COSTA MESA, Calif. (May 28, 2009) – Lucky Craft’s new Redemption spinnerbait is literally flying off the shelves. Lucky Craft, with the help of pro staff member and 2009 Bassmaster Classic Champion, Skeet Reese, designed and produced the ultimate spinnerbait and originally released it at ICAST 2008.

This year’s ICAST will be just as exciting for Lucky Craft, as they plan to unveil new sizes, including the larger, 1/2-ounce, double willow Redemption, and two new colors, Sexy Chartreuse Shad and Classic Shad.

At the 2009 Bassmaster Classic, Lucky Craft’s Reese won with two main baits; one happened to be the Lucky Craft Redemption. Now anglers will get a chance to fish a larger version (Reese used the 3/8-ounce at the Classic) and use the actual color Reese was fishing at the Classic, now known as Classic Shad. It was custom to Reese, but Lucky Craft will be releasing it as a new color pattern this year.

Classic Shad will have an MS American Shad head and a white skirt. The other new color, Sexy Chartreuse Shad, is similar to the popular Chartreuse Shad in Lucky Craft’s arsenal, but with subtle, yet important, differences such as the addition of green flakes and a gray back.

The original Redemption spinnerbaits were only available in 3/8-ounce and 1/4-ounce versions, and all had Colorado willow blade combinations. This year, however, in addition to the 1/2-ounce double willow Redemption, Lucky Craft will also release 1/2-ounce Colorado willow and 3/8-ounce double willow versions.

The new colors and the new spinnerbaits will be available at ICAST 2009 and will retail for $13.99~$15.99.

COSTA MESA, Calif. (March 30, 2009) - Lucky Craft's new Redemption spinnerbait is literally flying off the shelves. Lucky Craft, with the help of pro staff member and 2009 Bassmaster Classic Champion, Skeet Reese, designed and produced the ultimate spinnerbait and released it at ICAST 2008.

The Redemption incorporates Lucky Craft's key engineering techniques and creative elements, and Reese was more than excited about the opportunity to work on this project with Lucky Craft.

"We finally came to the realization this was possible for us to do," Reese said. "I knew if I was going to put my name with a product like this, it had to be premium. And premium goes hand in hand with Lucky Craft products. They make premium baits, there are no two ways about it."

With Japanese art and precision incorporated into the spinnerbait design, the Redemption series is unlike anything on the market today. The heads mimic colors already popular in the Lucky Craft arsenal such as Ghost Minnow, Chartreuse Shad and Aurora Black.

In addition to the lifelike colors, some versions of the Redemption will have a characteristic unlike any other spinnerbait - rattles inside the head.

"The rattles are very unique to the market," Reese added. "The spinnerbait will rattle as it rolls over cover and as the blades spin. These rattles aren't attached to the outside, so it's not as bulky, and it gives off a more natural sound."

Reese believes the Redemption will fish well in shallow or deep water, and knows it will be a versatile bait.

"The uses for this bait are unlimited," Reese said. "For the spring, I think we'll be looking at the fish positioned in shallow water. The Redemption is really going to shine when the water gets clearer and the fish get finicky. These spinnerbaits are going to look so much more lifelike, and I think that will generate more strikes."

And that's exactly what happened at the 2009 Bassmaster Classic - more strikes. Reese decided early on the Red River to maximize his fishing time in pool five and avoid the gamble of locking down to the other pools. Reese had two main baits at the Classic - a soft plastic and the Lucky Craft Redemption.

"I used the 3/8-ounce Redemption spinnerbait in the shad pattern," Reese said. "It has nickel blades and a tandem combination. I fished with 50-pound spiderwire on a 7-foot extra fast rod. Fishing up in the pad stems like I was, monofilament gets tangled too easily. The spiderwire allowed me to cut through those pad stems much easier."

When the confetti flew, Reese was standing in its midst hoisting the Bassmaster Classic trophy for the first time. He had been a bundle of nerves since leaving the marina that final weigh-in day, and he couldn't believe it when he won.

"I was an absolute mess," Reese admitted. "I held it together pretty good on the stage. I had confidence that I had the weight to win, but I wasn't 100 percent sure. It was so uncertain. There was so much anxiety. That final moment, when I saw I had 16-12, I knew it was game over. All I could say afterward was, ‘I just won the Bassmaster Classic. I just won the Bassmaster Classic.'"

With this prestigious win under his belt, Reese is now battling his way through the eight tournaments that make up the 2009 Bassmaster Elite Series. Hopefully, the Redemption comes into play many more times throughout the year.

The initial versions of the Redemption available in January were 1/4-ounce and 3/8-ounce versions and featured a small Colorado blade on the front and a large Willow blade on the back. They have straight wires, but bent-wire versions and other blade combinations will be released later this year. Additionally, the 1/2-ounce version is now available and a new color, Classic Shad, will debut in a few months. This will be an exact replica of the color Reese used to win the Classic, with an MS American Shad head and a white skirt.

More often than not, the Redemption will be fished on 15- to 17-pound monofilament on a 7-foot, medium action rod. According to Reese, monofilament casts smoother and easier than fluorocarbon. Even though fluorocarbon has a variety of benefits, monofilament will be more beneficial when target casting and precision is important.

The Redemption spinnerbaits are available in stores now, and the retail price is $13.99 and $15.99, depending on the color.