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.

December Crappie Bite Gets Underrated (Here's Why Late-Year Fishing Outproduces Fall)

December is a transition month for crappie fishing in our area. The water has cooled significantly from fall, crappie have finished spawning activities, and they're settling into winter patterns. We've had excellent December fishing this year, with surprisingly consistent action considering the cold water.

Pattern Shift: Early December, crappie are still roaming shallower structure from their fall feeding phase. By mid-December, they've begun moving deeper, suspending around brush piles and creek channels in 18-25 feet of water. This shift happens relatively quickly-sometimes over just a few days. The fish get tighter to structure and less aggressive in their feeding.

What's Working: Live minnows under a bobber set at 12-15 feet depth have been deadly. We're using our custom live shiner selection exclusively for late-season crappie. Small jigs (1/16 ounce) work but require more precise presentations. Vertical jigging over brush with live minnows accounts for most of our consistent fish. The December moon was favorable for daytime bites, and we noticed improved action around noon compared to early and late day.

Tackle Adjustments: Switch to 4-6 pound line for crappie. December fish are selective and finicky. Heavier line means fewer bites. Use quality spinning reels with smooth drags because light line demands gentle pressure. Our customers who made these adjustments saw dramatically improved bite rates compared to those fishing heavier setups. Finesse equals success in cold water.