Fishing on a heavily pressured day such as the 4th of July can be down right crazy. Fish can be spooked from all of the boat traffic and have seen basically every lure you can imagine thrown past them by countless other fishermen in the recent days. If you do decide to be “crazy” or “brave” the water on days like these, throwing a vintage or lesser known bait can sometimes do the trick. I often employ this method and yesterday it paid off with my older Lindy Shadling Baitfish lure. Collecting vintage tackle and owning MyBaitShop.com gives me access to tons of fishing lures I never would ..read more

Do you remember the South Bend Fishing Photo Contest Advertised in 1922 Catalog? Neither do we but it was a cool event. Let's take a trip down memory lane together. The first South Bend Bait Co. Fish-Photo Contest was held in 1923. A South Bend Bait $2,000 Fish-Photo Contest pamphlet was issued for the contest. The rules for this contest was anyone except for employees and their families could enter this contest. There was no entrance fee of any kind. Photographs entered must prominently show the South Bend Bait with which the catch was made. Pictures will be judged for photography, that is ..read more

Fishing a vintage Heddon Tadpolly Spook this year can help you put more game-fish in your boat. A great bait for muskies, pike, bass, and especially salmon. I'll share with you information on this lure and my personal review of this all-time classic fishing lure. You will see why you need to add this to your tackle box. Best of all we have them for sale here when they haven't been made in a very long time. Shock your buddies, win your tournament, and do it all "old school" with the classic Heddon Tadpolly Spook. Running a vintage bait shop you get a real good idea what lures actually produce ..read more

Walleye vs. Sauger: Understanding the Differences and How to Fish Them For anglers in the freshwater lakes and rivers of North America, walleye and sauger offer exciting fishing opportunities. Though closely related and similar in appearance, significant differences exist between these two species that can influence how you fish for and identify them. Understanding these differences is crucial not just for a successful catch but also for ecological reasons, such as species management and conservation efforts. Knowing how to distinguish between a walleye and a sauger can also be crucial for a ..read more

Smallmouth Bass Fishing is some of the most challenging and rewarding fishing there is. The Upper Midwest provides some of the best opportunities for both quality and quantity of these "bronzebacks". The Upper Midwest, with its myriad of lakes and rivers, offers some of the best smallmouth bass fishing in the country. Anglers looking for quality fishing spots will find no shortage of excellent waters in states like Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Here, we explore just some of the top destinations where the smallmouth bass not only thrive but also provide a challenging and rewarding exper ..read more

Mastering the Texas Rig is Essential if you want to be serious about your Bass Fishing. Here we give you an introduction to the method and hopefully put another bass catching method in your arsenal. The Texas Rig is one of the most versatile and effective setups in bass fishing, beloved by amateur and professional anglers alike. This simple yet effective rigging method allows the bait to move naturally, making it irresistible to bass.  In this beginner's guide, we'll delve into how to fish a Texas Rig to maximize your success in catching bass. What is a Texas Rig? The Texas Rig consists ..read more

Fishing Photography can be tricky unless you are prepared. The time to learn that new phone or camera is not after that big fish just landed in the boat. Read on to learn about how to improve your fishing photography and take great photos of your trophy fish. Outside of fishing and collecting lures, one of my other hobbies is outdoor photography such as fishing photography.  I don't claim to be a pro at it but I dabble at it and love taking outdoor shots, even doing some minor stock photography through the years.  If you are interested you can see a small sampling over at my photog ..read more

Bass fishing is not just a pastime; it's an adventure that captivates anglers across North America. Whether you're a seasoned fisherman or someone just dipping their toes into the waters of angling, the pursuit of bass offers a blend of challenge and reward unmatched by many other outdoor activities. In this guide, we'll explore effective tips and techniques to enhance your bass fishing experience, making each trip both enjoyable and successful. Understanding Bass: Behavior and Habitat Bass, primarily largemouth and smallmouth, are among the most sought-after freshwater game fish due to the ..read more

As you know we are dedicated to preserving fishing, lures, and our hobbies history here at My Bait Shop.  Today we are proud to announce the latest addition to the My Bait Shop family.  The Antique Fishing Lures Archive.  AntiqueFishingLures.com was created by Floyd Roberts with the help of Clyde Harbin and was one of the premier websites on old fishing tackle from around 1998 until late 2023.  With the help and permission of Floyd we have acquired the domain and rights to preserve these pages and articles so that they are not lost to the back alleys and arc ..read more

If you have never really checked out the full history sections of My Bait Shop, I highly recommend you do.  We try to devote half of our time building out the website's focus on history.  We have a section called Lure Lore, which are the updated articles from the Lure Lore website we acquired a few years back.  We are still working to move all of these articles over as we update them.  We also publish our monthly columns from Midwest Outdoor Magazine called Fishing History.  In this column we feature a lure every month as well.  In addition to those two ongoing "f ..read more