Contest #2 Winner!

Claus from PA came through with the first correct answer. It is a bowfin, amia calva. The last surviving species in its order. It’s also a hard fighting, under appreciated gamefish. No one got the extra credit answer. That is: gular plate, the bony plate under the chin.

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To all that played: great guesses and good luck next time. To all that didn’t: check back often. There will be more chances to win.

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Know Your Fish Contest #2

Name this fish and win a sample pack of the new Bushido Shad soft plastic lure. Contest ends Tuesday, June 14th – winner announced Wednesday. First correct answer sent via the contact button takes the prize. Extra credit: name the unique anatomical feature displayed in this pic.

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Shallow Water Killer

The Bushido Shad from Fishbelly International is taking the shallow water fishing world by storm. Built with the front end of the famous Hawg Shad and a new, uniquely designed action tail; this lure has something special. As we rollĀ into summer, anglers across the country are capitalizing on the ease, excitement, and versatility that this new soft plastic brings to the table.

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Fishbelly’s world reknowned color patterns are the icing on the cake. Top: Greenback Minnow rigged on 5/0 EWG hook. Bottom: Blueback Herring unrigged.

Rigging can’t be simpler. Rig it Tex-Posed with a 4/0 or 5/0 offset EWG hook or a screw lock of the same size. The Bushido Shad will crawl over and through vegetation, so you can get into the spots where the big ones hide.

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Largemouth just can’t leave the Bushido Shad alone.

Perhaps the most exciting way to fish the Bushido is on top. Engage your reel as the bait hits the water and reel steadily. Start with the rod high and lower it as you retrieve. The Bushido Shad will come up to the surface quickly and stay there. The flip-flop and shimmy from the Bushido’s specialized tail creates a look and sound that’s part baitfish, part snake, and part buzzbait.

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America’s oldest gamefish, the bowfin, fall for that Bushido action every time.

Topwater is not the only place for the Bushido Shad. On any retrieve or any part of a retrieve you can take it subsurface. Just let it sink a bit and slow your retrieve; that specialized tail will impart a rocking, swimbait motion that gamefish of all types can’t resist. This is ideal for tough conditions when the fish just won’t cooperate on top. Buzz it across the heavy cover. Then let it dive and swim through the open holes with a subsurface presentation.

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America’s newest gamefish, the northern snakehead, eat the Bushido like candy.

It’s not exactly a swimbait. It’s not exactly a buzzbait. It’s not exactly a curly tail. It’s a little bit of each and an amazing bait all its own.

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A Bushido Swamp Slam – bowfin…
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largemouth…
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and chain pickerel.