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.

How Cold Fronts Shut Down (And Unlock) Crappie Patterns (The Secret Timing Most Anglers Miss)

January was a rollercoaster for fishing in Southern Illinois. We experienced temperature swings of 30+ degrees in a single week, which really affected fish behavior. Crappie fishing was inconsistent, but when we figured out the patterns, we caught good numbers of quality fish consistently.

Cold Front Response: Crappie typically shut down during cold fronts, becoming tight-lipped for 24-48 hours after the front passes. Counterintuitively, the approach to a warm front was our best bite window. We caught the most fish on January 18-19, right before a warm system moved in and temperatures climbed to 45 degrees.

Structural Patterns: The fish were suspending around brush piles and laydowns in 15-20 feet of water. Vertical presentations worked best-jigging directly above structure with 1/16 ounce jigs and live minnows produced the most consistent catches. When fish are concentrated vertically under cover, you don't need to cast far. Precise vertical jigging in specific areas outperformed searching presentations.

Moon Phase Effects: The full moon on January 24th created a visible improvement in daytime bite. Crappie seemed more active during bright moonlit days. If you're planning a crappie charter, timing around moon phases can improve your odds significantly. January taught us that crappie respond to lunar phases as much as temperature changes.