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.

Finesse Rigging Secrets: The Setup Adjustment That Increases Hookups in Cold Water

Finesse fishing represents a fundamentally different approach than power fishing. Instead of making aggressive presentations and covering large amounts of water, finesse means subtle presentations that appeal to finicky, pressured fish. Here's how to master finesse techniques.

Equipment Setup: Use 6-7 foot medium-light rods paired with 6-8 pound monofilament. The sensitive tip transmits subtle bites while the lighter line disappears in clear water. Spinning reels with smooth drags and quality bearing systems are essential. Every component should be premium because you're relying on feel and finesse rather than power.

Rigging Options: Texas rig soft plastics on 1/16 ounce worm weights. Drop shot rigs with 1/16 ounce weights. Unweighted small jigs (1/16-1/8 ounce) fished with soft plastic bodies. Shakyhead presentations with ultra-light weights. Each rig trades casting distance for finesse and natural presentation. You're not covering lots of water; you're presenting precisely to known fish locations.

Presentation Techniques: Minimize movement. Dead-stick presentations (essentially no movement) often work best. When you do move the lure, use micro-adjustments-6-12 inch movements with long pauses. Patience becomes more important than action. Wait 5-10 seconds between movements. Fish follow finesse presentations carefully and often bite during pauses rather than during movement.

Bait Selection: Small soft plastics (2-3 inches) in natural colors. Our green pumpkin and watermelon seed colors excel at finesse work. Creatures and finesse worms with minimal appendages work better than aggressive profile baits. Color matters more than at other times-pressured fish get picky about details.

Mental Approach: Finesse fishing requires patience. You'll make fewer casts and catch fewer total fish, but quality improves and you catch fish when power fishing produces nothing. The difference between finesse fishing and regular fishing is the difference between hunting with precision and hunting with a sledgehammer.