This article details a recent fishing lure haul from three popular sporting goods retailers: Bass Pro Shops, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Walmart. The author outlines a diverse selection of lures purchased, ranging from soft plastics like worms and swimbaits to hard baits including crankbaits and topwater lures. Each lure's color scheme, size, and intended use are described, highlighting the author's rationale behind each purchase, often referencing the recommendations of fellow anglers or personal experience with similar products. Price points are also mentioned, offering insights into the value proposition of different brands and retailers.The review covers a range of lure types designed for catching bass and crappie, including popular brands like Rapala and Strike King alongside store-brand options. Specific color combinations, such as grape with a fire tail and orange and chartreuse, are detailed, reflecting the strategic choices made based on known bass preferences. The author expresses anticipation for testing these lures in real-world fishing scenarios and provides a preliminary assessment based on their design and perceived quality. A final verdict will follow after field testing.
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Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series Swirl Worms
I started my lure haul with the Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series Swirl Worms, specifically the 6-inch 'Squiring' worms in grape with a fire tail. My dad's a big fan of this color combination, so I had to give them a try. The 16-pack cost $2.99, which seemed like a reasonable price for the quantity.
These worms are designed for tournament fishing, promising a durable and effective design. The grape and fire tail color combo is intended to attract bass, a common tactic. I'm eager to see how they perform in real-world fishing situations.
Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series 4-Inch Worms
Next up were another set of Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series worms, this time 4-inches long in an orange and chartreuse color. My fishing buddy Evan recommended these, as he's had good success with similar lures in the past. Again, these came in a 16-pack for $2.99.
The orange and chartreuse color blend is a classic choice for bass fishing, designed to attract attention underwater. The smaller size might prove useful in different fishing conditions compared to the 6-inch worms, potentially targeting smaller bass or fish in tighter spaces.
Bass Pro Shops Boss Shad Swimbaits
I also picked up some Bass Pro Shops Boss Shad swimbaits, small swimbaits with pre-set hooks. These are designed for ease of use and quick hookups. They're convenient for anglers who value a simple yet effective lure.
The pre-set hook design offers a considerable advantage in terms of efficiency, and the small profile is likely effective for targeting smaller fish or in situations where stealth is important. I compared these to a similar Walmart brand used last year.
Hard Baits from Bass Pro Shops
Moving on to hard baits, I purchased a Rapala crankbait in a blue and silver color. The lure is designed to create a lot of noise and vibration in the water, which can attract fish from a distance. It's shiny and makes a distinct sound, intended to attract bass.
I also grabbed a Lucky Strike Crappie crankbait and a Strike King square bill crankbait. These are both designed to work on bass, with the Lucky Strike having what he described as "bloody" hooks, presumably intended to imitate injured prey. The Strike King crankbait was chosen for its 'crappie' color which some anglers have found effective.
Rebel Bumblebee Floating Bait and Bass Pro Popper
Next, I got a Rebel Bumblebee floating bait, a topwater lure designed to mimic insects. The speaker anticipates this will be successful in the coming cicada season. It features detailed paintwork and is seemingly a good quality product.
Finally from Bass Pro Shops, I bought a Bass Pro brand popper, a topwater lure that creates a distinct popping sound. This was the most expensive item ($8), but it features a translucent body and a feather tail. I've had success with similar lures in the past, hoping this one proves just as effective.
Havoc Brand Worms from Dick's Sporting Goods
From Dick's Sporting Goods, I purchased two types of Havoc brand worms: the 8-inch 'Juice Worms' in black with blue flecks, and the 6-inch 'Havoc Juniors' in watermelon red. Both are designed to attract fish with their colors and movement in the water, and they come in multi-packs for good value.
The 8-inch Juice Worms' blue flecks are meant to reflect sunlight, increasing visibility in the water. The 6-inch Havoc Juniors, in watermelon red, offer a different color option which are versatile and effective in various fishing conditions.
Strike King Shimmy Sticks from Walmart
My final purchase was from Walmart: a pack of Strike King Shimmy Sticks in Smoky Shad. This lure features a unique dual-color design that's intended to mimic natural prey. The bottom features a more natural color to attract the fish from below.
The Smoky Shad color and the unique dual-tone design are supposed to enhance the appeal to bass, with the different colors working together. The realistic design makes this another potential standout choice for this year's fishing season.
Overall Conclusion and Recommendations
Overall, I'm pleased with the variety and value of the lures I purchased. The Bass Pro Shops and Dick's Sporting Goods offerings provided a great selection of quality lures at reasonable prices. The Walmart option, while simple, also showed promise with its unique color design.
I'm particularly excited to test the Havoc worms for their long length and color, and the Strike King Shimmy Sticks, which stood out for their innovative dual-color scheme. While this is just an initial review before testing them out on the water, based on their appearance and reputation, I'm confident that many of these lures will be productive this season.