Post Spawn Crankbait Fishing Tricks - Speed Cranking For Aggressive Bass!

Forget the way you fish crankbaits! If you're not speed cranking in the post spawn, you're missing an amazing opportunity to catch big bass. Its all about TRIGGERING a reaction strike. Whether you're a Southern Largemouth guy or a Northern Smallmouth guy, you have an amazing opportunity right now to force feed your crankbaits to the bass. The crank's ability to fire up a feeding frenzy is second to none as bass are moving toward their Summer haunts and you don't want to miss it!

This technique works incredibly well this time of year. It doesn't matter if your fish are 20' deep feeding on outside ledges or 2' deep on shallow rock bars. The method works in both scenarios, you just need to adapt the specific baits to maintain the speed at different depths. We find that carrying a variety of squarebill crankbaits, mid divers, and deep divers will allow you to adapt to changing conditions. Also, traditional knowledge would encourage using ghost colors in clear water but we've found that during this period you can see incredible results fishing bold colors like Chartreuse or chartreuse/Blue, even in gin clear water. 

Below you'll find a breakdown of the baits and equipment Matt discussed along with size and color recommendations. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

Summer Bait... 

-Strike King 6XD: http://bit.ly/2ery44M

Colors: Chart Sexy Shad, Powder Blue Back Chart

Squarebills... 

-Strike King KVD HC 1.0 Squarebill: http://bit.ly/2Pz3HvE

Colors- The Shizzle, Summer Sexy Shad

-Lucky Craft BDS-3: http://bit.ly/2blTVwI

Colors- Golden Shiner, Ghost Minnow

-Damiki BTC 60: https://bit.ly/35yagXK

Colors- Baby Bow, Threadfin Flash

Deep Cranks... 

-River2Sea Tactical Crank DD 75: http://bit.ly/37dclbX

Colors- Metallic Shad, Natural Gill

-Megabass Deep X 300: http://bit.ly/2sSQHpt

Colors- See Through Chart, Blue Back Matte Chart, Sexy Ayu

-Norman Deep Little N: http://bit.ly/2acSLUd

Colors- Chart/Blue, Chartreuse Shad, Nutter Shad

Mid Cranks...

-Norman Deep Baby N: http://bit.ly/2O9CAcu

Colors- Chart Blue, Nutter Shad, Sexy Shad

-SPRO Rock Crawler 55: http://bit.ly/2BLmsVN

Colors- Phantom Green, Missouri Craw, MudBug

Hook and Split Ring Upgrades... 

-Owner Hyperwire Size 3 Split Rings: http://bit.ly/2v8ArBX

-Owner ST-56 Size 4 Trebles: http://bit.ly/2cVg7xW

-Gamakatsu EWG Size 4 Trebles: http://bit.ly/2cZrsbY

Fluorocarbon Crankbait Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 906 CBR (7'6" MH): http://bit.ly/2og0BmK

Reel- Shimano Bantam MGL 150 XG: http://bit.ly/2H44yjG

Line- Sunline Assassin Fluorocarbon 12 lb: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

Braid Crankbait Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 845 CBR (7'6" MH): http://bit.ly/2og0BmK

Reel- Shimano Bantam MGL 150 HG: http://bit.ly/2H44yjG

Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 20 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- Maxima Ultragreen 12 lb Mono: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

NEW Tactical Bassin Apparel... 

TacticalBassin Reaper Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2TwBWs7

TacticalBassin Shadow Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2FVD9Rs

TacticalBassin Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/2TvFMBD

TacticalBassin Hooded Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/38cVi9G

Did He Catch A 10 lb Bass?? Spring Crankbait Bass Fishing!!!

Matt caught a monster bass on a crankbait! Crankbaits are a great way to cover water and catch bass in Spring. If you know how to adapt them to changing conditions they're an excellent way to specifically target GIANT bass. Come along as Matt shows cast to catch footage of this big Clearlake bass then explains exactly why he caught it and how you can do the same. 

We began teaching how to use the Tactical DD Crankbait to specifically target big bass back in November. Since that time a TON of big fish have been landed across the country. Not all crankbaits are created equal in cold water but once you understand the differences and how to apply baits with key vibrations to your fishing, your catch rate on bigger bass will increase. 

Landing giant bass on light line isn't just about choosing the right bait, you'll also need the right equipment and a very patient approach to successfully battle a big fish on light tackle. Take your time, stay calm, and your new personal best could be just a cast away. Below is a breakdown of all the gear we used in the video along with some additional baits and gear that we recommend for cold water and prespawn crankbait fishing. 

Keep in mind that many of the Tactical Crankbait colors are currently sold out. It will be a bit longer before all the colors are back in stock so you may want to try some of the colors currently in stock or backorder a specific color so you're in the front of the line once they're back in stock.

Matt's Exact Equipment... 

Bait- Tactical DD Crankbait 75 (DD Minnow): http://bit.ly/37dclbX

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 906 CBR (7'6" MH): http://bit.ly/2og0BmK

Reel- Shimano Bantam MGL 150 XG: http://bit.ly/2H44yjG

Line- Sunline Assassin Fluorocarbon 12 lb: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

Net- Frabill Knotless Conservation 9512: http://bit.ly/2FNdnQr

Other Great Crankbaits For This Technique... 

-Megabass Deep Six: http://bit.ly/2A3clKP

-Megabass Deep X 300: http://bit.ly/2sSQHpt

-Spro RK Crawler 55: http://bit.ly/2NFPA5t

-6th Sense Curve 55: http://bit.ly/37hZ1TD

Budget Cranking Combo... 

Rod- Fury 7' Medium Heavy Cranking: http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

Reel- Shimano SLX HG: http://bit.ly/2NfdOnk

Line- Sunline Assassin 12 lb: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

NEW Tactical Bassin Apparel... 

TacticalBassin Reaper Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2TwBWs7

TacticalBassin Shadow Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2FVD9Rs

TacticalBassin Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/2TvFMBD

TacticalBassin Hooded Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/38cVi9G

Squarebill Crankbait Tricks For Spring Bass Fishing

With all the colors, sizes, and sounds, which crankbaits should you fish? Virtually every company in bass fishing makes a squarebill crankbait but they are NOT created equal! Knowing how to use different crankbaits to match conditions will help you catch way more fish this Spring. It's more than just looks so come along as we dive into the details that make all the difference with square bills. 

Tim splits his square bills into several categories. He's got silent baits for pressured conditions and rattling baits for aggressive fish or murky water. He uses bill size (diving depth) to adapt to different water levels, and size to match the baitfish. He keeps color simple, relying on 3 categories (baitfish, crawfish, and bold) to adapt to changing conditions. Where it really gets interesting is his use of different hooks to adapt to the fish he's targeting. 

Below is a breakdown of the baits Tim has the most confidence in. He's also included his favorite colors in each, all of his favorite hooks and terminal tackle. Additionally, he's listed his favorite Crankbait combo and a few other rods at different price points that will help you land more crankbait fish on your next trip. 

Rattling Baits... 

-River2Sea Biggie: http://bit.ly/2ahCzvo

(Rooster, Abalone Shad, I Know It)

-6th Sense Crush 100: http://bit.ly/2HbaCGT

(Shad Streaker, Shad Scales, Mudbug Red)

-Spro Little John 50: http://bit.ly/2dDfuqt

(Matte Shad, Blood Craw, Rootbeer Chartreuse)

Silent Baits... 

-Lucky Craft 1.5: http://bit.ly/2BGxKPa

(American Shad, Crack, Delta Crazy Red Craw)

-Lucky Craft BDS 3: http://bit.ly/2blTVwI

(TO Craw, Chartreuse Shad, Ghost Minnow)

-Megabass S-Crank: http://bit.ly/2dPdTxb

(MB Phantom, Fire Craw, Megabass Sexy Shad)

-Strike King 1.5: http://bit.ly/2Pz3HvE

(Delta Red, Olive Shad, Sexy Ghost Minnow)

Hook and Hardware Upgrades... 

-Owner ST-36: http://bit.ly/2cWpeyw

(Extremely sharp and reliable, excellent all-around hooks)

-Owner ST-35: http://bit.ly/2g8uCMj

(Short shank hooks with 3 hooks positioned specifically for crankbaits)

-Gamakatsu EWG: http://bit.ly/2cZrsbY

(Incredible sharp, light wire, tipped in hook points)

-Mustad Short Shank Triple Grip: http://bit.ly/32U3TN1

(Short Shank, tipped points, and offered in Red)

-Owner Hyperwire Split Rings (Size 3 or 4): http://bit.ly/2v8ArBX

Tim's Favorite Squarebill Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 845 CBR: http://bit.ly/2og0BmK

Reel- Shimano Bantam MGL HG: http://bit.ly/2H44yjG

Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 30 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- Sunline Sniper 12 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Other Great Crankbait Rods... 

Glass- Shimano Zodias 7' Med Light Glass: http://bit.ly/2cgmMAe

Budget- Dobyns Fury 7' Medium Heavy Crankbait: http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

Squarebill Storage... 

-Plano Elite Medium Crankbait Organizer: http://bit.ly/2KwA8Kp

NEW Tactical Bassin Apparel... 

TacticalBassin Reaper Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2TwBWs7

TacticalBassin Shadow Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2FVD9Rs

TacticalBassin Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/2TvFMBD

TacticalBassin Hooded Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/38cVi9G

4 Lipless Crankbait Tricks For Springtime Bass Fishing

Prespawn Bass and Lipless crankbaits go hand in hand! After a long Winter of slow fishing its hard to imagine anything better than burning a lipless across shallow flats in search of big prespawn bass! Its ability to cover water quickly combined with amazing drawing power should put the lipless crankbait at the top of your list in Spring. In today's video Tim teaches two different approaches to lipless fishing and gives some bonus tips along the way that you don't want to miss. 

When you hear the words "lipless crank" most anglers envision burning traps in shallow water, usually around grass beds. This method is so deadly on Spring time bass that its engrained in the minds of bass fishermen everywhere. However there is a second way to fish these baits that is often overlooked and typically catches even bigger fish than the burning method! The slow hop elicits strikes unlike any other lure we've ever encountered. It requires very specialized lipless baits to achieve the right action but once mastered, its amazing the caliber of fish you can catch. 

Both methods should have a place in your arsenal. Both will work on any given day so we're typically prepared with both styles of lipless tied on. While both the burning and hopping styles are done with lipless crankbaits, the similarities end there. You'll want different lures, different weights, and even different line to really dial in the patterns. Below is a breakdown of the baits and equipment by style. 

Lipless For Hopping... 

-Lucky Craft LV-500: http://bit.ly/2aAUUbd

(Ghost Minnow, Spring Craw, American Shad, Chartreuse Shad)

-Jackall TN-70: http://bit.ly/2lqAwjh

(Escape Craw, Super Shad, SG Threadfin)

-Jackall TN-70 Disk Knocker: http://bit.ly/2wuc9Y0

(Escape Craw, Sprinkle Wakasagi, SG Threadfin)

-6th Sense Quake 70: http://bit.ly/2Kxt4zm

(Shad Hammer, Shad Scales, Delta Craw)

Shallow Burners... 

-Strike King Red Eye Shad: http://bit.ly/2fqX1RT

(Blue Gizzard Shad, Sexy Shad, Delta Red)

-Strike King Red Eye 2-Tap: http://bit.ly/2gmACC5

(Delta Red, Sexy Shad, Chrome Sexy Shad)

-Cotton Cordell Super Spot: http://bit.ly/2y3K210

(Royal Red, Rayburn Red, Chrome Blue)

Hook Upgrades... 

-Gamakatsu EWG Black Size 4: http://bit.ly/2DCOlmV

-Owner ST-56 Treble Size 4: http://bit.ly/2cVg7xW

-Hyperwire Split Rings (Size 3 and 4): http://bit.ly/2v8ArBX

Favorite Crankbait Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 845 CBR: http://bit.ly/2og0BmK

Reel- Shimano Bantam MGL XG: http://bit.ly/2H44yjG

Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 30 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- Maxima Ultragreen 15 lb: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Budget Crankbait Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis E6X 845 CBR: http://bit.ly/2G5Bc86

Reel- Shimano SLX 150 HG: http://bit.ly/2NfdOnk

Line- 12 lb Sunline Assassin: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

NEW Tactical Bassin Apparel... 

TacticalBassin Reaper Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2TwBWs7

TacticalBassin Shadow Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2FVD9Rs

TacticalBassin Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/2TvFMBD

TacticalBassin Hooded Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/38cVi9G