Wholly cow, as this is being written, I look out the window of my office to witness snow falling like crazy! One would never guess that good fishing is just a few weeks away. Since hunting season is over, I spend my free time gazing at press releases and catalogs featuring the latest fishing tackle and gear. Sure there are hundreds of new items, some more intriguing than others, but a few products really stand out. Here are some of our top picks for 2010.

One thing that I like to do is escape from the crowd. I prefer to fish in solitude and although I reside near a big city, I can usually find secluded waters close by. This year I will be putting my Four Rivers Boat to the test. I look forward to easing up some of the smaller tributaries to cast for spawning Crappie, White Bass, Largemouth and Catfish. Although the Four Rivers Boat was designed for duck hunting, it is perfectly suited for the cross-over into fishing season. Heck, it drafts only inches of water, is more stable than any canoe or similar sized boat and can be easily poled, paddled or propelled by a small trolling motor.

Four Rivers Layout Boat

I have the big thirteen foot model, which will comfortably carry me and lots of tackle. Once the catching gets good, I hope to entice my daughter to accompany me. She loves to ride in the sleek boat as do most kids. Adults can stand up in the Four Rivers Boat, so I have no concerns about safely transporting her along for an outing. It should be a pleasant trip and we will be able to venture way up the feeder creeks to what I hope will be some unbelievable fishing!

Typically, the first lure I have tied on every year is the Culprit Tassel Tail Grub. Sure it is a great Crappie bait, but grubs represent a minnow which is the primary source of food for every freshwater fish. I catch both White and Black Bass, as well as Trout, Walleye and Catfish on them as well. Normally, I cast them, but occasionally I will pull out the long “dipping” rod and simply ease them into a hat sized hole in flooded timber. Either way the Tassel Tail Grub produces!

Hey, if you are looking for a jig head to thread your grub onto, then it’s imperative that you take a look at the new Natural Science Series from the Blakemore Road Runner line. The folks at Blakemore have improved the Road Runner head with a prism style paint job, a willow leaf blade and slightly larger, heavier hook. Currently, it is available in 1/16 and 1/8 ounce models and seven color schemes.

Natural Science Roadrunner

My bread and butter Road Runner has been the Pro Series which I buy in 14 count packs. I add my own Tassel Tail Grub and BAM!!! It’s like fish dynamite!!! I prefer the slightly bigger hook and the willow leaf blade myself. The good thing about Road Runners is that there is a size and color to please anyone and they will catch anything!

Like I said, I have a young lady angler. It’s important for kids to see the world that God created. Unfortunately, a fraction of the kids today experience the great outdoors. Thus, it’s up to us adults to entice them outside where there are no videos games. Occasionally, it can be tough to do and sometimes girls are a bit harder to lure. Thus tackle companies like Quantum have adapted and created lady friendly rods and reels. Take the Artemis line of rods and reels, which have generous amounts of pink color incorporated into them. Add in quality components, the choice of spinning or bait cast reels and we have a winner! It might be easier to invite that special lady (young or adult) to accompany you if you can put the perfect combo in her hands.

Now for those of us who prefer something a bit more masculine then there is the Quantum KVD line up of rods and reels designed and used by none other than Kevin VanDam. Maybe you have heard of the guy? He has won just about everything there is to win in professional Bass fishing. Quantum has taken his advice and included that into a special signature line of rods and reels. Yes, they work great on Bass, but do not under estimate them for other species where high quality gear is needed. Shallow water anglers in search of Walleye, Stripers, Pike and Musky as well as those anglers cruising the saltwater flats will appreciate these items.

KVD Reel

Now one item I never forget to put in the boat is my Reel Magic. Blakemore has been making the spray forever and it is amazing. When sprayed onto the spool of a reel, it allows the line to literally fly off. Now there is Reel Lube, which is a synthetic lubrication designed for reels. It can handle both fresh and saltwater applications and will not freeze up. If you have a favorite old reel that needs some “TLC” then an application of Reel Lube might just be in order!

Hey, when the water warms up and the Bass start biting then I know it’s time to prep for swimbait season. There is nothing like throwing out a good sized meal and enticing a trophy Bass. Hey, Culprit has made the ultimate swimbait and it’s called the Ultimate Minnow! Believe me it catches big fish! Constructed of durable, but pliable soft plastic with a hollow interior, this lure resembles a full course meal. The Ultimate Minnow is four and one half inches long, equipped with a stout paddle tail that emits tons of vibration even at slow speed. Anglers can rig it Texas style on a big 5/0 wide gap hook or by threading it onto a jighead. Either way be sure to fish it slow and be ready for big fish. The Ultimate Minnow will catch Largemouth, Smallmouth and Spotted Bass, and I have proven its worth on trophy sized Stripers as well. It can be cast, pitched near deep water docks or trolled. I would recommend clear to slightly stained water for best fish catching effect.

Hey, subsurface is not the only place Culprit baits are producing. New for 2010 is the Ultimate Topwater Shad, a unique surface bait designed to go anywhere! I have yet to try this baby out myself, but I have witnessed it in action via video footage that is available on www.Culprit.com. Top pros gave their input and advice to create this unusual topwater bait which appears to be a cross between a frog and a jerkbait. The topwater Shad is sleek enough to be cast a mile, yet come through slop, thick timber, vegetation and trash. It resembles a fat baitfish (i.e. Shad) yet sports a custom designed double shank hook that is snag resistant, but is a high percentage hooking machine. I would recommend a strong rod and heavy line when casting the Ultimate Topwater Shad, as it is likely to be assaulted by big fish!!

Ultimate Topwater Shad