CONTENTS PG.3
TOP 5: RESOLUTIONS TO FISH BETTER IN 2018
Now that all those silly resolutions like going to the gym and eating better have already come and gone, it’s time to step up your fishing game for this new year.
PG.5
PG.7
LUNKERHUNT PROP FISH
This was the ICAST 2017 “New Product Showcase” Winner and it’s easy to see why. Check out some tips and techniques for fishing this new and innovative bait
FISHHOUND BREAKDOWN:
LUNKERHUNT PROP FISH
An in-depth look at the components that make up this unique topwater bait.
PG.9
CASEY’S CLASSIC RUNNER HEAD
PG.11
MEET THE LTB TEAM
The underspin is quickly becoming one of the most popular cold water baits. Casey Ashley won the 2015 Bassmaster Classic on this very bait and we give you the basics of how and when to fish it on your body of water.
Introducing some of the people behind-the-scene at Lucky Tackle Box who help to keep all the best fishing products coming to your door every month.
FH | 5
WINNER ICAST 2017 NEW PRODUCT SHOWCASE WINNER
LUNKERHUNT PROP FISH Written by Andrew Schadegg
What makes the Lunkerhunt Prop Fish unique is its single prop system. During the retrieve, the Prop Fish has a surface churning action that closely mimics bait fish breaking the surface, as well as cutting through and around cover. The Prop Fish excels when fish are pressured, spooked, and super shallow. It has a weedless
hook system and streamlined body shape that enables it to effectively torpedo through and skip under cover, which enables it to get into the hard to reach places where no other prop baits have been before. When fish strike, high quality, super sharp, weedless hooks are there to greet them.
Pro Tips: Many times of the year, bass live in the thickest cover and if you want to have a chance of catching them, you better be fishing in there too. That means you need a lure that can handle the gnarly matted grass, thick lilly pads, the heart of that brush pile or tree. A topwater bait like the Prop Fish is perfect for fishing this type of cover. Try tossing the bait past your target, even up on the bank if you’re fishing a stretch of shoreline. This will keep you from spooking any fish in the area and will allow you to keep the element of surprise. Bass are hiding in those hard to reach places, looking up and waiting for an easy meal to go by.
Drew’s Notes: The most important thing when fishing heavy cover is making sure you’re using the right gear. With a bait like the Prop Fish, you need a stout rod, much like you’d use for frog fishing. Something in the 7’1- 7’4 range, mediumheavy to heavy with a fast-action tip. This will give you the backbone you need to get that fish hooked. Always make sure you’re throwing these kind of baits on heavy braid, like 50-pound Seaguar Smackdown.
Water Depth
Recommended Gear
Topwater Mid-Depth
6:3:1 Casting Reel
Bottom
50 Lb Smackdown Braid
Depth 8-25 Feet
7’1 – 7’4 Med/Heavy to Heavy Casting Rod
Location
Brush Piles
Docks
Grass
Humps
Ledges
Mats
Open Water
Points
Rip Rap
Rocks
Trees
Tules/Reeds
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FISHHOUND BREAKDOW
WN
FH | 9
ROADRUNNER / BLAKEMORE
CASEY’S CLASSIC RUNNER HEAD Written by Andrew Schadegg
Designed by the 2015 Bassmaster Classic winner himself, Casey Ashley, the Blakemore Casey’s Classic Runner Head is the bait Casey used to claim the 2015 Bassmaster Classic title on Lake Hartwell, which turned out to be one of the coldest and most grueling Classics in the 45-year history of the tournament. While most of the field struggled to catch a solid limit, Ashley used a homemade version of the Blakemore Casey’s Classic Runner Head paired with a Zoom Super Fluke Jr. to catch healthy bags each day and take home the
victory on his home lake. The Blakemore Casey’s Classic Runner Heads features a pony head design with a willow bade attached by a premium swivel directly below the head. Thanks to the premium swivel, the blade keeps turning no matter how slow you retrieve it. And the slow retrieve was the key for Ashley in getting his bites. The Classic Runner Heads also feature premium powder coated finishes, as well as, prism eyes and premium super sharp hooks.
Pro Tips: By far, one of the most effective cold water techniques (as well as throughout the year) is the underspin. Over the last few years, it has become a standard bait used by anglers all over the country to catch the most finicky fish. One of the best features of the underspin is versatility. The Classic Runner is perfect for your smaller 3-inch to 4-inch swimbaits, but there are other brands that have bigger versions up to an ounce or more that can handle 4-6 inch swimbait.
Drew’s Notes: Making sure that you’ve paired the right line size and rod type is really important for this technique. For the smaller sized underspins (3/8 ounce and under), you’re definitely going to want to throw a medium to medium-light spinning rod with 8 pound or lighter Seaguar Tatsu or InvisX fluorocarbon. I recommend a longer rod, something in the 7’1 to 7’6 range. Getting to the bottom is really important. Once your line goes slack, slowly reel it back to you, keeping contact with the bottom. If you aren’t sure if you’re still bumping the bottom, open your bail and let the bait fall again. When you get a bite, just turn and reel into the fish with steady pressure.
Water Depth
Recommended Gear
Topwater Mid-Depth
KK Pontus 3000
6-8 Lb InvisX or Tatsu Fluorocarbon
Bottom
Depth 8-25 Feet
7’1 MXS Spinning Rod
Location
Brush Piles
Docks
Grass
Humps
Ledges
Mats
Open Water
Points
Rip Rap
Rocks
Trees
Tules/Reeds
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MEET THE LUCKY TACKLE BOX TEAM!
Everyone at LTB works hard to create the best experience possible for our subscribers, so we wanted to introduce you to a couple members of our team here at Lucky Tackle Box. It takes a lot of dedication and passion to keep this company rolling out all the best fishing products every month to your doorstep, so we wanted to give you a little look behind-the-scenes at some of the people that keep it all running smoothly.
Justin Pakdaman
Derek Young
Job Title: Marketing Director
Job Title: Creative Director
Personal Best: 6.5lb Largemouth Bass
Personal Best: 5lb Largemouth Bass
Favorite Water: Lake Arrowhead, CA
Favorite Water: Lake Cachuma, CA
Favorite Lure: LIVETARGET Wake Bait
Favorite Lure: Bagley B-Minus
Fun Fact: I’m red-green colorblind. Nor-
Fun Fact: When I’m not designing at
mally, this doesn’t affect me too much and
LTB, I’m usually covered in dust building
isn’t a big deal, but I’m generally the one
screen accurate replicas of movie props.
approving artwork - so if you ever see an
Some of my clients have included
ad where the lake is red and the grass is
Mythbusters Adam Savage and Pan’s
blue, you can blame me.
Labrynth director Guillermo del Toro.