What makes Always 80 and Sunny baits different?

Every bait is hand-painted and airbrushed in our shop — no two are identical. We work in custom species patterns (bluegill, rainbow trout, brown trout, gar, perch, shad), splatter and craw colorways, and one-of-a-kind designs across squarebill crankbaits, multi-jointed swimbaits, glide baits, jerkbaits, lipless crankbaits, deep crankbaits, stickbaits, and topwater poppers, walkers, and frogs.

Where are the fishing charters located?

Our charters operate out of Columbia, Illinois in Southern Illinois. We offer inshore, offshore, and sunset trips — every charter includes tackle, bait, and a Coast Guard certified captain.

What's included with an Angler Pro membership?

Angler Pro is $19.99/month and includes secret fishing spot access, monthly tackle breakdowns, priority charter booking, and everything in the free Explorer tier.

Do you ship custom baits nationally?

Yes — we ship custom baits, tackle, and apparel anywhere in the United States. Free shipping on orders over $100.

How are the custom baits priced?

Pricing reflects build complexity and size. Squarebill and lipless crankbaits start around $24-30, jerkbaits and topwaters $28-42, mid-size multi-jointed swimbaits $65-95, and large hand-painted glide baits $120-220+ for trophy-class builds.

Autumn Bass Patterns: The Overlooked Transition That Creates Your Best Fall Fishing

Autumn is a dynamic season for bass fishing. Unlike spring's consistent patterns, fall throws daily changes at you-the weather shifts, water clarity changes, and fish behavior adjusts. Adaptability becomes your greatest strength during autumn months.

Early Autumn (August-September): Bass are still feeding heavily on surface and shallow structures during early morning and late evening. Topwater presentations work until water temps drop below 70 degrees. Transition your focus toward areas with current and cooler water. Creek mouths, spring-fed areas, and deeper structures near shallow feeding zones hold multiple bass sizes.

Mid-Autumn (October): This is peak bass fishing season. Water temps are ideal (55-68 degrees), fish are aggressively feeding, and presentation opportunities are endless. Crankbaits, jigs, and soft plastics all work. The key is locating where different-sized bass congregate. Small bass school on shallow cover; medium bass suspend off deeper structure; large bass hold in deep haunts with quick access to shallow feeding areas.

Late Autumn (November): Bass are in full transitional mode, moving deeper and concentrating around specific structure. Jig presentations become increasingly important. Fish the deeper side of structure-outer weed edges, 18-25 foot drop-offs, and creek channels. The bite becomes more selective. Finesse presentations and patience yield better results than aggressive lure choices.

Adaptability Tips: Check water temps daily. This guides your location selection more than air temperature. If air temps warm dramatically, expect shallow activity even when forecasts suggested otherwise. Conversely, a cold front dropping air temps 20 degrees will shut down shallow fishing within hours. Flexibility in tackle selection and willingness to adjust mid-day are traits of successful autumn anglers.