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.

Reading Water: The Structure Detail That Changes Your Entire Location Strategy

Many anglers fish randomly, hoping to stumble onto fish. Successful anglers read water systematically, identify high-probability areas, and fish them efficiently. This skill separates occasional catchers from consistent producers. Learning to read water is learnable and dramatically improves catch rates.

Map Study: Before you launch, study contour maps. Look for points, drops, flats, creek channels, and transition zones. Fish relate to depth changes and structure. A point that drops from 8 feet to 20 feet within 50 yards is a likely holding area. Submerged creek channels concentrate fish because they provide highways between shallow and deep zones. Study maps at home before fishing-it saves time and increases targeting accuracy.

Depth Transitions: Fish don't distribute randomly throughout lakes. They concentrate around structure and depth changes. A submerged stump field in 12-15 feet of water holds fish differently than the same stumps in 3 feet. The key is matching fish depth to seasonal patterns and water conditions. Summer means deeper fish; fall means shallower. Spring and fall transitions mean fish distributed across multiple depths.

Sonar Interpretation: Quality electronics show fish, structure, and bottom composition. Learn to read your sonar properly. Suspended targets aren't necessarily fish-vegetation, debris, and forage all show up. Bottom hardness (hard bottom vs. soft bottom) affects fish location. Fish often relate to transition zones where bottom composition changes. Spend time on the water learning your sonar, not just watching it passively.

Systematic Approach: Divide water into grids. Fish the most likely areas first based on map study and seasonal patterns. If you find fish quickly, expand fishing nearby. If an area produces nothing, move efficiently to the next priority location. Jumping randomly between spots kills productivity. Systematic searching beats random wandering every time.