The searchbait technique is growing in popularity among anglers seeking smallmouth, largemouth, and walleyes. Here is more information to help you with success out on the water.

The Storm 360GT Searchbait was introduced last year (the “360” refers to degrees—as in cast it in any direction—and the “GT” refers to “Go-To” as in—this should be your go-to lure choice), and has already proven to be a presentation that anglers must choose for a wide variety of situations. I witnessed firsthand success with this lure last summer on an Ontario fly-in trip to Slippery Winds Resort when a 360GT went head-to-head against the ever-popular jig-n-minnow combo for walleyes, and hooked about 20 walleyes in a row while the live bait tactic caught zero walleyes and about 20 northern pike. Prior to that June fly-in trip, however, I already was a big believer in the Storm Searchbait after several fishing days on Minnesota’s Lake Mille Lacs.

Located about two hours north of the Twin Cities and long heralded as a walleye factory, 132,000-acre Lake Mille Lacs recently rose to national prominence after hosting consecutive Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championships in September of 2016 and 2017, where huge bags of smallmouth bass came to the scales to impress even the best bass fishermen in the nation. If you love fishing for big smallmouths—with the added benefit of possibly loading the boat with walleyes while you’re casting for bass—this fishery should be a top choice. And while fishing can be consistent throughout the open water period, some of the best action comes during the month of May when post-spawn walleyes and pre-spawn bass mingle on the same shallow structure.

On this proving ground, where other traditional early season tactics have proven their worth in the past, the new searchbait was put to the test. True, in past years other swimbaits have had their place in the mix, and other swimbait options also catch plenty of fish, but the new offering from Storm Lures really seems to excel. Pitch a jig-n-minnow combo on the shallow tops and windward edges of the famous Mille Lacs reefs, or cruise the miles of shallow shoreline structure making casts to areas where rock and gravel dominate, and you’ll catch walleyes. Bass will appear in your creel as well. For me, casting a jerkbait in these mid-50s water temps from Minnesota’s Fishing Opener (May 13 this year) until early June is a favorite tactic. The erratic, twitch/pause/twitch of a slender minnow bait is hard to beat. Smallies love jerkbaits, and on Lake Mille Lacs you’ll also catch your share of walleyes while casting such lures.

Casting a jig-n-minnow has disadvantages when fishing a huge body of water like Lake Mille Lacs. While you can find pockets of congregated fish and experience consistent catches at times, the periods in between when you’re casting in “search mode” can be frustrating. Jigs don’t cast very far. They need to be worked slowly in order to be effective. Frequently adding live bait is hard on cold hands in the spring. Plastic trailers work—but not as effectively in most cases. Jerkbaits work well as a search tactic, and catch lots of cold-water bass, but the number of walleye bites can drop unless conditions are perfect. Now, give me a lure that casts a mile, fishes effectively in shallow water, and hammers both bass and walleyes in spring, and you’ve handed me a Storm 360GT Searchbait. Simplicity is key here. A 60-degree line tie to a weighted, rattling jig head ensures a horizontal retrieve simply by winding the lure in. The rattle adds sound, a feature common in most jerkbaits. A super-durable soft plastic body features unique ribbing that displaces water to add vibration and attraction, and the boot tail wobbles intensely on the most basic of retrieves. Unlike some swimbaits, the 360GT requires no special action imparted to the rod to make it dance and twitch. Actually, the more steady and simple the retrieve, the better the lure seems to work! No wonder they say “Throw it Anywhere. Catch Fish Everywhere!”

Want to learn more about the searchbait? Look for the full article in the March issue of MidWest Outdoors, available the first full week of March at the newsstand or by subscribing on our website.