Thirty years into the industry, I’m under no illusions that anyone is ever going to ask me for serious feedback on what lures to produce, how to make them better, or what colors they should add to the lineup. I suppose I harbor some slight hope that I’ll become a latter day Ned Kehde and develop or popularize a new technique, but I’m realistic enough to know that I’m more likely to win the lottery or get struck by lightning three times.

But that doesn’t at all dissipate the thrill I get at receiving certain lures before the general public – or, indeed, before I’m even allowed to talk about them – and taking them to world-class fisheries like Lake El Salto. That’s the position I found myself in last week. Thanks to the advice of pro staffer and all-around-good-guy James Niggemeyer, my wife went down south with the intent to catch some on the Yamatanuki, but I wanted to be the first to put the steel to some Mexican bass with baits no one else had.

Fortunately, the folks at Yamamoto had sent me some pre-ICAST tester packs, and while I’m still not at liberty to name it under some fishy code of omertà, there’s one new Senko color in particular that I was excited to try. I have about 80 pounds of tackle stored permanently (at least until I use it) at Anglers Inn down there, so in order to gain traction and space among the green pumpkins and watermelon reds, this one was going to have to be exceptional.

I’ll put it this way: I’ve found a new winner. I’ll be talking about it after it’s officially introduced and after I make a sizeable order, but if you want to catch big Mexican bass this one should be in both your carry-on and your checked baggage, to guard against any mishaps or border disputes. I’ll have at least 100 with me the next time I go back. With any luck, they won’t last more than a morning.