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

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

Raw and Uncut Fishing For GIANT Fish! HUGE Bass On Ultralight Tackle!

Come along for a whole day of fishing! We're on the Great Lakes targeting bass with finesse tackle and are catching a ton of fish! Its raw and uncut so if you've ever wanted to watch a 6+ lb Smallmouth caught from cast to catch on a swimbait, this is for you! Its an epic day of fishing! Come be a part of it!

In this unedited live video Matt utilized a variety of baits. A tube was the major player in the beginning, while the dark sleeper and keitech stole the show toward the end. Matt teaches throughout the day about adapting to changing conditions, specifically targeting bass in clear water, how to fish transitions and breaks, how to target shallow water fish, and so much more! This style of video is unlike anything else we do. Its long format but you’ve been asking for it so here is the change to see the struggles, the miles of water covered, and the successes as the day unfolds!

Down below the cut points you'll find a full list of all the tackle used in the video including links that go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.  Matt included his exact colors and weights, the rods and reels, and even included a great combo for the bass angler on a budget that still wants excellent performance while targeting big fish. Enjoy!

Cut Points... 

-1st Fish Catch: 3:01

-5th Fish Catch: 32:00

-Suprise Species Catch: 53:55

-Explaining Next Move: 01:00:25

-Start Fishing Next Spot: 01:11:04

-10th Fish Catch: 01:29:53

-Start Fishing Next Spot: 01:38:26

-Retie Dark Sleeper Then Catch 6.2 lb Smallmouth!: 01:50:41

-Weighing 6 lb Smallmouth: 01:55:05

-Releasing 6 lb Smallmouth: 01:55:55

-15th Fish Catch: 02:16:11

-Matt Misses Another Giant!: 02:36:43

-Teaching About Dark Sleeper Swimbaits: 02:41:30

-20th Fish Catch: 03:02:09

-Motor Overheats!!: 03:09:05

-Final Fish Catch: 03:29:10

-Outro and Final Thoughts: 03:35:10

The Baits... 

-Big Bite Baits Tour Tube 3.5" (Tilapia): http://bit.ly/32e23VR

Jighead- BladeRunner Inhaler 3/16 oz 2/0: https://bit.ly/2NX7nYr

-Keitech 3.8" Fat Swing Impact (SunGill): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Jighead- TacticalBassin Finesse Swimbait Head (1/2 oz): http://bit.ly/2Pqrq3n

-Megabass Dark Sleeper 3" 1/2 oz (Wakasagi): http://bit.ly/2TyR1GT

Matt's Tube Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis NRX 872S JWR: http://bit.ly/2dX9zjv

Reel- Shimano Twin Power FD 3000: https://bit.ly/3df3hX5

Line- Power Pro Braided Line 10 lb: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Leader- Sunline Sniper 6 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Dark Sleeper Combo... 

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

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

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

Budget Finesse Swimbait Combo... 

Rod- Shimano SLX 6'10" Medium: http://bit.ly/2L3wppO

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

Line- Sunline Assassin 12 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

Sight Casting For GIANT Smallmouth Bass In The Clearest Water You've Ever Seen!

We've found water so clear you can see giant bass swimming 50 yards away! We're sight casting to them like they're snook on a saltwater flat and its working!!! Come along as Matt and CC stalk big fish with ultralight tackle in the Great Lakes and catch a monster bag the first day! Don't let clear water and big fish intimidate you, Matt is about to show you everything you need to know to consistently catch these fish!

If you've ever been faced with fish in crystal clear water you know they can be very finicky. Knowing how to adapt your gear and lead the fish so they don't spook is critical. Once you've established how much lead you need to put your bait in their line of sight without spooking them, its clock work. Today we did our best work with a tube and a dark sleeper. The fish ambushing around rocks would crush the dark sleeper but fish on the open flats would only eat a tube worked with tiny pops of the rod tip. 

The next time you're faced with clear water conditions, don't be afraid to try and catch those bass! Use long leaders, make long casts, and don't be afraid to search for fish where no one else is willing to go. Below is a breakdown of the baits (including exact colors, weights, etc) and the gear we were using to throw them. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

The Tube... 

Matt's Tube- Big Bite Baits 3.5" Salt Tube: https://bit.ly/2D7j6RX

Matt's Color: Green Pumpkin Black Orange

CC's Tube- Big Bite Baits 3.5" Tour Tube: http://bit.ly/32e23VR

CC's Color: Green Pumpkin Blue Flake

Tube Head- Blade Runner Inhaler 1/4 oz 2/0: https://bit.ly/2NX7nYr

The Swimbait... 

Swimbait- Megabass Dark Sleeper 1/2 oz 3": http://bit.ly/2TyR1GT

Color: Wakasagi

The Hair Jig…

Jig- Feider Fly 1/16 oz: http://bit.ly/2G7TBwj

Color: Black

Matt's Tube Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis NRX 872S JWR: http://bit.ly/2dX9zjv

Reel- Shimano Twin Power FD 3000: https://bit.ly/3df3hX5

Line- Power Pro Braided Line 10 lb: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Leader- Sunline Sniper 6 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Budget Tube Combo... 

Rod- Dobyns Fury 7' Medium: http://bit.ly/2e7HZPF

Reel- Shimano Sahara FI 2500: http://bit.ly/2XhhM43

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

Leader- Maxima Ultragreen Monofilament 8 lb: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Matt's Dark Sleeper Combo... 

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

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

Line- Sunline Assassin 12 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