As fisherman we’re are all a touch guilty of fishing too much with what we would classify as our personal “Confidence” baits. The confidence bait/presentation often is something we as anglers have simply mastered. This technique has frankly earned a portion of our slinging time each day on the water. While mastering a particular presentation with a chosen bait we in turn tend to burn our best water or prime feeding slots soaking “THAT” bait. Still I’d guess the “Confidence” bait tends to hinder further development in angling efficiency. Most of us are guilty of then “Testing” a new product or techique when frankly NOTHING else is working. Probably not giving the “NEW” in the tackle box a fair shot.
As a fishing guide I am as guilty or possibly even more so than the weekend angler in sticking with a particular presentation. I’d say a prime example of this is what many fisherman experienced moving from the “Jig and Meat” to Jig and Plastics this year on the Rainy River. Frankly I have little room for error when taking customers fishing. This tends to be a hero or zero biz I gladly accept at face value. As customers catch tankers I soak in the hero glory…while conversely if they struggle I dip into the zero glum. 
Rules tend to be the same for many fishing guides. We get roughly 8 hours of your time to hopefully help customers lace up some big fish and transfer our knowledge to our customers. Trial and error is frankly…….NOT often productive and rarely done during a guide trip with me anyways. Thus taking time when I’m not guiding and designating it as a “Homework day” tends to be the only way I continue to become better at my chosen craft. I frankly crave becoming better or gaining an edge on those big fish from previous years. I’d estimate 10% of my time searching new locations or working a new bait actually ends up making the jump from “Trial and Error” to a “Confidence”. I promise you the competition is stout. Still that 10% of new knowledge keeps my game always a bit better than last years.
The “Max Rap” from Rapala has just earned a permanent spot in my guide boat. What I experienced over the last week working early season pike has elevated both my efficiency while uncovering new water and productivity when dialed into the pattern……literally to the “MAX”. I have no idea how they came up with the name “MAX RAP”, but I’d say it was clever. I simply love this new addition to my tackle box. The Max Rap characteristics include Maximum casting distance, Maximum durability in the mouth of toothy critters and most importantly Maximum effectiveness on BIG FISH!! The “FOOL FACTOR” has been CRAZY GOOD!! (Fool factor…..When bait is at a standstill how many fish choose to “EAT” it.) Believe me when you work a bait slow it better be good!! You have far less room for error when a fish is afforded a long look at your presentation. I’d estimate there are lot of big fish that are saying “DANG IT! I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT!!” Rapala simply hit a homerun here.
As many of you know we have educated our share of big pike on the original size 13 floating rapala. On a average year we’ll boat upwards of 60 pike over 10lbs and 7-10 over 20lbs. By NO MEANS am I replacing “Lucky 13” in the Rapala Balsa bait. This Balsa wood floater is such a great bait with tight action!! Still the add of the Max Rap is something anglers need to add for several different reasons.
Without spilling the beans on our FIRST TWO “Hooked Up” episode with In Depth Outdoors…….I’m simply going to say this is going to be a MUST SEE!! Henpecking my report can only go so far.
Let’s just say there is BIG FISH and BLOOD!! That seems to get guys on the edge of the couch!! Don’t worry the Pike is fine. 
After the editing and release of these clips I’ll gladly go “IN DEPTH” on both topics at hand.
