Changes Are In The Wind

Once again it appears the tackle industry is moving on and some abrupt changes in tackle are here again. It started last fall with the Paul Elias win here on Guntersville with the Alabama Rig. The five-lure setup is changing the fishing world and the concept itself is only at its outset. That's right: Many of my tackle suppliers have ideas way beyond the deep-running shad-cluster look, from topwater clusters to multiple-worm looks and more, so keep your eyes and ears open as this is just the beginning for this rig.

Along with the Alabama Rig there's also a new concept involving football heads. Punisher Lures has come out with a versatile football head they call the Hail Mary. It allows you to work a deep ledge with a football head that can be set up in many different ways. The head itself is set up with a slip O-ring so you can put your own favorite hook on with a worm, creature bait, floating bait and more. This gives that ultimate deep-water look that'll just tear up the deeper-water fish in the heat of the summer or cold of the winter.

The big O-ring allows the bait to move freely and swivel and move slightly with water current. This will once again add to or change the concept for the deep-water ledge fishermen. In fact, it'll take the football-head jig that so many have been successful on for so many years and change that presentation once again. Like the with Alabama Rig, the possibilities seem to be limitless and we'll see many different concepts over time.

I can imagine this football head set up with an 8-inch leader, with the hook offset from the head and being dragged on the bottom with a floating worm attached. Can you imagine how inviting this could be for a big bass sitting on the bottom in 20 ft. of water looking for an easy lunch? The only limits will be your imagination, and that'll lead to many different ways to present this football head.

Change is upon us, and the only limits will be our creativity.

Capt. Mike Gerry owns and operates Fish Lake Guntersville Guide Service. Visit FishLakeGuntersvilleGuideService.com, call (256) 759-2270 or send him an email.