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Few will ever get the chance to rummage through bass-fishing icon Mike “Ike” Iaconelli’s tackle totes. But if you could (and we have), you’d notice there’s not one single item randomly tossed in. Everything, right down to the bare hooks, is the best of the best—all hand-chosen by Ike for the sole purpose of catching more fish.
Given Ike’s attention to fish-catching detail, VMC hooks teamed up with the 9-time top-place taker (6-time BASSMASTER first places, including one prestigious BASSMASTER Classic top honor, and three FLW wins) to have him lend a hook-setting hand in designing a line of hooks that answers the needs of today’s sophisticated bass anglers.
Enter VMC’s Ike-approved hooks and jigs.
Included in the Rapala and VMC pro’s lineup are Flippin’ (1) and Heavy Duty Flippin’ (1), as well as the ever-popular Worm (2) and Heavy Duty Worm (2) hooks. Both sport a resin-coated closed eyelet for pulling bucketmouths from the thickest cover without fear of line slippage and fray—perfect for tying to Sufix 832 Superline.
Anglers who cast larger softbaits will love the new VMC Wide Gap (3) and Heavy Duty Wide Gap (3) hooks, also with a resin-wrapped eye and a unique shape that drives metal deep into a bass’ bony lips.
And retrievers of hollow-bellied swimbaits, creatures and frogs will increase hook-up percentages with Heavy Duty Swimbait (4) and Heavy Duty Weighted Swimbait (4) hooks with tapered locking spring for a firm hold cast after cast.
Adding to the line of the award-winning SpinShot® (5) is the new SpinShot® Wide Gap (5). A drop-shot angler’s wish come true, the SpinShot® Wide Gap rotates 360 degrees without adding line twist, just like the original, yet it offers a solution when an extra-wide gap hook is the best choice.
Another finesse fisherman’s wish was a better hook for wacky rigging, now realized in Ike-endorsed Wacky (6) and Wacky Weedless (6) hooks. Both are super strong yet ultra thin, allowing for the slow, natural decent of softbaits such as the Trigger X Flutter Worm, yet hard enough to cross a fish’s eyes.
All Ike-Approved hooks are pre-tweaked with the ever-important 3-degree offset point right out of their package, improving hookups tenfold. No need for modification with needle-nose before the first cast.
And as if all those hooks weren’t enough, Ike backs up VMC’s latest jig creations: the Wacky Weedless Jig, Swimbait Jig (7) and Rugby Jig (8).
The Wacky Weedless Jig (9) features a stainless weedguard that allows worms rigged wacky style to keep their bite-attracting natural action while staying weed free, even when pulled through jungle-like cover bass often roam. And speaking of realism, the Swimbait Jig has a minnow-shaped head adorned with 3D eyes and fancy flared gills; it not only looks good but keeps swimbaits running true.
And soon be tied to every angler’s line is the VMC-exclusive Rugby Jig, a multi-purpose jig with an extra-wide gap and recessed eyelet to make any worm or softbait bait come alive.
Although you may never get the chance to dig through Mike Iaconelli’s tackle, you can catch fish like him. Just load your boxes with Ike-approved Rapala baits, VMC hooks … and cast, cast, cast. You’ll be thrilled with the results.
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