By Mike Frisch & The Fishing the Midwest Team
In another blog, I wrote about how adapting to changing conditions can help lead to better fish catches. In line with that, angling success can also be improved by staying in tune to and using some of what’s new or what’s hot in lures, rods/reels, etc. that can increase angling efficiency and success. Here are a couple items I used recently that will continue to be a big part my fishing arsenal. I must say that with age, I have gotten more skeptical. When it comes to the “latest and greatest” in fishing gear I keep an open mind but also must experience consistent first-hand success before I go “all in” on something.
Last fall I was able to sample two new for 2026 Lew’s baitcast reels with a new braking system called the ParaMag RX system. To explain in simple terms, the system features a friction-free radial design that supplies even force across the braking surface without using batteries or electronics. The result is that the reels provide exceptional castability while being very resistant to backlashes.
I put both new reels to the test a bunch and was very impressed. I could make exceptionally long, smooth casts, even with light lures, and didn’t worry about backlashing. One of the reels is the KVD Elite reel. The other is the lower-priced Accel RX. Both performed exceptionally. Interestingly, I had a couple of my fishing buddies sample the Accel RX and asked them to “guess” the reel’s price? One replied “at least $150” and the other “200 bucks.” Suggested retail, $109.99. The even better news is that the ParaMag braking system is available in two versions and in other Lew’s models now too at varying price points.
Smooth, long casts can help catch more fish and so, obviously, can using the “right” fishing lures. Several years ago, before anyone had heard of Forward-Facing Sonar (FFS), a southern angler mentioned to me how versatile and productive a fishing lure called a Baby Z-Too was. This bait is a small, soft jerkbait made from a durable material called Elaztech. It floats and is very flexible so it has great action in the water. Some would say it has great “shimmy.” Now called the 3X Z-Too, it comes in five sizes from 3” up to 7” in length. I started fishing the bait on dropshot rigs for smallmouth bass. I had several outstanding catches and it became my “go to” smallmouth bait and still is.
In the last several years, as FFS has gotten very popular in the bass and walleye worlds, the Z-Too has gotten very popular amongst both crowds. Bass anglers use the bait fished on jig heads for the “shaking the minnow” technique very popular for smallmouth and largemouth. Walleye anglers are using it in similar fashion as well as they use it to slowly swim over and past walleyes seen on FFS. It is also very effective when fished in a more traditional jigging fashion too, with or without FFS.
Last fall, for example, I was in South Dakota with a partner who was using the bow mount motor and FFS to spot walleyes. He would cast to seen fish and slowly swim and shake the jig/Z-Too past them. Fishing from the back of the boat without FFS, I was casting my bait, letting it fall close to bottom and then popping and retrieving it back. We both caught numbers of fish. One trend with the bait seems to be anglers are using bigger baits to target bigger fish. I know some of my walleye tournament pals are itching to get their hands on some of the new 7” versions for chasing those big, suspended walleyes they often need to catch to compete in today’s walleye tournament world! For me, the smaller sizes still play for “eater” walleyes or on dropshots.
Whether you are competing or “fishing for fun” staying with the curve and using some of the new gear and lures can help you put more fish in the boat.
Good luck this coming season and as always remember to include a youngster in your next outdoors adventure!
Mike Frisch hosts the popular Fishing the Midwest TV series. Visit www.fishingthemidwest.com to learn more.
PHOTO – Mike Frisch with a South Dakota walleye caught on a 3X Z-Too.
