Summer Fishing Tricks: Early Morning Bite (Whopper plopper and Crankbait)

No one likes getting up early but in Summer, its worth it! Midday the lake can feel like a Dead Sea if you don't know where to look but in the morning, everything is alive! Come along with Matt on the Tennessee River as he explores new water and builds a morning pattern with a whopper plopper, lipless crankbait, and wobble head (swing head jig).

Most anglers fish a whopper plopper on a slow, steady retrieve. Most of the time we do too, but there is a time and place for the popping method and today it paid off with 2 nice bites. After the topwater bite slowed Matt turned to a lipless and ultimately a swinging jig to continue catching fish. 

The morning bite window is incredibly easy but is also very short. Its imperative that you get on the water at first light and if you're not prepared to begin shadow fishing and targeting offshore fish, expect the bite to be done before 9 AM. Below we've included links to all the gear Matt used in today's video. We included the exact colors as well as recommendations on some of our other favorites. 

Hard Baits... 

-Whopper Plopper 110 Topwater (Bone): http://bit.ly/2bsPbQV

Other Favorites- Loon, Munky Butt

-TN70 Lipless Crank (RT Scale Minnow): http://bit.ly/2lqAwjh

Other Favorites- Super Shad, Ghost Minnow

Swing Head Jig... 

Jighead- Swing Head Football 3/4 oz 4/0 Hook: http://bit.ly/2jOY1Ns

First Bait- Keitech Crazy Flapper 4.4 (Green Pumpkin): http://bit.ly/2c3cXrp

Second Bait- Zoom Z Craw (Junebug): http://bit.ly/2vW7Jo5

Matt's Topwater Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Zodias 7'2" MH: http://bit.ly/2cgmMAe

Reel- Shimano Curado DC 150 HG: http://bit.ly/2yHtsp4

Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 50 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Matt's Swing Head Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Zodias 7'5" Heavy: http://bit.ly/2cgmMAe

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

Braid- Power Pro Maxcuatro 50 lb: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- Maxima Ultragreen 20 lb Mono: 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

Where Do Fish Go In Summer? (And How To Catch Them)

Have your fish disappeared? Are you struggling to get a bite? Today Matt explains exactly where Bass go during the Summer in your local lake. Once you understand how fish move throughout the seasons, catching them consistently throughout the year becomes really simple. In closing, Matt takes it a step further and goes in-depth on his confidence baits to consistently catch fish all Summer.

Predicting Summertime fish movements is all about understanding the importance of shadows. In lakes, reservoirs, and rivers, bass use different structures to hunt but it always revolves around the presence of shadows. Pay close attention to the details that apply to your style of fishery and you'll begin seeing success right away. If you missed our previous video on shadows and color lines you can see that video below. 

Where Do Bass Go After They Spawn? (Color Line Video): https://youtu.be/hGMwt7UsFkI

Once you've located your Summer fish its time to turn your attention to catching them. Matt offered his 5 primarily lure types for consistently catching Summer bass in the video. Below you'll find a breakdown of the baits (including color recommendations) that he recommends throughout Summer.

Plastic Worms... 

-Yamamoto 5" Senko: http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

(Green Pumpkin, Green Pump/Watermelon Laminate)

-Netbait 6.5" T-Mac Worm: http://bit.ly/2jndwj9

(JuneBug, Bama Bug, Kentucky Special)

Frogs...

-River2Sea Bully Wa 2: http://bit.ly/2axyR2a

(Little Allen, Dirty White)

-Jackall Gavacho: http://bit.ly/2L7KsWS

(Gold Gill, Lime Frog)

Topwater...

Walking Bait- Evergreen Shower Blows 125: http://bit.ly/2zIkqUH

(American Shad, Half Mirror Wakasagi)

Popper- Yellow Magic 1/2 oz: http://bit.ly/2al0dKP

(Smoke Shad, Alewife)

Deep Crankbaits... 

-Azuma Z Boss 22: http://bit.ly/2poLKUC

(Blazing Boss, Hot Mess)

-Strike King 6XD: http://bit.ly/2ery44M

(Powder Blue/Chart, Chartreuse Sexy Shad)

Squarebills... 

-Lucky Craft Silent 1.5/2.5: http://bit.ly/2BGxKPa

(American Shad, Golden Shiner)

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

(T-1000, Abalone Shad)

Swing Head Jigs... 

Jighead- Dirty Jigs Pivot Point: http://bit.ly/2jOY1Ns

Creature- Keitech Crazy Flapper: http://bit.ly/2c3cXrp

Creature- Zoom Z Craw: http://bit.ly/2vW7Jo5

Small Swimbaits... 

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

Weedless Underspin- Owner Flashy Swimmer 1/4 oz 5/0: http://bit.ly/2e8O4Y7

Exposed Hook- Blade Runner Spintrix 1/2 oz: http://bit.ly/2oocg0a

All-Around Summer Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Zodias 7'2" MH: http://bit.ly/2cgmMAe

Reel- Shimano Curado DC 150 HG: http://bit.ly/2yHtsp4

Line- Sunline Assassin 15 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

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

What Gear Do We Really Use? Take A Look! (Cross Country Road Trip)

Ever wonder what we've really got in the boat? What lures are we actually carrying below deck? Which Covid slowing down we decided to drive all the way across the country to fish and spend time with family. We loaded the boats with everything we thought we'd need (tools, gear, and a variety of tackle) and set out on a national road trip with the families. Today Tim is opening up all the lockers and showing you what gear really made the cut. Which baits and what gear did he consider "must haves" for fishing in multiple states. 

Its hard enough to choose what to throw first when you go out on the lake. Try to imagine packing to fish dozens of lakes you've never seen before. Even harder, some are in the South (Summer heat) and others are up North (clear water and prespawn). As overwhelming as that may be, we've done it a few times now and are very confident in our gear selection. We wanted to share with you what made the cut and what didn't. 

We can make countless videos about specific baits and techniques but there is something about taking a look under the locker lids for yourself that is very satisfying. Now how can you apply this to your fishing? The gear that we carry cross country can be downsized into just a box or two for fishing on your local lake. Where we might carry a box of spinnerbaits, a box of lipless, a box of deep cranks, you can turn around and build a box with a spinnerbait, a chatterbait, a lipless, a small glide bait, etc... and on a smaller scale you're now prepared for any situation you can face on the water. 

Below is a breakdown of our top lures from each category. We've also included a handful of rod recommendations that are "do alls", those select rods that seem to be able to throw a variety of different baits, allowing us to save time, money, and space on the boat. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

Tim's Most Universal Picks For Hard Baits...

Swimbait Head- Tactical Finesse Head (3/8 oz): http://bit.ly/2Pqrq3n

Deep Crank- Strike King 6XD (Chartreuse Sexy Shad): http://bit.ly/2ery44M

Squarebill- Lucky Craft 1.5 (Ghost Minnow): http://bit.ly/2BGxKPa

Glide Bait- S Waver 168 (TW Phantom Trout): http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

Blade Bait- Damiki Vault 1/2 oz (Black Holo): http://bit.ly/2rnO7e2

Frog- River2Sea Bully Wa 2 (Little Allen 65): http://bit.ly/2axyR2a

Topwater- River2Sea Rover 128 (Abalone Shad): http://bit.ly/2acSVea

Jerkbait- Megabass Vision 110 (GP Pro Blue): http://bit.ly/2j31TKb

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

Chatterbait- Z Man/Evergreen JackHammer 3/8 oz (BHite Delight): http://bit.ly/2popvj6

Tim's Most Universal Picks For Soft Baits...

Swimbait- Keitech Fat Swing Impact (4.3"): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Stick Bait/Neko- Yamamoto 5" Senko (Green Pumpkin): http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

Ned Worm- Z Man TicklerZ (Canada Craw): http://bit.ly/2mGyDAC

Creature- Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver (Tramp Stamp): http://bit.ly/29W3RZW

Dropshot- Big Bite Baits Smallie Smasher (Green Pump/Purple): http://bit.ly/2ZpCOCY

Jerkbait- Zoom Super Fluke (Electric Shad): http://bit.ly/2aqys0H

Highlighted Items... 

-Damiki Armor Shad Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2KtPDAT

-Lakemaster Plus Digital Charts Map Card: http://bit.ly/2Dk5Erc

-Wave Away Screen Cleaner: http://bit.ly/2PhHmmC

-KVD Speed Worm Bags: http://bit.ly/2GYT4RC

-Spoolin Buddy Jr. Line Storage: http://bit.ly/2EAbynX

-Plano Edge Master Plastics Storage: http://bit.ly/2PaiAq6

-Plano Edge Spinnerbait Storage Box: http://bit.ly/397m4Bd

Our 4 most Universal Rod Combos are listed below. These are rods that we've found can fish a variety of different baits to save money and space on the boat. We're all looking for that "do everything" rod. These might not do everything but they will do a lot!

Jigs/Big Worms/Keitechs/Chatter/Spinnerbait Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis GLX 854C JWR: http://bit.ly/2gqziwT

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

Dropshot/Ned/Tube/Popper Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Zodias 7' Medium Light: http://bit.ly/2jOUXAO

Reel- Shimano Stradic CI4+ 2500: http://bit.ly/2gu84t7

High-End "Do Everything" Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis Conquest 843C MBR: http://bit.ly/2iL1PAY

Reel- Shimano Metanium DC 100 HG: http://bit.ly/2qrSZvs

Mid-Range "Do Everything" Combo...

Rod- Zodias 7'2" MH: http://bit.ly/2cgmMAe

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

Budget "Do Everything" Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Fury 7' Medium heavy: http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

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

NEW Tactical Bassin Apparel... 

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

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

Frog Fishing And Topwater On Lake Chickamauga - Big Bass Caught!

Come along on Lake Chickamauga as we explore a new lake and catch fish! Pay close attention as we refine a pattern and put it into action with no outside information. Chickamauga has almost 800 miles of shoreline but we're able to build a pattern in minutes and start catching really nice bass! You can too! 

Any time you're on a new body of water (Matt has been to the lake once but never this end and Tim has not been here at all) it can be overwhelming. We're thousands of miles from home with hundreds of miles of water to choose from where do you start? Matt and Tim chose to start with reaction. They focused on a spinnerbait, chatterbait, and lipless crankbait to cover water quickly. When that didn't work they turned their attention to the back of a cove that looked promising on the map. 

Once in the cove our attention again turned to covering water. Matt focused on a frog so he could quickly work around vegetation and Tim chose a senko to reach deep in the pockets under flooded trees. A pattern quickly emerged and we were able to dial in a combination of topwater, stick baits, and sight fishing. You can use this method of breaking down water on any lake in the nation. Cover water, get bit, and adapt until a pattern emerges. 

Below is a breakdown of the equipment the we were using to find success. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. We've also included links to the rods and reels we were using to consistently catch these fish. 

Topwater... 

Frog- Jackall Kaera (White): http://bit.ly/2Fz6SA3

Popper- Damiki D Pop 70 (Phantom): http://bit.ly/2Pjvqo3

Soft Baits... 

Stick Bait- Yamamoto 5" Senko (Crushed Goby): http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

Senko Hook- Owner Jungle Wide Gap 3/0: http://bit.ly/2sBsR1Z

Creature- Big Bite Baits Flying Squirrel (Tilapia): http://bit.ly/2sn1FaT

Creature Hook- Gamakatsu EWG Superline 2/0: http://bit.ly/2ac92XG

Dropshot Weight- Swagger 1/4 oz Tungsten Tear Drop: http://bit.ly/2V2B63h

Reaction... 

Spinnerbait- Megabass V-9 1/2 oz (Kohoku Reaction): http://bit.ly/2tOaVCt

Spinnerbait Trailer- Keitech 4.3" Fat Swing Impact (Pro Blue Red Pearl): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Lipless Crank- Jackall TN-70 Crankbait (RT Scale Minnow): http://bit.ly/2lqAwjh

Chatterbait- Z Man JackHammer 1/2 oz (BHite Delight): http://bit.ly/2popvj6

Chatterbait Trailer- HogFarmer Spunk Shad (Ghost Minnow 4.5): http://bit.ly/2UFkCD7

Matt's Senko/ Heavy Dropshot Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Zodias 7'2" Medium Heavy: http://bit.ly/2cgmMAe

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

Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 40 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- Maxima Ultragreen 15 lb Mono: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Tim's Popper Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Zodias 6'10" Medium Heavy: http://bit.ly/2cgmMAe

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

Braid- Power Pro Maxcuatro 30 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Budget Frog Combo... 

Rod- Dobyns Fury 7'3" Mag Heavy (736): http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

Reel- Shimano SLX 150 HG: http://bit.ly/2BRTYL8

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

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