Introduction: Let me ask you
a question, and before I go any further, please don't think I've
gone off the deep end here. Or spent to many days on the water
until my brain is water logged. Ok? I wonder how many songs of
all types have been written let say from the early 1900's? It
would have to number in the 10's of 1000's I suppose. Wouldn't
it? Now, how can it be that song writers can still come up with
songs that the music sound different and the words are arranged
totally different than all other songs that have been written
in that same time period and it turn out to be a massive success?
Luck? No I believe it go's deeper than that.
I can here someone
now, Rick where are you going with this! Before I loose you let
me answer that question with a question. How many fishing lures
have been made since the early 1900's? I don't know that number
but it would have to be big. How can it be that a handful of
lure designers can take the same type lure and just like song
writers make it different from all others? Once again I don't
think luck has much to do with it. In both cases I think the
key ingredient is "A Creative Mind".
Someone that can look at (or listen to) the same old thing and
make it different with a purpose. I said all that to say Mr.
Mike Cox owner and founder of Bodock Lures is just that type
of creative designer. I have silently been field testing these
baits and can tell you they have been working for me and they
will work for you!
Mike's love for lure making go's
back to when he was 7 years old and he convinced his father to
order him a fly tying kit from the back pages of a Field and
Streams magazine. Mike began crafting poppers and streamers and
at that early age began to dream that "someday" he
would be making tackle for other people. Well that some day is
here right now and Mike and his team in their Smyrna Tennessee
facility is making some of the Highest Quality-Unique-and Exclusive
Finesse Jigs on the market today. Taking the same old thing and "Making
It Different With A Purpose". By the way 100% American made!!!!
Folks there is a big "Gap" between some computer tech
designing baits sitting at his desk that never gets on the water
and someone like Mike. These are baits made for fishermen by
fishermen. You see that's one of the big "Differences".
Lets take an in depth look at the others that will make the Jig-A-Lo
a success.
Everyone knows that jigs in general
are all season all purpose lures. I have fished the Jig-A-Lo
in water just a few inches deep all the way out to 15-20 feet
of water. To be able to fish the variances in water depth and
to combat heavier winds The Jig-A-Lo is made in three different
weights, 1/8 oz, 1/4 oz and 3/8 oz. I like to use the 3/8oz in
that 15-20 foot range, the 1/4oz in the 8-15 foot and the 1/8
oz in water 8 foot or less. These jigs are great right now to
swim across bedding fish or to hop down secondary breaks to entice
females roaming back and forth. These jigs are the "Only" one
on the market today that has an exclusive patent pending "Scent
Wick Body and Skirt Lock" Here is where we get into the "Creative
Mind" that I was talking about above. I borrowed my youngest
son Daniels hand to help us see this Scent Wick Body clearly.
Take a look at the red round part of the jig right at the base
of the skirt. This is the Scent Wick Body. The actual material
that this is made of is understandably a company secret. But
what a great idea. This material holds scent unbelievably well
cast after cast and keeps the skirt from sliding down. Every
Jig-A-Lo comes with either a strong Garlic or Crawfish scent
already impregnated into the wick and refill bottles are available.
One of the first things I though of when I began to examine these
was the convenience of having a Jig that would hold it's scent
throughout the day eliminating potential scent spills that we
all have had to clean up out of our boats carpet. Let's look
a little closer at the design and material make up of the Jig-A-Lo.
Weed
Guards: The Jig-A-Lo comes
with either a Y-Guard or a Fiber Guard. I have only fished the
Y-Guard and here is what I have found. When your in close flipping
it was very easy to jig this bait up and down without getting
hung up. You can adjust the Y-Guard to help with sensitivity
levels and after repeated flips the Y-Guard stays attached. I
know that anything is possible but I have paid good $$$$'s in
the past for jigs where the Y-Guard would pull out. This didn't
happen to me with these jig's.
Baked
On Vinyl Finish: I've thrown
these baits in rocks, wood, pea gravel and sand and the finish
appears to be rock hard. This is another quality factor that
Mike makes sure is built into the Jig-A-Lo. I'll go back to
what I said above I have spent some good $$$$'s on jigs that
it seemed the paint began to come off after a few casts.
Silicone
Skirt: Mike says there is 44 strands in each skirt and
I believe him. I like the way these skirts look on the fall.
There is a definite "life like" quality that I really
like and I believe that you will also. Skirts come currently
in 16 different colors that will cover all water conditions and
finicky bass behavior.
Hooks: To assure
product quality as much as possible. And provide as much help
with rock solid hook sets the Jig-A-Lo comes standard with your
choice of either Premium Owner Needle Point Hooks or Red Mustard
Hooks on some models. I know most fisherman know this but for
those of you that might not. Do you know how to tell how sharp
a hook point really is? It's simple. Take the hook point place
it gently straight down on your thumb nail and pull forward real
easy. A good sharp hook won't slide across your nail but rather
dig in. That's the type of hook that comes on the Jig-A-Lo. A
hook that will dig in when you set it on your next trophy fish
or that 10 incher which ever comes first. Folks this is a tournament
grade jig meant for serious business.
Conclusion: So how do you take
something that has been around for a long time and not only make
it different but more importantly better? I believe we just covered
that. I have to hand it to Mike and his team for their commitment
to creativity and quality-job well done! If you are a jig fisherman
you owe it to your self to buy at least one Jig-A-Lo and give
it a try. I honestly believe that you will be as impressed
with them as I have been. Visit Bodock Lures on the web at www.bodocklures.com or if you live any where close to Murfreesboro Tennessee you
can purchase the Jig-A-Lo at Murfreesboro Out Doors at their
new location, which is 2204 North West Broad Street. If you
need direction call 615-896-4745 Randy and his team will be happy
to help.
Rick McFerrin
Owner
Tennessee Bass
Guides
www.tennesseebassguides.com
