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Posts: 1293
Location: Stevens Point, Wi. | Chaos Tackle, Musky Mayhem, and Musky Innovations have been acquired by Fin Rage Tackle out of the Green Bay area. |
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Posts: 1157
| I'll say I was shocked when I saw Chaos Tackle post it today on Facebook. I want to be excited about it but I'm fearful it is not a great thing for the industry. Changes are inevitable and only time will tell... |
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Location: PA Angler | Usually when this happens it’s not to good. But you never know. |
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Posts: 1288
Location: Walker, MN | I could see myself paying a little more, and buying from the smaller bait makers a little more. |
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Posts: 1157
| I just don't see how one company can possibly put the heart into each brand like the individual family-owned businesses have since inception. It's like the Bass Pro Shops of the musky industry is taking over. Must have had some big investors to outright buy the arguably 3 biggest manufacturers in musky products. Congrats to the new owner Paul Check, and it sounds like Trevor Allen (of Chaos) is staying onboard to be a player with the new company.
Edited by MartinTD 1/28/2026 12:09 PM
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Posts: 20277
Location: oswego, il | This was the big talk at the musky show a week ago Saturday. Will be interesting to see where this all goes. |
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| I don't know anything about the manufacturing process, do these lures use a lot of components that would be subject to tariffs from China? I have seen where tariffs drove consolidation in other businesses. But, it has to be a tough racket for small mom and pop shops. Manufacturing, distribution, marketing, social media, etc. |
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Posts: 1308
Location: WI | Hopefully it’s better than what Drifter has done. |
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Posts: 364
Location: Vilas County, WI | This has blown up on social media. I couldn't believe it when I read it. Not one, but arguably the 3 biggest hitters in the Musky world all acquired by the same LLC.
I immediately jumped on Google to search Fin Rage Tackle... no website, no nothing, other than articles about Fin Rage acquiring Al's Goldfish Tackle in 2023 and relocating to Green Bay. www.alsgoldfish.com
I hope for the best for all those involved, us customers included, but I'm leery on this one. |
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Posts: 418
Location: Selkirk, Manitoba | Backlash podcast on it:
https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-6b3uj-1a2d9f9 |
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Posts: 1644
Location: Brighton CO. | It was a long time ago when I caught my first fish out of the Root River in my dads home town of Racine WI. in the summer of 1967, it was a Carp and I was 6 1/2 years old. I've collected a lot of tackle since that day. (and I'm still collecting it)
The tackle itself has changed, where and how we buy it has changed, and the fisheries have changed too.
The first four muskies I caught in the late 70's were killed and I caught one on a Mepps Musky Killer (tandem) the first year the tandem came out, A Huskie Junior (Daredevale) Pikie Minnow, and a Mepps #5. Of those lures the Pikie is out of production.
When I started fishing the Mepps musky Killer it came in three blade colors Gold, Silver, and Black.
In the early 90's I got my first Thorne Brothers catalog, and shopped at Rollie & Helens in 1994 when they moved to Minocqua from Rhinelander. Got my first Cabela's catalog in 1988 when still living in California. We used to drive from Denver area to Sidney Nebraska to go to the brick and mortar store when I moved to Colorado. It was 138 miles each way. Later Cabela's, Bass Pro and Gander Mountain came to town too. I liked shopping at all three. Bass Pro and Cabela's merged and we have lost out on some tackle choices and Gander is gone. Again less choices. I used to get a lot of stuff from Drifter/Mania/ERC from the web site and last time I looked that option is gone too. I've seen tackle come and go and bought out and quality change you name it. In my 60's I don't buy much new Muskie tackle but I do buy lots of older tackle on E-bay and I have a Bucktail maker but I don't really need any more Bucktails. My Grandma's old grade school is still standing west of Racine but mine was torn down over twenty years ago. No value in history. |
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Posts: 1644
Location: Brighton CO. | I almost forgot I've been buying parts and lures from Dick Moore since the mid 90's! Thanks Dick when is the new catalog coming out? |
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Posts: 1758
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | My biggest fear is they let quality slide like what happened with the Bucher baits of yesteryear. Customer service also tanked when Joe sold the company. Quality has never returned to his baits. I’ll pay a couple more dollars per bait I’m sure, but I will remain skeptical for a long time until things settle out. |
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Posts: 228
Location: Downers Grove, IL | I listened to Backlash podcast with the new owner. Sounds like a very nice guy, and I hope the best for him and these brands. But the reality is, regardless of industry, if you're hoping for innovation, new products, higher quality, greater availability and good customer service, ...these things don't typically go the way you hoped.
Hold on to your baits from the original manufacturers. I'd suspect people will be clamoring for them in years to come in the way they have for Bucher baits as mentioned, Weagles, Musky Busters, just to name a couple... |
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Posts: 517
Location: Ludington, MI | Exasperation is the mother of invention. If someone stops making your Flatsticks, someone else will refine and reproduce them. And if someone stops making your Blue Fox Twin Turbo, someone else will cut a blade off to mimic it.
You'll get through this. |
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Posts: 1644
Location: Brighton CO. | Well a long time ago someone bought the Dick Gries product line and failed miserably, then Russ Smith took it over years later and revived the brand. |
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Posts: 7109
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | Why is it in Muskies everything old is better than everything new?
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Posts: 1352
Location: E. Tenn | Slamr - 2/2/2026 4:30 PM
Why is it in Muskies everything old is better than everything new?
I dunno... I'm thinking about blowing the dust off some of the old lures in the garage, and giving them a shot this year.. |
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Posts: 8
| Because this is a group of old men. The cold weather thread confirms it. |
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Posts: 596
Location: deephaven mn | Paul Check the new owner says nothing will change with the products. Not going to china to make them, he has a manfucturing building in Green Bay. Trevor from Chaos is onboard and Both Brad Rhu and Brad Hoppe will be apart of it during transistion. I new MuskyMayhem was up for sale as well as Musky Innovations and apprently the asking price was met.
Will the innovation suffer? I think Team Rhino will keep pushing that. Musky Innovations had a drop in quality several years back when he tried outsourcing, that has been worked through and the best materials are in place. Chaos is a big comany itself with lots of diffrent brands possibly the biggest challenge. I myself have enough baits for five fisherman so i am not concerned. Maybe it will slow the up and commers down a little. Ha Ha |
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Posts: 1644
Location: Brighton CO. | Yes I'm a old guy, I have way too much sh.. "stuff" and still buying more stuff. I have Mepps Musky and Giant killers that are 50 years old and still when used at the right time and place catch fish. They come in many more colors then the old days, I just bought a custom color from R&H "Swamp Gas" it has a dark green blade (not lime) with a natural Squirrel tail. It only comes in single Musky Killer and #5. I would buy more if they came in smaller sizes. A lot of lures are newer and better "Mouse Traps" but sometimes the old Mouse Traps work well and are paid for. And some lures have a different sound then the new ones, Pfluger Globes, Mud Puppies. Some have left the market and some just are made cheaper. (Depth Raider family) for me it's fun to mess with lures and make modifications. And I have a Bucktail maker too and I need another Bucktail like I need a another hole in my head. |
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