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.

Tournament Prep in Brutal Conditions: How Cold Water Eliminates Most Competitors

December tournaments in Southern Illinois are challenging but rewarding. Cold water, unpredictable weather, and concentrated fish create unique opportunities if you prepare properly. Whether this is your first tournament or your tenth, proper preparation separates winners from the middle of the pack.

Boat and Equipment Prep: Service your engine before tournament season. Have a professional look at compression, ignition timing, and fuel systems. You need reliability more than raw power in winter. Check all your electronics-GPS, sonar, and battery systems. Battery capacity decreases in cold weather, so ensure your main battery is fully charged before events. Have backup batteries and charging systems ready.

Tackle Organization: Tournament fishing demands efficiency. You don't have time to search for the right bait in your tacklebox. Pre-organize for the specific tournament venue. For December tournaments in our region, have separate boxes dedicated to jigs, crankbaits, and soft plastics. Our custom jig options in brown and green pumpkin colors are tournament-proven producers. Stock multiple weights and colors of each bait type-redundancy prevents being caught without the right lure when conditions change.

Practice vs. Competition Strategy: Your practice sessions should identify where fish are concentrated and what presentations trigger bites. During tournament days, fish the most productive patterns first rather than searching. Time is your most valuable resource. Focus on making efficient presentations in high-probability areas rather than experimenting. Consistency beats desperation in tournament fishing.