10 Dropshot Tricks For Cold Winter Bass Fishing!

Dropshot fishing is great in Winter, these tips will make it even better! Jump in the boat with Tim as he highlights 10 key tips for Winter dropshot fishing. The presentation is familiar, but the nuances of Winter bass fishing are completely different from other times of year. If you want to catch more fish this Winter, apply these dropshot tips to your fishing and you'll see an immediate difference!

Winter bass fishing brings a lot of challenges. From rough weather conditions to frigid water temperatures, the fish are more lethargic than any other time of year. Understanding the differences in their behavior will help you catch more fish. Understanding how to apply each of these 10 tips will change your whole season! From subtle differences between worms, to hook and weight differences, to how to detect a cold water bite, these are the tips you need to be successful!

Below you'll find links to all the baits and gear Tim discussed in the video. We've broken them down by category, including size and color recommendations, as well as excellent rod and reel combo recommendations at every price point. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.

WANT TACTICALBASSIN GEAR??

We have a variety of custom lure designs and apparel available! Everything from Swimbaits and crankbaits, to apparel and merch! See it here…

•TacticalBassin Apparel and Merch: https://bit.ly/3ZxEI0z

•TacticalBassin Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz

TIM'S 10 TIPS...

1) Go Smaller Than You Think (downsize presentation)

2) Go Slow

3) Downsize Your Line (4 to 6 lb Test)

4) Use Lighter Dropshot Weights (1/8 oz)

5) Focus on vertical presentations

6) Nose Hook Your Baits

7) Watch For Deflection

8) Look For The Sunny Shorelines

9) Expect Bites To Feel "Heavy"

10) Slow Down Even More!

FAVORITE HOOKS...

Standard Wire – Gamakatsu G Finesse (Size 2): https://bit.ly/2zGX441

Ultralight Wire – Owner Mosquito Light (Size 2): https://bit.ly/2zQVKx3

Weedless – Owner Cover Shot (Size 2): https://bit.ly/2ISr7bR

FAVORITE WEIGHTS...

•Xzone Tungsten Cylinder Tie On Weight: https://bit.ly/2YAoMuv

Size: 1/8 oz

•VMC Teardrop Tie On Weight: https://bit.ly/4gFECei

Size: 1/8 oz

FLAT TAIL BAITS...

•Missile Baits BombShot: https://bit.ly/2YYBipr

Colors: Fishalicious, Goby Bite

•Berkley Flat Worm: https://bit.ly/3lAAorL

Colors: Smallmouth Secret, Green Pumpkin

•Big Bite Baits Scentsation Smasher: https://bit.ly/3xEADuo

Colors: Bully, Smoke Black Purple

UNIQUE BAITS...

•Xzone Steath Finesse Minnow: https://bit.ly/3yAOQfo

Colors: Gas, Moondust, Pro Blue Red Pearl

•Keitech 3" Easy Shiner: https://bit.ly/2bxJK6H

Colors: Electric Shad, Pro Blue Red Pearl

•Megabass Haze ST: https://bit.ly/4l1S2Tq

Colors: Ayu, Moroko

HIGH END DROPSHOT COMBO #1...

Rod– St. Croix Legend X2 6'10" Med Light: https://bit.ly/4farXAh

Reel– Daiwa Luvias ST 2500: https://bit.ly/459jXLv

Line– Sunline Super FC (6 lb): https://bit.ly/2p7fxju

HIGH END DROPSHOT COMBO #2...

Rod– G Loomis NRX+ 822 DSR: https://bit.ly/2RB0oJP

Reel– Shimano Exsence 2500: https://bit.ly/2iMtscV

Line– Seaguar PEX8 (18 lb): https://bit.ly/3UEhhl2

Leader– Seaguar Gold Label (6 lb): https://bit.ly/3UqrUbi

MID PRICED DROPSHOT COMBO...

Rod– Dobyns Sierra 7' Light Fast (701): https://bit.ly/2EyotZU

Reel– Daiwa Tatula MQ LT: https://bit.ly/3IWhxbv

Line– Sunline SX1 10 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2tn8EzQ

BUDGET DROPSHOT COMBO...

Rod– Cashion Element Z2 7'1" Medium Light: https://bit.ly/47GAOVA

Reel– Daiwa Fuego LT 2500D – XH: https://bit.ly/2yDmdtQ

Line– Sunline Super FC 8 lb: https://bit.ly/2p7fxju

5 Key Finesse Baits For Winter Bass Fishing!

These Winter finesse tricks can save your fishing! If you're struggling to get bit, it's time to adapt. Turning to finesse presentations isn't giving up, it's a smart choice to consistently catch Winter bass. Tim pays close attention to subtle details, as well as key sizes and colors when he's trying to fool stubborn bass in cold water.

Power fishing in Winter is really fun, but it doesn't always work. When fishing gets tough, Tim focuses on 3 key concepts to get bit. Slowing Down, Downsizing, and focusing on baits with subtle action, are all critical pieces of the puzzle for cold water fish. From his football jig to his ned rig, there are subtle nuances that Tim believes give him an upper hand on the water.

Below you'll find links to the exact baits Tim discussed in the video. We've included his favorite colors, rigging components, as well as the rod and reel combos he uses to fish these baits effectively. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.

DROPSHOT...

•Megabass Haze ST: https://bit.ly/4l1S2Tq

Colors: Ghost Shad, Live Wakasagi, Moroko

•Berkley Flat Worm: https://bit.ly/3lAAorL

Colors: Natural Shad, Goby, Green Pumpkin

•Big Bite Baits Scentsation Smasher: https://bit.ly/2ZpCOCY

Colors: Chick Magnet, Smelt

•Xzone Stealth Minnow: https://bit.ly/3yAOQfo

Colors: Pro Blue Red Pearl, Moon Dust

•Gamakatsu TGW Dropshot Hook: https://bit.ly/2zGX441

Size: 2–4

•Xzone Tungsten Dropshot: https://bit.ly/3HgdcMM

Size: 1/4 oz

NEKO RIG...

•Yamamoto 5" Thin Senko: https://bit.ly/43d1Tgn

Colors: Natural Shad, Baby Bass

•Owner Sniper Finesse: https://bit.ly/2kfdv37

Size: 2

•Tungsten Screw Weight: https://bit.ly/3KPTrAs

Size: 5/32 oz

NED RIG...

•Zman Fuzzy TRD: https://bit.ly/48y7rIA

Colors: Green Pumpkin Goby, Green Pumpkin

•Xzone Ned Zone: https://bit.ly/2mRiYhF

Colors: Green Pumpkin Black Flake, Violet Secret

•Great Lakes Finesse Snack Size Craw: https://bit.ly/4b8aeHo

Colors: Brown Pumpkin Special

•ZMan Finesse Shroomz Jighead: https://bit.ly/2hs2cAe

Size: 1/15 oz

MICRO JIG...

•Keitech Tungsten Football Jig: https://bit.ly/2FDQ3o1

Colors: Green Pumpkin ,Green Pumpkin Blue

•Xzone Stealth Finesse Craw: https://bit.ly/4ckYPmX

Colors: Green Pumpkin Blue, Green Pumpkin Black

•Yamamoto 2.5" Hula Grub: https://bit.ly/497jz1m

Colors: Green Pumpkin Purple and Copper

FINESSE SWIMBAITS...

•Megabass 3" Spark Shad: https://bit.ly/2XcLZk4

Colors: Real, Albino

•Keitech 3.5" Easy Shiner: https://bit.ly/2bxJK6H

Colors: Electric Shad, Pro Blue Red Pearl

•Dirty Jigs HD Guppy: https://bit.ly/3WCfvSn

Size: 1/4 oz

STROLLING BAITS...

•Damiki 3" Armor Shad: https://bit.ly/2VQ7g6o

Colors: American Shad, Pure Gill

•Crush City 2.5" Mooch Minnow: https://bit.ly/3Yn4NR6

Colors: Electric Shad, Shad

•Owner Range Roller: https://bit.ly/42cqaUR

Size: 1/8 oz

DROPSHOT COMBO...

Rod– St. Croix Legend X2 6'10" ML XFast: https://bit.ly/4farXAh

Reel– Daiwa Exist G LT 2500 XH: https://bit.ly/453vyds

Line– Sunline Super FC (7 lb): https://bit.ly/2p7fxju

NEKO RIG COMBO...

Rod– St. Croix Legend Elite 6'10" ML XFast: https://bit.ly/2pjJWMA

Reel– Daiwa Tatula Elitę 2500: https://bit.ly/4f74P56

Line– Seaguar Smack Down Braid (10 lb): https://bit.ly/3y63F96

Leader– Seaguar Gold Label (6 lb): https://bit.ly/3UqrUbi

NED RIG COMBO...

Rod– G Loomis NRX+ 821 NRR: https://bit.ly/4bIiddV

Reel– Shimano Exsence B 2500: https://bit.ly/4oBLYnM

Line– Power Pro Braid (10 lb): https://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Leader– Seaguar Gold Label (8 lb): https://bit.ly/3UqrUbi

FINESSE JIG COMBO...

Rod– Megabass Destroyer Evoluzion North Wall: https://bit.ly/4oXDY0A

Reel– Shimano Aldebaran MGL (HG): https://bit.ly/2fdX1Uy

Braid– Sufix 131 Braid (30 lb): https://bit.ly/314VoyF

Leader– Seaguar Grand Max (12 lb): https://bit.ly/46eb98G

STROLLING COMBO...

Rod– Shimano Expride B 6'10" Medium XFast: https://bit.ly/47Cdeee

Reel– Exsence B 3000: https://bit.ly/4oBLYnM

Line– Sunline Almight (18 lb): https://bit.ly/3xb44ql

Leader– Seaguar Grand Max (10 lb): https://bit.ly/46eb98G

TACTICALBASSIN LURE DESIGNS (AND APPAREL)

•TacticalBassin Apparel and Merch: https://bit.ly/3ZxEI0z

•TacticalBassin Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz

Free Rig Fishing For Bass! Tips And Tricks To Catch More Fish This Fall!!

Have you tried the "Free Rig" yet? This rig takes the traditional "Texas Rig" to a whole new level! Give your bait more freedom, allow for slower falls, and catches a ton of fish this time of year! If you haven't tried the Free Rig, this is the right time of year to experiment with it. It's a fish catcher!!

The Free Rig isn't new, but is continuing to gain popularity, especially as grass begins dying back in the Fall. This rig shines around hard cover and will produce bites long after bass have become leery of traditional presentations. The benefit of this rig is it allows your bait to fall very slowly, while still keeping great contact with the bottom.

Below you'll find links to Tim's favorite baits for free rigging, along with the gear he uses to fish them effectively. We've also included our favorite colors for each bait to help you get started. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.

CREATURE BAITS...

•MissileBaits Baby D Stroyer: https://bit.ly/3248BXL

Colors: Green Pumpkin, Super Bug

•XZone Adrenaline Craw Jr (3.5"): https://bit.ly/3ebTO5h

Colors: Green Pumpkin Blk Flake, Tilapia,

SHAD PROFILES...

•Megabass Sling Shad: https://bit.ly/41tgaaT

Colors: G Biwahigai, Hasu, Oikawa

•Xzone Whiplash Shad: https://bit.ly/3IpMKQo

Colors: Pro Blue Red Pearl, Electric Shad, Baby Bass

•GeeCrack Bellows Shad: https://bit.ly/3E4zVdl

Colors: Electric Shad, AJ's Juice

UNIQUE PROFILES...

•Crush City 3" Mayor: https://bit.ly/43Uhyli

Colors: Gizzard Shad, Pro Blue Red Pearl

•Yamamoto Slinko: https://bit.ly/4gaO0Yd

Colors: Green Pumpkin Watermelon Laminate, Baby Bass

RIGGING COMPONENTS...

Straight Shank Hook– Redline Finesse Neko: https://bit.ly/3KseINJ

Size: 1/0

Medium Wire Hook– Owner Cover Shot: https://bit.ly/2ISr7bR

Size: 1/0 – 3/0

Heavy Wire Hook– Owner Cover Shot HD: https://bit.ly/36Gunbf

Size: 1/0 – 3/0

Heavy Weight– Decoy DS–9 Sliding Sinker: https://bit.ly/469QvWf

Size: 1/2 oz

Light Weight– Xzone Tungsten Pencil: https://bit.ly/2YAoMuv

Size: 1/8 - 1/4 oz

TIM'S HIGH END COMBO...

Rod– Abu Garcia Zenon 7' Medium Heavy Fast: https://bit.ly/43y32RU

Reel– Abu Garcia Zenon MG–X: https://bit.ly/4dv7WT0

Line– Sufix 832 Braid (30 lb): https://bit.ly/2ae93Ji

Leader– Seaguar JDM Grand Max (12 lb): https://bit.ly/46eb98G

TIM'S ALL AROUND COMBO...

Rod– Shimano Expride B 7'2" Medium Light: https://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Reel– Shimano Curado 70 MGL (HG): https://bit.ly/2apmDJt

Line– Sufix 131 Braid (30 lb): https://bit.ly/314VoyF

Leader– Sunline Super FC (12 lb): https://bit.ly/2p7fxju

TIM'S SPINNING COMBO...

Rod– Shimano Expride 6'10" Medium Light: https://bit.ly/2osaj3q

Leader– Shimano Sustain 2500: https://bit.ly/3BQLlNP

Line– Power Pro Braid (10 lb): https://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Leader– Seaguar Gold Label (10 lb): https://bit.ly/3UqrUbi

TACTICALBASSIN LURE DESIGNS (AND APPAREL)

We have a variety of custom lure designs and apparel available! Everything from Swimbaits and crankbaits, to apparel and merch! See it here…

•TacticalBassin Apparel and Merch: https://bit.ly/3ZxEI0z

•TacticalBassin Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz

Dropshot Tricks For The Early Fall Transition! (On The Water)

Come along for a fun day of bass fishing! Tim is exploring a new lake today and despite catching a few on jerkbaits and swimbaits right away, he quickly finds that dropshot baits are the key to consistent bites. The early Fall transition can be a challenge, so it's no surprise that Tim turned to finesse to catch some beautiful bass while exploring new water.

In between fish catches, Tim shares a handful of key tips about the dropshot bite. Notice how he switches between the weedless dropshot and the nose hooked model. One is for power fishing, the other for finessing fish that don't want to bite. He also uses two completely different styles of bait to coax fish into eating. Again, it's key to notice that Tim was able to catch plenty of fish on other baits, but it wasn't until he locked the dropshot in his hand that the bigger fish made an appearance.

Below you'll find links to the exact baits and gear Tim used throughout the day. We've also included the combos he was fishing with, the terminal box, and the glasses that let him easily spot the grass lines below the surface. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.

JERKBAIT...

•Shimano Zumverno 95 SP: https://bit.ly/3Gbzrmw

Color: S Hasu

TEXAS RIG DROPSHOT...

Bait– MissileBaits 6" Worm: https://bit.ly/3T7dHgB

Color: Blueback Secret

Hook– Owner Cover Shot HD: https://bit.ly/36Gunbf

Size: 2/0

Weight– Xzone Tungsten Pencil: https://bit.ly/3LeDf7Z

Size: 1/4 oz

FINESSE SWIMBAIT...

•Keitech 4" Easy Shiner: https://bit.ly/2bxJK6H

Color: Ayu

•Dirty Jigs Guppy Head: https://bit.ly/2nyUJRS

Size: 1/4 oz, 1/0 Hook

NOSE HOOKED DROPSHOT...

Bait– Megabass 3" Hazedong Shad: https://bit.ly/2CIwgzt

Color: Tennessee Shad

Hook– Owner Mosquito Light: https://bit.ly/2zQVKx3

Size: 2

Weight– Xzone Tungsten Pencil: https://bit.ly/3LeDf7Z

Size: 3/16 oz

TIM'S SUNGLASSES...

•Eye Surrender TacticalBassin Sunglasses: https://bit.ly/3cLH0kl

Lense Color: Black/Blue Mirror

TERMINAL BOX...

•Spro Terminal Box: https://bit.ly/3L9Y03F

Box Size: XL

JERKBAIT COMBO...

Rod– Shimano Expride B 6'10" Medium Mod Fast: https://bit.ly/32IrXqE

Reel– Shimano Aldebaran MGL HG: http://bit.ly/2uQ4oH8

Line– Sunline Super FC 10 lb: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

FINESSE DROPSHOT COMBO...

Rod– G Loomis NRX+ 822 DSR: https://bit.ly/2RB0oJP

Reel– Shimano Exsence 2500: https://bit.ly/2iMtscV

Line– Sunline SX1 10 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2tn8EzQ

Leader– Seaguar Gold Label (6 lb): https://bit.ly/3UqrUbi

TEXAS RIG DROPSHOT COMBO...

Rod– Abu Garcia Zenon 7'1" Medium Fast: https://bit.ly/43y32RU

Reel– Abu Garcia Zenon MG–X: https://bit.ly/4dv7WT0

Line– Sufix 832 Braid (30 lb): https://bit.ly/2ae93Ji

Leader– Seaguar JDM Grand Max (15 lb): https://bit.ly/46eb98G

TACTICALBASSIN LURE DESIGNS (AND APPAREL)

We have a variety of custom lure designs and apparel available! Everything from Swimbaits and crankbaits, to apparel and merch! See it here…

•TacticalBassin Apparel and Merch: https://bit.ly/3ZxEI0z

•TacticalBassin Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz