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It isn't just swimbaits at the Anglers Marine 22nd Annual
Bass-A-Thon
| Date: |
11/27/08 |
|
Location: |
Anglers Marine
- Anaheim, CA |
| Manufacturer: |
Various |
| Reviewer: |
Team
TackleTour |
Introduction: While there is no doubt
that swimbaits stole the show at the Bass-A-Thon there were many other
interesting products highlighted at the event. In part two of our coverage we
look at some interesting new baits, rods, and tools.
Anglers at the Bass-A-Thon prepare
for a seminar
Lucky Craft: We start our coverage back up
with a visit to the Lucky Craft booth where we were greeted by L.C.
representative Roy Gray. He walked us through the latest and greatest new
offerings starting with the Kelly J.
Roy Gray shows us the latest baits
from Lucky Craft
The Kelly J. is named after professional angler
Kelly Jordan who helped design this new lure. The Kelly J. is basically a new
take on the prop bait and is designed to target areas where bluegill are bedded
up. The Kelly J has unique characteristics such as its deep profile and props on
both the front and back. When fished with short jerks, the props work together
to throw water. When simply reeled in, it works much like a buzz bait, according
to Jordon.
A new take on prop baits,
introducing the Kelly J.
The Kelly J. is designed to be fished all day long
and Roy mentioned one of the most effective ways to fish this bait is to twitch
and pop it. "With the deep profile and the way the bait sits in the water, it
really resembles the profile of any small baitfish, especially bream," Jordon
said. "It will throw water and make a lot of commotion on the top without having
to move it very far." Another inside tip from Jordon is to play with the pitch
of the props. If they are cupped deeper, at more of a slant forward to backward,
the bait will come through the water quieter than if the props are flat. Jordon
throws the Kelly J on a medium-action rod, but a longer rod can be used if a
long cast is needed. Also, adjust to a shorter rod when around tight overhangs
and limbs.
Gary Dobyns has a new line of
Phantom Chartreuse lures
Gary Dobyns has also been busy working with the
Lucky Craft team and has introduced a number of Lucky Craft's most popular baits
in his signature Phantom Chartreuse Shad pattern. The belly of the bait is clear
and the center sports a chartreuse yellow lateral line and the top of the bait
is a translucent green-olive color. Anglers can expect to see this pattern on
everything from Pointers to Staysees and LV baits. Each of these baits comes
with Gary's signature silkscreened on to the top of the lure.
Each bait is silkscreened with
Gary's signature
Finally Lucky Craft has also introduced a new
Sammy 105 which unlike the standard Sammy's has a single tungsten knocker that
puts additional noise into the water as the lure is walked across the surface.
Though identical in size this new Sammy will also sport a third treble hook to
increase hook up ratios with aggressive fish. The Sammy is often employed by
anglers for subtle topwater action and it will be interesting to see how this
more boisterous version performs.
A nosier Sammy with an extra hook
Next Section: A Funnel Bait?
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