Topwater, Flukes, and Underspins For Aggressive Fall Bass!

There are dozen of bass busting on the surface and we've got the right baits to catch them! Come along as Matt takes a finesse approach to Chickamuaga. He's throwing a fluke, a topwater, and several bladed swimbaits, but everything has been downsized to match the size of baitfish in the shallows. By "matching the hatch" the bite gets so good he can almost call his shots. Let's go fishing!

One of the biggest mistakes we see anglers make when they downsize their lures is they also downsize their drawing power. Choosing baits that will draw a finesse bite but still maintain drawing power is an art in itself. Today Matt focused in on 4 key baits to accomplish this and ultimately added fifth. 

The fluke is by far the easiest of the bunch, it has natural drawing power at any size because of its aggressive darting action. The topwater was accomplished by choosing a bait with a cupped face that spit water and created a larger disturbance than other similarly sized baits. Upsizing the drawing power of tiny swimbaits is a task but its most easily accomplished by adding flash. Matt used one with a flashing underspin blade and another with a spinner on the nose. And finally, when he backed out to deep water, the tail spin was implemented to maintain a small size but increase drawing power. 

The next time you're met with tiny baitfish in the shallows remember that you can downsize your presentation without downsizing your catch rate. Focus on baits with significant drawing power and you'll catch fish. Below are links to all the baits and equipment Matt used in the video. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.

Fluke... 

Bait- Zoom Super Fluke Jr: http://bit.ly/2aqys0H

Colors: Smokin Shad, Albino, Arkansas Shiner

Hook- Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap (Size 2): http://bit.ly/2aKGmHM

Support- Owner CPS Spring (Size Small): http://bit.ly/2b2YgDf

Video detailing this rigging method: https://youtu.be/U3bP0HkJxk0

Topwater... 

Bait- Evergreen Shower Blows 105: http://bit.ly/2zIkqUH

Colors: Skeleton Chartreuse, American Shad, Emerald Shiner

Underspin... 

Bait- Keitech 3.3" Fat Swing Impact: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Colors: Pro Blue Red Pearl, Electric Shad

Hook- Owner Flashy Swimmer 1/8 oz with 1/0 hook: http://bit.ly/2e8O4Y7

Screw Head... 

Bait- Megabass Spark Shad 3": http://bit.ly/2XcLZk4

Colors: Albino, Real, Silver Shad

Hook- Megabass Okashira Screw Head (1/16 oz): http://bit.ly/2EpluSA

Tail Spinner... 

Bait- Jackall Deracoup 1 oz (Silver): http://bit.ly/2p8X4b0

Red Hook Upgrade- Owner ST-36 Red (Size 4): http://bit.ly/2wSknXp

Matt's Finesse Swimbait Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Expride 6'10" Medium: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Reel- Shimano Aldebaran MGL 50 HG: http://bit.ly/2uQ4oH8

Line- Sunline Assassin 10 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

Topwater Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Expride 7' Medium Light+: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Reel- Shimano Bantam Metanium MGL HG: https://bit.ly/34HlAAk

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

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

Budget All-Around Finesse Casting Combo...

Rod- Shimano Intenza 6'10" Medium Heavy: http://bit.ly/2QADLTq

Reel- Shimano SLX DC: http://bit.ly/2MJyuXN

Line- Sunline Assassin 10 lb Fluorocarbon: 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

Flutter Spoon Tricks You Need To Try This Fall! (Everything You Need To Know)

A flutter spoon is an incredible tool during the Fall transition. As bass ambush baitfish, the true potential of the spoon begins to shine. Its slow, tantalizing fall mimics a wounded baitfish better than any other bait. When smaller fish are busting baitfish near the surface, the giant bass you're searching for are down below waiting to gobble up a flutter spoon. 

Technique is key with the flutter spoon. There is a reason some anglers swear by these spoons and others curse them. Pay close attention to how Tim pumps the rod and works the bait. Every detail matters when presenting these big spoons. As you go up in size, technique will matter more and more. Stinger hooks also become critical. 

Tim shows his method for adding a sliding stinger to the nose of the spoon toward the beginning of the video. Stingers increase you hookup ratio dramatically and when you use a sliding setup your hookup to land ratio will sky rocket. As an added bonus, you can hook multiple fish at once with this modification as well. 

Below are a breakdown of the baits and equipment Tim discussed in the video. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. We've included our favorite gear as well as some lower cost options for the budget-minded angler. 

Matt's Mapping Video: https://youtu.be/aMUZUY2KWpw

Spoons... 

Lake Fork Flutter Spoon: http://bit.ly/2kMPIrG

Nichols Lake Fork Flutter Spoon: http://bit.ly/2ICAGKL

Ben Parker Magnum Flutter Spoon: http://bit.ly/2ImXDlW

Strike King Sexy Spoon: http://bit.ly/2uYUjsC

River2Sea WorldWide Spoon: https://bit.ly/3if0grP

Favorite Colors... Bar Fish, Magic Shad, Blueback HD, Purple Threadfin, Blueback Herring

Hook Upgrades... 

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

Extra Strong- Owner ST-56 3X Trebles: http://bit.ly/2cVg7xW

Feathers- Owner ST-36 Feathered Treble: http://bit.ly/2m7XrAx

Stinger Rigging... 

Stopper- Peg X Bobber Stoppers: https://bit.ly/32aJG6J

Swivel- Spro Power Swivel Size 4 or 6: http://bit.ly/2ay0p7d

Split Ring- Owner Hyperwire Size 4: http://bit.ly/2v8ArBX

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

Stinger Hook and Split Ring sizes for different size spoons... 

4" Spoon- Split Ring- Size 4, Hook- Size 2

6" Spoon- Split Ring Size 5, Hook- Size 1

8" Spoon- Split Ring Size 6 or 7, Hook- Size 1/0 or 2/0

Crankbait Rods That Double As Spoon Rods... 

Shimano- Zodias 7'6" Glass: http://bit.ly/2cgmMAe

Dobyns- Champion XP 805 CB: http://bit.ly/29OVD4V

G Loomis- IMX Pro 906 Crankbait: http://bit.ly/2og0BmK

Best "Bang For the Buck" All-Around/Spoon Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Expride 7'6" MH: http://bit.ly/2czPlZl

Reel- Shimano Curado DC HG: http://bit.ly/2yHtsp4

Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 50 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- Maxima Ultragreen 20 lb: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Budget Spoon Combo... 

Rod- St. Croix Bass X 7'4" Medium heavy: http://bit.ly/2r0xWAs

Reel- Shimano SLX DC XG: http://bit.ly/2LWzw2Q

Line- Power Pro Braided Line: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Leader- Maxima Ultragreen 20 lb: 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

4 Finesse Baits That Always Catch Bass (Beginner To Advanced)

Struggling to catch bass during the Fall Transition? You're not alone! While some anglers have located aggressive schools and are catching fish on topwater and reaction baits many others continue to struggle. When the bite is tough, these 4 rigs are what Tim relies on to consistently put fish in the boat. 

We all dream about aggressive schools and big bass but all too often we're met with wind, rain, and tough fishing conditions. We always start with reaction baits in search of aggressive fish but if its not happening, its time to slow down and finesse. The rigs we rely on are a dropshot (both texas rigged and nose hooked), a shaky head, and a senko. Each rig has a purpose and when you learn how to switch between them, the combination can be deadly. 

Below is a breakdown of the baits and equipment discussed in the video. The links go directly to TackleWarehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. We've included our favorite colors for each bait as well as our favorite combos to fish them effectively. 

Weedless Dropshot… 

Bait- Roboworm 6” Straight Tail Worm (MMIII): http://bit.ly/2asZyH3

Hook- Owner Cover Shot 2/0: http://bit.ly/2ISr7bR

Weight- Swagger Tungsten Cylinder 1/4 oz: http://bit.ly/2UY7cgx

Nose Hook Dropshot… 

Bait #1- Keitech Easy Shiner 3” or 4” (Electric Shad): http://bit.ly/2bxJK6H

Bait #2- Damiki Armor Shad 3” (American Shad): http://bit.ly/2KtPDAT

Hook- Owner Mosquito 1/0: http://bit.ly/2fqYFCR

Weight- Swagger Tungsten Cylinder 1/4 oz: http://bit.ly/2UY7cgx

Senko… 

Bait- Gamakatsu 5” Senko (Natural Shad or 956): http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

Colors- Natural Shad, Watermelon Copper Org Red Lam (956)

Hook- Owner Worm Hook 5/0: http://bit.ly/2D9Pmj0

Shaky Head… 

Bait- Netbait T-Mac 6.5”: http://bit.ly/2jndwj9

Colors- Sun Perch, JuneBug

Hook- Dirty Jigs Canterbury Shaky Head 1/4 oz: http://bit.ly/2aFOs0V

Nose Hook Dropshot Combo… 

Rod- Shimano Zodias 7’ Light: https://bit.ly/3ab5b9V

Reel- Shimano Stradic CI4+ 2500: http://bit.ly/2gu84t7

Line- Power Pro 15 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Leader- Sunline Sniper 8 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Weedless Dropshot Combo…

Rod- Shimano Expride 7’ Light+: http://bit.ly/2osaj3q

Reel- Shimano Exsence 3000: http://bit.ly/2iMtscV

Line- Sunline SX1 12 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2tn8EzQ

Leader- Sunline Sniper 10 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Shaky Head Rod… 

Rod- Expride 6’10” Medium: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Reel- Shimano Aldebaran MGL HG: http://bit.ly/2uQ4oH8

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

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

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

Where Do Bass Go During The Fall Transition? (And How To Catch Them!)

Cooler nights are coming and if your fish haven't vanished already, they're going to! The Fall transition happens overnight and if you're not prepared you'll be left scratching your head. There are two distinct groups of fish during this transition, some that go shallow and others that go deep. Today we're going to take a look at where these fish are headed and how you can get ahead of them.

The fish that move shallow are there to eat baitfish. Its critical that you cover water quickly because the fish are congregating in schools. Vast areas will be devoid of life while small pockets and cuts will be packed with dozens, even hundreds of bass that are ambushing bait. If you're not covering water quickly you may never find the mega-school you're searching for. 

The fish that move deeper are focused on structure. Many of these fish are still going to be feeding on baitfish but they will use main lake structure for their hunting grounds. Focus on offshore rock piles, humps, channel bends, and main lake points. If baitfish are present you'll target these fish with reaction baits, if baitfish are not present the jig is your best bet. 

Wether you go shallow or deep, Fall is an amazing time to be on the water! Bass are congregated into schools and the bite can be incredible. Below are links to the different baits we use for both shallow and deep schooling fish. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

Shallow Water Baits... 

Silent Squarebill- Lucky Craft BDS-3 (BP Golden Shiner): http://bit.ly/2blTVwI

Rattling Squarebill- River2Sea Biggie Poppa (Abalone Shad): http://bit.ly/2ahCzvo

Frog- River2Sea Bully Wa 2 65 (Little Allen): http://bit.ly/2axyR2a

Toad- Teckel Sprinker (Pearl White): http://bit.ly/2rmnqSI

Deep Water/Offshore Baits... 

Ultra Deep Crankbait- Strike King 10XD (Chartreuse/Blue or Sexy Shad): http://bit.ly/2gHT4F0

Deep Crankbait- Strike King 6XD (Chartreuse/Blue or Sexy Shad): http://bit.ly/2ery44M

Jig- Dirty Jigs Flippin' Jig 5/8 oz (Go To): http://bit.ly/2fx8YBI

Jig Trailer- Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver (Tramp Stamp): http://bit.ly/29W3RZW

Flutter Spoon- Nichols Lake Fork 1 1/8 oz (Purple Threadfin): http://bit.ly/2ICAGKL

Tail Spin- Jackall Deracoup 3/4 oz (Clear Shad): http://bit.ly/2p8X4b0

Flutter Spoon Video: https://youtu.be/sdviwv6PTOM

All-Around 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 20 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

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

All-Around Deep Crank Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 968 CBR: http://bit.ly/2og0BmK

Reel- Shimano Tranx 200: http://bit.ly/2Tv0yCy

Line- Sunline Assassin 17 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

Budget Crankbait Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Intenza 7'6" Glass: http://bit.ly/2QADLTq

Reel- Daiwa CG80: http://bit.ly/2NxaGbe

Line- Sunline Assassin 15 lb Fluorocarbon: 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