How To Choose The Right Fishing Rod (Beginner To Advanced)

This is the information no one is talking about! From the basics (how to interpret rod models) to advanced details on rod action and power, Matt is laying down everything you need to know to make educated decisions about fishing rods. 

Fishing gear is expensive and the truth is, most anglers are guessing when they make a purchase. They have no idea if the rod they're buying will do what they need. But it doesn't have to be that way. Understanding ratings will take out all the guess work so you can begin making easy decisions. 

Below you'll find links to many of our favorite rods, separated by technique. We've also included a few budget-minded rods as well. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. In many cases the rods are available, in a few they're available for pre-order and expected to arrive in early Spring.

FAVORITE RODS BY TECHNIQUE... 

Jig (Pitch and Flip)- Megabass Orochi XX Braillist: http://bit.ly/2OSVNwH

Jig (Light Football)- G Loomis GLX 844C MBR: http://bit.ly/2gqziwT

Jig (Heavy Football)- Megabass Orochi XX Extreme Mission Type F: http://bit.ly/2OSVNwH

Jerkbait- Shimano Expride 6'10" Medium: https://bit.ly/32IrXqE

Alabama Rig- Shimano Zodias 7'5" Heavy: https://bit.ly/2cgmMAe

Lipless- G Loomis IMX Pro 845 CBR: http://bit.ly/2og0BmK

Chatterbait- Shimano Expride 7'2" Medium Heavy Glass: https://bit.ly/32IrXqE

Dropshot- G Loomis NRX+ 822S DSR: https://bit.ly/2RB0oJP

Ned Rig- G Loomis NRX+ 821S DSR: https://bit.ly/2RB0oJP

Tube- St. Croix Legend Elite 7'6" Medium: http://bit.ly/2pjJWMA

Heavy Flipping- Shimano Expride 7'11" XH: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Light Flip- Shimano Curado 7'5" XH: https://bit.ly/2gUWTft

Tail Spin- G Loomis IMX Pro 843 CBR: http://bit.ly/2og0BmK

Keitech (4.8)- Shimano Expride 7'2" Medium Heavy: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Big Swimbait- G Loomis IMX Pro 966 SWBR: https://bit.ly/3ktZFnF

Deep Crank (Tight Action)- G Loomis IMX Pro 906 CBR: http://bit.ly/2og0BmK

Deep Crank (All Around)- Shimano Zodias 7'6" MH Glass: https://bit.ly/2cgmMAe

Squarebill- Megabass Orochi XX Flat Side Special: http://bit.ly/2OSVNwH

Spinnerbait- G Loomis IMX Pro 812 SBR: http://bit.ly/2QurcHi

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

BFS- Dobyns Sierra Ultra Finesse 7': https://bit.ly/3C4PWgc

Northern Hair Jig- Megabass P5 Baby Plugging: https://bit.ly/2B7NyFj

FAVORITE BUDGET RODS BY TECHNIQUE... 

Jerkbait- Shimano SLX 6'10" Medium: http://bit.ly/2mGp1Vc

Crankbait- St. Croix Mojo Glass 7'4" MH: https://bit.ly/2YIxLy5

Jig- St. Croix Bass X 7'4" MH Mod Fast: https://bit.ly/2r0xWAs

Texas Rig- St. Croix Bass X 7'1" MH Fast: https://bit.ly/2r0xWAs

All Around- Shimano SLX 7'2" Medium Heavy: http://bit.ly/2mGp1Vc

Dropshot/Ned Rig- Shimano Intenza 7' Medium Light: http://bit.ly/2s7kaQn

Topwater- Halo XDIII 7'3" Medium Heavy: https://bit.ly/3ojz68h

Big Swimbait- Savage Gear 8' Heavy Squad: https://bit.ly/3tT8bS2

Frog- Dobyns Fury 7'3" Mag Heavy: http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

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

Winter Dam Fishing - What Will We Catch Next?!

Come along for a day on the Tennessee River as we fish the Watts Bar Dam at the top of lake Chickamauga. Target species: Anything that bites! We love to catch bass but sometimes we just want to get on the water and catch fish. It doesn't matter what's biting when the kids are on board! 

Tim and JD didn't let the cold keep them from having a good time at the lake! The duo double up on catfish to start it off then work their way down stream in search of bass. The day is short lived however as the arrival of snow is more than they were prepared for. Sometimes its about fishing hard, sometimes its about big fish, and sometimes its just having a good time with the family. 

Below you'll find links to the exact baits and gear used in the video. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

THE UNDERSPINS... 

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

Tim's Swimbait- Keitech 3.3" Fat: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Color: TW Pro Blue

JD's Swimbait- Keitech 2.8" Fat: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Color: Pro Blue Red Pearl

TIM'S TUBE... 

Head- Bite Me Big Dude (1/2 oz): http://bit.ly/2CV3o7S

Bait- STH Finesse 4" Tube: https://bit.ly/3aU0oeU

Color: Brown Pumpkin Copper

BFS COMBO... 

Rod- Dobyns Sierra 7' Ultralight: https://bit.ly/3C4PWgc

Reel- Shimano Curado BFS: https://bit.ly/2QGRVF2

Line- Sunline Super FC 6 lb: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

SPINNING COMBO... 

Rod- Shimano Zodias 7' Medium Heavy: https://bit.ly/2jOUXAO

Reel- Shimano Vanford 2500: https://bit.ly/2gu84t7

Line- Sunline Super FC 10 lb: 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

2022 Gear Review - Shimano Expride B + New Crankbaits, Jerkbaits, and Creatures!

They're here!! Who's ready to check out the latest rods, swimbaits, hard baits, and soft baits to hit the market?! Its no secret that we're tackle addicts! We spend countless hours each week tracking down the newest gear from around the globe so we can put it through the paces! Some of it turns out to be junk, some of it is amazing and the best of the best make it into our gear review videos.

Today's video begins with the all new Shimano Expride B line of rods. We've been fanatical about Expride since the original series and have been blown away each time an updated version has come out. Shimano continues to advance the performance and sensitivity while still keeping the price affordable. 

From there we branch into a variety of new hard baits. From flash boosting jerkbaits to hard knocking crankbaits, there are some great new additions. On the softbait side, there are several downsized creatures to check out and just in time for the pre spawn, Mike Bucca has introduced a medium-sinking version of the Bacca Burrito. 

Below you'll find links to all the baits and equipment in the video. Many items are in stock today, those that aren't can be pre-ordered. For the Expride B's we've included some of our favorite models as a reference if you don't know where to start. 

RODS...

-Shimano Expride B Casting Rods: https://bit.ly/32IrXqE

Favorite Models: 6'10" Medium, 7'2" ML, 7'3" XH 

-Shimano Expride B Spinning Rods: https://bit.ly/3AFcaFF

Favorite Models: 7'2" ML, 7' Light 

JERKBAITS...

-Shimano World Minnow Jerkbait: https://bit.ly/3Fwg9F6

-Shimano World Diver Jerkbait: https://bit.ly/3o1BwrR

CRANKBAITS...

-Strike King 6XD Hard Knock: https://bit.ly/3rTd1OZ

SOFT BAITS... 

-Strike King Midsize Rage Bug: https://bit.ly/3HanGLB

-XZone Adrenaline Craw 3.5": https://bit.ly/3ebTO5h

SWIMBAITS... 

-Bucca's Bacca Burrito (Medium Sink): https://bit.ly/3AFcV1t

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

TOP 5 BAITS FOR FEBRUARY BASS FISHING!

Its time! If you love to power fish, February is your month. In most of the country the temperatures will remain cold but that won't stop the fish from beginning the transition from Winter to early Spring. Fish will begin positioning differently, eating different lures, and getting really fun to fish for! Come along as we look at the top baits for February bass fishing. 

February is an awesome time to be on the water! Despite the cold, the fish know the end is in sight and will make huge moves no matter what the weather does. This marks the end of the Winter struggle and the return of swimbaits, A-Rigs, Jerkbaits, Lipless, and so many more fun techniques. You don't want to miss the transition so pay close attention as Matt talks about baits for the beginning of the month and how they differ from baits you'll throw a few weeks later. 

Below you'll find links to the exact baits discussed in the video. We've listed them in the order they appeared and included our favorite sizes and colors for each. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.

GLIDE BAITS... 

-River2Sea S Waver 168: http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

Colors: Light Trout, Bluegill, Warden Hitch

-GRatt Sneaky Pete: http://bit.ly/2RYCPFe

Colors: Hitch, Gizzard Shad

SHALLOW CRANKBAITS... 

-Rapala Ott's Garage Slim 6: https://bit.ly/3pV1CLN

Colors: Red Crawdad, Live River Shad

-Spro Little John 50: http://bit.ly/2dDfuqt

Colors: Blood Craw, Fire Craw

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

Colors: Cold Blooded, Delta Craw

JERKBAITS... 

-Lucky Craft Pointer 100: http://bit.ly/tbpointer

Colors: American Shad, Ghost Minnow

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

Colors: HL Hasu, HL Silver Shad, Blue Pearl Shad

-Shimano World Minnow: https://bit.ly/3Fwg9F6

Colors: Pro Blue, Ghost Ayu, Chartreuse Silver

LIPLESS CRANKBAIT... 

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

Colors: Ghost Minnow, American Shad, Chartreuse Shad

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

Colors: Ghost Minnow, SG Threadfin, RT Scale Minnow

BLADE BAIT...

-Damiki Vault 1/2 oz: http://bit.ly/2rnO7e2

Colors: Holo Ayu, Cyber Purple, Real Shad

-Megabass Dyna Response 1/2 oz: http://bit.ly/2R7FlvL

Colors: Ito Hiuo, Jukucho Shad, Setsuki Ayu

ALABAMA RIG...

Rig- Hog Farmer Tactical Flex Bladed: https://bit.ly/38xd1es

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

Dummy Baits- Lil Spanky: http://bit.ly/2d0dpU8

Colors: Albino

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

Colors: Pro Blue Red Pearl

FAVORITE CRANKBAIT COMBO... 

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 845 CBR: http://bit.ly/2og0BmK

Reel- Shimano Bantam 150 MGL (XG): http://bit.ly/2H44yjG

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

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

BUDGET CRANKBAIT/BLADE COMBO...

Rod- Dobyns Fury 705 CB (7' Med Heavy Cranking): http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

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

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

BUDGET A-RIG COMBO... 

Rod- Shimano SLX 7'5" Heavy: http://bit.ly/2mGp1Vc

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

Line- Sunline Super FC 20 lb: 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