Squarebill Crankbait Tricks To Catch More Bass Right Now!

Squarebills are a great way to cover water and catch bass in Spring. They're great for fishing shallow because of their ability to deflect off cover. They catch aggressive fish with ease but you can also adjust your retrieve to trigger a feed response from inactive fish. Today we're covering a few of the tricks we use to really dial in the shallow squarebill crankbait bite in Spring. 

As the fish stage around shallow spawning areas the squarebill begins to shine. There are a few considerations when choosing the right squarebill, such as color, rattling or silent, and diving depth. Understanding how each of these variables can be adapted to changing conditions will help you catch fish much more consistently. 

In addition to those variables Tim has a few tricks he applies to maximize his effectiveness with square bills. He uses several different hooks for different situations and pays very close attention to his equipment. Below you'll find links to his top rattling and top silent square bills, separated by diving depth. We've also included links to some of our favorite rod and reel combos for this technique. All of the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

Silent Squarebills... 

Ultra Shallow- Rapala BX Brat: http://bit.ly/2qFBMiR

Colors: Delta, Hot Dang, Mossy

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

Colors: American Shad, TO Craw, Flake Flake Stripe Gill

Mid-Depth- Lucky Craft 2.5: http://bit.ly/2BGxKPa

Colors: American Shad, Chartreuse Shad

Rattling Squarebills... 

Ultra Shallow- River2Sea Biggie Smalls: http://bit.ly/2ahCzvo

Colors: Cold Blooded, I know It, Abalone Shad

Shallow- Spro Little John Type R: https://bit.ly/3j0GS3a

Colors: Copper Shad, Homemade Shad, Rayburn Red

Mid-Depth- River2Sea Biggie Poppa: http://bit.ly/2ahCzvo

Colors: Cold Blooded, I know It, Abalone Shad

Hook/Ring Upgrades... 

Tim's Favorite Crank Hook- Owner ST-35: http://bit.ly/2g8uCMj

Tim's Traditional Crankbait Hook- Owner ST-36: http://bit.ly/2cWpeyw

Bladed Hook- VMC Bladed Hybrid: http://bit.ly/2oqWODi

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

Hook Sizes... 

BX Brat, 1.5, Biggie Smalls, Little John: Size 4

Biggie Poppa, 2.5: Size 2

High-end Squarebill Combo... 

Rod- Megabass P5 Z-Crank: https://bit.ly/30GcHqb

Reel- Shimano Metanium 150 B (XG): https://bit.ly/34HlAAk

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

All-Around Squarebill Combo... 

Rod- Dobyns Champion XP 704 (7' Medium): http://bit.ly/29OVD4V

Reel- Shimano SLX 70 MGL (HG): https://bit.ly/3gIUCgJ

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

Budget Squarebill Combo... 

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

Reel- Shimano SLX 70 MGL (HG): https://bit.ly/3gIUCgJ

Line- 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

NEW TacticalBassin Sunglasses and A-Rigs! Spring Gear Review of Rods, Reels, and More!

Its finally here! Our Spring Gear Review! To kick it off we've got our brand new TacticalBassin Sunglasses and Tactical Bassin Flex Rigs! From there, we're looking at a variety of rods, reels, and lures that will help you catch more bass this Spring! 

After 2 long years our sunglasses are finally here! We partnered with Eye Surrender Eyewear and spared no expense on frames, lenses, coatings, finishes, etc... to create the absolute best glasses we possibly could for fishing and daily use. 

Next, we partnered with HogFarmer Baits and created a flexible A-Rig to our exact specifications so you no longer have to modify your rigs to get the most out of them. These rigs are ready to fish, exactly how we set them up when we go fishing. From the 6-Wire configuration, to the Owner Hyperwire Split Rings, every detail matches our personal rigs. 

From there we start talking rods and reels. We're looking at 4 rods from St. Croix, G Loomis, 13 Fishing, and Savage Gear, as well as a light weight reel from 13 Fishing. To round out the video we take a look at big rats, a squarebill crankbait, and two plastic worms. 

All of the gear shown in the video is linked below. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and specifications for each item. We've included favorite colors, sizes, and models where applicable, and organized them in the order they appeared in the video for ease of identification. 

TacticalBassin Products... 

-Eye Surrender TacticalBassin Sunglasses: https://bit.ly/3cLH0kl

-Hog Farmer TacticalBassin Bladed Flex Rig: https://bit.ly/38xd1es

**Available For PRE-ORDER**

-Hog Farmer TacticalBassin Non-Bladed Flex Rig: https://bit.ly/3vhpSez

**Available For PRE-ORDER**

Rods and Reels... 

-St. Croix Victory Casting Rods: http://bit.ly/3f4tcEb

Favorite Models: 7'3" Medium Heavy, 7'3" Heavy

-13 Fishing Concept C2 Casting Reel: https://bit.ly/2NlzZhg

Favorite Speed: 7.5:1

-Savage Gear Squad Swimbait Rod: https://bit.ly/3tT8bS2

Favorite Model: 8' heavy

-13 Fishing Omen Black Swimbait Rod: http://bit.ly/390GC01

Favorite Model: 8' Heavy

-G Loomis 7'4" Bladed Jig Rod: http://bit.ly/2QurcHi

Favorite Model: 883C BJR (7'4" Medium Heavy)

Hard and Soft Baits... 

-PB Rat 2-Piece Wakebait: http://bit.ly/2OKJZBH

Favorite Colors: Bone Brown, Brown Black

-PB Rat 3-Piece Wakebait: http://bit.ly/3eZJCgZ

Favorite Colors: Bone Brown, Brown Black

-Spro Essential Hunter 65 Squarebill: http://bit.ly/3cSMnOD

Favorite Colors: Black Silver, Nasty Shad, Chart Blue

-Keitech 8" Mad Wag Long Worm: https://bit.ly/3dkFMLl

Favorite Colors: Blue Fleck, Green Pumpkin Pepper, Junebug

-Big Bite Baits 6" Squirrel Tail Worm: http://bit.ly/3c7I9Ui

Favorite Colors: Tilapia, Junebug Red Flake, Easy Money

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

We're Back!! Clearlake Bass Fishing With A-Rigs And Lipless Crankbaits!

Tim is back on Clearlake and the bass are biting! Come along for a fun day on the water as he explores his old stomping grounds and catches some nice fish. Clearlake is known for an amazing reaction bite in Spring and today they were chewing a lipless crankbait and an Alabama Rig all day. 

Its good to back on the old home lake. The water levels are down dramatically this year but the fish haven't gone far. In a matter of minutes Tim is back to catching fish like he never left. The trick to fishing the lower water levels is locating minor changes in bottom contour and debris on the otherwise featureless bottom. Tim used 360 imaging to spot emergent grass offshore then picked it apart with his baits. He caught the majority of his fish on our new (available for pre-order) Tactical Flex Rig but his two biggest bites of the day came on a TN-70 lipless. 

Below you'll find links to the exact baits he was using, including hook upgrades, colors, etc. All of the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and description of each item. We've also included Tim's exact rod and reel combos as well as some great budget options that will help you keep those fish pinned when the big bite comes. 

Hog Farmer Tactical Flex Rig... 

Rig- Tactical Flex Bladed: https://bit.ly/38xd1es

Heads- Matt Allen Swimbait Head 1/8 oz: http://bit.ly/29RrTYN

Baits- Keitech 4.8" Fat Swing Impact: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Non-Hook Baits- 3.8" Fat Swing Impact: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Swimbait Color: Pro Blue Red Pearl

Lipless Crank... 

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

Color: SG Threadfin

Hooks- Owner ST-56 (Size 4): http://bit.ly/2cVg7xW

Tim's Lipless Combo... 

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

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

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

Leader- Sunline FC-100 Shock Leader 16 lb: http://bit.ly/2O4UElB

Tim's A-Rig Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Expride 7'6" Medium Heavy: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Reel- Shimano Metanium DC (HG): http://bit.ly/2qrSZvs

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

Leader- Sunline FC100 20 lb Shock Leader: http://bit.ly/2O4UElB

Budget Lipless Combo... 

Rod- Dobyns Fury 705 CB (7' Med Heavy Cranking): http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

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

Line- Sunline Assassin Fluorocarbon 15 lb: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

Budget A-Rig Combo... 

Rod- Shimano SLX 7'5" Heavy: http://bit.ly/2L3wppO​

Reel- Shimano SLX XT (HG): http://bit.ly/2BRTYL8​

Line- Power Pro 65 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b​

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

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

Underwater Spinnerbait Footage! Spring Spinnerbait Tricks For Beginners and Advanced Bass Fishing

Come underwater as we look at some of the most popular spinnerbaits! See what makes each of them different, how they behave in the water, and how to change their actions. Matt explains how to apply the different styles to your fishing, no matter where you live. Spring is spinnerbait season, you don't want to miss this! 

From the surface its easy to assume all spinnerbaits are basically the same. Of course there are differences in color and blade shape but beyond that, it all seems similar. Slide below the surface though and you immediately see how unique all of these baits truly are. Paired up with swimbait trailers or fished as stand alone baits, each version has unique attributes that you can use to your advantage. 

Below you'll find links to all our favorite baits by style. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. We've included favorite colors, weights, etc... as well as the rods and reels we use to throw them. 

Matt's Favorite Spinnerbait... 

Bait- River2Sea Bling 1/2 oz: http://bit.ly/2diSwqq

Colors: Abalone Shad, I Know It

Trailer- Keitech 4.3" Fat Swing Impact: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Color: Ghost Rainbow, Electric Shad

Painted-Blade Spinnerbaits... 

-Terminator P1 Pro Series: https://bit.ly/36B34vN

Colors: Nashville Sexy, Silver Shiner

-River2Sea Bling Double Willow: http://bit.ly/2diSwqq

Color: Iced

-War Eagle Painted: http://bit.ly/2GOfpOF

Color: Cole Slaw

Red/Day Glow Orange Spinnerbaits... 

-River2Sea Bling Indiana: http://bit.ly/2t5jecE

Color: Lemonade Twist

-Santone Lures Painted Blade: http://bit.ly/3cxy2XI

Color: Red Tiger

-Blade Runner Double Willow: http://bit.ly/2ShreWf

Color: Delta Craw

-D&M Sniper: http://bit.ly/3b3TPHa

Color: Delta Red Crawler

Natural Color Full-Size Spinnerbaits...

-War Eagle Double Willow: http://bit.ly/3cGlnSe

Colors: Aurora, Mouse, Silver Shiner

Bait- River2Sea Bling Double Willow: http://bit.ly/2diSwqq

Colors: Abalone Shad, I Know It

-Revenge Deep Runner Double Willow: http://bit.ly/2oSfWd6

Colors: Blue Shad, Shad, Silverside

Finesse Spinnerbaits... 

-Damiki TOT Double Willow: http://bit.ly/38cxmD6

Colors: Smelt Shad, Sharp Belly

-Megabass SV-3 Double Willow: http://bit.ly/3lk1SD0

Colors: Hasu, Gill, Wakasagi

-Megabass V-9 Double Willow: http://bit.ly/2tOaVCt

Colors: Hasu, Kohoku Reaction

-War Eagle Screamin Eagle: http://bit.ly/2IEHHjA

Colors: Mouse, Aurora, Silver Shiner

Stinger Hook... 

-Owner Spinnerbait Trailer Hook: http://bit.ly/2KQXvQm

Color Recommendations By Water Color... 

Tannic Water: Black/Blue, Green Pumpkin, Purple

Muddy Water: White, Chartreuse, Day Glow Orange

Clear Water: Shad, Silver

Stained Water: Pearl, Chartreuse mixed with Silver, Gold

Matt's Favorite Spinnerbait Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis GLX 844C MBR: http://bit.ly/2gqziwT

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

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

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

All-Around Spinnerbait Combo... 

Rod- Zodias 7'5" Medium Heavy: https://bit.ly/3aeQbYW  

Reel- 13 Fishing Concept C2 (7.5:1): http://bit.ly/2NlzZhg

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

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

Budget Spinnerbait Combo...

Rod- Shimano SLX 7'2" Medium heavy: http://bit.ly/2L3wppO

Reel- Shimano SLX 150 XT: http://bit.ly/2BRTYL8

Line- Sunline Assassin 15 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