Ep. 89: Nick Trujillo of VikingHeads on Swim Jig Design & the CastNCrank Pivot

Guest: Nick Trujillo (VikingHeads Bait Co)

Hosts: Daniel Dahlin ([FISH]rx), El Charly, Luke Dean (Bait Slingers / Artemis Charters)

Episode 89, recorded live on June 17, 2025, is a deep dive into bait design, problem-solving, and building gear for real fishing conditions. Nick Trujillo of VikingHeads breaks down the weed-guarded swim jig head he developed for calico fishing, along with his shift from podcasting into full-time bait making.

In This Episode

• Weed-guarded swim jig head for calico — built to fish kelp and structure without constant snags
• VikingHeads origin — starting from a missing product and building it instead of working around it
• CastNCrank departure — why Nick stepped away from podcasting to focus on bait development
• Bait design philosophy — avoiding “one bait does everything” thinking and staying adaptable
• Early calico connection — how one fish can shape long-term bait confidence and design direction
• Feel and rigging awareness — knowing when a bait is working correctly before the first cast finishes

Why the Weed Guard Matters

The central takeaway from this episode is simple: calico bass live in structure, and your gear needs to match that reality. A standard swim jig head without protection becomes a liability in kelp, rocks, and heavy cover. The weed guard allows anglers to fish where the fish actually are instead of avoiding those areas entirely.

This connects directly to how structure fishing works in SoCal. Staying tight to cover is often what separates getting bit from not. The SoCal structure fishing guide reinforces the same principle — your presentation has to live where the fish are holding.

Nick’s approach to design follows the same logic. Instead of forcing a bait into situations it wasn’t built for, he starts with the fishing problem and builds the solution around it.

Why This Episode Matters

This episode matters because it shows what effective gear development actually looks like. The best baits are not built around trends — they are built to solve specific problems anglers run into on the water.

If you fish calico bass, kelp, or heavy structure, the lesson is straightforward: your setup should make those areas fishable, not force you to avoid them. For broader application, the spotted bay bass guide and SoCal structure fishing guide expand on how to approach those environments.

Watch the full episode on the Time On The Water YouTube channel. New episodes every Tuesday at 6 PM.