Summer Gear Review! Topwater, Crankbaits, Jigs, and Soft Plastics!

Let's see what's new! We've been testing a variety of new baits and today we're showing the best of the best! We've got a unique topwater, new frogs, crankbaits, swimbaits, and more. Summer is a great time to catch fish and there are some great new designs available to help you do just that. Some of today's baits are great improvements on existing designs, while others are truly unique creations. Let's take a look!

To kick it off we've got 3 topwater lures. The first is a custom approach to front runners that is going to help a lot of anglers catch schooling bass. After that we've got the complete redesign of the the Snagproof line of frogs, and finally a new size in the Spro Bronzeye series. 

For crankbaits we've got the Jackall Digle which takes a familiar Jackall shape and couples it with an awesome bill that will let the bait go anywhere. Next is a giant crankbait that reaches ultra-deep but fishes comfortably on mid-sized gear. 

From there we've got a new twist on the Savage Gear bluegill, a true handmade finesse jig, and a very unique soft plastic to round out the group. You'll find links to all the products list below. We've included our favorite colors, sizes, and rigging components when relevant. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

Front Runner... 

-PH Lure Phront Runner: https://bit.ly/3wJIdkH

Favorite Color- Foil Black

Frogs... 

-SnagProof Phat Frog: https://bit.ly/3vCrnTv

Favorite Colors- Grey Ghost, Green Pumpkin

-Spro Bronzeye Poppin Frog 70: https://bit.ly/3iVW03I

Favorite Colors- Nasty Shad, Navy Seal, Killer Gill

Crankbaits... 

-Jackall Digle: https://bit.ly/2Uip6A6

Favorite Colors- Ghost AR Shad, SK Shad, Blueback Chartreuse

-Duel Hardcore Bullet 7+: https://bit.ly/3gH0hGB

Favorite Colors- Sexy Shad, Holographic Shad

Optional Hook Size Upgrade- Owner ST-36 Size 1: http://bit.ly/2cWpeyw

Swimbait... 

-Savage Gear 3D RTF Bluegill: https://bit.ly/3gGH7R8

Favorite Colors- Bluegill, Black Gill

Jig... 

Nishine Lure Works Finesse Football: https://bit.ly/3gIKmrz

Favorite Colors- Pumpkin Pepper, Watermelon Candy

Trailer In Video- Z Man TRD Bugz (MudBug): http://bit.ly/2oiavEE

Hellgramite... 

-Tackle HD Ned Mite: https://bit.ly/3q9VssH

Favorite Colors- Green pumpkin Orange, Green Pumpkin Goby

Head Used- Swagger Tungsten Flanders (1/10th): http://bit.ly/2KcIB6M

Discontinued Jackall Favorites... 

-Muscle Deep Crankbaits: https://bit.ly/35BMOtg

-Aska SR Squarebills: https://bit.ly/2UasX1U

-Aragon Jointed Crank: https://bit.ly/3vC2tUh

-Giron Swimbait: https://bit.ly/3gEHyKw

-Clone Gill Softbait: https://bit.ly/35B7l1l

Favorite Frog Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Expride 7'3" Extra Heavy: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Reel- Shimano Metanium MGL 150 B (HG): https://bit.ly/34HlAAk

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

BIG Crankbait Combo...

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

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

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

Want TacticalBassin Gear?  

We have a variety of apparel items and custom lure designs available! Everything from hats, to hoodies, to crankbaits! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here... 

TacticalBassin Apparel and Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz

Summer Frog Fishing On Chickamauga!

Come along for an awesome frog bite! We're fishing Chickamauga on a hot, humid day and the bass are smashing topwater! Watch as Tim builds a pattern, uses river current to his advantage, and switches between frogs to catch as many fish as possible. 

Chick has seen an incredible amount of pressure this Spring. With a seemingly unending list of tournaments, Tim opted to fish from his kayak instead of the bass boat. It allowed him to reach deep into backwaters where bass boats can't reach and target fish that are far less pressured. His strategy paid off as he found plenty of fish willing to attack his frogs!

Below you'll find links to the exact baits and equipment Tim was using. We've included the lure colors, rods, reels, and even the kayaks. All the bait and gear links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. The kayak links go directly to the Old Town company website where you can see detailed specs on the kayaks. 

Frogs... 

-Teckel Sprinker Frog: http://bit.ly/2rmnqSI

Color: Pearl White

-Scum Frog Trophy Series 5/8 oz: https://bit.ly/3q2bN2w

Color: Rotten Egg

Tim's Frog Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Expride 7'3" XH: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Reel- Shimano Metanium MGL 150 B (XG): https://bit.ly/34HlAAk

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

Budget Frog Combo... 

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

Reel- Shimano SLX DC (HG): http://bit.ly/2LWzw2Q

Line- Power Pro Braid 65 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Kayaks... 

Tim's Kayak- Old Town Sportsman Autopilot 120: https://bit.ly/32ySIuZ

Pedal Drive Kayak- Old Town Sports PDL 120: https://bit.ly/3gxM4Mf

Want TacticalBassin Gear?  

We have a variety of apparel items and custom lure designs available! Everything from hats, to hoodies, to crankbaits! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here... 

TacticalBassin Apparel and Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz

Swinging Jigs For Summer Bass (Tips That Actually Matter)

Its time to change it up! Summer is here and this technique gets BIG bites when nothing else will. Quit throwing the same old Summer baits and show them something completely different! The swinging jig is easy to fish, doesn't require specialized gear, and most importantly, the big ones eat it!

This technique goes by many names. You may have heard of the wobble head, biffle head, free swinging jig, or swinging jig... all references to the same technique. We combining the swinging jig with either a creature bait or small swimbait to create a profile that bass can't resist. As you swim it along the bottom the bait will bump along, deflecting off cover, and drawing reaction strikes from the bass. 

Virtually every brand makes a creature bait that could work with this technique. However, there are a few that rise above the rest. Below you'll find links to all the baits, heads, and gear discussed in the video, beginning with the "If you could only have one" bait choice. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

If You Could Only Have One... 

Head- Dirty Jigs Pivot Point Football (1/2 oz with 4/0): http://bit.ly/2jOY1Ns

Bait- XZone Lures Adrenaline Craw (Junebug): https://bit.ly/3ebTO5h

Favorite Heads... 

Lead- Dirty Jigs Pivot Point Football Head: http://bit.ly/2jOY1Ns

Common Sizes: 1/2 oz 4/0 Hook, 3/4 oz 5/0 Hook

Tungsten- Swagger Tungsten Swinging Football: http://bit.ly/2MmBuur

Common Sizes: 1/2 oz 5/0 Hook, 3/4 oz 5/0 Hook, 1 oz 5/0 Hook

Top Creature Baits... 

-XZone Adrenaline Craw: https://bit.ly/3ebTO5h

Color: Junebug, Green Pumpkin Black

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

Color: Junebug, Huckleberry, Watermelon Red

-Netbait Paca Craw (Baby): http://bit.ly/2wlVAfh

Color: Junebug, Bama Bug, Green Pumpkin

-Strike King Rage Bug: http://bit.ly/2aAsuiV

Color: Junebug, Blue Craw

Other Great Baits...

-13 Fishing 4.25" Invader: https://bit.ly/3vdNznG

Color: Witches Brew, Collard Greens

-Zoom Ultravibe Speed Craw: https://bit.ly/3fTGlQQ

Colors: Junebug, Green pumpkin

-Netbait Paca Slim 4": http://bit.ly/2M5cuGF

Colors: Junebug, Green Pumpkin

-Gambler Stinger 4.25": https://bit.ly/3gpebNE

Colors: Gold Rush, Junebug

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

Colors: Double Trouble, Green Pumpkin Watermelon

-Big Bite Baits Swimming Mama: https://bit.ly/3gE8tWP

Colors: 1099, Tilapia

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

Colors: Electric Shad, Pro Blue Red Pearl

Matt's Favorite Combo... 

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

Reel- Shimano Metanium MGL B 150 (HG): https://bit.ly/34HlAAk

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

Leader- Sunline FC 100 Shock Leader (20 lb): http://bit.ly/2O4UElB

"Bang For The Buck" Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Expride 7'6" Medium Heavy: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Reel- Shimano Chronarch 150 (HG): http://bit.ly/2n8DghB

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

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

Budget Wobble Head Combo... 

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

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

Line- Sunline Assassin Fluorocarbon (20 lb): http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

Want TacticalBassin Gear?  

We have a variety of apparel items and custom lure designs available! Everything from hats, to hoodies, to crankbaits! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here... 

TacticalBassin Apparel and Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz

$100K!!! STUCK in the MUD with NO RECEPTION!!

Matt's in TROUBLE! Tim and Tonya were enjoying an awesome day on the water when the phone rang... "HELP!!" Somehow Matt and Coop (an hour and a half away, deep in the woods) managed to get themselves STUCK!! They aren't just stuck, the boat is still on the trailer, the trailer sunk over the axles, and the back half of the truck is in the lake! 

It was a quick end to an awesome morning on the water. The fish were absolutely choking the ned rig and keitech (exact baits linked below) when the call came in. Have you ever taken a call you wish you hadn't answered? (Ha!) Of course we're not going to leave friends in trouble so we stopped fishing, loaded the boat and started the search. It took several hours to reach them (they failed to mention how far out in the woods they really were) but we finally got there! 

With Coop giving the Yamaha SHO 250 full throttle, and Matt and Tim both standing on the gas with trucks in 4 wheel drive, the 3 were able to get the rigs back out of the water. Success! When you're exploring the road less traveled things like this can happen. Sure, we could go to a paved boat ramp in the middle of town like everyone else, but then we'd catch the same fish as everyone else. Life is short, get out there and explore... but make sure you have the equipment to keep you safe and friends that are willing to help when you get in over your head. 

Below you'll find links to the exact equipment Tim and Tonya were fishing with before the call came in. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.

Ned Rig... 

Bait- Xzone Ned Zone: http://bit.ly/2mRiYhF

Color: "309"

Head- Swagger Tungsten Flanders Head (1/10th): http://bit.ly/2KcIB6M

Keitech... 

Bait-Keitech 3.8" Fat Swing Impact: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Color: Sun Gill

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

Color: Tennessee Shad

Ned Rig Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis Conquest 902S SJR Spinning: http://bit.ly/2BiGUNi

Reel- Shimano Stella FJ 2500: http://bit.ly/2U8Pkzg

Line- Sunline SX1 (12 lb Braid): http://bit.ly/2tn8EzQ

Leader- Sunline Super FC (6 lb Fluorocarbon): http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Keitech Combo...

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 863C (7'2" Medium Heavy): http://bit.ly/2x9kxuS

Reel- Shimano Metanium MGL 150 B (HG): https://bit.ly/34HlAAk

Line- Sunline Super FC (12 lb Fluorocarbon): http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Budget Ned Rig Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Intenza 7'6" Light: http://bit.ly/2s7kaQn

Reel- Shimano NASCI 2500 FB: http://bit.ly/2g278cC

Line- Sunline Super FC (8 lb Fluorocarbon): http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Want TacticalBassin Gear?  

We have a variety of apparel items and custom lure designs available! Everything from hats, to hoodies, to crankbaits! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here... 

TacticalBassin Apparel and Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz