Scott Secules is a mad scientist when it comes to bladed jigs – he constantly experimenting with components like hooks to tailor lures to specific situations. Because he lives in big bass country and he’s not affiliated with any tackle company, I trust his evaluation of trailers.

If you’re like me, you check out the “New!” tab on the Tackle Warehouse website regularly, perhaps daily, or even multiple times a day. It’s amazing how much new inventory they add every week and it keeps tackle junkies like me intrigued.

Daiwa has a lineup of high-end rods, in a huge number of actions, that come in just below $150. Their cork-handled Tatulas are what the pros use, and you can, too. We caught up with Jordan Horita at the 2025 Bassmaster Classic to get the scoop on them.

Lots of the obsessive big bass hunters are secretive and standoffish. That’s why I can’t understand how Oliver Ngy catches so many fish – he doesn’t fit that prickly mold. On the contrary, he’s always ready with a smile, willing to share information.

Tilapia aren’t just in Mexico. We’ve fished for bass around them in Texas, where they thrive in a number of private lakes we’ve visited as well as in tournament venues like Falcon and Amistad. That’s why we were excited that GSM introduced a new “Texas Tilapia” color at the Bassmaster Classic in Ft. Worth.

My friend Scott Secules is more addicted to frog fishing than anyone I’ve ever met — and he stays up on the latest introductions and color choices. Here are five he cannot live without.

We eat Mexican food every week, so we don’t need an excuse to saddle up to a bowl of guacamole. Even if it’s only a once-a-year treat for you, you probably didn’t know how many guac-themed fishing lures are out there.

Thanks to the international tentacles of SPRO, many of the best JDM tackle products can be purchased from outlets like Tackle Warehouse.Bryan New led us through some of his Japanese favorites at the 2025 Bassmaster Classic Expo.

Owner makes specialized products made for serious anglers. While there are an increasing number of brands that make quality terminal tackle, some of Owner’s distinctive styles should get the call for your next trip to Lake El Salto or Lake Picachos.

Pencil poppers came to the bass world from striper anglers, and while they’ve long been used successfully in the Ozarks, they really gained market steam when bluebacks infested the Carolinas. There are lots of colors available, but it’s hard to go wrong with good old chrome.

Bassmaster Classic qualifier Louis Monetti is a key cog in the Bizz Baits effort, giving the lures a workout on the water and living on the road. We caught up with him at the 2025 Bassmaster Classic to get some recommendations on products we need to take south of the border.

The Clutch Boss has been one of the worst kept secrets on the Elite Series. The second worst is their Darter. Now they’ve added a Baby Boss to the lineup. We caught up with Josh Pladies at the 2025 Bassmaster Classic to discuss “starter colors.”

We caught up with Marc Mills in the Daiwa booth at the 2025 Bassmaster Classic in Ft. Worth to learn about their new Steez travel rods. They feature the same components the pros use on tour, just in an easier-to-pack condition.

Yeti’s Panga backpack is tough and spacious, yet compact enough to fit under the airplane seat in front of you. I tested the bold new Firefly Yellow color with the goal of standing out in a crowd while protecting my gear.

There are some basic lipless crank patterns that’ll never go out of style – like chrome with a blue back or classic Rayburn Red. However, I rarely hear anglers talking about traps imitating yellow perch, despite the fact that they’re one of the most prolific forage species throughout the north.

We probably won’t get a chance to fish Australia for a few more years, but when we do we’ll be sure to have some color patterns that replicate the local forage, including colorful coral trout.

We can’t cast as far as the captains and mates at Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge. Our best casts might approach the length and accuracy of their worst, but it’s typically like we’re playing checkers and they’re playing chess. If you’re going to head down there, it pays to realize this ahead of time and work on improving your casting.

Most of the tackle in our garage have a story and I love finding gear that represents my fishing history. In a recent search, I located some nostalgic items that represent my experiences on the Potomac River. Even though they’re from my earliest years, I still use much of what I used back then.

These basic hook choices from Gamakatsu are the perfect starting point for any Mexican bass vacation — strong, sharp and reliable.

One of my 2024 highlights was taking “bass tackle” to Panama in May and using it to fight yellowfin tuna. I spent the next seven months planning and refining my tackle choices for our return in January of 2025. Unfortunately, the results were underwhelming.