inch Double Diamond Swimmer [Also available at /6/]

Osprey
- New soft plastic 7-inch Tournament Talon swimbait [Only available at /3/]

Orso http://www.orsoswimbaits.com/index.htm
- New 4-inch Gill-Zilla Jr & 7-inch Gil-Zilla swimbaits
- New 8, 12 & 16-inch Trout sw

Awesome list. Keep it updated and you're the man !

Tim! Wow! That is an amazing list! I have been snooping around to see what's out there in soft plastics because I think softbaits are going to take-over (sure, people will always fish their favorites that work consistently)

Anyway, I spent a good deal of time this evening chasing your links! Thanks for all of the effort and for sharing it.

David

That is an impressive list. Sees now that I will be wrapped up doing a bit of browsing myself. Thanks for passing such great information on to us!

i dunno, those baits are way too big to catch bass. i'll stick to dropshotting 3" senkos

Exactly my thoughts. Plus, those 3-inch Senkos are much easier to pack around than those old BBZ, Baby Wake, Kong & Tru-Tungsten swimbaits.

Not to mention the cost of swimbaits these days! WOW

If a $20+ lure gets hung up, it's time to go swimming! :rambo:

I've bought rod & reel combos that were cheaper than some of the fancy new swimbaits!

2 inch Senko's treated me right last year, plus they are cheaper on the GY website

Im trying not to spend all my $$$ on swimbaits this year. I've got alot collected now and about 20 new ones that havent touched the water yet....

Only lures imma buy for now are Jigs... Plus Big Jigs after time should produce a more constant big bass bite IMO. Funny how many fisherman dont know how to pitch or even use a Jig. I'm buying 2 more swimbaits after i get my boat and that should be it till mid summer...

Has anyone tried the hardnose mullet?

Cabelas has them on sale in the bargain cave for $1.88 (was $3.19)
Link

It is interesting to note that the colors shown on the Cabelas site are not even close to the ones shown on the manufacturer site.

From Cabelas:


From Mann:

You should your moneys worth per lure. Those hardnose baits can go along time..

I have never used those Mann's. The color's don't look very appealing. If it was me I would hold off on those, no use paying sales tax,shipping and all that cabela's crap. You'll end up spending more than you should IMO.

ChrisB wrote:I have never used those Mann's. The color's don't look very appealing. If it was me I would hold off on those, no use paying sales tax,shipping and all that cabela's crap. You'll end up spending more than you should IMO.

Very true CB, spend $50 on many other websites and spend no tax and no shipping and get something thats proven. Or if you wanna go that Manns style route, get the TW Swimmer from KGM, those are proven.

6"TW Swimmy w/1 oz Revenge Head,..nice bait!

BB

ChrisB wrote: The color's don't look very appealing.

Only thing that matters is if the colors appealing to bass.... watermelon w/ red flake swimbait would be a very hot color for bass. Thats my go to color for soft plastics other than green pumpkin. Smallmouths in the past have killed my lure when it was watermelon seed w/ red flake.

I also think the pearl white would be very good for bass fishing...

Basstradamus wrote:

ChrisB wrote: The color's don't look very appealing.

Only thing that matters is if the colors appealing to bass.... watermelon w/ red flake swimbait would be a very hot color for bass. Thats my go to color for soft plastics other than green pumpkin. Smallmouths in the past have killed my lure when it was watermelon seed w/ red flake.

I also think the pearl white would be very good for bass fishing...

AMEN! I ordered couple bags of the 4 1/2" in watermelon/red & new penny. What the heck? The price was right. I'm hoping that someone @ Cabelas screwed up the pics and the actual colors resemble what's on the Mann site.

Watermelon w/red & black flake works GREAT. If I'm fishing in shallow water that's in direct sunlight, green pumpkin is the ticket.

I caught this "little" beauty last spring on a 4" senko (watermelon w/red & black flake).



Big fish will definitely hit small baits! I didn't have a scale at the time , but when you compare the size of her mouth to the size of her belly, there's no doubt that this fish was a chunk.

HillbillyGeek wrote:
I caught this "little" beauty last spring on a 4" senko (watermelon w/red & black flake).

Big fish will definitely hit small baits! I didn't have a scale at the time , but when you compare the size of her mouth to the size of her belly, there's no doubt that this fish was a chunk.[/size]

Ya thats my go to color if i ever start using soft plastics agian. I would think that bass you caught "which i might add it a beauty" is a very aggressive eater. You can tell by the size of the mouth to body ratio. Big mouth on a big body usually means the bass is older, smaller the mouth on a big body usually mean the bass is younger and feeds more agressive.

At least thats what a bunch of pros have said! :thumleft:

First off i just ordered a couple of those new Tru Tungstun 4" Tru Lifes, I'm anxious to see what they look like in my greedy hands. From the vids I have seen they look pretty amazing. Nice that they were thoughtful enough to make a color (perch) for us west coasters, although I guess perch are everywhere. I sure get tired of all the shad patterns though.

Also as far as the Mann's I have used some of their other hard nosed baits in the past and for my money they are worthless. The action and softness is not what you would find in a Yamamoto or RI bait at all. I remember trying their frogs 2 years ago, seeing as frogs are one of the more expensive soft baits and they also tear up the quickest. Well I went about 2 hours without a strike, then switched to a Zoom Horny Toad and immediately started getting hit. There's a reason they're so cheap is what I'm saying i guess.

The Tru-Tungsten 4 inch baits are REALLY small. They have great action though. I got a perch also.