I have spent the last week working with Berkley and Rapala on new fishing lure designs and colors. It’s a part of my job that I like the best, especially when the sponsors pay attention to what you say and take your opinions seriously. And the smart ones do just that.
We (professional anglers) know what works and what doesn’t. Our living is dependent upon catching fish so we don’t tolerate sorry lures. They catch fish or they go in the trash. The best companies — ones like Berkley and Rapala — know and respect that. That’s why they have the reputations they do and why they’ve been around forever.
Let me tell you up front, though, that I can’t give you any details about what we’re working on. They want to keep it a secret until the new lures and new colors are released at next year’s Bassmaster Classic. I know hearing that is frustrating but there really is a good reason for keeping things under wraps.
This is a business. Unfortunately, if we release the details now, another company might market them first. That would mean all the money and effort we put into these things would be wasted. That doesn’t make sense from a business point of view. As you know, if they don’t make a profit they won’t be around very long.
My work with Berkley has centered on developing new designs and colors for our Havoc line of plastics. The new stuff is something else. They’ll knock your socks off when you see them, and you’ll be even more impressed when you fish with them.
I’ve also been working on some new hard baits from Rapala. I don’t suppose there’s anyone out there who hasn’t caught bass on one of their well-made, durable and lifelike baits. Our new ones are going to continue that tradition, or maybe even enhance it.
If I sound excited, it’s because I am. Once the final prototypes are finished, I’ll be able to fish with them for a while before you can. That’ll give me an opportunity to develop a few techniques that’ll be specific to each bait, techniques that’ll help you fill your livewell next year.
I’m also excited about the next three weeks. I have a tournament in another circuit and then I’m off to Oneida Lake in New York for the final Northern Open. Once those events get underway, I should be able to write about some hard core fishing stuff that’ll be specific to this time of the year.
The early fall can be tough on some lakes because of the fish movement — and the storms haven’t helped things. Nevertheless, if you can find them and if you can learn to follow them, you can have some of the best days of bass fishing in your life. I know I have.
I hope everyone had a safe and fun Labor Day. We’ll talk next week.
