New Years Goals... What Are Yours?

Happy New Year!!! Its that time of year again, time to set goals so you can be a better bass fisherman in 2017. So what do you want? A teener largemouth? Your first smallmouth? Learn how to fish a jig? Whatever it is, we want to hear all about it! 

Our goals are lofty this year because we want to keep growing and developing as anglers. They're so lofty that "ridiculous" might be a better description but we're going to keep pushing the limits of the sport and see what happens!

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Below are our goals...

Matt:
-12 lb Spotted Bass
-15+ lb Largemouth Bass from Clear Lake
-7+ lb Smallmouth Bass
-Help at least one client catch a personal best 10+ lb Largmeouth Bass

Tim:
-12 lb Spotted Bass
-Catch another 13+ lb Largemouth
-Have another angler break a fishing record while fishing together
-Help at least 3 friends catch a new personal best

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It doesn't matter what your goals are, we encourage you to join the discussion here in the comments or by joining us on the TacticalBassin Facebook page.  Big or small, the public accountability of goal sharing instantly increases your likelihood of success! Happy New Year and good luck in 2017!

Winter Bass Fishing: Focus on the Extremes

Winter may be tough fishing but its prime time to catch giant bass! Don't let the cold temperatures and tough fishing fool you, this is one of your best shots at the fish of a lifetime and you should absolutely be on the water. 

This isn't the time to be exploring new baits or trying to build confidence. During the cold water months you should be focused on a handful of confidence baits so you know that you're doing the right things, even when you aren't getting bit. If you stick to your game plan the time will come that you cross paths with a truly giant bass!

Baits that we recommend during the cold Winter months...

Big Baits:

-7" Basstrix

-8" Trash Fish

-Owner Beast Hook

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Finesse Baits:

-5" Senko (Green Pumpking/Black Flake)

-1/0 Finesse Wide Gap Hook

-Strike King Dream Shot

-Z Man Ned Rig Mushroom Head

-Z Man Ned Rig T.R.D.

The Video of Cody Meyer's Monster Spotted Bass

Last week the industry was rocked by yet another double-digit spotted bass of World Record Proportions! News of Cody Meyer's bass spread like wildfire. The word is he was out fishing with good friend, JR Wright when a truly massive spotted bass made a mistake and found herself swimming laps in Cody's livewell. 

Based on the feedback we received this past week, anglers seemed to think we would be upset or offended by Cody's awesome catch or that it was somehow an affront to what we're doing at TacticalBassin. The truth is that any monster fish, no matter who catches it, should be celebrated by the entire industry as we learn more about what this incredible species of bass is capable of!

When Tim Little (current IGFA World Record Spotted Bass Holder) got the call from Cody that he'd caught a fish of possible world record proportions and needed help, Tim quickly grabbed his scales and other necessary equipment and hit the road to Bullards Bar. The story is nearly identical to what happened roughly a year earlier when we got the call from Wes Roberson about his 11.00lb Spotted Bass (currently under review as the NEW IGFA All-Tackle World Record Spotted Bass).

When a fish of a lifetime is caught everything else stands still. You do everything in your power to make sure that fish is honored and taken care of. It doesn't matter who made the catch, how far away they caught it, or what the weather might be, you make sure that fish receives the highest treatment and that it gets its best shot at whatever record it may qualify for. That is what trophy bass fishing is truly about. The sport only grows when anglers come together and ensure that these monster fish are honored appropriately. 

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Back to Meyer... he is well known for his history of bass fishing tournament victories on spotted bass fisheries, as well as his exploits into trophy spotted bass fishing. It's no surprise that he would catch a monster Spotted Bass, but on this day he caught not only his personal best but one of the world's largest spotted bass at 10.80 pounds! Whether this bass becomes a world record or not, its truly a fish of a lifetime!

Cody reported catching the trophy bass on...

Strike King Ocho
Seaguar 6 lb Tatsu Fluorocarbon
Daiwa Tatula Spinning Rod
Daiwa Exist Spinning Reel

Scale Used: Salter Brecknell
Camera Used: Go Pro Hero4

More 10+ Lb Largemouth and Spotted Bass than any other video, EVER!

This video makes us proud to be from Northern California! From Clearlake to the Delta, Berryessa to Bullards Bar we are surrounded by world class fisheries and when the fish want to bite there is nowhere else like it on earth!

Merry Christmas to all of you amazing people that have helped make TacticalBassin what it is today! We're forever greatful to each of you and are thrilled for what the future brings! For fun this Holiday Weekend we decided to do this throw back video to one of the most insane bites to ever occur! 

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Here are the baits that were catching these fish...

1)S-Waver 200 Swimbait
2)Spittin Wa 70 Frog
3)3/4 Oz. Pitchin' Jig
4)Huddleston 8" Trout Swimbait
5)Keitech 4.8" Fat Swing Impact Swimbait
6)Matt Allen Swimbait Head