A tradition unlike any other - for the gamest fish that swims. Welcome to our end of season lure reveal, profiling and showcasing the best fish catchers of 2023 (as experienced from aboard my boats). 2023 was as wild and unpredictable as it came, for weather, conditions, and timing's sake. As you're about to read, some of the tackle selection we've settled on proves the weirdness. Representative of my own fishing style - fast fishing, moving around, search baits - this year's success was greatly shaped by the productivity and effectiveness of horizontal presentations. Paddletails and swim baits of all sizes dominated once again, as evidenced by our inland smallmouths favoring more abundant baitfish prey over some of our lakes dwindling crayfish supply. However, this is also a reflection on where I fish, which is predominantly on the pelagic fisheries where ciscoes and smelt roam. Additionally, 2023 proved to be the year of the spinnerbait. Most days of the week, I favor having a wind to help trigger midday activity. Moving water is always good, as long as the bow doesn't jump a foot. As a result, spinnerbaits were relied upon almost daily, and produced man