Cold Water Crankbait Tricks For Big Bass In Winter

Stop missing the best bite of the year for big bass! Forget the spawn, set the jig aside, let's talk about how to catch giant bass with crankbaits in cold water! Triggering a feed response in bass can be done at virtually any temperature when you have the right tools. Once you understand which baits emit the right frequencies and how quickly to fish them, catching a big bass is as easy as casting and retrieving, with a few hard pops, snaps and rips thrown in for good measure.

Matt and Tim recently released their Tactical DD Crankbait to specifically target big Winter bass. This bait is incredibly easy to fish, comes in cold water specific color patterns, and has produced giant catches all over the country. Smallmouth, Spotted Bass, and giant Largemouth have all fallen prey to its high speed vibration..

While the guys built this bait specifically for cold water versatility, they also recognize that a variety of other baits are great for Winter bass. TacticalBassin has and always will be about quality, honest information. With that in mind, Matt and Tim would never turn their back on the other proven cold water producers.

In today's video Matt shows a variety of proven cold water crankbaits, how to fish them, then goes in depth with retrieves and equipment. If you're tired of finesse fishing in Winter, this video is for you! Below you'll find a breakdown of the baits and equipment along with explanations of when each bait shines.

Tactical Crankbait Release Video: http://bit.ly/2XC3Zq4

Baits…

River2Sea Tactical DD Crankbait: http://bit.ly/37dclbX

-This bait shines in a variety of water temperatures. While designed for cold water it also excels in warm water around baitfish. The primary benefit of this bait is its ability to be fished effectively throughout the water column. It deflects extremely well, allowing it to be fished shallow. It also dives quickly and reaches far deeper depths (18+ feet) than other baits of its size.

Megabass Deep X 300: http://bit.ly/2sSQHpt

-Most anglers use this bait for Smallmouth. While it is an amazing bait for smallies (note the 6 lber Matt caught on it in this video) the bait actually excels in all cooler water situations for every species of bass. The bait has an extremely tight action and fishes extremely well in depths up to 14 feet.

Megabass Deep Six: http://bit.ly/2A3clKP

-The larger brother to the Deep X 300, the Deep Six reaches deeper and is equipped with larger hooks. It is a great option as the water cools in Fall and again as it begins to warm in Spring. With its larger size comes a slightly wider wobble, making it a versatile bait year round.

Spro RK Crawler 55: http://bit.ly/2NFPA5t

The Rock Crawler is truly a craw-imitator. This bait has a wider wobble than the other cold water baits but is irrelevant because you're fishing it properly when it spends all its time on the bottom. This bait is designed to grind, hop, and dodge its way through rocky bottoms, triggering bites as it deflects off cover.

6th Sense Curve 55: http://bit.ly/37hZ1TD

-The Curve, like the Rock Crawler, is designed to spend its time on bottom. This bite will hunt, pop, and deflect its way through hard cover. Pause it as it breaks away from cover to get that vicious reaction strike you've been searching for.

Favorite Colors by Bait...

Tactical: Mirrored Minnow, DD Minnow, Ghost Minnow, Glass Minnow

Deep X 300: Stealth Craw, Sexy Ayu, Megabass Sexy Shad

Deep Six: MB Gizzard, Shadow Craw, Ito Wakasagi

RkCrawler: Missouri Craw, Phantom Brown, Red Crawfish

Curve 55: Craw Bomb, Ghost Missouri Craw, Red Claw

Braid 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: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

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

Fluorocarbon Combo...

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

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

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

Low Budget Combo...

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

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

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

TacticalBassin's New Cold Water Crankbait! Catch Your Biggest Bass This Winter!

We're thrilled to announce our brand new crankbait! The Tactical DD Crankbait 75 is designed for cold water, Winter bass fishing. We partnered with River2Sea on this project to develop a bait that would catch MONSTER bass in the coldest temperatures. Are you tired of dragging worms and jigs all Winter? You're going to love this crank!

In 2011 Matt and Tim realized that what we thought we knew about bass behavior in cold water was incomplete. To their surprise, under the right conditions big bass would aggressively hunt and feed, even in near freezing water conditions. Through years of study and experimentation they began identifying key vibrations that would consistently trigger an aggressive feeding response in these bass. To their amazement, the biggest bass in the schools were the most likely to react!

Fast forward and we arrive at the Tactical DD Crankbait. The guys combined a unique sound profile with incredible fish-catching paint schemes, added a bill shape that fishes well at a variety of diving depths while deflecting off cover with ease, and created a perfect package for targeting big bass in cooler water temperatures. As an added bonus they stumbled on this bait's surprise ability to catch fish at virtually any water temperature when baitfish are present!!

The same sound and vibration combination that works well in cold water also causes a remarkable feed response when bass are actively targeting baitfish. The bait "feels" like a lipless crankbait in the water but has the ability to make abrupt stops and starts that elicit incredible reactions. With this second approach, this "cold water bait" instantly became a year round producer!

The bait...

-Tactical DD Crankbait 75: http://bit.ly/37dclbX

The guy's Favorite Combo...

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 906 CBR: http://bit.ly/2FQj6CZ

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

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

This bait can be thrown with a variety of lighter crankbait rods. It does not require the heavier actions that larger baits require. When considering the best rod, focus on the rods you already use for square bills, smaller deep diving crankbaits, or lipless crankbaits.

Other models we like from various manufacturers...

-G Loomis E6X 845 CBR: http://bit.ly/2G5Bc86

-Dobyns Fury 7' Med Hvy Cranking: http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

-Expride 7' Medium Glass: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

-Megabass Orochi XX Flatside Special: http://bit.ly/2OSVNwH

Storage, Hook Upgrades, and More...

Box- Plano 3707 Medium Crankbait Organizer: http://bit.ly/2KwA8Kp

Hook Upgrade- Gamakatsu Short Shank EWG Size 2: http://bit.ly/2Qsvgtj

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

Lure Retriever- Frabill Extendable Pole: http://bit.ly/2TLTJc6

Tail Spins Tricks for Fall and Winter Bass

One of the most overlooked baits in bass fishing, the tail spin (tail spinner) produces amazing fish catches during the Fall and Winter season. While simple in appearance, the bait is incredibly versatile when used with different retrieves. Bass can't resist a well placed tail spinner fished around baitfish! In Today's video Matt explains how to fish the lures, which retrieves work best for different situations, and even shows his confidence baits.

Most anglers consider tail spins to be a deep water lure for schooling bass. While they are incredibly effective in deep water, a tail spin is also at home in the shallows. These baits can be fished in as shallow as a few feet of water around visible cover with a fast, steady retrieve. If the bass are down deep, switching to a slow roll or a pumping retrieve will yield the best results.

Tail spins come in many shapes and sizes. Single treble hook, double hook, even line through offerings are available. Once you learn how to adapt the baits to your fishing conditions the tail spin will become a staple in your cold water bass fishing arsenal. Below is a breakdown of Matt's confidence baits as well as the equipment he uses to consistently land his tail spin fish.

The baits...

-Jackall Deracoup 1/2 - 1oz: http://bit.ly/2p8X4b0

(Clear Shad, Dera Shad, Silver)

-Damiki Axe Blade 3/4 - 1oz: http://bit.ly/2w2uB9t

(Black Holo, Bream, Holo Real Shad)

-Blade Runner Line Through Tail Spin: http://bit.ly/2UZaQXP

(Iris Shad, Chartreuse White, Pearl White)

-Duo Realis Spin: http://bit.ly/2QKeL9X

(Black Smokey Shad, Gill ND, Tanago 2)

-Revenge Tail Spinner 1/2 - 3/4 oz: http://bit.ly/2tmR2lv

(Blue Shad, Silverside, Shad)

Matt's Braid Combo...

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

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

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

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

Matt's Fluoro Combo...

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

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

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

Upgrades and Storage...

Treble- Gamakatsu EWG Size 4 and 6: http://bit.ly/2DCOlmV

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

Box- Plano Waterproof 3740: http://bit.ly/2fvjcFB

How To Catch The Biggest Bass Of Your Life This Winter! (Full Seminar)

Are you ready to catch a new personal best bass? Don't want to wait until Spring? Matt is showing you everything you need to know to be successful this Winter in today's full-length seminar on Winter bass fishing with swimbaits! He explains where bass are positioning, which baits to use, how to trigger strikes, what it takes to land these fish, and how to properly care for a fish of a lifetime.

Swimbait fishing takes commitment. It requires dedication, focus, and a willingness to sacrifice your time on the water in pursuit of a singular goal. Its hard work but its your best shot at breaking your personal best before the prespawn. As the water cools bass become lethargic. Their willingness to hunt wanes and they begin pursuing single large meals rather than chasing down multiple small morsels.

Understanding when to choose a glide bait over a paddle tail, or when bottom crawling a wedge tail will outshine a faster moving offering, takes years of trial and error on the water. Thankfully Matt is taking all of that knowledge and putting it together for you in a single video. Pay close attention to the details, commit to the search for a giant bass, and this will be a Winter unlike any you've ever had before. Good luck in your pursuit of a monster fish!

Below is a breakdown of the swimbaits Matt recommends. He's categorized the baits by style and included general color recommendations. When selecting glide bait colors keep in mind that highly visible colors will almost always outshine natural dull colors, even in clear water. He's also included a list of tackle and gear that will make landing the fish of a lifetime much easier.

Glide Baits...

-River2Sea S-Waver 200/168: http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

(Lite Trout, Warden, Rainbow Trout)

-Storm Arashi Glide: http://bit.ly/2nHdrL1

(Oikawa Mesu, Threadfin Shad, Green Gill)

-Baitsanity Antidote: http://bit.ly/2ztUk9z

(Bread, Shad, Trout)

Paddle Tail Swimbaits...

-Osprey Tournament Talon 6"-7": http://bit.ly/2bqsLS0

(Chartreuse Shad, Reverse Hitch, TW Shad)

-Little Creeper Trash Fish: http://bit.ly/2xRdCFP

(Chartreuse Shad, Ghost Trout, Natural Hitch)

-Little Creeper Fatty Trash Fish: http://bit.ly/2ixaEw2

(Chartreuse Shad, LC Hitch)

-Little Creeper 8" Trash Fish: http://bit.ly/2hmXtg1

(Chartreuse Shad, LC Hitch, Rainbow Trout)

Wedge-Tail Swimbaits...

-Huddleston Trout 8" ROF 12: http://bit.ly/2azFTon

(Ayu, Rainbow, Hitch)

-Huddleston Trout 68 Special ROF 12: http://bit.ly/2dj5apG

(Rainbow Trout, Green Gizzard, Black Gizzard)

-Mattlures Shad: http://bit.ly/2vM8cKF

(Green Threadfin, Light Gizzard)

-ABT Lures Wagtail: http://bit.ly/2lBiT0G

(Blue Shad, Rainbow Trout, Clear Lake Hitch)

-Trophy Bass Baits DFT: http://bit.ly/32zXvsk

(Shad, Trout)

Matt's Favorite Swimbait Combo...

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 966: http://bit.ly/2x9kxuS

Reel- Shimano Tranx 300 HG: http://bit.ly/2kYsvRw

Line- 80 lb Power Pro Maxcuatro: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- 35 lb Sunline FC100: http://bit.ly/2O4UElB

Other Swimbait Rods from Budget to High End...

-Dobyns Fury 806H: http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

-Okuma Nomad Express Travel: http://bit.ly/2p4zr3g

-Dobyns Champion XP 807: http://bit.ly/2aivwYX

-Megabass Destroyer Onager: http://bit.ly/2wVOSbY

Swimbait Lines...

Maxima Ultragreen 30 lb: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Sunline FC-100 30-40 lb: http://bit.ly/2O4UElB