Grandpa's Tackle Box

When the leaves start changing and the water begins to cool, it can be tempting to think the best bass fishing is behind you. It isn’t. Fall can produce some excellent largemouth fishing, but the pattern changes. Vegetation starts dying back, forage moves around, and bass adjust with it. Some fish will stay surprisingly shallow while others move toward deeper weed edges and transition areas. Instead of deciding beforehand that you need to fish shallow or deep, find the food and the healthy...

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...