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.

May Crappie Spawn: The Exact Moment Spawning Begins (And What It Means for Your Presentation)

May is peak crappie season in our region. Water temps have reached the ideal 65-72 degree range, crappie are moving into shallow spawning zones, and the bite is as consistent as it gets. We've had outstanding May fishing this year with multiple trips producing 40+ crappie per boat.

Shallow Water Patterns: Crappie are in 6-12 foot range around brush piles, submerged timber, and dock structures. They're concentrating heavily, making them predictable and catchable in good numbers. The fish are aggressive, feeding actively to fuel spawning activity. Both males and females are biting, and size distribution is good-plenty of 10-12 inch fish plus occasional larger specimens.

Presentation Success: Live minnows under a bobber set at 8-10 feet is the top producer. The slow, natural presentation appeals to spawning fish. Small jigs (1/16 to 1/8 ounce) in natural colors also produce well. We're using our natural color soft plastics on these jigs-green pumpkin and brown patterns are particularly effective. Vertical jigging over brush piles produces consistent action.

Timing Considerations: Early morning (first 3 hours of light) and late evening both provide excellent fishing. Midday action is respectable but slower than dawn and dusk. Overcast days produce better all-day fishing than clear, bright days. The May moon phase has been favorable for daytime bites as well.

Charter Success: Our crappie charters this month have been fully booked and consistently delivering great results. Customers who have never crappie fished are amazed at the quantity and quality. If you're interested in experiencing peak crappie season, May is your window-book soon as availability is limited.