| The Carolina rig is one of the best tools for covering large areas of water and finding where bass are holding. Using a heavier sinker allows you to make long casts and keep your bait in constant contact with the bottom. This bottom contact is important because it helps you feel changes in such as the transition from sand to rock, or detect small pieces of cover, such as submerged wood or isolated weed clumps. By dragging the rig steadily, you can eliminate unproductive water and zero in on fish-holding spots. Slowing down your retrieve will help you thoroughly work the cover and catch more fish once you locate these areas. This makes the Carolina rig both an excellent search bait and a productive presentation once the fish are found. This rig’s ability to maintain bottom contact at long distances also makes it highly effective in deeper water, where other techniques may lose sensitivity. It’s especially useful for targeting bass that roam offshore structure or are suspended near the bottom in open areas. The leader between the weight and the bait allows your soft plastic to move freely and naturally, increasing its appeal. Since it excels at both locating and catching fish, the Carolina rig is a versatile tool every angler should master. With enough practice, it becomes a go-to method for quickly unlocking a lake’s underwater hotspots.Our Fresh HellaMite is designed to imitate a major aquatic food source, delivering a realistic profile of an insect larva that fish can’t resist. Each is scented for complete and total attraction underwater along with being made in the USA by real fishermen just like you. We’ve recently dropped a new HellaMite Pro Pack that is loaded with 60 total baits in all six proven colors, plus three Owner Block Head Ned Jigs and a handy storage bag. This kit has everything you need to stay rigged and ready year-round. Grab our newest Lil Bass, Hot Sauce, MidNight, Glow, 10w30 Synthetic, Slimer Green, and Barbie Pink HellaMite colors. We’ve also restocked our Green Pumpkin and Smoke Purple HellaMite. The HellaMite’s solid body and hyperactive ribbed tail design produce a life-like quivering action with every twitch of the rod. 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 year-round. When the water is clear, the fish can see the bait and look like real food, causing strikes. Each cast becomes an opportunity for an exhilarating catch, thanks to its superior performance and versatility. |
| The Texas rig shines when you need to fish specific targets or penetrate thick cover. Its weedless design allows it to slide through grass, brush, and timber without snagging. Unlike the Carolina rig, the Texas rig can be fished in place, which is especially effective when bass are inactive and holding tight to cover. The ability to shake or hop the bait without moving it far often triggers strikes from otherwise unresponsive fish. It’s also a great choice for pinpoint casts to small openings in vegetation or between branches. When precision is required to reach hidden fish, the Texas rig is often the go-to setup. This rig also allows for a quiet entry into the water, which is important when targeting bass in shallow or pressured areas. You can easily control the fall rate by adjusting the weight size, making it adaptable to different depths and activity levels. Soft plastics such as lizards, insect larvae, cray-styled baits, beetles, and worms pair well with this rig to imitate a variety of forage. The Texas rig’s versatility makes it equally effective for slow, methodical presentations or aggressive hops and drags. Mastering this setup will give you a reliable way to pull big bass from thick cover and tough spots.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, and the 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 that triggers strikes! |
| When fishing steep banks, ledges, or pond dams, the Texas rig offers better control over your bait’s descent than a Carolina rig. The weight stays close to the bait, allowing you to crawl it slowly down the slope without it sliding too quickly to the bottom. This slow, methodical movement keeps your lure in the strike zone longer. Bass holding at different depths along steep structure are more likely to notice and bite when your presentation lingers in their area. The Texas rig also makes it easier to stop and work your bait at specific depth intervals. This precision is key when targeting bass positioned along drop-offs and other vertical features. It’s especially effective for tempting bass that are staged on ledges or suspended near the edge of deep cover because the bait can be worked so deliberately. Soft plastic baits such as worms, lizards, cray-styled baits, beetles, and insect larvae can be rigged to imitate natural prey slowly moving down a slope. Using lighter weights allows the bait to drift more naturally, while heavier weights help maintain bottom contact in wind or current. This flexibility lets you adjust to changing conditions and bass activity levels throughout the day. By mastering this technique, you can effectively target fish that many anglers overlook when working steep terrain.The new FreshBaitz Lizards deliver a realistic profile that excels in both power and finesse techniques. Act fast, we’ve recently just released new Hot Sauce, MidNight, Ghost, and 10w30 Synthetic 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 weight you choose for either rig affects both how it feels and how it performs. Heavier weights are great for fishing deeper water, cutting through wind, and triggering reaction bites with a faster fall. They also provide better sensitivity, allowing you to detect subtle changes in bottom texture. On the other hand, lighter weights create a slower fall that can tempt finicky fish to bite when they aren’t actively feeding. Matching your weight size to the conditions will make a big difference in how effective your presentation is. A good approach is to start heavier for efficiency, then downsize if bass seem reluctant to commit. Heavier tungsten or lead weights also allow you to maintain better bottom contact in current or choppy conditions, ensuring your bait stays in the strike zone. On the other hand, using lighter weights with soft plastics like lizards, insect larvae, cray-styled baits, beetles, or worms can produce a more natural presentation. Adjusting your weight size also changes how your bait behaves around cover. Lighter weights slip more slowly into tight spots, while heavier ones punch through vegetation quickly. The ability to fine-tune your weight based on water depth, wind, and fish mood can turn an average day into a productive one. Successful anglers constantly experiment until they find the perfect balance for the conditions at hand.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! |
| The profile and action of your soft plastic play a big role in how your rig performs. Bulky baits create more resistance in the water, which slows the fall and produces more movement. These are ideal for aggressive bass and situations where you want to move the bait with a more noticeable action. Smaller profiles offer a calm presentation that can get bites from pressured or inactive fish. Choosing between bulky and streamlined baits should be based on how active the bass are and the type of cover or structure you’re fishing in. The right profile can make the difference between getting short strikes and consistent hook-ups. Matching the bait’s action to the mood of the fish also increases your efficiency, as you’ll spend more time with a presentation they’re willing to eat. In clearer water, streamlined baits with subtle movement often produce better results, while in stained water, bulkier profiles with more vibration help bass locate the bait. The forage available in the area should also influence your choice. Imitating the size and shape of local prey can greatly improve success. Switching profiles throughout the day allows you to adapt to changing feeding patterns and light conditions. By experimenting and observing how bass respond, you can refine your bait selection for maximum effectiveness.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 MidNight, Glow, and Ghost Worms! Our popular Watermelon Red Worms have been restocked as well. 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, Electric 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 — 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. |
| The speed at which your bait falls through the water is a powerful trigger for bass. A fast fall often causes reaction strikes, especially in warmer water when bass are more active. Heavy weights paired with streamlined baits can achieve this, getting the lure to the strike zone quickly. Conversely, a slow fall gives bass more time to inspect and decide to bite, which is useful when they’re sluggish or highly pressured. Bulky baits naturally slow the fall, while lighter weights further enhance this effect. Understanding and controlling your fall rate is a key factor in matching your presentation to the fish’s mood. The angle of the fall can also influence strikes. Vertical drops work well around deep cover, while gliding or diagonal falls can be more appealing in open water. Water clarity plays a role too, as bass in clear water often react differently to fall speed than those in stained conditions. Adjusting your retrieve style, such as pausing between hops or letting the bait pendulum down a slope, can fine-tune how your bait sinks. The right fall rate with the right lure profile creates a more natural and enticing presentation. By experimenting with weight, bait style, and retrieve, you can trigger more bites under a variety of conditions.Introducing the Newest 8-Inch MagDingo Worms! These are the ultimate game-changer in bass fishing! Engineered for anglers who know SIZE does matter, this lure is designed to attract only the BIGGEST bass with a fixation for the larger bait. The MagDingo Worm boasts a solid 8-inch body enhanced with a hyperactive ribbed design, ensuring irresistible mouth-watering action for those trophy bass. The 10-count packs are now available in a variety of 6 crucial colors, including the 10w30 Synthetic, Black & Blue, Zombie Blood, Green Pumpkin, Wild Cherry, and Watermelon Red. Each worm is made in the USA from durable, high-grade Non-Salted plastic for lifelike action and unparalleled durability. Perfectly balanced for a variety of rigging options and scented for maximum attraction, the 8-inch MagDingo 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 trophy-sized smallmouth and largemouth bass. |
| While these guidelines are helpful, bass fishing always requires adapting to the conditions at hand. The same spot that demands a Carolina rig one day might be better for a Texas rig the next. Water clarity, temperature, bass activity level, and available cover all influence which setup will be most effective. Successful anglers experiment and adjust based on what the fish are telling them. Paying attention to small clues, such as where bites occur, how the fish are positioned, and what retrieves work best. These hints will guide your rig choice. Flexibility and observation are just as important as technique in consistently catching bass. The seasonal patterns also play a major role, as bass behavior can change dramatically between spring, summer, fall, and winter. Even the time of day can influence your decision, with morning, midday, and evening often favoring different presentations. Keeping a mental or written record of what works in specific conditions can help you make quicker, more effective choices in the future. The most successful anglers remain open-minded, willing to change rigs, weights, or bait profiles as needed. By treating each day on the water as a fresh puzzle to solve, you’ll stay ahead of shifting conditions.We have a wide variety of terminal tackle to choose from, but we’ve released new Nako Tungsten Tear Drop Shot Weights, crafted from 97% eco-friendly tungsten for stealth, durability, and vibration, with easy-to-read size stamps and a crimped swivel for quick changes. Owner Mosquito Hooks work for dropshotting and perfectly accommodates a wide range of soft plastics. The new Haymaker EWG Worm Hooks are also now available, featuring an extra-wide gap for various soft plastics, a Z-lock shoulder bend for secure bait placement, and an angled-up super needle point for fast, powerful hooksets. The popular All Purpose Hooks are built with an extra-wide gap and are made to accommodate a wide range of soft plastics. For creature-styled baits, a more popular choice to use is the Stand-Up Jig because it sits the bait up-right in a defensive stance! 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 precious 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 that triggers bites. We also just released Keep’em Fresh Bait Bags! These bags are the ultimate solution for anglers who need their gear to perform. Built like a tank, this bag is 20x stronger than regular zip bags and offers 100% waterproof protection with a rock-solid double zipper seal. Whether it’s for soft plastics, snacks, or your smartphone, this reusable and versatile bag keeps everything safe from water, mud, and grime. It’s lightweight yet spacious, it fits snugly in your tackle box or backpack, making it perfect for your next adventure. |
