Berkley's researchers have designed a new line of Frenzy Floating Minnows that truly work well on both fresh and saltwater fish. I found this out personally the week I first used the 4-inch, shallow-running floater on Florida's Loxahatchee River. Snook, tarpon and largemouth bass took to this lure like raccoons to a moonlit cornfield.

The new lure was developed in Berkley's million-dollar, high-tech laboratory in Spirit Lake, Iowa. Its hard, polycarbonate body is capable of absorbing plenty of abuse from rocks, logs and the sharp teeth of predators.

Inside the lure, an attention-getting rattle further enhances the lure's effectiveness. The super sharp VMC cone-cut, No. 4 treble hooks will catch and hold fish that might be lost on plugs armed with cheaper hooks. Sharp hooks are a must for serious anglers.

The shallow-running lure works from the surface down to a depth of 4 feet. Both the snook and the tarpon hit on a moderate speed, straight underwater retrieve. These fish were both taken in a pool 16 feet deep.

The bass lay in shallow water 2-4 feet deep. I had my best success with the largemouths by letting the plug hang motionless for a few seconds; then I twitched it forward a few feet, and then let it hang still again. A few bass exploded on the plug the moment it hit the water.

The medium-runner version also has a 4-inch body, plus a 1-inch lip that enables it to dive 8-10 feet. Both lures can be worked on or near the surface if retrieved slowly.

The head and belly of the lure occupy the first 1 1/2 inches of the plug; the remainder of the body tapers sharply to the tail. The rattle is contained in the forward part of the lure. This configuration imparts a seductive motion to the lure as it is retrieved or trolled. It also makes the lure easy to cast, even on windy days.

In addition to the Baby Bass color of the plug I used, the shallow-runner Frenzy comes in Crawdad, Clown, Fire Tiger, Perch, and Rainbow Trout finishes.

The medium-runner comes in the same colors plus Silver Shad and Threadfin Shad finishes. The shad finishes should work well on striped bass and the hybrid sunshine bass in Florida, as well as fish in the deeper lakes in the north. Suggested retail price is $6.49.

Top-water

Berkley has also introduced two new top-water baits, the Frenzy Popper and the Frenzy Walker.

The Popper comes in six colors: Gray Ghost, Purple Ghost, Rainbow Trout, Bullfrog, and Threadfin Shad. It is 2 3/4 inches long, and its VMC cone-cut, No. 4 treble tail hook is trimmed with white feathering and red whipping.

The unique front cup head results in a smaller profile for the lure. Suggested retail price is $7.29.

The Frenzy Walker has a 4-inch body with a fat head, contoured body and narrow tail. It, too, is armed with VMC cone-cut, No. 4 treble hooks and a rattle.

Field testers found the bait strolls side-to-side as soon as the retrieve starts. A slow retrieve produces a gliding walk with a wider presentation than most walking baits. It also tends to ride high in the water without the tendency to jump out during retrieval.

The Walker comes in six colors: Gray Ghost, Fire Tiger, Rainbow Trout, Clown, Bullfrog, and Threadfin Shad. Suggested retail price is $6.99.