Eight Species, One Unforgettable Day

Bobby Loomis, Director of Sales and Marketing at Mack’s Lure and respected fishing expert, has been sharing his knowledge of sockeye salmon fishing on Baker Lake for decades. With over 16 years at Mack’s Lure and a lifetime of experience in the tackle industry, Loomis represents the perfect guide for understanding the nuances of this premier Washington fishing destination.

A Multi Species Adventure with Addicted Fishing

When Marlin LeFever and Lucas Holmgren from Addicted Fishing called me about collaborating on a fishing trip at Potholes Reservoir, I knew it was going to be something special. I’ve been in this industry for forty three years now. I started at G. Loomis Fishing Rods, and now I’m with Mack’s Lure as Director of Sales and Marketing.

But what really gets me excited isn’t the tackle business itself it’s the act of fishing, and more importantly, sharing what I’ve learned with anglers who want to catch more fish.

The Addicted crew made the 4½ hour trek from Ridgefield, and of course, they couldn’t resist stopping to catch bass along the Columbia River on the way. As Marlin said, “We’re going to be passing a lot of water on the way,” and that’s exactly the kind of passion that makes these collaborations so worthwhile.

Our goal was simple: catch five different species in one day. We ended up with eight.

Starting Smart with Crankbaits and Side Planers

Here’s something a lot of Pacific Northwest anglers don’t think about using side planers. We’re so used to downriggers for salmon and bottom bouncers for walleye that we often overlook this technique. But let me tell you, it’s a game changer for locating fish efficiently.

We started the morning pulling crankbaits on side planers at 2.2 miles per hour. Shelby Ross from Ross Outdoor Adventures was guiding us, and he called them “bobbers for adults,” which I thought was perfect.

The strategy was to locate active walleye and mark the structure we’d identified on our electronics, then come back through those areas with bottom bouncers and Smile Blades at a much slower speed.

“We’re pulling cranks across all these rolling humps just up and down,” I explained to Marlin and Lucas. “This is basically the only structure left in the lake.You can see on the map here all these little humps and those are probably walleye right on the bottom at fourteen feet. We’re fishing about twelve feet deep.”

The side planers let us spread our coverage and keep presentations away from the boat, which is critical when you’re fishing relatively shallow water. Marlin caught his first fish ever on a side planer during this morning session a nice smallmouth bass. “First time fishing a side planer, first fish on a side planer,” he said, and you could hear the genuine excitement in his voice. This is part of what makes fishing an endless source of enjoyment for me.

Transitioning to Bottom Bouncing and Smile Blades

Once we’d located fish with the crankbaits, we made a critical adjustment. “They don’t bite with the cranks, you come right back with a bottom bouncer and a Smile Blade. And ninety five percent of the time they’ll eat,” I told the guys. This adaptability and knowing when to switch techniques is truly what separates successful anglers from those who stubbornly stick with what isn’t working. We slowed way down, from 2.2 miles per hour to between 1.0 and 1.3 miles per hour.

At these slower speeds, the Smile Blade really comes alive. When Marlin asked me what species anglers primarily use Smile Blades for, I had to think about it. “I’d have to say it’s probably walleye fishing because predominantly you’re slow fishing,” I explained. “When you’re slow trolling, those blades work well that’s what they’re designed for. But I slow fish for kokanee too, down at 0.9 to 1.2 miles per hour, and it works very well for that.”

The thing about the Smile Blade is its design. These ultra lightweight mylar blades give you lifelike action at speeds as slow as one quarter mile per hour. Throughout our day, we caught walleye, crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, and even a beautiful rainbow trout on Smile Blade setups.

As I said on the water, “These Smile Blades catch everything,” and we proved that statement once again.

Bottom Bouncing Fundamentals

One thing I wanted to show Marlin and Lucas was my bottom bouncing setup. “I use a little different bottom walker than lots of people use,” I explained. “Instead of the bent wire system, these are on a slide, and the fish doesn’t feel your weight. All they feel is the rod tip. You can change weights from heavier or lighter in a snap, and it’s also really nice for rod storage. We don’t have that big bent wire setup tangling up with your other rods.”  Learn more about bottom bouncing with Marc Borovic,

This sliding weight system makes a real difference. The fish encounters less resistance, which means more positive hookups. And being able to quickly change weights without retying? That’s crucial when you’re fishing structure with varying contours, like those rolling humps we were on. Threading nightcrawlers correctly is fundamental, and I see a lot of anglers get this wrong. “It’s critical to get that worm right in the head,” I demonstrated.

“Thread it up past the growth collar. Pull the point out. Pull the worm up over the knot so half the bend is covered. If it’s coming back up, it won’t spin. If it’s too straight, it won’t spin.”

The Smile Blade Slow Death rig combines two deadly elements: the offset bend causes the bait to spin with that bite enticing corkscrew action, while the Smile Blade adds extra wiggle, flash, and vibration. At our slower trolling speed of 1.0 to 1.3 miles per hour, this combination triggers even neutral fish.

Eight Species and Valuable Lessons

The action came fast. Within minutes, we had crappie on the line. “He’s maybe 10, well over nine,” I noted as we measured against the nine inch minimum. Then came walleye on the Smile Blade rig. “Nice walleye. 20-inch start,” Marlin called out. Bluegill followed, and it was an absolute trophy bull. “That thing’s mega pound for pound,” Lucas said. “I don’t think anything fights like they do.”

 I had to agree. We rounded out the day with largemouth bass, yellow perch, brown bullhead, and that rainbow trout. “That trout ate that literal perch plug,” Marlin observed.

Eight species in one day, and each one caught using Mack’s Lure products that prove how versatile quality tackle can be.

The Taste Test and Processing Tips

Back at the Addicted shop, we did a multi species taste test, and I shared a filleting technique that works with all white fleshed fish. “See this dark strip here?” I showed the crew. “Pinch that dark strip and just pull it, gets rid of all the pin bones and that blood vein, that stronger, fishier tasting strip of meat. All you have left is pure white meat.”

This simple step significantly improves both taste and texture. “If you’ve ever heard the term ‘a lot of smaller ones are better eating,’ yeah, because the bigger the fish, the bigger that strip of stronger, fishier tasting meat. You peel that out of there and you just have pure white meat.

We decided that the perch led the pack for flavor. “It’s fire. It’s so good,” were the actual words used. Bluegill, walleye, smallmouth bass, and rainbow trout all got positive reviews. The crappie drew some criticism for texture, which sparked good discussion among viewers about preparation techniques.

Why This Partnership Matters

This collaboration with Addicted Fishing represents what Mack’s Lure has always been about: helping anglers catch more fish. When we partner with content creators like Marlin and Lucas, who reach hundreds of thousands of viewers, we exponentially increase our ability to educate and inspire the angling community.

“That was probably one of the funnest days of fishing I’ve had in a long time,” Marlin said at the end. “Going out there and being able to catch eight species in one daywas pretty freaking ridiculous.”

Coming from someone who fishes as much as they do, primarily targeting salmon and steelhead, that’s high praise for the multi species opportunity we showcased.

For those wanting to learn more, I encourage you to watch the full video, check out the Addicted Fishing channel, and read their blog. The more you learn from different experts, the more fish you’ll put in the boat.

Listen below to Episode 125 of the WAO Podcast. Tune in as Marlin opens up about turning his passion into a purpose, helping others find hope and strength on the water.