Smeltinator Season
Midsummer is prime time for fishing the Smeltinator Jig and Smeltinator Underspin Jig from Northland Fishing Tackle.
BEMIDJI, MN (August 9, 2024) – Rare is the lure that can champion the entire water column. Extract topwater, and in bass fishing, principally, you have baits that operate at the bottom and a wealth of others classified for certain depth ranges. But in the case of Northland’s Smeltinator® Jig and Smeltinator® Underspin, the entire water column is yours.
And now, in the molten core of summer, the Smeltinator Jig and Smeltinator Underspin are tailormade for deep ranging largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass. Paired with an Eye-Candy Minnow or baitfish-esque soft plastic of your choosing, work these jigs amidst deep rocks and weedlines, as well as in the presence of bass suspending over no-man’s-land. Both Smeltinator varieties also play well with forward-facing sonar.
HOT New Color
The Smeltinator and Smeltinator Underspin in “Gussy Shad” color was designed by Bassmaster Classic Champion Jeff "Gussy" Gustafson to imitate baitfish across the country. With a slight blue hint, this color shines in tannic or dirtier water. Gussy Shad is now available online and in retailers, as well as the upcoming Bassmaster Classic 2024 in Tulsa, Oklahoma! Limited supply can be found right now on the Northland® Fishing Tackle website in all sizes and other patterns.
2023 Bassmaster Classic Champion, Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson, comments: “Gussy Shad works anytime an angler wants to imitate baitfish with a plastic that looks like a shad. It was designed to match up with the Z -Man Scented Jerk ShadZ™ in what they call ‘Gussy's Glimmer Blue’ color. The white/blue hue of the new color Smeltinator or Smeltinator Underspin make it show up well in everything from the tannic waters of Lake of the Woods and Rainy Lake to the dirtier waters in the south.”
Origins of Gussy’s Classic Winning Smeltinator Jig
The Smeltinator is hardly new to the fishing scene. The jig and the “moping” technique have been dominating the Canadian tournament scene for over a decade. Gussy, Northland founder John Peterson, Canadian professional angler Jamie Bruce, and Bryan Gustafson of Bass Tactics have won many tournaments and cashed big checks at events like the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship and Kenora Bass Invitational moping the Smeltinator Jig.
The Bassmaster Classic winning Smeltinator Jig is the creation of Canadian Angler Bryan Gustafson. It wouldn’t be what it is today without a 20+ year relationship with Bassmaster Elite Series pro Jeff Gustafson and Northland Tackle founder John Peterson. The Smeltinator was designed to give anglers a premium minnow head that perfectly imitates slender baitfish across the Northern US and Canada. As Bryan started creating jigs, he consulted with John on the manufacturing process, and the Smeltinator was born. After dominating the Canadian Tournament scene for several years, Jeff Gustafson won more than $400,000 through B.A.S.S including the 2023 Bassmaster Classic. In 2023, Bryan licensed the Smeltinator manufacturing rights to Northland Tackle and reunited the three elements that brought this jig to life and made it famous.
More About the Smeltinator Jig
The premium components of the Smeltinator is really what makes this jig head stand out from others. It features a sticky sharp, strong Gamakatsu hook, which by popular demand is a staple in the bass fishing tournament scene. Lifelike 3D holographic eyes and sculpted gill plates make the Smeltinator a realistic presentation and highly irresistible! Lastly, the universal ribbed baitkeeper holds your favorite plastics on the jig head and doesn’t tear your bait like traditional baitkeepers.
With 14 colors, four sizes (1/8-, ¼-, 3/8-, and ½-ounce), and five hook sizes (1/0, 2/0, 3/0, 4/0, and 5/0) from which to choose, bass anglers are sure to find the right Smeltinator Jig for whatever situation they face. Jigs come three per card for $7.99 (MSRP).
The Smeltinator Underspin
Like the Smeltinator, the Smeltinator Underspin features an ultra-sharp, ultra-strong Gamakatsu hook and beautifully sculpted baitfish head and plastics-securing hook collar. But what makes the Smeltinator Underspin totally unique is its compact, nickel plated willow blade for added flash and vibration to mimic small baitfish. The lightweight blade spins instantly on contact with the water and continues flickering with minimal jigging action. Aiding and abetting the blade’s ability to spin at super slow speeds is an exceptional SPRO ball-bearing swivel.
The Smeltinator Underspin is especially effective on pressured bass and in cold water conditions when bass won’t always commit to traditional lures. Moreover, the Smeltinator Underspin is a big-time player for anglers utilizing forward-facing sonar on suspended bass. The blade adds more body and action for the sonar to detect.
The Smeltinator Underspin is deadly on suspended smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and spotted bass. Simply pair it with a 2.5- to 7-inch soft plastic jerkbait or swimbait and let the wondrous pairing go to work. Southern and western bassers can put it to task right now on deep water reservoirs, especially off steep breaking rock structure, over deep flooded timber, or anywhere wintertime bass are schooling offshore.
The technique is elementary, too, letting the Smeltinator Underspin just do its thing. Pitch it out, let the bait fall to the fish, and start a slow and steady retrieve.
With eight colors, three sizes (¼-, 3/8-, and ½-ounce), and five hook sizes (1/0, 2/0, 3/0, 4/0 and 5/0) of the Smeltinator Underspin to choose from, bass anglers are sure to find the right jig for whatever situation they face. Jigs come one per card for $7.99 (MSRP).
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