Early Spring A-Rig Tricks For Prespawn Bass

The A-rig is an awesome way to catch bass in early Spring! Few baits will cover water as quickly and draw fish up as well as an Alabama Rig. With some quick adjustments your Winter A-Rigs can be adapted for Prespawn fishing. Come along for a day on the water and learn as you watch Tim target bass in dock lines. 

In today's video Tim primarily used a bladed 5-wire rig. The blades create commotion in the water and help draw fish off the bottom when the water is still cold. However, when Tim found clear water he quickly changed to a rig with no blades and baits with a tighter kicking action to continue getting bit. In addition to the changes in rig, Tim also explained the advantage of gold vs. silver blades. As a final tip, he was able to go ultra slow by dropping down to 1/8 ounce heads to get fish to react in the cold water. 

By paying close attempting to water color, temperature, and fish behavior Tim (and you) were able to adapt to the changing conditions with adjustments to retrieve speed and presentation to keep getting bit. In addition to his depth finder Tim also used his 360 imaging to spot fish out away from the boat and get a few bonus bites that he wouldn't have been able to get without. Below is a breakdown of the rigs, baits, and equipment Tim was using in the video.

The Rigs... 

Silver Blades- Yum Flash Mob Jr: http://bit.ly/2bgDGNu

Gold Blades- Picasso Flash Back Jr: http://bit.ly/2S4LwB9

No Blades- Yum Ultralight Yumbrella: http://bit.ly/2cq4pJQ

Pre-Rigged- Hog Farmer BFL Hitchhiker: http://bit.ly/36EcEuR

The Hardware... 

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

-Owner CPS Springs (Medium): http://bit.ly/2b2YgDf

-Owner Hyperwire Split Rings (Size 4): http://bit.ly/2v8ArBX

Preferred baits... 

Main Baits- Keitech 4.8 Fat Swing Impact: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

(Pro Blue Red Pearl, Electric Shad, Gizzard Shad)

Finesse Baits- Keitech Easy Shiner 4": http://bit.ly/2bxJK6H

(Pro Blue Red Pearl, Electric Shad, Tennessee Shad)

Dummy Baits- Reaction Innovations Little Dippers: http://bit.ly/2brnU5I

(Bad Shad Green, Purple Smoke)

Tim's Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis GLX 894 JWR: http://bit.ly/2gqziwT

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

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

Leader- Sunline FC100 20 lb: http://bit.ly/2O4UElB

Budget Combo... 

Rod- SLX 7'5" Heavy: http://bit.ly/2L3wppO

Reel- Shimano SLX 150 HG: http://bit.ly/2NfdOnk

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

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

NEW Tactical Bassin Apparel... 

TacticalBassin Reaper Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2TwBWs7

TacticalBassin Shadow Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2FVD9Rs

TacticalBassin Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/2TvFMBD

TacticalBassin Hooded Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/38cVi9G

Top 5 Baits For Early Spring Bass Fishing! ( How To Fish Them )

These baits catch giant bass every Spring! If you learn how to use them to cover water and locate feeding bass, your catch rate will sky rocket as we enter the prespawn. Consider this different approach this year and you'll begin to specifically target the bigger bass you've dreamt of catching.

Many anglers make the mistake of fishing slowly in the Spring. As bass begin to move, anglers often lack the confidence to pursue them and instead settle for finesse fishing familiar areas. If your goal is to catch a giant bass this Spring your success hinges on your willingness to move. If you missed our previous video go back and watch it again to understand how and why the bass are moving. Once you're confident in their movements quickly cover likely areas until you find bass that are actively feeding. 

The combination of glide baits (amazing drawing power, crankbaits, jerkbaits, and A-rigs (drawing reaction strikes), and the finesse underspin (still gets bit, even when the going gets tough) will cover every circumstance you'll face in the Spring. Below is a breakdown of our favorite baits for this time of year as well as our confidence colors in each category. 

Glidebaits... 

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

(Light Trout, Bluegill, Warden Hitch)

-Baitsanity Explorer Glide (version 2): http://bit.ly/33bQyxY

(Trout, Shad, Kokanee)

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

(Bluegill, Oikawa Mesu, Threadfin Shad)

Jerkbaits... 

-Jackall Rerange 110: http://bit.ly/2ge0qED

(Ghost Wakasagi, RT Hollow Minnow, HL Silver Shad)

-Lucky Craft Flash Pointer 115: http://bit.ly/2aHz588

(Ghost Minnow, Chartreuse Shad, American Shad)

Lipless Crankbaits... 

-Lucky Craft LV-500: http://bit.ly/2aAUUbd

(Ghost Minnow, American Shad, Chartreuse Shad)

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

(Super Shad, Escape Craw, Scale Minnow)

Deep Crank... 

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

(DD Minnow, Glass Minnow, Natural Gill)

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

(Biwako Clear Gill, Fire Craw, Sexy French Pearl)

-Spro Rock Crawler 55: http://bit.ly/2NFPA5t

(Red River Craw, Red Crawfish)

Squarebill Crankbaits... 

-River2Sea Biggie Poppa: http://bit.ly/2ahCzvo

(Cold Blooded, Delta Craw, Abalone Shad)

-Lucky Craft 1.5: http://bit.ly/2BGxKPa

(American Shad, Golden Shiner, Ghost Minnow)

Underspins...

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

(Black/Silver, Ol' Faithful, Silver Shad)

-2.8 Keitech Fat Swing Impact Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

(TW Pro Blue, Pro Blue Red Pearl, Electric Shad)

Alabama Rig... 

-Rig: Hogfarmer Baits BFL Hitchhiker: http://bit.ly/36EcEuR

-Heads: Matt Allen Swimbait Head 1/8 oz: http://bit.ly/29RrTYN

-Dummy Baits: Big Bite Finesse Swimmer 3.4: http://bit.ly/3bdZjgv

-Main Baits: Keitech Fat Swing Impact 4.8: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

-Dummy Anchors: Owner CPS Springs Medium: http://bit.ly/2b2YgDf

NEW Tactical Bassin Apparel... 

TacticalBassin Reaper Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2TwBWs7

TacticalBassin Shadow Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2FVD9Rs

TacticalBassin Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/2TvFMBD

TacticalBassin Hooded Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/38cVi9G

Where Do Bass Go During Early Spring? (And How To Catch Them)

Forget the Winter haunts, bass are on the move! The Prespawn is approaching and the fish are beginning to push toward their Spring spawning grounds in huge numbers. Its still early in the transition but if you're not following their movements they'll leave you behind. Come along as Matt explain where they're heading and how to stay ahead of them! 

Whether you fish a reservoir, lake, river, or pond, there is information in this video for you. Matt explains exactly where bass are heading in each style of fishery. Once you understand how and why the fish are moving, predicting their next move becomes very easy. 

This is not the time of year to stick with old patterns and hope to run into fish. You need to actively stay ahead of their movements, fish key locations, and adjust constantly to find the big, prespawn females you're searching for. Below is breakdown of the equipment used in the video as well as some of Matt and Tim's favorite baits this time of year. 

Electronics... 

-Humminbird Solix 15: http://bit.ly/2Hazsej

-Humminbird Solix 12: http://bit.ly/2AE2YDB

Mapping (How We Get the Detail)... 

-Humminbird Lakemaster Plus: http://bit.ly/2Dk5Erc

The EXACT Baits Matt has tied on... 

-Lucky Craft LV-500 (Ghost Minnow): http://bit.ly/2aAUUbd

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

-Spro Little John 50 Crank (Blood Craw): http://bit.ly/2dDfuqt

-River2Sea S Waver 200 (TW Phantom Trout): http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

-Hogfarmer BFL Hitchhiker A-Rig: http://bit.ly/36EcEuR

-Matt Allen Swimbait Heads 1/8 oz: http://bit.ly/29RrTYN

Excellent Spring Colors In Each Bait... 

LV: Ghost Minnow, American Shad, Phantom Chartreuse Shad

Tactical: DD Minnow, Glass Minnow, Ghost Minnow, Craw

Spro Little John: Blood Craw, Fire Craw, Clear Chartreuse

S Waver: TW Phantom Trout, Light Trout, Bluegill

Other Great Spring Lures... 

-Coolbaits Underspin: http://bit.ly/2boS7QA

-River2Sea Biggie squarebill: http://bit.ly/2ahCzvo

-Bling Spinnerbait: http://bit.ly/2diSwqq

NEW Tactical Bassin Apparel... 

TacticalBassin Reaper Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2TwBWs7

TacticalBassin Shadow Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2FVD9Rs

TacticalBassin Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/2TvFMBD

TacticalBassin Hooded Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/38cVi9G

Cold Water A-Rigs Tricks For Bass

Today we're adapting the A-Rig to catch deep cold water bass. Come along for a day on the water and see where these cold Winter fish are staging, how we target them, and what we do to the alabama rig to adapt to the colder conditions. Too many anglers focus on the shoreline during the cold months. Until we reach the prespawn, offshore fishing is an important part of Winter success. 

When probing deep water with an A-rig its important to adjust the sink rate of the rig. Changing from 1/8 ounce heads in shallow water to 3/16, 3/8, even 3/4 ounce heads will allow you to fish much, much deeper water with ease. You can take it a step further however if you're really paying attention. 

RETRIEVE SPEED is probably the single most important component to catching bass with A-rigs. With that in mind, you can fish an Alabama rig in 20 feet of water with 1/8 ounce heads as long as you go ultra slow. You can fish that same depth with 3/4 ounce heads and burn the bait along the bottom. Anglers understand the value of adjusting retrieve speed in shallow water but it is often overlooked in the depths. Pay attention to the speed you're getting bit at, adjust the swimbait heads on your rig to lighter or heavier models and you will be far more successful this Late Winter and early Pre Spawn. 

Below you'll find a breakdown of some of the best A-rigs available, an explanation of the two head styles we use, along with the gear we were using in the video to throw these rigs in deeper water. 

Lighter Wire A-Rigs... 

-Flash Mob Jr: http://bit.ly/2bgDGNu

-Yum Ultralight Rig: http://bit.ly/2cq4pJQ

-Hogfarmer Baits BFL Hitchhiker: http://bit.ly/36EcEuR

-G Funk Baits Cali Rig Bladed: http://bit.ly/2rZhST7

Swimbait Heads... 

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

-TacticalBassin Finesse Swimbait Heads: http://bit.ly/2Pqrq3n

Matt Allen heads have a heavier hook for big fish and stout gear. TacticalBassin finesse heads feature a lighter wire hook that is excellent for Winter fish, smallmouth, spotted bass, or mid-sized largemouth. 

Equipment Upgrades To Dial In Your A-Rig... 

-Owner Hyperwire Split Rings (Size 4): http://bit.ly/2v8ArBX

-Owner CPS Springs (Medium): http://bit.ly/2b2YgDf

-Keitech 4.8 Swimbait (Main Baits): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

-Reaction Innovations Little Dipper (non-hook baits): http://bit.ly/2brnU5I

Favorite Keitech colors for A-rigs: Pro Blue Red Pearl, TW Pro Blue, Electric Shad

Favorite Little Dipper colors: Bad Shad Green, Purple Smoke

Matt's A-Rig Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Curado 7'6" Heavy: http://bit.ly/2gUWTft

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

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

Leader- Sunline FC-100 System 20 lb: http://bit.ly/2O4UElB

Tim's A-Rig Combo... 

Rod- Megabass Orochi XX Braillist: http://bit.ly/2OSVNwH

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

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

Leader- Sunline FC-100 System 20 lb: http://bit.ly/2O4UElB

NEW Tactical Bassin Apparel... 

TacticalBassin Reaper Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2TwBWs7

TacticalBassin Shadow Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2FVD9Rs

TacticalBassin Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/2TvFMBD

TacticalBassin Hooded Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/38cVi9G