Minnesota fishing guide Brad Hawthorne shares his top 3 favorite Impulse plastics from Northland Fishing Tackle. These particular baits are killer for smallmouth bass and walleye up here in the north country.

Top 3 Plastics from Northland Fishing Tackle (Brad’s Picks)

When the water starts to warm up after winter, around the low sixties mark, I always reach for my swimbaits. The fish’s metabolism speeds up during this time, allowing them to eat more and making swimbaits highly effective. In this article, I will share my top three plastic baits from Northland Fishing Tackle that have consistently produced great results for me.

1. Northland Core Swim Bait

My go-to swimbait from Northland is the Northland Core Swim Bait. I prefer using an eighth to a quarter ounce head with this bait. It can be fished slowly or even jerked like a jerk minnow. Many anglers overlook this technique, but it has proven to be highly effective in catching a ton of fish. The Northland Core Swim Bait is a must-have in your tackle box.

2. Emerald Shiner Jerk ———————– Another highly effective plastic bait from Northland Fishing Tackle is the Emerald Shiner Jerk. This bait works best when paired with a light jig and fished with a jerking motion, similar to a jerk bait. The light pause after each jerk will entice strikes, especially during the early part of the season. While some anglers in Brainerd may not be happy with me for sharing this secret, the Emerald Shiner Jerk has consistently produced great results for me.

3. Impulse Paddle Minnow

My all-time favorite plastic bait from Northland Fishing Tackle is the Impulse Paddle Minnow. This bait, particularly in the color “Stretcher Shed,” has caught me a ton of smallmouth bass on Mille Lacs. I have had success using it with both orange and plain black heads, fished on a straight retrieve. The Impulse Paddle Minnow is a versatile bait that consistently catches fish. In fact, I go through about 10 to 12 packs of these baits every year.

Proven Effectiveness

You may be skeptical about the claims made by plastic bait manufacturers, but Northland Fishing Tackle’s Impulse baits have been proven to be highly effective. In an independent study conducted at a university, Northland’s Impulse baits were found to be 143% more effective than other plastic baits. This study was not just a random experiment conducted by amateurs; it was a legitimate scientific study that confirms the effectiveness of Northland’s baits.