Finesse Swimbaits For BIG Smallmouth! (Fishing With Matt's Dad)

Come along as we explore a new clear water lake in Michigan! Its full of prespawn Smallmouth and Northern Largemouth. They're feeding in schools along the edges of shallow flats and we're casting a variety of finesse swimbaits and hair jigs to catch them. If you've wondered what fishing is like in the North, its on fire!

Its been a while since we've had Matt's dad on the boat. In true form, he set the pace with a bunch of quality fish, leaving Matt and CC with a lot of ground to make up. Each member of the team settled on a different swimbait and all produced quality fish throughout the day. At the end Matt picked up a black hair jig and stuck some nice bonus fish as well. 

Smallmouth pull incredibly hard for their size. If you've never targeted them on finesse tackle, you need to give it a try! Below you'll find links to the exact baits we were using as well as the gear we trusted to get these fish in the boat. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

Matt's Dad's Swimbait... 

Head- Dirty Jigs Guppy 1/8 oz with 1/0 Hook: http://bit.ly/2nyUJRS

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

Colors: Electric Shad, Electric Bluegill

CC's Swimbait... 

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

Color: Wakasagi

Matt's Swimbait... 

Head- Tactical Finesse Head 3/8 oz: http://bit.ly/2Pqrq3n

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

Color: Smallmouth Magic

Matt's Hair Jig... 

Bait- Andy's Maribou Pro Series Fly (1/8 oz): https://bit.ly/3uYqDsw

Color: Black

Matt's Casting Swimbait Combo... 

Rod- Megabass P5 "Dark Sleeper": https://bit.ly/30GcHqb

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

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

Matt's Dad's Spinning Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis NRX+ 852S JWR (Pre-Order): https://bit.ly/3y0Ss5m

Reel- Shimano Exsence 3000: https://bit.ly/3hNG96T

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

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

Matt's Hair Jig Combo... 

Rod- Megabass P5 "Baby Plugging": https://bit.ly/31Pt839

Reel- Shimano Vanford 1000: https://bit.ly/2PDlKlB

Line- Sunline Super FC 5 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

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

Frog Fishing Shallow Cover - Post Spawn Bass Fishing

They're eating the frog! Come along for an evening on Chickamauga as Tim targets bass in shallow cover. He's using a subtle popping frog to lure bass out of the grass and debris along the shore and following up with a light flipping rig when needed. Its a beautiful evening to be on the water, let's go fishing! 

The lake has been rising and bass are pushing back in the shallow cover. With so much flooded grass, its difficult to reach the bass with traditional baits but its perfect for the frog! Tim used a variety of different topwater baits but one frog stood out from the crowd. Tim found the subtle popping action of a Gavacho was exactly what the fish were keyed on. 

Below you'll find links to the baits and equipment Tim was using this evening. We've included the exact baits, colors, as well as a few of our other favorite options for this time of year. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

Tim's Frog... 

Frog- Jackall Gavacho: http://bit.ly/2L7KsWS

Favorite Colors: Gold Gill, Black Gill, Chart Strike Gill

Tim's Frog Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Expride 7'3" Extra Heavy: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Reel- Shimano Metanium MGL 150 B: https://bit.ly/34HlAAk

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

Flipping Bait... 

Bait- Reaction Innovations Spicy Beaver: http://bit.ly/2MPuma1

Color: Green Pumpkin

Hook- Owner Offset Shank 4/0: http://bit.ly/2D9Pmj0

Weight- Swagger Tungsten Vader 3/8 oz: https://bit.ly/3c28mks

Stops- VMC Sinker Stops (Medium): https://bit.ly/38XLQd4

Flipping Combo... 

Rod- St. Croix Legend Elite 7'4" Heavy: http://bit.ly/2z2qdHc

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

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

Other Great Frogs... 

-R2S Bully Wa 2: http://bit.ly/2axyR2a

-Spro Bronzeye 65: http://bit.ly/2sz9Qje

-ScumFrog Launch Frog: https://bit.ly/3rOYQIF

-Jackall Kaera: http://bit.ly/2Fz6SA3

Budget Frog Combo... 

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

Reel- 13 Fishing Origin A (8:1): https://bit.ly/3ny0I6S

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

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

The EASIEST Way To Catch MORE BASS!! Chatterbait, Spinnerbait, Crankbait Trick!

Matt catches a ton of fish while demonstrating how the early morning hours can be incredible with a spinnerbait, lipless crankbait, and chatterbait. He teaches as he goes so you can learn to use these baits as a system to maximize your time while bass are moved up for the shad spawn, and he does it all before breakfast! Come along for the chaos and see how easy it really is to catch fish after the spawn!

In the early morning hours the bass are patrolling shallow water in schools, searching for a meal. Any of these lures can catch those fish but there is a trick! By hitting the fish in quick succession and switching quickly between pre-rigged baits, you can keep a school of aggressive fish fired up for long periods of time. The key is continued action... if you let up, the fish will quit. 

This method works for small fish, big fish, and huge numbers of fish. If you're not getting out early and targeting schooling bass, you're missing some of the most intense action of the year! Below you'll find links to the exact baits Matt was using. He's also included some of his other favorites, his favorite colors, and the gear he was using to fish the baits. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

Spinnerbaits... 

Bait #1- Terminator P1 Pro Series 3/8 oz: https://bit.ly/36B34vN

Color: Silver Shiner

Trailer- Keitech 3.8" Fat Swing Impact: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Color: Electric Shad

Bait#2- River2Sea Bling 3/8 oz: http://bit.ly/2diSwqq

Color: Abalone Shad

Trailer- Storm Largo Shad 4": https://bit.ly/3vxP0NB

Color: Albino

Lipless Crankbait... 

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

Color: RT Scale Minnow

Hook Upgrade- Gamakatsu EWG Size 4: http://bit.ly/2dmxXK8

Chatterbait... 

Bait- Z Man Evergreen Jackhammer 3/8 oz: http://bit.ly/2popvj6

Color: Spot Remover

Trailer- Hog Farmer Spunk Shad 4.5": http://bit.ly/2UFkCD7

Color: Blue Gizzard

Other Great Shad Spawn Spinnerbaits... 

-Megabass SV-3 Spinnerbait: https://bit.ly/3lk1SD0

Colors: Hasu, Wakasagi

- Damiki TOT Spinnerbait: http://bit.ly/38cxmD6

Colors: Smelt Shad, Sharp Belly

-War Eagle Nickel Screamin Eagle: http://bit.ly/2w5zoor

Colors: Blue Shad, Silver Shiner

Lipless Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro Lipless 855C: http://bit.ly/2og0BmK

Reel- Shimano Curado 200K (HG): http://bit.ly/2tHewEh

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

Shimano Spinnerbait Combo... 

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

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

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

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

St. Croix Spinnerbait Combo... 

Rod- St. Croix Bass X 7'3" Medium heavy: http://bit.ly/2r0xWAs

Reel- 13 Fishing 7:1 Concept C2: https://bit.ly/2NlzZhg

Line- Sufix 131 Braided Line 40 lb: https://bit.ly/314VoyF

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

Chatterbait Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis 883C Bladed Jig: http://bit.ly/2QurcHi

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

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

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

Matt's Jet Boat Rigging... 

-Humminbird Helix 9: https://bit.ly/35OP5Sm

-Minn Kota Ultrex 80 lb 45" Shaft: http://bit.ly/2NPTY6c

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

Shaky Head Worms For BIG Bass!! Post Spawn Bass Fishing Madness!

Come along for an awesome day of bass fishing on the Kissimmee Chain in Florida! We're targeting post spawn bass with plastic worms and its one of those special days where all the fish are biting! Shaky heads, senkos, speed worms, paddle tail worms, and chatterbaits are all getting the right bites! 

Florida can be intimidating if you've never spent time there. Endless water, all of it looks good but only a few places hold the majority of the fish. Thankfully the post spawn instantly levels the playing field just like it does in every other part of the country. Bass begin pulling to outside structure and isolated cover. You no longer worry about the endless maze in the shallows, instead you target the outer grass edges and breaks looking for a BIG bite. 

Today we caught fish on a variety of baits. We got a few reaction bites but the majority came on soft plastics. Below you'll find links to all the different baits these fish fell for, including the exact colors, and rigging. All of the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

The Worm That Caught The Big One...  

Bait- Netbait T-Mac (Junebug): http://bit.ly/2jndwj9

Hook- Canterbury Shaky Head 1/8 oz Black: http://bit.ly/2aFOs0V

Other Shaky Head Worms... 

-Zoom Trick Worm (Junebug): http://bit.ly/2aWkG7E

-Big Bite Squirrel Tail (Junebug): https://bit.ly/3c7I9Ui

Texas Rig Worms... 

-Zoom Magnum Ultravibe Speed Worm: https://bit.ly/3b4uk80

Colors: June Bug, Red Bug

-Big Bite Baits Tour Swim Worm 7.5": https://bit.ly/3ut2QR1

Color: Purpletoma

-Gambler Fat Ace 6": http://bit.ly/2aJq2AO

Color: Black Blue Blue Tail

-Yamamoto 6" Senko: http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

Color: Black Blue Flake Blue Tip

Texas Rig Components... 

Hook- Owner Jungle Wide Gap 4/0: http://bit.ly/2sBsR1Z

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

Peg- VMC Sinker Stops: https://bit.ly/38XLQd4

Matt's Chatterbait...

Bait- Evergreen JackHammer 1/2 oz: http://bit.ly/2popvj6

Color: Brett's Bluegill

Trailer- Hog Farmer Spunk Shad 5.5: http://bit.ly/2UFkCD7

Color: Natural Gill

Cobi's Chatterbait... 

Bait- Evergreen JackHammer 3/8 oz: http://bit.ly/2popvj6

Color: Black Blue

Trailer- Zoom Z Craw: http://bit.ly/2vW7Jo5

Color: Black Sapphire

Cobi's Swim Jig... 

Jig- Dirty Jigs Swim Jig 3/8 oz: http://bit.ly/2dIVUMd

Color: Crappie

Trailer- Gambler Little EZ: https://bit.ly/3jmeYgM

Color: White Lightning

Matt's Shaky Head Combo... 

Rod- St. Croix Legend X 7'1" Medium Heavy: http://bit.ly/2r3Wskp

Reel- Shimano Metanium MGL (XG): http://bit.ly/2ezIBfB

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

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

Matt's Texas Rig Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Zodias 7'5" heavy: https://bit.ly/3aeQbYW

Reel- Shimano Metanium MGL (XG): http://bit.ly/2ezIBfB

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

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

Budget Shaky Head Combo... 

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

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

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

Budget Texas-Rig Combo... 

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

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

Line- Sunline Fluorocarbon 20 lb: 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