Bass Boats Can't Go Here! Lake Chickamauga Kayak Bass Fishing!

We're sneaking around the backwaters today to avoid boat traffic. With hundreds of boats on the water and fishing pressure at an all time high, its time to jump in the kayak. Why a kayak in such a big lake? We're able to get into all the places the boats can't go! Come along as Matt catches fish in backwater coves and pockets. 

Today is all about finesse. Matt started off with a tiny underspin, a senko, and a shaky head, then added a dropshot to the mix as conditions dictated. There were a few prespawn fish around but the majority of these bass were spawning. Since he was using finesse tackle, Matt added some new rods into the mix as well. He tried out a new Halo KSII Elite, a Savage Gear Black Ops, and the new Ultegra spinning reel and had great success with all of them. 

While we love fishing out of the bass boats and using all the modern electronic advantages, there is something very rewarding about getting on the water in a small craft, no electronics, and just going fishing. If you haven't given kayak fishing a try, you really should. Below you'll find links to all the gear, the baits, and the equipment Matt used today. We've included the exact models and specific colors Matt was using as well. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item, except for the kayak link which goes directly to the manufacturer. 

Underspin... 

Head- Cool Baits 1/8 oz Down Under: http://bit.ly/2boS7QA

Bait- Keitech Fat 2.8" (Electric Shad): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Senko... 

Bait- Yamamoto Senko 5" (Green Pumpkin): http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

Hook- Gamakatsu 4/0 Superline: http://bit.ly/2ac92XG

Shaky Head... 

Hook- Dirty Jigs Canterbury 1/8 oz: http://bit.ly/2aFOs0V

Bait #1- Strike King Fat Baby Finesse: http://bit.ly/2aKei5y

Color: Green Pumpkin Sapphire

Bait #2- Reaction Innovations Smallie Beaver: http://bit.ly/2dR6CkP

Colors: Green Pumpkin, White Trash

Dropshot... 

Hook- Owner Mosquito Light 1/0: http://bit.ly/2zQVKx3

Weight- Swagger Tungsten TearDrop 1/8: http://bit.ly/2V2B63h

Bait- Big Bite Smallie Smasher (Chart/White): http://bit.ly/2ZpCOCY

Kayak... 

-Old Town Sportsman Autopilot 136: https://bit.ly/3h9ngaS

Dropshot/Keitech Combo... 

Rod- Halo KS II Elite 6'10" Medium: https://bit.ly/32Rp9nh

Reel- Shimano Ultegra 3000: https://bit.ly/2PeNvUH

Line- Sufix 131 Braid (10 lb): https://bit.ly/314VoyF

Leader- Sunline Sniper 7 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Shaky Head Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Zodias 7'2" Medium Light: https://bit.ly/3aeQbYW

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

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

Senko Combo... 

Rod- Savage Gear Black Ops 7'1" Medium: https://bit.ly/3aLTsAh

Reel- Shimano Ultegra 3000: https://bit.ly/2PeNvUH

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

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

Want TacticalBassin Gear?  

We have a variety of apparel items and custom lure designs available! Everything from hats, to hoodies, to crankbaits! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here... 

TacticalBassin Apparel and Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz

Raw Fishing Footage! Spring Bass Fishing LIVE On Lake Berryessa!

Come along for an afternoon of uncut bass fishing on Lake Berryessa! We have a mix of prespawn and spawning bass with perfect conditions for a fun afternoon of fishing catching! With the virus causing lock downs, shelter in place orders, and quarantines, a lot of us just need to go fishing and clear our heads. Unfortunately not everyone is able get out right now so Tim headed to the lake and is bringing us along for the action. Forget your current circumstances, kick back, and just enjoy the time on the water. If you don't have time to watch the whole video, jump through the time stamps below for the highlights. Let's go fishing! 

Today's video is full of action! Tim catches a bunch of fish, sees some GIANT largemouth, and has a great time on the water. Here are the cut points to the highlights, click on the time stamps to jump to those points in the video.

-1st Fish Catch - 7:10 

-Talking About School Shut Downs - 9:00

-2nd Fish Catch - 15:30

-LOSES The Same Fish TWICE Then Catches Him - 21:40

-Tim spots A GIANT Bass! - 29:05

-4th Fish Catch - 36:15

-5th Fish Catch -1:00:20

-Lakemaster Chips and Suspending Bass - 1:03:45

-Backlash Removal Trick You need To Try! - 1:09:30

-Kicker Fish Catch On Keitech Swimbait 1:12:08

If you enjoyed this style of video let us know in the comments! We're here to help you through this tough time with a steady stream of distraction and fishing information! We will not let our videos lapse despite our own lakes being shut down. Stay strong Tactical Family!

Below is a breakdown of the lures and equipment used in the video, in order of appearance to make it easy for you to follow along. See something you like or want to check out? All of the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. We've also included color recommendations where relevant.

Dropshot Rig... 

Bait- Reaction Innovations Flirt Worm: http://bit.ly/2CMB33J

Favorite Colors... Violator, Spring Break, Morning Dawn 

Hook- Owner Mosquito Light (Size 1): http://bit.ly/2zQVKx3

Weight- Swagger Tungsten Tie-One Pencil Weight 1/4 oz: http://bit.ly/2YAoMuv

Jig... 

Bait- Bass Patrol Football 3/8 oz: http://bit.ly/2Hbyf5x

Favorite Colors... Brown/Purple, Brown/Orange, Brown/Green Pumpkin

Trailer- Missile Baits Ned Bomb: http://bit.ly/2XCOGwd

Small PaddleTail Swimbait... 

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

Head- Tactical Finesse Swimbait Head 1/4 oz: http://bit.ly/2Pqrq3n

Glide Bait... 

Bait- S-Waver 168 (TW Phantom Trout): http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

Hook Upgrade- Owner ST-56 3X (size 2): http://bit.ly/2cVg7xW

Split Ring Upgrade- Owner Hyperwire Size 5: http://bit.ly/2aTH3f1

Larger PaddleTail Swimbait... 

Bait- Keitech 4.3" Fat Swing Impact (Goby): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Head- Tactical Finesse Swimbait Head 3/8 oz (Naked Shad): http://bit.ly/2Pqrq3n

Tim's Dropshot Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis NRX 822S DSR: http://bit.ly/2dX9zjv

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

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

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

"Bang For The Buck" Dropshot Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Zodias 7' Medium Light Spinning: http://bit.ly/2jOUXAO

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

Line- 8 lb Sunline Sniper: 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

Sight Fishing Mistakes You've Been Making - How To Catch More Bass!

LOVE IT or HATE IT, bed fishing is here to stay! This is always a controversial topic but sight fishing for spawning bass in Spring is legal in nearly every state so today we're going to teach you how to do it more effectively and with respect to the fish. Sight fishing is its own animal... you can be an excellent bass fisherman and a horrible sight fisherman. Its an art and if you learn to do it properly, the result is some of the best memories you'll ever have on the water. Come along as we catch a bunch of fish and cover some of the biggest mistakes that anglers make during the spawn. 

If sight fishing isn't for you, there are plenty of ways to catch bass during the spawn that don't involve sight or bed fishing. But for anglers that are interested, this one is for you. Matt covers important topics like lure selection and color. How to blend in to the environment. How to choose the best sunglasses for fishing. How to position the boat so you don't scare the fish. How to find the sweet spot on the bed. And finally, how to do all of this while still respecting the fishery. 

Below is a breakdown of the different baits, glasses, and equipment that Matt used in today's video. All of the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see up close photos and descriptions of each item. The baits are linked in order of appearance to help you identify them. 

Sunglasses... 

-Eye Surrender ESE Glasses: http://bit.ly/2glE3eN

Amber Lense- Clear Water

Copper Lense- Suspended Sediment

Grey Lense- Year Round Eye Protection

The Jig...

Jig- Dirty Jigs Finesse Jig 5/16 oz (Go To): http://bit.ly/2eJinXo

Trailer- Z Man TRD BUGZ (Green Pumpkin): http://bit.ly/2oiavEE

Ned Rig... 

Worm- Missile Baits Ned Bomb (Super Bug): http://bit.ly/2XCOGwd

Head- Swagger Tungsten Flanders Head 1/6 oz: http://bit.ly/2KcIB6M

Dropshot... 

Worm- Big Bite Smallie Smasher (Chart White Laminate): http://bit.ly/2ZpCOCY

Other Color- Green Pumpkin Purple Flake

Hook- Owner Mosquito Light Size 2: http://bit.ly/2zQVKx3

Weight- Swagger Tungsten 3/16 oz: http://bit.ly/2V2B63h

Bluegill... 

Bait- Imakatsu Javallon Gill 110 Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2IvM1jj

Hook- Magnum Shaky 3/4 oz: https://bit.ly/3b3DbVn

Amazing Finesse Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis NRX 852S JWR: http://bit.ly/2dX9zjv

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

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

Leader- Sunline Sniper 7 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Matt's Finesse Jig Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis GLX 843C MBR: http://bit.ly/2gqziwT

Reel- Shimano Chronarch MGL HG: http://bit.ly/2n8DghB

Line- 40 lb Power Pro Maxcuatro: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- 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

We Got STUCK! Caught Almost 30 LBS!!! Swimbaits, Creature Baits, and Senko!

Low Tide almost got us! We knew a school of giant bass were tucked up in a shallow backwater and we ALMOST made it! After blowing mud with the outboard we had to adapt and run a new pattern. Come along for the excitement! We started off catching bass with senkos and ended with some really nice bed fish. The Delta is always full of surprises but today it came together and we had a blast catching big bass in clear water! 

Today was one of those days where we rolled with the punches. Amazingly, when we pulled the boat out at the end of the day we had no prop or skeg damage on the Yamaha SHO despite the brutal beating it took to reach our fish! After the shallow water debacle we lost Tim to a giant sight fish for a few hours. Unfortunately that fish never committed but he did connect with a really nice fish on a swimbait to save his day. In the meantime Matt covered a ton of water and found some very nice fish moved up. He was able to combine a variety of baits from craws and creatures to senkos and bluegill swimbaits to get the key bites he needed. 

Tidal fisheries like the delta require constant adjustment. We started out with a plan and made change after change until we locked into a pattern we weren't anticipating. Once we found sight fish we were able to cover miles and miles of canals in search of matching conditions and every time we found the right water temperature and clarity, we found bed fish. By day's end we'd caught a handful of big delta bass on a variety of baits and put together a monster limit. Too much fun!

Below is a breakdown of all the baits that we caught fish on (in order of appearance) as well as some of the equipment we were using to be successful. 

Stick Bait... 

Bait- Yamamoto Senko 6" (Green Pump/Watermelon Laminate): http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

Other Great Colors- Green Pumpkin Black Flake, Natural Shad

Hook- Gamaktasu EWG Superline 4/0 Hook: http://bit.ly/2ac92XG

Craw... 

Bait- Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver (Flora Bama): http://bit.ly/29W3RZW

Other Great Colors- Tramp Stamp, Spiked Watermelon

Hook- Owner Jungle Wide Gap 3/0: http://bit.ly/2sBsR1Z

Weight- Swagger Vader Tungsten 3/8 oz: http://bit.ly/2NjDYtV

Bluegill Swimbait... 

Bait- Mattlures HammerTail Bluegill: http://bit.ly/2FsZhA3

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

Split Ring- Owner Hyperwire Size 5: http://bit.ly/2aTH3f1

Line-Thru Swimbait... 

Bait- Savage Gear 4D Trout (Hitch): http://bit.ly/399bx97

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

Creature #1... 

Bait- Big Bite Baits Kreit Squirrel Tail (Tilapia): http://bit.ly/2sn1FaT

Other Great Colors... Tilapia Magic, Green Pumpkin

Hook- Owner Jungle Wide Gap 3/0: http://bit.ly/2sBsR1Z

Weight- Swagger Vader Tungsten 3/8 oz: http://bit.ly/2NjDYtV

Creature #2... 

Bait- Reaction Innovations Man Bear Pig (Flora Bama): http://bit.ly/2s51oIV

Other Great Colors... Dirty Wizard, Magic Craw Red

Hook- Owner Jungle Wide Gap 3/0: http://bit.ly/2sBsR1Z

Weight- Swagger Vader Tungsten 1/2 oz: http://bit.ly/2NjDYtV

Frogs... 

-Jackall Gavacho (Chart Strike Gill): http://bit.ly/2L7KsWS

-Megabass Big Gabot (Wild Gill): https://bit.ly/3bXW8Jh

Matt's All-Around Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Expride 7'2" Heavy: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Reel- Shimano Metanium MGL HG: http://bit.ly/2ezIBfB

Line- 65 lb Power Pro Maxcuatro: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- Sunline FC-100 20 lb: http://bit.ly/2O4UElB

Tim's All-Around Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis GLX 894C JWR: http://bit.ly/2gqziwT

Reel- Shimano Metanium MGL HG: http://bit.ly/2ezIBfB

Line- Sunline FX2 Braid 50 lb: http://bit.ly/31u57xA

Leader- Sunline Sniper 18 lb: 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