ICAST 2016 Best Hooks

Take a long look at the hooks in your tackle box: their basic J shape hasn’t been altered for centuries. That’s about to change… Welcome Trapper Hooks from Trapper Tackle. Years of research, engineering, field testing and refinement have yielded a hook that holds both baits and fish better than conventional hooks.

How many bites did you get on your last trip? How many of those fish made it to the boat? Poor fish retention has plagued anglers since the first primitive J hook was cast into the water over 42,000 years ago.

Problem: The round bend of the antiquated J-hook creates a pivot point that causes the hook to rotate in a fish’s mouth, expanding the initial point of entry and creating a path to escape.

Solution: The unique, patented-protected design of the Trapper Hook replaces the traditional round bend with a pair of right angles at the base of the hook shank – called the Trapper Box, which prevents the rocking motion in a hooked fish, effectively locking the fish in place. As a result, the Trapper Hook dramatically increases the percentage of hooked fish that’ll make it to the landing net.

Problem: Anyone who has dressed any variety of J-shaped hooks with a soft plastic or live bait is familiar with the frustration of having to adjust baits that slide up the shank before making another cast. Weed cover, structure or the action of casting and retrieving baits are all culprits.

Solution: The Trapper Hook’s remarkable “why didn’t I think of that” geometry, with two right-angle bends at its base, helps keep the bait in place. All manner of soft plastic offerings, including worms, flukes, stickbaits, toads and creature baits perform better when they are rigged properly and locked in the Trapper Box. Live bait such as shiners, minnows, shrimp, and crabs as well as salmon eggs, corn, dough-baits and catfish cube-style baits are retained in the Trapper Box with equal efficacy. With less time spent fixing baits, anglers can make more casts and spend more of their limited fishing time making effective presentations that trigger bites.

Years of research, design and extensive field testing by anglers across the nation have yielded a line of general use and technique specific hooks from Trapper Tackle. Former Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Vince Hurtado has been working with the Trapper R&D Team since last year, using the bass-infested waters of the California Delta like a laboratory. “With over 300 fish catches I noticed a significant improvement in landing ratios. This hook will raise any angler’s game and that’s why I am proud to be part of the Trapper Tackle team", said Hurtado. Now it’s time for anglers fishing for bass, walleye, musky, pike, crappie and other species to experience the fish and bait-holding effectiveness of the Trapper Hook design.

Trapper Hooks are coming soon to MonsterFishingTackle.com

Cheaper Yeti Tumbler

If you love the Yeti drinkware, but aren't too fond of the price we've found a cheaper Yeti Tumbler for you at Monster Fishing Tackle. Called the Monster Mug Tumbler these 18/8 stainless steel double vacuum walled cups offer even better performance than those from other companies. The Monster Mugs boast 48 hours or ice retention and include a spill-proof slider lid that fits all other brands of tumblers as well. Furthermore, the company who makes them has a full money back guarantee.

Here are some of the features of the Monster Mug Tumblers:

• Price: $17.99
• Material: 18/8 Stainless steel
• Insulation: Double Wall Vacuum
• Ice Retention: 24 hours
• Lid: Upgraded spill-proof slider lid
• No Sweat Exterior
• Good for Hot or Cold Beverages

Tumbler Slider Lid

So, you like what you see so far? Well, as we mentioned, the Monster Mugs come standard with a spill or splash-proof lid. These lids will fit all of the popular brands of stainless steel tumblers including Yeti, Rtic and Engel just to name a few.

Checkout the cheaper Yeti Tumblers at MonsterFishingTackle.com

Duck Swimbaits for Bass

Largemouth bass are opportunistic feeders meaning they will eat just about any creature that falls into the water including mice, rodents, lizards and even birds. After Aaron Martens won a Bassmaster tournament mimicking small birds with his jig, many anglers have been searching for a duck swimbait for bass or a bird imitation lure thay can use to replicate the bite he experienced. Swimbaits are well known for displaying an ultra-realistic appearance that helps trick bass into biting and also helps anglers have more confidence as well. With that in mind, it serves to reason that it is now time to make lures that look like the feathered forage.

Origins of Duck Swimbaits

After witnessing bass eating blackbirds on Clear Lake in California, angler Scott Green of Northern California conceived and developed perhaps the first yellow headed blackbird imitation a Snag Proof topwater frog. Despite initial skepticism, that color later become the top selling and perhaps top producing frog all over the country. Similarly, duck swimbaits look more like something you'd see in a child's bath than on the end of your line. Due to the predatory nature of bass, anything that presents an easy meal is in danger of being consumed by bass. It has even been opined that should bass grow to 50 lbs, participants in wakeboarding or waterskiing would more or less be buzzbaits.

New Duck Swimbaits

Recently, a new duck swimbait was released by Savage Gear, called the 3D Suicide Duck a topwater wakebait that has two kicking feet. This duck lure is already drawing a ton of attention from anglers who are excited to use it for bass, pike, musky and stripers. Wanna see more? Check out Monster Fishing Tackle the first retailer in the country to receive the new duck swimbait.

DRT Tiny Klash Japanese Swimbait

A scaled down version of Division Rebel Tackles cult favorite swimbait, the DRT Tiny Klash provides big bait anglers with a smaller option to more mimic forage species all across the country. When the original Klash was released, we declared it to possess the highest degree of engineering ingenuity and precision we'd ever come across in a swimbait. Now after a year of increasingly popularity and dozens of teener fish across the world, DRT is ready to impress once again with the 6.6" Tiny Klash. DRT's Tiny Klash is probably what most anglers picture when they think of a true japanese swimbait - it's got incredible color patterns, a high level of engineering and it doesn't seek to copy any existing baits.

Unlike the original, the DRT Tiny Klash has only one "sink" rate - a lo float which positions the body mostly under the water's surface with only the back of the bait out of the water. Otherwise, much of the bait remains the same in terms of the lip removal or use and the tail positioning - up or down. Most anglers fish the bait with the lip in choosing to either crank it down erratically to scrape over cover just slightly or retrieving it very slowly on the surface as a wake bait. Essentially, if you remove the lip it is going to fish like a glide bait capable of being fished very slowly and methodically or violently with rips of the rod's tip or increase in reel speed. Add a few tape weights such as Storm Suspend Strips and watch as the bait sinks slowly down.

You can get yours today at Monster Fishing Tackle: DRT Tiny Klash Swimbait.

Slider Lids for Yeti Rambler Tumblers

Slider Lids for Stainless Steel Tumblers

The Slider Lids for Yeti Rambler Tumblers are BPA-Free, clear plastic lids designed to fit Yeti Tumblers, Rtic Tumblers and more. The sturdy construction and insulating excellence of the Stainless Steel vacuum sealed tumblers has always made them great travel companions, but the lids have always left users wanting a bit more. The Slider Lids seek to solve that issue with new splash-resistant, open-close functioning lids which turn stainless steel drinkware into true road warriors. Just push the slider forward to keep your cup’s contents contained, then slide it back when you’re ready for a drink. This closeable lid is shatterproof, dishwasher safe, and BPA-free. Perfect as a replacement lid or just a spill-resistant lid alternative.

Sure, the lids on most Rambler Tumblers are shatterproof and dishwasher safe. But, if you're thinking of taking your Rambler Tumblers out for tailgating, on the water or just the backyard BBQ you definitely want to add these to your arsenal. The 20oz Slider Lid fits both the 10oz Lowball and the 20oz stainless steel drinkware from Yeti as well as all other popular 20oz drinkware brands. The 30oz obviously fits the 30oz tumblers of Yeti Coolers, Rtic and our own Monster Mug.

The Tumbler Slider Lids are available in two sizes: 10oz/20oz & 30oz. The 20oz lid fits the Rambler Lowball as well.

*YETI, Roadie, Tundra, Rambler are Registered Trademarks of YETI Coolers. These products are not affiliated with YETI Coolers.

Alternative to Yeti Rambler Tumbler

Best Alternative to Yeti Rambler Tumblers?

There's no denying Yeti Coolers hit a home run with their stainless steel Rambler Tumbler drinkware line. The premium engineering keeps your drinks cold or hot for hours on end. While we have enjoyed using their products over the past few years, the market is now offering alternatives that offer lower prices, better lids and longer lasting ice retention. So which other brand of stainless steel tumbler do we recommend, well, the Monster Fishing Tackle Monster Mugs of course.

About the Monster Mug Tumblers

Like the Yeti Rambler variety, the Monster Mug Tumblers are also constructed from 18/ stainless steel and utilize a double wall vacuum insulated design. The stainless steel tumblers are engineered to keep your beverage piping hot or ice cold. Ice down your favorite beverage before leaving the house and you'll be pleasantly surprised at how long the Monster Mug Tumblers retain the ice and how well it keeps your drink cold without sweating through the exterior. Hours later, you can return to your drink and you'll still have it tasting great, ice cold, and the ice cubes will be intact - we can confidently claim 24 hours of ice retention. The design of the Monster Mug Tumblers keeps ice twice as long as any plastic version on the market. The Monster Mugs work just as well for hot beverages keeping coffee or tea warm for incredibly long periods of time.

In addition to the excellent qualities of the mug itself, Monster has also included an upgraded lid standard with all Monster Mugs. Each of our Monster Mug Tumblers includes a spill and splash proof slider lid which makes transport much more secure. Now, when you hit bumps in the road your closed slider lid will keep your hot coffee from spilling all over the truck.

Monster Fishing Tackle's Monster Mug Tumblers are available in two sizes: 20oz and 30oz and include upgraded Slider Lid

Monster Mug Guarantee

If you've liked what you read so far, then how about this for confidence in their product? If the Monster Mug Tumblers do not perform as well or better than your Yeti, Rtic, Engel or Ozark drinkware, they'll give you your money back. Monster Fishing Tackle is that confident that their design takes the stainless steel drinkware forward that they have no qualms putting theirr money where their mouth is.

Monster Mug vs. Yeti

	Monster Mug	Yeti
Price:	$17.99	$29.99 - $34.99
Material:	18/8 Stainless Steel	18/8 Stainless Steel
Double Wall Vacuum Insulated:	Yes	Yes
Ice Retention:	> 24 hours	24 hours
Lid:	Upgraded Spill-Proof Slider Lid	Open Standard Lid
No Sweat Exterior:	Yes	Yes
Suitable for Hot Beverages	Yes	Yes

Check out the Monster Mug Tumblers available exclusively at Monsterfishingtackle.com

*YETI, Roadie, Tundra, Rambler are Registered Trademarks of YETI Coolers. These products are not affiliated with YETI Coolers.

Choosing the Right Fishing Swivel

Choosing Fishing Swivels

Lures are no doubt the belle of the fisherman's ball and certainly some of the masterpieces designers create are worthy of the admiration they receive. That said, saltwater anglers who put in time out on the ocean know that the real unsung hero is terminal tackle and of that broad category that includes line, leaders, hooks, crimps, snaps, swivels, chains and more, the most often overlooked component is the swivel. So what is the best swivel for fishing? The answer requires a bit more detective work and some explanation before we choose our favorite.

As most fishermen are aware, line twist is always a concern that needs to be looked after. Should the line twist become regular, it can lead to frayed or lower strength line and also will reduce casting distance and alter the fall or natural appearance of the attached bait. Overall, line twist is no good, especially when it comes to offshore fishing where every single detail is important. But, that said, it can easily be eliminated all together by using a high quality swivel... but "high quality" isn't always the easiest to find, especially when companies are promoting their brand using terms that are abstract or unproven like: "smoothest swivel", "least resistance", "highest impact strength", "dual rotation"... etc. It gets confusing and convoluted.

Swivels are not the most practical component for some freshwater, light tackle anglers who believe their presence is more of annoyance than a benefit. To that we say, do what you feel is right. But for saltwater anglers using line sizes exceeding the weight of most freshwater fish, well, swivels are a necessity. Other naysayers believe that swivels spook fish, but really, with the amount of creatures in the sea, a small, dull colored swivel is certainly not going to be too prominent.

Types of Fishing Swivels

There are many types of swivels designed to match specific fishing needs or those with numerous components extending from the basic swivel itself. However, for the sake of simplicity, the two most common basic level swivels are ball-bearing swivels and barrel swivels

Ball-Bearing Swivels Vs. Barrel Swivels

The general designed of a barrel swivel is comprised of a central hollow brass, stainless steel or nickel barrel (hence the name) that has been swaged around pins that are bent into eyes for attachment to other terminal tackle pieces like snaps, locks or rings. Barrel swivels are probably the most popular form due to their low cost and wide range of sizes that cover seemingly all of the fishing needs. However, their biggest disadvantage is their inconsistency and inability to turn when put under tremendous pressure. The idea of metal grinding on metal doesn't sound like a good choice for any application and will prove to wear down the components providing opportunities for failure. Furthermore, as anglers we seek to minimize the unnatural sounds, noises and vibrations that are sent through the water. So having metal grinding against itself and sending vibrations through the line doesn't seem like the optimal solution.

Under minimal load, a barrel swivel should perform to spec. However, when sized inappropriately or subjected to heavy load (e.g., trolling deep-diving plugs, lengthy or repeated battles with big fish, soaking baits in a strong current), the friction within the swivel will slow or halt its rotation. When this happens, the swivel will fail to perform its job and allow twists to travel up the fishing line. This cutaway view of a ball-bearing swivel shows how the bearings are positioned to reduce friction.

A quality ball bearing swivel on the other hand utilizes a polished stainless-steel ball bearing which positions itself inside the housing of the swivel and allows the two connection points on each side to rotate freely on their own. This allows for independent movement and absolutely no friction between the components which in turn can handle heavy loads or hard pulling lures. When you're targeting truly big game saltwater species with trolling applications, a stainless steel ball bearing swivel is the only way to go.

Construction and Finish

It is most common to find swivels made of a nickel-plated brass with snaps and rings made from stainless steel. Many anglers will refuse to use a shiny looking terminal tackle component, but in truth, by turning to a dull or coated alternative, they are likely sacrificing strength and durability. For example, in order to create that black color on a nickel plated swivel, the manufacturer must use finishing processes that eat away at the surface of the metal. Any time you involve a process that takes away from the material you are going to set yourself up for some strength and inconsistency issues - that's just the nature of chemical processes. So, in our opinion, it's always best to opt for the strongest material and therefore the standard color of the metal as it is in production. If it's a bit of stealth you desire or the price of stainless steel is too high, check out the brass alternatives that use the same components, but just a brass housing.

Selecting the Right Swivel

Choosing the right swivel means examining the type of fishing you'll be participating in. Offshore trolling is perhaps the most strenuous and requires the absolute best components. For our serious trolling endeavors we turn to stainless steel ball bearing swivels with two welded rings - sometimes with a snap on one side. This type of swivel is ideal for trolling because the double rings give the connection more distance to rotate and yet still stay in balance which ultimately reduces resistance and eliminates line twist.

When it comes to size of a swivel for trolling, most anglers want something that has a slightly heavier maximum strength than their leader line, but for bigger game fish you'll even see some of the charter boats going up another size larger. Sure, using a swivel that's right at the strength you need does reduce the size of the component with implications being reduced drag in the water and a more stealthy approach, however, it's really taking a chance when you hook into monsters.

For example, in Baja we've utilized 50lb class trolling gear with 120lb wind on leaders and selected a size 3 Pitbull Tackle Stainless Steel Ball Bearing Swivel w/ Two Welded Rings which has a strength of 220lbs. This upgrade in size of the ball bearing swivel is to counteract additional pressure from fishing once the leader has been retrieved into the spool of the reel or when a fish is at the boat and being handled by hand before gaffing. Additionally, the larger size swivel can be a bit better at stopping the line twist, however, all of the Pitbull Ball Bearing Swivels are really good at this because of their special dual rotation design.

Best Swivels?

Up until recently, we were still searching for that "perfect" ball bearing swivel. It was always a choice between a really big swivel for strength or a smaller swivel for stealth and reduced drag in the water, but it was never a very confident decision either way. That is, until we found the Pitbull brand of terminal tackle and their incredible stainless steel ball bearing swivels. Holy cow are these some awesome pieces of gear. These streamlined, dual welded ring ball bearing swivels provide a type of "dual rotation" which makes them unfathomably smooth and their size to strength ratio is unheard of. Seriously, take a look as these size to strength ratings:

Size	Strength
1	110lb
2	160lb
3	220lb
4	280lb
5	335lb
6	445lb
7	555lb

These swivels are now the new standard for extreme, heavy-tackle fishing when using applications that would actually destroy other swivels. Some examples include fishing for giant tuna, trolling or chunking for big yellowfin or bluefin, drifting for swordfish or live bait fishing for blue marlin. Despite their incredibly high strength, Pitbull's swivels aren't just used with very heavy tackle. The smaller size allows anglers fishing all types of line ratings from 50lb to 500lb to feel confident using these swivels and know they will not fail under their maximum weight range.

Because they aren't a prominent or "sexy" piece of tackle, swivels are easily neglected. But, they are one of the most important components you'll ever use and therefore finding the right model is of the utmost importance. Fortunately, with the advances made in engineering, the Pitbull Ball Bearing Swivels have filled almost the entire category of high strength swivels - save for the 900lb range models.

Be sure to checkout the entire line of Pitbull Terminal Tackle and see what else they offer in addition to their revolutionary Ball Bearing Swivels.