THE LATEST NEWS
4 Hot Summer Crankbait Tips with Brandon Lester
Team Toyota pro angler Brandon Lester considers himself a “No Shoes Nation” kind of guy. Lester lives on the Alabama-Tennessee border, but loves to spend a couple free weeks in the summertime six hours south of home on the sugar white sandy beaches of the Gulf Coast. His time in Orange Beach, AL is spent relaxing with his young family, and chasing a variety of saltwater species out of the Flora-Bama Marina.
However when it’s time to go to work as a top Bassmaster Elite Series pro in freshwater, few rival Lester’s ability to dredge up summertime largemouth from their deep water haunts on a crankbait. Between recent trips to Lake Guntersville and Orange Beach, he graciously shared four tips that will make you a better deep crankbait angler when water temps are at their warmest.
Be really careful with rattling crankbaits
It’s natural to think a lure that rattles has an increased chance of getting chewed, but Lester says deep divers that rattle are best used in moderation.
“I use a rattling crankbait a lot more in May and June when the fish first go deep, but by July and August, once they’ve been pressured for a couple of months, I prefer the silent crankbaits,” says Lester. “I’ve seen good schools of fish run for the hills purely because of fishing pressure, so be really careful not to overuse rattles, or you might spook a good school.”
Two of Lester’s favorite colors
“Day in and day out, Citrus Shad is my #1 favorite summer crankin color. But again, once the bass have seen a lot of baits by mid-summer, you may want to reach for something a little subtler like Green Gizzard, “ he warns.
He says his color selection is based more on fishing pressure and water clarity than cloud cover. “Clouds versus sun isn’t a huge determiner of what color I tie on. It’s more about using natural colors like Green Gizzard in clearer waters, or at times when bass are getting pressured, but if you’re only choosing one – Citrus Shad is hard to beat, especially if the water is a little dingy.”
Line size
“I use 10-pound Vicious Pro Elite fluorocarbon about 60% of the time, and I’ll bump up to 12-pound line if I’m cranking around a lot of rocks or shell beds, but most of the time I like 10-pound test to maximize the depth of the lure, as well as its action,” says Lester, who fished in college for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Speed of retrieve is super important
“One of the biggest keys to spurring strikes with a deep crank is to burn it through the strike zone. Water temps are plenty warm. A bass can catch anything that swims when the water is warm, and a fast moving bait makes them react instinctively,” says Lester, who winds the reel handle as fast as possible with a 6.3:1 gear ratio reel.
Based on recent social media photos Lester posted, his ability to catch red snapper from 80 feet of water eight miles out in the Gulf of Mexico is pretty strong too.
But when it comes to cranking for largemouth bass in that somewhat magical 14 to 18 foot depth range where summer bass often call home, take note of these four quick tips he shares, and you’re sure to become a little more salty in your cranking game too.
Missile adding Micro Football Jig and Tail Colors
Salem, Va. – July 8, 2019 – Missile Jigs is adding a football version to their innovative Ike’s Micro Jig and Missile Baits is adding a number of new, hot exciting colors including Tail Colors in their new Ned Bomb. The Micro Jig is a new category of jigs that Missile spearheaded in 2018. Sometimes a slightly heavier Micro Jig is needed to fish deeper water so the Ike’s Micro Football Jig was needed. Missile Baits is adding 20 total new SKUs across their Ned Bomb, Bomb Shot, D Bomb, and Shockwaves.
Missile Baits owner and pro angler, John Crews, said, “I have been blown away by the response of anglers all over on the Ned Bomb and Micro Jig. We wanted to give anglers more tools to catch bass, so we had to give them a football version of Ike’s Micro Jig and Tail Colors of the red-hot Ned Bomb. I know I have been wanting both for my arsenal since we thought the ideas up!”
Ike’s Micro Football Jig is much like the regular Micro Jig but will have a traditional football head shape and be offered in 1/4 and 3/8 ounce sizes. The Micro Football Jig will come in 6 colors in each size and feature a 1/0 Gamakatsu jig hook. Designed to be fished on a spinning rod, the Micro Football Jig will be packaged two per pack with the optional weed guards enclosed for a suggested retail of $5.99. Ike’s Micro Football Jigs will begin shipping January 1, 2020.
Mike Iaconelli, veteran pro angler and the creative mind behind the Missile Jigs concepts, said, “The Micro Football Jig is going to be one of my favorite jigs! I will have one of these tied on almost all the time. This super compact jig will go right on my spinning rod and be the option when deep bass get a little tough.”
The Ned Bomb from Missile Baits has given Ned Rig anglers another tool to catch bass and the addition of 6 Tail Colors will be a totally new look for anglers to serve up to the bass. The Ned Bomb is a 3.25” soft plastic ribbed bait that has a beaver shaped tail. It comes in 16 total color options. The Ned Bomb comes in a 10-count bag for a suggested retail price of $3.99 and are available to ship now.
MISSILE BAITS is a small company dedicated to creating SERIOUS soft plastic baits to help anglers catch more fish. The designs are straight off the top-level professional bass tour. Based in Salem, Virginia, MISSILE BAITS works relentlessly to make the best baits, show their customers how to use them, and stay on the cutting edge of bass fishing. Founded in January 2012, new products and videos will continue to be launched. Log onto www.MISSILEBAITS.com for videos, tips, forums, and more.
GILL Introduces Must-Have FG120 Expedition Shorts at ICAST
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Buford, GA (July 7, 2019) – Expedition Shorts have been in the Gill portfolio for some time, but not like this… Featuring a patented 4-Way stretch fabric and UV50+ protection, this year Gill added two great product advancements: zippered side pockets (upgraded from Velcro) and a reinforced pliers pocket so your fishing tools are always close at hand. |
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Like the rest of Gill’s fishing-focused collection, the Expedition Shorts feature specialized amenities, like a kill cord switch loop, wicking and quick drying properties and angled back pockets for ease of access. Available in XS-4XL sizing and colors khaki, medium grey, and graphite. MSRP: $69.95. www.gillfishing.com. |
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To learn more about Gill’s fishing rainwear and additional apparel, visit www.gillfishing.com. |
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About Gill Gill was an idea first born on British waters in 1975 by founder Nick Gill, a keen sailor who wanted to create a range of sailing product without compromise; the best fabrics, the best features, the best quality. Now trusted for over 40 years, Gill has grown into an established technical marine apparel brand meeting consumer needs both on and off the water and continues to combine innovative design with the latest fabric technology to increase the performance of its range. Distributed around the world to 37 countries and more recently through a global Ecommerce platform Gill remains the number one marine glove brand and its comprehensive product range driven by the well-known Race Ocean jacket (0C1) as well as global best seller the Offshore jacket (0S2) continue to set it apart. More recently Gill introduced the highly successful FG21 Tournament Suit with vortex hood to the North American Fishing market. |
SNEAK PEEK – ICAST2019
The following is a quick introduction to three latest product innovations that we are launching at ICAST 2019. Our Finesse Series, Gambit Swimbaits, and Crasher Jigs. No matter where you live, we have you covered with a full new line-up of both Fresh & Saltwater lures. Check out the details below for a better look at our latest innovations. If you will be at ICAST look for them in the New Product Showcase, or feel free to stop by our booth #1710. More announcements to come!
Finesse Swimbait
There are times when you just have to cover water. The Lunkerhunt Finesse Swimbait is a great tool for covering water and catching fish, lots of fish! Its size and available patterns mimic a wide range of baitfish species that draws attention when worked with the correct action. Retrieve it fast and bulge the surface to imitate a fleeing minnow, or slow things right down and bump the bottom at random intervals to make the Finesse Minnow seem like a wounded baitfish. Be ready to limit out.
The Finesse Swimbait is 3 inches long and is available in 6 fish-catching patterns. Each pack includes one swimbait pre-rigged on a ¼ Oz weedless mushroom head jig, and two spares. 8-packs of bodies only are also available.
Finesse Worm
Sometimes in fishing, less is more. The Pre-Rigged Finesse Worm is a clean and simple lure that consistently puts fish in the boat, even when it seems they just don’t want to bite. Cast it out, let it sink to the bottom, and wait for a few seconds. If a fish doesn’t hit, reel in a foot or two of line, hop your rod tip a bit, and let it sink to the bottom again for another long pause. If fish are around, you’ll likely get thumped before you reel the Finesse Worm back in for the next cast. The Finesse Worm is 3 inches long and is available in 6 fish-catching patterns. Each pack includes one worm pre-rigged on a ¼ Oz weedless mushroom head jig, and two spares. 8-packs of bodies only are also available.
Finesse Craw
Crawfish are a favourite delicacy of many freshwater gamefish and panfish species, including bass. The Lunkerhunt Finesse Craw mimics a juvenile crawfish scurrying along the bottom when worked with a quick lift, pull, and short pause action. With a slow lift, drop, and long pause, they look like a crawfish in the defensive position. No matter the action, rest-assured that the Lunkerhunt Pre-rigged Finesse Craw is simply a powerful fish catcher.
The Finesse Craw is 3 inches long and is available in 6 fish-catching patterns. Each pack includes one craw pre-rigged on a ¼ Oz weedless mushroom head jig, and two spares. 8-packs of bodies only are also available.
Gambit
The Lunkerhunt Gambit Swimbait is designed to catch both saltwater and freshwater gamefish species. Its premium finish mimics a wide range of baitfish species, while the weedless hollow-body design allows it to run true around cover as well as in open water conditions. The Gambit is 4.5 inches long, weighs 5/8 Oz and has a 5/0 hook ready to lock into fish as soon as they strike. Covering all the bases, the Gambit runs true at high and low speeds, and when crawled along bottom. Available in 8 patterns.
2019 Bass Pro Tour Recap (Takahiro Omori)
The 2019 Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour is in the books…..here is what Takahiro Omori had to say after the conclusion of Stage 8 at Lake Winnebago.
Follow Takahiro on his Facebook page.
Follow Major League Fishing here.