Buyer's Guide: Winter Bass Fishing Baits That Always Work

From giant swimbaits to ultra-finesse, this video is covering everything you need for Winter Bass Fishing. We respect anglers that brave the elements and fish through the Winter so we're giving up all our best tricks to consistently catch fish through the Winter months. Don't fall into the slow fishing trap in Winter; you can catch fish fast, slow, and everywhere in between if you know when to make the adjustments.

Today's video is all about keeping it simple. These are our best confidence baits for the cold water months. The only baits missing are the dropshot and Ned Rig but we'll be covering those in their own video in the coming days. In addition to the baits, Tim gives some awesome tips on the Tube and A-rig and Matt shares some knowledge on the big swimbait and crankbait.

"Winterizing the boat" should be a thing of the past if your lakes don't freeze solid. Get out on the water, apply these tips, and catch some of the best bass of the year! Below is a breakdown of the baits and equipment the guys discussed in the video. Each bait is linked direct to Tackle Warehouse where you can see close up photos and detailed descriptions of them.

A-rig...

-G Funk A-Rigs: http://bit.ly/2n8cOGO

-Matt Allen Swimbait Heads 3/16 oz: http://bit.ly/29RrTYN

-Keitech 3.8 Swimbaits: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

-Rage Swimmer 4.75 Swimbaits: http://bit.ly/2evZF8j

Crankbait...

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

(Ghost Minnow, Mirrored Minnow, Glass Minnow)

Small Swimbait...

-Megabass Dark Sleeper: http://bit.ly/2TyR1GT

(Haze, Hanahaze, Wakasagi)

Underspin...

-Cool Baits Down Under Spin 1/8-3/16 oz: http://bit.ly/2boS7QA

-Keitech 2.8" Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Tubes...

-Dry Creek Tournament Tube: http://bit.ly/2cJwI6r

-Big Bite Baits Tour Tube: http://bit.ly/32e23VR

-Bite Me Flat Eye Tube Head 3/16 oz: http://bit.ly/2diyVXK

Neko...

-Daiwa Fat Neko Worm: http://bit.ly/2o2O3LG

-Swagger Tungsten Nail Weight: http://bit.ly/2iGNSFW

-Owner Sniper Finesse Neko Hook: http://bit.ly/2kfdv37

Jig...

-Dirty Jigs Finesse Football 1/2 oz: http://bit.ly/2d2apsm

(Supermatt Brown, Go To, Green Pumpkin Craw)

-5" Twin Tail Grub Trailer: http://bit.ly/2qS1YtE

(Green Pumpkin, Tilapia)

Big Swimbait...

-Huddleston Deluxe 8" Swimbait (ROF 5): http://bit.ly/2UVHiuQ

-Huddleston Deluxe 8" Swimbait (ROF 12): http://bit.ly/2azFTon

(Trout, Ayu, Silver/Blue)

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