Freshwater Fishing Tackle – Rods, Reels & Gear

The Strike King Pro Model 6XD was developed over a full year alongside 5-time BASS Angler of the Year Kevin VanDam — and it shows. At 3 inches and 1 oz, it casts like a bullet and drives down to 19+ feet with a steep dive angle that gets it into the strike zone fast. Once it hits the bottom, the erratic wandering action is what triggers the bite — KVD used a prototype to finish 2nd at the 2009 BASS Elite Series event at Kentucky Lake before the bait was even released. On 10 lb fluorocarbon, it reaches its full depth potential. An egg snap is recommended to maximize action and allow quick color changes on the water.

Key Features

• Dives 19+ feet — steep dive angle reaches ledge fish fast on 10 lb fluorocarbon
• Erratic bottom action — wanders off the bottom in a way that triggers reaction strikes
• Developed with Kevin VanDam — one full year of testing and refinement with a 5x AOY
• Casts like a bullet — well-balanced body for long, accurate casts
• Works best with an egg snap — maximizes action and allows quick color swaps
• Available in 22 proven color patterns

Specifications

The Strike King KVD Sexy Dawg is Kevin VanDam's signature walk-the-dog topwater — designed to be easy to walk, far-casting, and absolutely explosive on the strike. A rhythmic twitch of the rod tip brings it to life, sending the nose gliding side to side in a tight, seductive action that bass simply can't ignore. Whether you're working it over grass, around docks, or across open flats, the Sexy Dawg covers water efficiently and triggers violent surface blowups. Available in the full-size version alongside the Jr. for when a smaller profile is needed.

Key Features

• KVD-designed walk-the-dog action — effortless side-to-side glide on a rhythmic twitch
• Easy to walk — accessible for all skill levels, deadly in the hands of an expert
• Far-casting design — covers water fast and reaches fish holding at distance
• Explosive surface strikes — unique action drives bass to blow up on the bait
• Full-size profile — ideal for big-bait topwater presentations
• Available in 4 proven color patterns

Specifications

The Ima Big Stick topwater lure is the result of years of development by the Japanese engineering team at Ima and professional angler, Randy Pringle. Extremely easy to fish and impart excellent action, the Big Stick doesn't require a big swimbait rod either, it's actually designed for use with conventional gear. The bait's rear weighted design allows the bait to start up its characteristic action as soon as you start your retrieve, and it also helps increase casting distance and accuracy.

In addition to highly detailed finishes, massive eyes and a unique head, designed to push significant volumes of water, the Ima Big Stick also features eight individual sound chambers that when fished fast creates a huge ruckus, but also allows it to be popped subtly along the surface. Featuring a durable wire-through construction, heavier split rings and Owner hooks, the Ima Big Stick can stand up to any trophy fish - bass, musky, pike, stripers and various saltwater species. It will spit like a magnum popper, walk like the hardest-sashaying walking bait, and anglers don't have to be experts to make it do its thing.

Length: 7"

Weight: 1.75oz (50g)

Type: Pencil Surface Popper

Hooks: Owner ST-66 #1/0

The Ima Roumba Silent Wakebait Topwater, designed by Bassmaster Elite Angler Fred Roumbanis, is a unique bait that creates a natural wake by "wobbling" side to side along the water's surface while producing an enticing sound that makes fish bite. This bait is designed to work best when fished over shallow aquatic grass, such as milfoil and hydrilla. It's also extremely effective around boat docks, lay-downs, brush piles, and standing timber. Fish the bait with a slow, steady retrieve. Be sure to keep the rod tip up and get ready for a massive bass explosion!

"The Roumba is an extremely versatile bait that I'll have tied on at least one rod year round. No matter what lake I go to across the country I know I'll be able to get 'em good on a Roumba. The reason is simple; I can imitate several types of baitfish with this bait. It can be used as a crawfish scooting right above shallow hydrilla, a frog hoppin' around open water lilly pads, a rat or mouse skitting across the surface, or a bluegill coming up to sun."

Length: 3"

Weight: 1/2oz (14g)

Type: Wake Bait, Shallow Crank

Hooks: Owner ST-36 #4

The beauty of the Ima Square Bill Crankbait is it's really three or four baits in one. While some other square bills are good burned, others are at their best when they're waked or twitched. Some do well deflecting off cover while others are best in open water. The ima Square Bill can match each attribute and talent, with no weakness. My favorite is to mix it ALL up on a single retrieve, going "from twitching to waking, to reeling it down to three feet to burning it." It's not just a jack-of-all-trades – it's a master of each one, too.

This lure is truly Bassmaster Elite Angler's Bill Lowen's baby, a tool he's dreamed about for decades finally come to life. After countless back and forth conversations with IMA's engineers in Japan and multiple refinements and prototypes, he's convinced that no other square bill can match his Square Bill. It has a stubby, rounded body that produces an earth-shaking wobble, bold eyes, a computer chip lip and two sticky-sharp #6 Owner hooks that'll nab even the short strikers, although most bass absolutely choke this bait down.

This Ima Skimmer 110 Topwater Lure is unique among hard plastic topwater stickbaits in that only the Ima Skimmer has the slender body shape of a 5" soft plastic stickbait. This slim profile has proven to be one of the most appealing bass lure shapes ever. There's a whole lot to be said simply for this slender profile and silhouette, and the ima Skimmer is really the only topwater hardbait that has it.

A large part of the Skimmer's action is caused on the ending movement of each zig or zag as the tail-weighted back end of the ima Skimmer stirs the water wildly causing a large boil. So every time that the Skimmer zigs or zags left or right, the final movement of the weighted tail stirs the surface into a large boil, and the Skimmer slips out barely ahead of the boil, just like a desperate baitfish narrowly escaping a bass's lunge.

4.25"

110mm 

Check out one of the best topwater baits on the market, the River2Sea Rover Topwater Lure - a long standing proven walking bait! Unlike traditional gliding actions, this bait features a choppy, side-to-side slashing motion that drives fish into a feeding frenzy. Its exaggeratedly cupped mouth and unique geometry produce a one-of-a-kind walking action, sure to entice even the most finicky fish. Don't miss out on the River2Sea Rover's aggressive and effective design - it's truly unlike any other walking bait on the market.

The Heddon Zara Spook Top Water Bait will always work on surface feeding fish. It's just one of those baits that has the action and colors that evoke a strike. The superior balance and design allow this lure to be cast long distances and walk the dog with ease. The affordable price tag and many different sizes make this a lure all anglers should have in the box.

We like to fish this size on 8-12lb monofilament line with a soft tip rod. Don't work it too fast, sometimes a slow methodical walk the dog action will get them to bite much better than a faster retrieve. If the fish are super fired up, speed it up and then pause it for just a split second.

There is no wrong way, just make sure you try different methods of retrieve if they aren't hitting it and you know they are feeding on the surface. Sometimes going smaller to the Heddon Zara Puppy will get finicky fish to bite. Also try the medium sized Heddon Zara Spook for an average sized bait.

Specifications

The Finesse School-E-Rig was designed with the collaboration of Elite Series Pro, Fred Roumbanis, and FLW Tour Pro, Brent Ehrler. The Bait Ball incorporates 3.5" piano grade wires along with #3 willow blades plated in 24k gold  or nickel for the ultimate flash and added vibration.

The Bait Ball can be rigged with up to 4 additional blades or up to 5 School-E-Rig jig heads for the ultimate in attraction. In addition to suspended  fish this compact  rig can  be used in place of a standard spinnerbait. It is the ideal rig when added casting accuracy is needed. Perfect for throwing around docks, blowdowns and other structure, it's also great for highly pressured waters and tough fishing conditions. The entire line of Picasso  School-E-Rigs use all American-made premium components, including an impact resistant plastic head and nose swivel to prevent line twist and assure the Rig runs true. 

The River2Sea Whopper Plopper 130 is one of the most iconic topwater lures ever made. Whether you crawl it so slowly you can barely hear the tail — just the faint rattle of glass beads inside — or rip it fast so it throws water like a swamp buggy, it gets bit. Cast it a mile, dial in your retrieve speed, and let that deep, hollow whopping sound do the work.

The tail is perfectly tuned right out of the box and stays flexible and fish-catching forever. No tweaking, no tuning — just tie it on and go.

Best For

• Species: Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, pike, musky, striped bass
• Techniques: Slow roll, medium retrieve, fast burn, walk-the-dog variation
• Conditions: Calm to choppy surface, low-light mornings and evenings, post-spawn topwater season, summer and fall feeding windows
• Water: Lakes, reservoirs, rivers, ponds — anywhere big fish are looking up

Features

• Propeller-like tail rotates and creates powerful surface commotion
• Produces alluring rumbles and multi-octave splashing across a wide range of retrieve speeds
• Pre-rigged with two size 1 premium black nickel treble hooks
• Extremely durable tail — built to handle rocks, wood, and hard-fighting fish
• Casts exceptionally far for a topwater of its size

Models & Specs

The SPRO Shad Swimbait 4" delivers a perfect blend of realism, balance, and action to trigger aggressive strikes from bass and other predatory gamefish. Designed to imitate natural baitfish, this swimbait features a lifelike soft body, 3D eyes, and a natural paddle-tail kick that produces irresistible movement at any retrieve speed.

Pre-rigged with a premium Gamakatsu hook, the SPRO Shad Swimbait is ready to fish right out of the package — no extra rigging or tuning required. Ideal for freshwater or inshore saltwater fishing, it's a go-to bait for covering water and locating active fish.

Key Features:

• Realistic Shad Profile mimics natural baitfish
• Soft Plastic Body with Paddle Tail for natural swimming action
• Pre-Rigged with a Gamakatsu Hook for reliable hookups
• 3D Holographic Eyes & Painted Finish for added realism
• Perfect for Freshwater and Inshore Saltwater Species
• Great for bass, stripers, walleye, redfish, and snook

Specifications

The Spro BBZ-1 Jr. Swimbait is a compact version of the legendary Spro BBZ-1, designed by swimbait expert Bill Siemantel. This smaller swimbait produces big strikes from largemouth bass and stripers. It has been made for many years but is still a very productive lure that will result in landing big fish.

Built with durable resin construction, realistic detailing, and premium Gamakatsu treble hooks, the BBZ-1 Jr. swims naturally at any speed. Available in multiple sink rates (Floating, Slow Sink, and Fast Sink), this swimbait is versatile for a wide range of fishing conditions.

Key Features:

• Natural S-Action Swim mimics live baitfish
• Durable Multi-Jointed Body for long-lasting performance
• Available in Floating, Slow Sink, and Fast Sink Models
• Lifelike finishes to match forage species
• Premium Gamakatsu Treble Hooks for solid hookups
• Ideal for bass, pike, and large predatory fish in both fresh and inshore waters

Specifications

SPRO Dean Rojas Bronzeye Popper Frog 60

Now you can own and fish the same lure that Dean Rojas used to win the BASS Elite Series tournament at Lake Oneida!

Dean Rojas and SPRO designed the Signature Series Bronzeye Popper Frog to attract bass out of the thickest cover with its loud popping sound. The Bronzeye Popper comes with specially designed 3/0 Gamakatsu Hooks that fit the bait perfectly for solid hook ups. It comes in a wide array of proven fish catching colors.on one of these Signature Series Bronzeye Popper Frogs and hold on!

With frog fishing, don't set the hook right away, wait a second or two for the fish to eat the frog. Setting the hook too early will pull the frog out of the fishes mouth. Frog fishing is one of the funnest ways to fish and this popping frog will entice them to strike hard.

Specifications

Available Colors

The new SPRO Bronzeye King Daddy 90 Frog is designed for those trophy fish that aren't just looking for a small snack! Just like it's little brother but in a magnum size the King Daddy is the full meal deal! It's designed to be fished in heavy cover or out in open water.

Because it's of it's larger one ounce, 90MM size it's even easier to cast long distances. It comes standard with a heavy duty 6/0 specially designed Gamakatsu Double Frog Hooks. Don't cast this King Daddy on your ultralight tackle!

Now you can own the award-winning frog that raised the bar for frog fishing-the Dean Rojas Signature Series SPRO Bronzeye Frog 65. The SPRO Bronzeye Frog 65 is the perfect size and style to be fished in heavy cover or in open water.

Designed to cast long distances. Specially weighted to land on its belly cast after cast. Available in a wide array of color patterns to cover every angling situation. Specially designed Gamakatsu Double Frog Hooks! 

5/8oz