Rapala Talks One on One with the world’s #1 angler, Jacob Wheeler

Q. What are you most looking forward to in 2025?

Wheeler: I’m really excited to fish the Bass Pro Tour with new rules regarding Forward Facing Sonar (FFS). This year we’ll only be able to use the FFS transducer for one of three periods, which will force us to get back to more “traditional” fishing techniques like covering water with crankbaits, topwater baits, and flippin’ around.

I love FFS and I love old school fishing. This new format is the best of both worlds, and I’m fired up for it. I’m a big fan of this change and I know all the great fishing fans are going to love it too!

Q. Which new CrushCity™ bait are you most excited to use this year?

Wheeler: This is a loaded question, but there’s no way I can’t give a nod to my good buddy the Mooch Minnow™ with the instant success we’ve already seen between myself and Dustin Connell.

With that said, I am really pumped to throw the Janitor™. I gotta be honest, I’m really proud of the Janitor. I’m not kidding you, this worm is special. I’m always trying to help make baits that do several things really well, not a bait that only does one thing well, or several things so-so.

The Janitor is the “deal” for neko rigging, shaky heads, and any other scenario when you need a straight tail worm. Between the exact softness and durability, scent, salt, action and little details like the ribs to perfectly Texas rig, the Janitor gets it done!

Q. What makes the new PXR Jowler™ 127 so special?

Wheeler: Man, the Jowler really is special to me. I’ve been obsessed with topwater baits since I was a little kid and to this day, it’s my favorite way to catch a bass. The Jowler is a walking bait with an aggressive splashing action due to its big, cupped face. There are plenty of baits in this category, but they all have their time and place. Some work best in windy/choppy conditions and others when it’s calm.

The mission with the Jowler was to make it versatile to where it worked really well in any condition. I’m here to tell you that we did that. Out of the package you’ll see there wasn’t a corner cut, the hooks are premium, custom made VMC® Redline Round Bends and the colors are out of this world. This bait could win an award for the longest casting. It is wild. You better make sure you have a full spool when you throw this dude!

Q. Which 2025 Bass Pro Tour event are you most excited for?

Wheeler: I’d be hard pressed not to say my home lake of Chickamauga isn’t the one I’m most excited about, but aside from Chickamauga, I’m really looking forward to Lake Murray. Lake Murray has had plenty of big events but not while the Bass Pro Tour will be there, which is the first week of March.

Murray is a ton of fun to fish because it’s loaded with fish. But, coming to a lake without much history on it at that time of the year lends itself to being a little bit of an unknown which makes it a fun and new challenge to figure out.

You know shakin’ a Freeloader™ and a Mooch Minnow are going to be a huge factor during the FFS period, but once the FFS is off you better believe I’m going to be winding a DT6® around and having a blast catching pre-spawn bass!