Best Baits to Throw During the Fall Transition

The Summer to Fall transition can be a really difficult time for anglers to locate bass. Their Summer patterns are fading and the Fall patterns haven't yet come on strong. However, while the bulk of anglers are struggling there are a handful that are capitalizing and turning the Fall into one of the most productive times of year to catch big bass.

In this video Matt breaks down the best baits for Fall bass fishing. This video started out as a "Top 5" video but instead Matt pulled out his actual Fall transition baits box and shows you every bait in it.

Below are the baits and colors shown...

-S-Waver 168 Swimbait in "Light Trout" color

-Whopper Plopper 130 in "Bluegill" or "Loon"
-Bully Wa 2 Frog in "Dirty White", Yellow/Black, or "Little Allen" (Little John)

LV-500 Lipless Crankbait (Ghost Minnow, Chartreuse Shad, American Shad)

-Lucky Craft RTO 4.0 Squarebill (Chartreuse Shad)
-Biggie Smalls Squarebill in T1000 or TS Minnow
-Jackall Aska 70 Squarebill in "Super Shad"

-Staysee 90 Jerkbait (Ghost Minnow)
-Pointer 100 DD Jerkbait (Chartreuse Shad)
-Pointer 100 Jerkbait (Gun Metal Shad)

-Bling Spinnerbait 3/8 oz (Abalone Shad)

-3/8 oz Pitchin' Jig (Go To or Norcal Craw)
-3/4 oz Flippin' Jig (Molting Craw)
Sweat Beaver Trailer (Green Pumpkin Red Flake)

Matt Allen Swimbait Head
Blade Runner Spintrix
4.8 or 4.3 Keitech Fat Swing Impact

With this selection of baits you're able to cover every bass fishing scenario that fall fishing can throw your way. Whether the fish are up shallow in docks and timber or out in the scattered grass and tullies, you'll have lures to reach and trigger the bass into biting.

Use the glidebait, swimbaits, and reaction baits to locate schooling fish but once you've found them slow down with the squarebill crankbait, jig, and lipless crankbait to capitalize on the schooling bass and catch as many as possible. Don't be afraid to camp out on a school of bass and attempt to catch every fish in the group, this is one of the best ways to get a BIG bass to bite.

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What Line Should You Be Using?

Ever wonder what line works best for what bait? Everywhere you turn there is a bass fisherman with an opinion about fishing line and no two anglers agree. In this bass fishing video Matt breaks down the line sizes in fluorocarbon, monofilament, and braided line that he and Tim use for a variety of techniques.

If your preferred fishing technique isn't listed below, drop us a comment and we'll be sure to respond.

Line Sizes for Various bass fishing techniques...

Large Swimbaits...

-65 or 80 lb braided line
-25 or 30 lb Mono Leader
-30 lb Fluorocarbon Mainline

Crankbaits (Including squarebills, mid range, and deep diving crankbaits)...

-30 lb braided Line
-10-17 lb Monofilament Leader
-10-17 lb Fluorocarbon Main Line

Frogs and Buzzbaits...

-50 or 65 lb Braided Line
No Leader needed and never use fluorocarbon for floating baits.

Topwater Baits with Trebles...

-30 to 50 lb Braided Line
-12 to 20 lb Mono leader
-Never use Fluorocarbon for Topwater Techniques.

Texas Rigs and Jigs...

-40 to 65 lb Braided Line
-15 to 25 Lb Monofilament Leader
-15-25 Lb Flurocarbon Main Line

Swim Jigs, Chatterbaits, and Spinnerbaits...

-40 to 65 lb Braided Line
-15 to 25 Lb Monofilament Leader
-15-25 Lb Flurocarbon Main Line

Worming/Finesse on Baitcaster OR Spinning Reel...

-10 to 20 lb Braided Line
-6 to 10 lb Mono Leader
-6 to 10 lb Fluorocarbon Mainline

SpyBaits...

-10 to 15 lb Braided Line
-6 lb Mono Leader
-6 lb Flurocarbon Main Line

Float and Fly/Hair Jigs...

-5 to 10 lb Braided Line
-2 to 4 lb Mono Leader
-2 to 4 lb Flurocarbon Mainline

Our Preferred Lines as of this writing...

-Power Pro Maxcuatro Braided Line
-Sufix 832 Braided Line
-Maxima Ultragreen
-Seaguar Abrazx
-Sunline Leader Material
-Sunline Flippin' Flurocarbon

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Everything You Need to Know About Swim Jigs!

Bass fishing with Swim jigs has increased in popularity the last few years. This video is full of tips and tricks to make you more effective at fishing a swim jig. Matt breaks down everything you need to know from jighead design, jig colors, jig trailers, swimbaits, etc.

Most bass fishermen fish a swim jig around shallow grass and cover but there are a lot of other great options. Don't be afraid to bottom crawl the bait in the rocks like a big trout swimbait. Its also an awesome option for night fishing in Summer and Fall!

The swim jig can be thrown as a replacement for a spinnerbait, chatterbait, underspin, or squarebill crankbait. You get all the action and fish attracting features of the above baits but with the realism and secondary action that only a swim jig can provide.

Finesse swim jigs are great for spotted bass, smallmouth bass, or for largemouth in reservoirs. The standard swim jig is an awesome all around option with a pointed head for coming through grass, tullies, reeds, and wood.

The California Swim Jig is designed for giant bass. Whether you're in California, Texas, or Florida, if you're targeting big bass this is the swim jig for you! Its designed with the heaviest hook on the market so that no freshwater fish can bend it.

We hope this video helps you understand the difference between different styles of jigs and when to use each one. There isn't a perfect jig for every situation so stock up on a few different models and you'll be prepared when the swim jig bite turns on.

Products explained in this video:

Jig Styles...

-Finesse Swim Jig
-Skirted Swim Jig
-California Swim Jig
-No Jack Swim Jig

Trailer Options for Baitfish Imitators...

Keitech Fat Swing Impact Swimbait*
Roboworm EZ Shad
RI Little Dipper
Netbait Spanky Swimbait

*Keitech Fat should be throw in 3.3, 3.8, 4.3, and 4.8 sizes

Trailer Options for Crawdad Imitators...

Strike King Rage Bug
Netbait Paca Chunk

Jig Color Recommendations...

Shad Imitators: Crappie, Tactical Shad
Bluegill Imitators: Alabama Bream, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed Bream
Baitfish Imitators: Light Hitch, Pearl Ghost Shiner, Golden Shiner

Swim Jig Rods...

Finesse Swim Jig Setup:
-Rod- Zodias 7'2" Medium
-Reel- Curado 70
-Line- Maxcuatro 30 lb
-Leader- 12-15 lb Maxima

Standard Swimjig Setup:
-Rod- Champ Extreme 7'8" 4 power
-Reel- Curado 200
-Line- MaxCuatro 50 lb
-Leader-15-20 lb Maxima

California Swim Jig Setup:
-Rod- Zodias 7'5" Heavy
-Reel- Curado 200
-Line- MaxCuatro 65 lb braid
-Leader- 20-25 lb Maxima

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Part 2: A Day On The Delta

Part 2 of our Day on the California Delta picks up right where part one left off. The frog bite has begun picking up as the big bass are moving shallow with the rising tide and its about to get crazy!

The key to targeting better quality fish was to locate offshore grass. Despite the rising tide the grass was still fairly shallow. It wasn't until the tide was almost all the way up that the grass had enough water on it for the bigger fish to move in.

Once the big fish were staged up they were happy to eat the Bully Wa 2 frog or a senko. We hope you're able to take some tips away from this video so you can be more successful on your next bass fishing trip. Good luck out there!