Summer Crankbait Fishing: Best Baits, Modifications, and Colors (GIANT Fish Hooked!!)

Summer bass fishing with crankbaits can be incredible! Today the guys locate a school of hungry fish and start getting bit on every cast! The feeding frenzy is intense and seems like it will never end. When the bite finally slows Matt pulls out his crankbait boxes and shows his favorite baits, how to tune them, adjust hardware, and choose color but is interrupted when Coop sets the hook on a GIANT!

While today's target species were hard to come by (the passing thunderheads mixed with sweltering periods of bluebird skies were not helping), the crankbait fishing for White Bass was intense! We'll never know what Coop was tied into as his drag was screaming but it goes to show the drawing power and excitement that can be had with a deep crankbait during the Summer months. If you haven't tried throwing a crankbait, the time has come. This pattern will work all the way through Fall and anyone can do it. 

Below is a list of the baits Matt showed in the video (including color recommendations) along with the hooks and equipment the guys were using. Additionally Matt has included a budget rod/reel combo option for those that want to dabble with the technique without buying expensive equipment. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.

Today's Cranks That Caught Fish... 

Matt- Tactical DD 75 Crankbait (Metallic Shad): http://bit.ly/37dclbX

Coop- Strike King 6XD (Powder Blue/Chartreuse): http://bit.ly/2ery44M

The Baits In Matt's Crankbait Boxes... 

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

Favorites: Metallic Shad, Mirrored Minnow, DD Minnow

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

Favorites: Powder Blue/Chartreuse, Chartreuse Sexy Shad

-Strike King 10XD: http://bit.ly/2gHT4F0

Favorites: Sexy Blue Back Herring, Powder Blue Back Chart

-Megabass Big M 7.5: https://bit.ly/2yHmm4R

Favorites: Blue Back Chart, Yuzu Shad

-Azuma Z Boss 22 and 25: http://bit.ly/2poLKUC

Favorites: Hot Mess, Grand Shad

-Spro Little John Super DD: https://bit.ly/2yGt62O

Favorites: Natural Herring, Chart Blue, Spooky Nasty

-6th Sense Cloud 9 C25: http://bit.ly/2BQ4uDs

Favorites: Blue-Treuse Shad, Sexified Chartreuse Shad

Hook and Split Ring Upgrades... 

-Owner Hyperwire Split Rings(Size 4 or 5): http://bit.ly/2v8ArBX

-Owner ST-36 Trebles (Size 1/0): http://bit.ly/2cWpeyw

-Owner ST-56 Trebles (Sizes 4,2,1): http://bit.ly/2cVg7xW

-Gamakatsu EWG (Size 4, 2): http://bit.ly/2cZrsbY

Matt's Crankbait Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 968 CBR Heavy: http://bit.ly/2og0BmK

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

Line- Sunline Assassin 17 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

Coop's Crankbait Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Zodias 7'6" Medium Heavy Glass: http://bit.ly/2cgmMAe

Reel- Shimano Tranx 200 HG: http://bit.ly/2Tv0yCy

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

Budget All-Around Crankbait Combo... 

Rod- Dobyns Fury 7' MH Crank: http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

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

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

Summer Bass Fishing- Crankbaits And Creatures For Offshore Bass (Matt Loses a 10 LBER!!!)

Summer bass love to move offshore and today we're going after them! We're fishing ledges, current breaks, humps, and island tops in search of big bass on Chickamauga. Most anglers focus on the bank because its comfortable and easy to fish what they can see but the vast majority of fish are behind them. Come along for a fun day of fishing and see the kind of bass that live away from the bank in Summer. 

Offshore bass can be caught with a variety of techniques. Truthfully, they can be caught on just about anything but there are a few techniques that really shine for this style of fishing. A few that come to mind include small swimbaits, wobble heads, spoons, crankbaits, and big worms. Today the guys focused on fast moving baits. Tim spend most of his time with a lipless crankbait while Matt focused on a swing head jig (wobble head) and occasionally mixed in a deep crank. 

While today was a grind, that 10+ lber shows the exact caliber of fish that live on these off shore haunts. If you're a bank fisherman, focus on the bass that hug the shallow cover and shadow edges but if you're a boater, take advantage of that offshore bite. Get out of your comfort zone, head out deeper, and you just might connect with the bass of a lifetime!

Below are a breakdown of the baits, colors, and equipment that the guys were using in the video. The links go directly to tackle warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

Crankbaits... 

Tim- Lucky Craft LV-500 (Aurora Black): http://bit.ly/2aAUUbd

Matt- Azuma Z Boss 24 (Grand Shad): http://bit.ly/2poLKUC

Wobble Head... 

Jighead- Dirty Jigs Pivot Point Football 3/4 oz 4/0 Hook: http://bit.ly/2jOY1Ns

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

Other Great Colors: Green pumpkin, Tilapia, Blueberry

Worms... 

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

Tim's Lipless Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 906 CBR: http://bit.ly/2og0BmK

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

Line- Sunline Sniper 14 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Matt's Wobble Head Combo... 

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

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

Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 65 lb Braid: 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

Summer Bass Fishing Gear Review! New Baits, Tackle, and Equipment This Summer!

Let's take a look at some of the best new gear for this Summer! From new crankbaits to worms, trailer accessories to reels, we're covering it all! This review is a selection of products from a variety of brands that have been making a difference in our fishing lately. Some items are brand new to the market, others have just recently had a positive impact in our fishing and earned a place in the review. 

You may have noticed that our recent videos have not been from our home state. We're back out on the road, traveling the country, and exploring new places. We're coming to a lake near you, trying new gear, catching new fish, and continuing to grow our angling knowledge so we can help you become a more consistent angler as we share that knowledge. In the spirit of road tripping, we've recently had a lot of positive experiences with our boat and trailer upgrades so today Tim begins with a series of trailer upgrades that have been impacting his fishing in a positive way. 

Boating/Trailer Equipment... 

-Moto Stop Transom Saver (Yamaha): http://bit.ly/2SCCwW4

-DD26 Transom Saver (Mercury): https://bit.ly/2BfaZlC

-TH Marine Steer Stop- https://bit.ly/2Sc5Ikg

-Fulton F2 Series Trailer Jack: https://bit.ly/2YHEB34

-Fulton F2 Series Winch: https://bit.ly/3frtFx8

-Spare Boat Buckle Winch Straps (Loop End): https://bit.ly/2BgnOw1

Its no secret that we're both tackle junkies. When new gear comes out we're always quick to give it a try. We're constantly fishing new brands, new baits, and new equipment. With Covid creating supply chain issues across the fishing industry we've been reaching even further to try new baits and gear while some of our favorites are sold out! These are a few of the items that have stood out for us in recent months. All of the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and product descriptions of each item. 

Baits... 

-Megabass Z Series Z-1 Crankbait: https://bit.ly/2Y9dkHB

Favorite Colors: Mat Craw 2, PM Hot Gill 2, Kasumi Ito

-Megabass Z Series Z-2 Crankbait: https://bit.ly/3fsxn9G

Favorite Colors: GG Gill, Mat Craw 2, PM Hot Gill 2

-Teckel KickKnocker Topwater: http://bit.ly/2nvxkoA

Favorite Colors: Bone, Lime Ice

-Yum Mighty Worm: https://bit.ly/2Yajojh

Gear... 

-Shimano Bantam Metanium MGL 150 B: https://bit.ly/34HlAAk

This reel is AWESOME for the price! If you're looking for a new high-end "do everything" reel this is it! Today's video is just giving it a quick stamp of approval because there is a dedicated review of just this reel coming in the future. We didn't care to be first on a review, we wanted to really break this reel in and see how it did over time... more to come on that very soon. 

-Sunline FC Structure Fluorocarbon Line: https://bit.ly/2UMO73N

This line is designed for fishing around structure. Big Worms and Jigs, deep water, etc... is what they had in mind when designing this. Its been on the market for a couple years but I'm just giving it a fair shot now and so far I've been very impressed. 

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

How To Catch Fish Around Docks: Summer Fishing Tips

If your lake has docks, the fish are under them right now! From bass and catfish down to the smallest baitfish, everything that swims relies on the shade of docks for safety and comfort in the Summer heat. Today Tim goes in-depth showing how to approach dock fishing, explains which docks are most likely to hold fish, and demonstrates some of his favorite ways to target them. 

You can spend years dialing in which pilings on which docks consistently hold fish. Anglers make entire bass fishing careers out of doing exactly that. But if you just want to go fishing and consistently catch fish there are some simple tips that will help you choose the right docks quickly. Focus on docks that stand alone. A dock by itself will often hold large numbers of fish that would otherwise spread out along a row of docks. Focus on docks with quick deep water access. If the dock is in deeper water than those around it, there are likely to be bigger fish underneath. 

Lastly, choose docks based on the type of fishing you plan to do. If you're fishing slowly with finesse baits target single docks or areas with limited numbers of docks. This will give you the confidence to fish methodically and really pick the docks apart. If you're fishing fast moving reaction baits then areas with a lot of docks will give you endless targets to throw to. While you'll make more casts per fish, the reaction bite is so fun that it often outweighs the alternatives. 

Our final tip is about skipping docks. You may have noticed Tim is able to do this effortlessly. While a skilled angler who practices can do this with virtually any reel, the "DC" reels make it simple for almost anyone to do. If you want to get serious about fishing docks, don't be afraid to try a DC to shorten the learning curve and make the fishing more fun from the start. 

Below is a breakdown of the baits and equipment Tim recommends for Summer dock fishing. Of course you can dial in subtle details on your local lake but these baits and this equipment is what we use anywhere we go in the country when its time to target fish under docks. We've broken down the baits into reaction baits and slow moving baits to help you make the best choices. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

Tim's #1 Bait Today... 

Swimbait- Keitech Fat Swing Impact 4.8" (Electric Shad): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

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

Fast Moving Baits... 

-Damiki BTC Squarebill Crankbait: https://bit.ly/35yagXK

(Threadfin Flash, Moss Back, Real Shad)

-Teckel Kick Knocker Topwater: http://bit.ly/2nvxkoA

(Bone, Bluegill, Chart Shiner)

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

(Ghost, TW Gill, Little Allen)

Slow Moving Baits... 

-Dirty Jigs Pitchin' Jig (1/2 oz): http://bit.ly/2amL3of

(Molting Craw, Hematoma, Go To)

-Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver Jig Trailer: http://bit.ly/29W3RZW

(Green Pumpkin Red, Hematoma, Tramp Stamp)

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

(Green Pumpkin, Watermelon/Green Pumpkin, JuneBug)

-Gamakatsu Superline EWG 4/0 Hook: http://bit.ly/2ac92XG

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

(Bama Bug, Green Pumpkin)

-Dirty Jigs Canterbury Shaky Head 1/4 oz: http://bit.ly/2aFOs0V

DC Reels work great at every price point. As you move up to higher end equipment the reels become stronger and smoother but the technology that aids your ability to skip works throughout the line. Also, when dock fishing it is recommended to use an HG (high gear 7:1) or XG (Extra High Gear 8:1) to help you pull the fish out of the docks quickly before they tangle in the pilings. 

High End DC: Shimano Metanium DC: http://bit.ly/2qrSZvs

Mid-Range DC: Shimano Curado 150 DC: http://bit.ly/2yHtsp4

Budget DC: Shimano SLX 150 DC: http://bit.ly/2LWzw2Q

Excellent All-Around Combo For Docks... 

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 853C JWR: http://bit.ly/2R4f2Ud

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

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

Leader- Sunline Sniper Fluorocarbon 14 lb: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

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