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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: 1156
| 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: 1287
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: 1156
| 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: 20275
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: 1307
Location: WI | Hopefully it’s better than what Drifter has done. |
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Posts: 362
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: 1638
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: 1638
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: 1756
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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