Berkley continues a long line of very effective lures based on their extensive tank testing with the new PowerBait Power Vibe, a single-hook vibrating soft swimbait with the company’s well-known flavoring built in.
The lure is available in four sizes, 1.5”, 2.25” 3” and 3.75”. They’re all really good imitations of the favorite food of bass and crappies, the threadfin shad, sized so that you can follow the growth of this widespread baitfish from late summer into winter.
Crappies seem particularly impressed with the two smaller sizes, while the 3” and 3.75” are very effective on largemouths.
The unusual feature of these lures other than the built-in scent and lifelike shape is the amazing vibration they produce thanks to the thick profile and fluttering tail—fishing them on a pull-and-drop presentation feels much like fishing a Rat-L-Trap or Cordell Spot.
The lures have two advantages over lipless cranks, though—first, the single hook, facing upward, makes them very unlikely to snag, even in tree tops, and they’re readily “ripped” through soft grassy cover like hydrilla.
Second, of course, is the soft body and built-in taste—when a fish takes hold, they hang on long enough for a good hook set. The body is molded right on the hook so it stays put, too.
The only issue I’ve had with them here on Guntersville is that the scent makes them very attractive to the ubiquitous blue catfish, white bass and fresh water drum that also hang around the shad schools in winter. Get around one of the vast bait schools—which are sometimes a couple hundred yards wide and 10 feet deep here when water temperatures in the 40’s push everything into the deep creek channels—and it’s a fish on every cast, but you never know if it will be a spot, a largie or something with whiskers.
Also, because the baits are dense for their size, they sink fast, which makes them less than ideal for FFS targeting on suspended bass, though they work fine for crappie schooled deeper. They’re ideal for anywhere you’d use a flutter spoon or lipless crank.
Since I’m mostly an all-release angler, I like the single Berkley Fusion 19 hook, too—much easier to deal with than multiple trebles on hard baits.
They’re available in 14 colors—the “Dirty Dime” is the most shad-like, while the HD Bluegill should be a winner in the shallows in summer.
See details at https://www.berkley-fishing.com/products/powerbait-power-vibe.
Waterproof Gloves You Can Actually Fish In
There’s a slice of weather that seems uncomfortable no matter what you have on your hands, especially if you’re an angler, boater or waterfowler. Cold rain, damp wind and early mornings when the thermometer hovers in the 40s. You could stay home but you probably won’t. Heavy insulated gloves are clumsy—casting is impossible. Fingerless gloves are too cold. Wool gets too wet.
Crosspoint Waterproof Knit Wool Gloves are built for that in-between.
Surprisingly, they don’t “feel” like waterproof gloves. The knit shell stretches easily, closer to a thick sock than traditional outerwear, and that matters when you’re thumbing a reel, setting decoys, or working a boat cleat. Dexterity stays intact. Under the knit, a three-layer waterproof-breathable construction keeps rain and spray out without trapping sweat inside.
The merino wool liner adds warmth to take the bite off chilly conditions without turning your hands numb or bulky. Silicone grip patches on the palms and fingers help when things get slick, whether it’s a cork handle, paddle shaft, or wet dock line.
Touchscreen compatibility is often advertised and rarely delivered. With these gloves the conductive thumb and index finger actually register on phones and GPS units, which saves you from barehanding electronics in bad weather.
They’re available in multiple sizes so you can get a close fit, essential in a glove used for casting—they feel like a second skin when you choose the right size.
These gloves aren’t meant for deep winter, obviously. They’ll be best at roughly high 30’s to 50 degrees, when moisture—not cold—is the real enemy. They’re a sensible piece of kit for anglers and hunters who spend more time dealing with wet conditions than snow, and who want their hands to keep working when the weather turns disagreeable. Price is around $60, steep for gloves but they appear to be durable if you don’t stick hooks in them.
Learn more at www.crosspointgear.com.
— Frank Sargeant
Frankmako1@gmail.com