Grandpa's Tackle Box

Every angler has experienced the frustration: you pull an expensive jig out of your tackle box after a winter in storage, only to watch the skirt fall completely apart in your hands. The culprit is almost always a deteriorated rubber band. Rubber bands are common among both mass-production manufacturers and small custom lure makers because they're fast, inexpensive, and easy to install. Unfortunately, they're often the first component to fail on an otherwise well-built jig. At Grandpa's...

The Science of Contrast: How to Match Your Trailer to Your Bladed Jig Choosing a bladed jig pattern is only half the battle. To complete the presentation, you have to slide a soft plastic trailer onto the hook. Many anglers just grab whatever plastic is closest and slide it on without a second thought. However, your trailer dictates the silhouette, action, and contrast of your bait. If your trailer color clashes awkwardly with your jig skirt, it can destroy the natural baitfish or crawfish...

The bladed jig, often called a vibrating swimming jig, is one of the most effective power-fishing lures ever created. It combines the weed-deflecting profile of a skirted jig with the hard-thumping vibration and erratic flash of a crankbait. Whether you are fishing stained back lakes, ripping grass edges, or picking apart heavily pressured quarries, learning how to fish a bladed jig properly can help you trigger reaction strikes year-round. Here is a practical blueprint for getting more out...