Optimum Baits Co. Newsletter January, 2026
Hope you’re off to a great start in 2026. February brings a strong wave of spring-driven products as bass begin staging and moving shallow.
From deps, we have excellent new color additions along with key restocks.
Include:
- Cover Scat (multiple sizes)
- 3.5″ Barbute
- 1.2″ Wiggle Bug
- 7″ Sakamata Shad
- Calling Hustler
From ima, we have a full selection of:
- Flat-Sided Shaker
- Mid-Depth Pinjack
AA Worms just finished pouring a fresh batch of Bubba Shads in the smaller sizes — ideal timing as multi-species action starts to pick up.
deps – COVER SCAT – Still the leader in Poop Style Baits.
Three New Colors for 2026 offered in the COVER SCAT 2.5″, 3″, 3.5″:
#155 Cucumber Seed, #156 Green Pumpkin Sakura Baby, #158 Lime Reaction
February Restock Colors:
2.5″ – #12 Green Pumpkin, #20 Watermelon Pro Blue
3″ & 3.5″ R – #12 Green Pumpkin
deps – BARBUTE 3.5”
Besides being an excellent free rigged plastic, the Barbute excels as a trailer for a chatter bait and rubber jig, as well as a great option to be texas rigged, drop shotted, or punch shot. That versatility makes it an easy recommendation for anglers fishing changing conditions — and a strong multi-rig option to keep on the wall.
Besides being an excellent free rigged plastic, the Barbute excels as a trailer for a chatter bait and rubber jig, as well as a great option to be texas rigged, drop shotted, or punch shot. That versatility makes it an easy recommendation for anglers fishing changing conditions — and a strong multi-rig option to keep on the wall.
February Restock Colors:
#04 Smoke Silver Flake, #12 Green Pmkn, #20 Watermelon Pro Blue,
#41 Cracky (Motoroil Red Flake), #45 Baby Cherry Blossom,
#52 GRNP Chartruese, #73 Sunburned Watermelon,
#115 Green Pmkn Purple & Green Flake
deps – CALLING HUSTLER – A double prop bait that calls fish in with sound, flash and water disturbance.
Color Line Up:
#03 Ghost Ayu, #09 Half Mirror Wakasagi, #11 Glass Cat, #17 Horizon Shad, #34 Wakasagi Glitter, #18 Deadly Keta Hasu, #23 Grass Belly Shiner,
#32 Chart Oikawa, #34 Wakasagi Glitter
#03 Ghost Ayu, #09 Half Mirror Wakasagi, #11 Glass Cat, #17 Horizon Shad, #34 Wakasagi Glitter, #18 Deadly Keta Hasu, #23 Grass Belly Shiner,
#32 Chart Oikawa, #34 Wakasagi Glitter
deps – Sakamata Shad 7″ – Bigger bait. Bigger fish.
Restock Colors:
#92 Silver Shiner, #96 Wakasagi, #103 Smoke Pepper Clear,
#114 Champagne Pepper, #127 Silver Shad, #129 Reservoir Shad,
#140 Electric Shad, #146 Biwako Wakasagi
deps – WIGGLEBUG – A finesse-focused creature bait ideal for pressured fish and clear-water situations.
February Restock Colors:
#02 Watermelon Seed, #12 Green Pmkn, #28 Scuppernong,
#45 Sakura Baby, #121 Kasumi Green, #130 White Silver Flake
Crankbait Season is upon us!
ima Shaker
The ima Shaker is a flat-sided crank designed for 50–65°F water, running 3–5 ft deep. With a thin lip and weight transfer system, it offers long, accurate casts when shad are shallow.
PINJACK 200
The PinJack 200 is built to move through cover without hanging up. Its precise wobble and roll make it a versatile crankbait for both shallow cover and deep rock banks.
Bad Bubba Shad Jr. & 3”
The Bad Bubba Shad Jr. and 3” continue to be strong performers across multiple species. All of AA’s Plastics are hand-poured in our California facility, giving each bait consistent quality and premium action anglers can trust.
With:
- 6+ shad tail sizes
- 50 color options
- Retail price point between $5–$7 per pack
There’s something in the lineup for nearly every fishery and every customer.
Jacob Walker
Congratulations to Optimum/deps professional angler Jacob Walker on his 2nd place finish at the first MLF Pro Tour event of 2026 at Lake Guntersville. This marked Jacob’s first full Pro Tour event appearance outside of last season’s Redcrest Cup — an impressive start to the year.
deps plastics played a key role throughout the event, helping him stay consistent against one of the strongest fields in professional bass fishing.
image credits : MLF majorleaguefishing.com
