2024’s Hottest New Color?
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Northland® collaborates with Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson to create brilliant new Smeltinator® and Smeltinator® Underspin pattern.
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BEMIDJI, Minn. (March 12, 2024) – If you haven’t heard about Gussy’s 2023 Bassmaster Classic victory, well, quite frankly, you’ve been living under a boat tarp. Nearly as big news was his innovative technique and distinctive money-making bait: the Smeltinator Jig.
And now, on the cusp of the 2024 Bassmaster Classic on Grand Lake out of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Gussy and his buddies at Northland® Fishing Tackle are introducing a freshly faced Smeltinator Jig in what’s being called Gussy’s Shad – a brother from another mother.
“It matches perfectly with Z-Man’s Scented Jerk ShadZ™ in Gussy’s Blue Glimmer,” said Canada’s not-so-secret bass fishing weapon. “It’s my favorite Jerk ShadZ color, so I asked Northland to make a jig to match it.”
“Gussy Shad works anytime an angler wants to imitate baitfish with a plastic that looks like a shad,” continued Gussy. “The white/blue hue of the new color Smeltinator and 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.”
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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.
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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 jig for whatever situation they face. Jigs come three per card for $7.99 (MSRP).
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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 six colors, three sizes (¼-, 3/8-, and ½-ounce), and three hook sizes (2/0, 3/0 and 4/0) 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).
Make this bass season a memorable one with your own selection of Northland Smeltinator and Smeltinator Underspin Jigs! Check them out now!
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ABOUT Northland® Fishing Tackle
In 1975, a young Northwoods fishing guide named John Peterson started pouring jigs and tying tackle for his clients in a small remote cabin in northern Minnesota. The lures were innovative, made with high quality components, and most importantly, were catching fish when no other baits were working! Word spread like wildfire, the phone started ringing… and the Northland Fishing Tackle® brand was in hot demand! For 40 years now, John and the Northland® team have been designing, testing and perfecting an exclusive line of products that catch fish like no other brand on the market today. Manufactured in the heart of Minnesota’s finest fishing waters, Northland® is one of the country’s leading producers of premium quality jigs, live bait rigs, spinnerbaits and spoons for crappies, bluegills, perch, walleyes, bass, trout, northern pike and muskies.
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