| Bass populations face a complex dynamic where juvenile mortality significantly outpaces that of older bass. While mature bass can spawn multiple times a year, producing thousands of eggs per nest, the survival rate of these offspring to adulthood is alarmingly low at less than 0.02%. This high mortality rate is not primarily influenced by the number of eggs produced but by environmental factors such as habitat quality, food availability, water temperature, and predator presence. Anglers play a key role in this ecological balance by practicing selective fishing and catch-and-release, especially during spawning seasons. Understanding these reproductive and mortality rates helps in developing strategies that can increase juvenile survival rates, such as creating or preserving natural habitats that provide shelter and abundant food. These type of insights enable fisheries managers to set appropriate catch limits and size restrictions to ensure the sustainability of bass populations. For anglers, understanding these dynamics is crucial for managing fish populations sustainably and supporting conservation efforts that enhance spawning success and juvenile survival.Our newest FreshBaitz Mandingo Trick Worm is the ultimate game-changer for anglers with a passion! Engineered for the angler who knows SIZE does matter, this lure is designed to attract only the BIGGEST bass with a penchant for the larger bait. The Mandingo Trick Worm boasts a solid 7-inch body enhanced with a hyperactive ribbed design, ensuring irresistible mouth-watering action for those trophy bass. Officially available in a vibrant array of 8 colors. Each worm is made from durable, high-grade Non-Salted plastic for lifelike action and unparalleled durability. Perfectly balanced for a variety of rigging options and scented for total and maximum attraction, the Mandingo Trick Worm promises year-round effectiveness in lakes, rivers, and streams. Whether you’re rigging it on a Shakey Head, Drop Shot, Texas Rig, or Carolina Rig, these worms are your ticket to landing the big ones. Proudly made in the USA by real anglers to help elevate your fishing experience and catch more bass year-round! |
| In their earliest stages, bass are highly vulnerable to predators due to their small size and limited mobility. Initially feeding on tiny insects and plankton, fry are mostly stationary, making them easy targets. As they grow into fingerlings, their diet expands to include larger plankton and small insects, increasing their chances of survival by slightly reducing their vulnerability to predation. This vulnerability also emphasizes the importance of habitat complexity, which provides necessary cover for young bass to evade predators. Conservation efforts that focus on maintaining and enhancing aquatic vegetation can significantly improve survival rates. Anglers can contribute to these efforts by supporting habitat restoration projects and avoiding overfishing in nursery areas. For anglers, recognizing the critical nature of these early stages can guide decisions on fishing practices, especially in areas known for high densities of young bass. Educating fellow anglers about the crucial growth phases of bass and promoting catch-and-release practices during these vulnerable periods can further aid in the preservation of bass.The new FreshBaitz Lizards deliver a realistic profile that excels in both power and finesse techniques. Act fact, we just released new Hot Sauce, MidNight, Ghost and 10w30 Syntheic Lizard designs! The unique forward-facing leg design creates drag that holds it in the strike zone longer or produces wild flapping action with every pull of the rod. Additionally, its slightly ribbed solid body and large head hold your hook in place and provide much better weedless performance making it the ideal bait to use in any condition. Water clarity always plays a super big role in color selection but in any season year-round, you can’t miss when using colors such as Watermelon Red, Black & Blue, or Green Pumpkin. Its flexible tail design ensures added movement, tempting even the most cautious fish. The superior 5.5-inch profile stretches to a whole 7 inches which is perfect for predatory fish including bass year round. Made from long-lasting durable high-grade non-salted plastic for total and maximum attention-grabbing action underwater. |
| The feeding behavior and growth patterns of bass change significantly as they mature. Young bass are opportunistic feeders within their limited range, but as they grow, their increased mobility allows them to consume a broader variety of prey, including other small fish. This dietary shift necessitates movement away from spawning areas to regions with richer food resources, effectively spreading the population across different habitats. As bass grow larger, their ability to target and consume larger and more mobile prey also increases, which can significantly alter local ecosystem dynamics. Anglers can use this knowledge to adapt their strategies, perhaps employing larger lures and targeting deeper waters where mature bass might roam. Understanding the growth phases of bass can help in planning seasonal fishing activities, as bass tend to frequent different areas depending on their size and the time of year. Seasonal changes in water temperature and vegetation also play a crucial role in where and how bass feed, affecting their accessibility to anglers. Anglers should also consider these patterns when choosing fishing locations and techniques.We use our Fresh Scorpion because it closely imitates a crawfish. Our newest 10w30 Synthetic , Slimer Green, and Barbie Pink Scorpion colors work wonders. The Scorpion is a revolutionary new look to soft plastics. Its intricate detailing and texture mimic the nuances of a real crawfish, making it hard for bass to resist. Of course, water clarity always plays a role in color selection but in any season, you can’t miss using colors such as Green Pumpkin Seed, Brown Bark, Magneto. This bait not only appears natural to fish but gives them something to become curious about. The Scorpion paired with a stand-up jig is deadly because the jig actually sits the bait upright in a defensive stance. The subtle color variations across the bait further enhance its appeal, mimicking the natural color shifts found in live prey. Each Fresh Scorpion has a unique and exclusive 3-axis tail design that is engineered like no other soft plastic bait. Our Scorpions are made by anglers from high-grade non-salt plastic to provide superior life-like action-triggering strikes! |
| Schooling is a survival mechanism for bass, particularly at the fry stage, providing safety in numbers from predators. However, this behavior changes as they grow; smaller, less cohesive groups allow for more effective feeding as each fish has better access to resources. This behavior also influences how young bass are distributed in a body of water, affecting where they can be successfully targeted by anglers. As bass transition from fry to juvenile stages, their tendency to school becomes less pronounced, making them more susceptible to anglers who can identify these patterns. The shift from tight schooling to more dispersed groupings often coincides with changes in the aquatic environment, such as increased plant growth or variations in water flow. Anglers can use these environmental cues to predict bass movements and improve their fishing success. Fishing techniques may need to be adjusted based on the bass’s developmental stage and schooling behavior; for instance, using baits that mimic the smaller prey of juveniles can be more effective. Recognizing the decline in schooling with age can also lead anglers to focus on larger, solitary bass that are often more challenging.Our Fresh HellaMite is scented for complete and total attraction underwater along with being made in the USA by real fishermen just like you. Grab our newest Hot Sauce, MidNight, Glow, and 10w30 Synthetic HellaMite colors. We also just released new colors designs including the Slimer Green and Barbie Pink HellaMite. Act fast, these colors won’t stay in stock for long. If you’re fast enough you can also grab our seasonal limited-release Pumpkin Spice HellaMite along with the Money HellaMite. We also recently restocked our Ghost, Red Bug, Purple Rain, Brown Bug, Electric Chicken, and Goby Wan colors. The HellaMite’s solid body and hyperactive ribbed tail design produce a life-like quivering action with every twitch of the rod. Additionally, its unique flat underbelly detail enables this bait to be fished as a drop shot, Ned rig, neko rig, and even a small Carolina-rig, making it the ideal bait in any condition. When the water is clear, the fish can see the bait and look like real food, causing strikes. |
| As bass transition from fingerlings to adults, their predation tactics evolve significantly. They develop strategies like flushing, where they chase down prey in coordinated groups, making them more effective hunters. However, as they grow, their coordination diminishes, though they remain effective at startling prey into open areas where they can be easily caught. This progression in hunting techniques reflects an increase in the bass’s individual strength and confidence, allowing them to tackle larger and more challenging prey alone. Anglers observing this shift can adjust their approach, using techniques and lures that simulate the more complex movements of fleeing prey to trigger strikes from mature bass. As bass grow older and their hunting becomes less dependent on group strategies, they may favor different habitats, such as deeper waters or structured environments where they can ambush prey. Understanding these habitat preferences is crucial for anglers aiming to target larger, more experienced bass. Anglers can use this knowledge to their advantage by mimicking natural bass prey with lures and by fishing in areas where strikes are likely to occur.Our Fresh Beetle delivers ultimate versatility in a soft plastic bait. Its slim yet wide body design and four claws are engineered to naturally glide and wobble as it moves through the water. This design ensures they remain enticingly active longer than conventional baits. Its unique texture also provides a realistic feel, making bass hold on longer once they bite. Water clarity plays a big role in color selection but year-round you can’t miss when using go-to colors such as Chocolate Mint, Ox Blood, or 10w30 Synthetic beetles. The hyper-active swimming claws are designed thin with long-lasting durable non-salt plastic to make them come alive with the slightest movement. The Fresh Beetle offers an enticing 4-inch profile and is scented for complete and total attraction! You can rig these Beetles as a Jig/ Chatter Trailer, Flippin/ Punching, Texas Rig, Swing Jig, and Carolina Rig. Making the beetle beyond perfect in any weather condition year-round! |
| Larger, mature bass undergo significant changes in body shape and behavior, particularly as they gain weight. These changes can affect their stamina and speed, forcing them to adapt their feeding habits and habitats. For instance, older bass may move to deeper waters where they rely more on ambush tactics. As these bass grow, their dietary preferences may shift towards larger prey, which requires less energy to capture relative to the energy it provides. This behavioral shift towards more strategic hunting methods in complex habitats necessitates different angling tactics, such as using bigger and slower-moving lures that mimic the larger prey. The increased bulk of mature bass often leads them to prefer areas with ample cover, such as submerged logs or rock formations, where they can hide and ambush prey effectively. Anglers should also consider the times of day when these bass are most active, typically during lower light conditions like dawn and dusk, to increase their chances of a successful catch. Understanding these changes in behavior and habitat can help anglers target these trophy fish more effectively. Anglers seeking larger bass should focus on deeper waters.Using a stick-styled worm is the most tried and true ways to catch fish. We have a variety of 5-inch Worms to choose from but we just added new MidNight, Glow, and Ghost Worms! You can also experience our new wacky rigging kit while it’s ON SALE! The WACKY Pack offers our most popular colors and essential tools for wacky rigging. If you’re fast enough you might be able to grab the limited-release Pumpkin Spice Worm before it’s completely sold out along with some of our newest colors including the Brown Worm, Electic Chicken Worm, and Goby Wan Worm colors. The high-grade non-salt plastic they’re made from provides positive buoyancy and it even floats underwater! We also released new 6-inch Worms including Charmeleon, Rainbow TRT, Bone, Chocolate Mint, and Fire TGR are all available in 5 and 6-inch. We’ve also recently released new 8-count packs of worms available in Watermelon Red, Black & Blue, and Green Pumpkin. We also offer worms that have the unique ability to shift from one color to another. Scented for total attraction underwater. |
| Managing fisheries to support a population of trophy bass involves careful consideration of the high mortality rates among young and the specific needs of larger bass. Trophy bass are rare and require specific conditions to thrive, including ample cover and prey availability. Anglers pursuing these fish need to practice responsible fishing methods that support conservation efforts, such as catch and release, especially in habitats conducive to the survival of large bass. In addition to catch and release, anglers can also participate in habitat restoration projects, which play a crucial role in enhancing the environments that support the growth of trophy bass. Utilizing selective harvesting practices that avoid removing the largest specimens from the water can further help maintain a healthy breeding stock and ensure the continuance of a trophy class within the fishery. Educational outreach to the angling community about the importance of these practices can aid in fostering a culture of conservation and respect for the ecosystem. By employing advanced fishing techniques, anglers can more accurately target trophy bass without causing undue harm to the population. We have a wide variety of terminal tackle to choose from. For Scorpions, we love to use the Stand-Up Jig because it sits your bait up-right in a defensive stance! The popular All Purpose Hooks are built with an extra-wide gap and are made to accommodate a wide range of soft plastics. The Mosquito Hooks work for drop-shotting and perfectly accommodates a wide range of soft plastics. The Block Head Jig is perfect for ned rigging the HellaMite with its mushroom-style head that seamlessly matches a wide variety of soft plastics. The Offset Block Head Jig, offers the same mushroom-style head with a unique offset hook, making it a go-to for weedless Ned Rig applications. The Shakey Ultrahead can permanently secure baits by inserting the pin in the center and screwing the twist lock coil spring for perfect rigging every time! The Ultrahead Wacky Jig features precise weight positioning and hook orientation for the ultimate wacky presentations. For fast Texas rigging, we use the Bullet-Type Rig which has an attached weight saving you pressure time when fishing cover. The 4x Jungle Flippin Hook is designed for big fish and the toughest conditions. The Range Roller Jig Head is crafted for precision with its high center axis design, perfect for hover-strolling and mid to bottom strolling with forward facing sonar, ensuring an enticing rolling action for soft plastics. |