Swim Jigs and Senkos - Summer Fishing The MidWest

We're fishing in a new state! Today we're breaking down Patoka Lake in Indiana. The lake is flooded with high water deep in the trees, the bass could be anywhere! With only a few hours to fish, we have to move quickly to locate the bass and develop a productive pattern to catch them. We begin by fishing offshore but quickly realize that's a big mistake.

Upon realizing the offshore bite was non-existent Matt headed shallow. He picked up a swim jig and began searching the backs of creeks. After getting his first bite and several additional followers he turned to the senko to complete his pattern. While Patoka Lake may not have an abundance of fish, the quality is excellent. Matt was able to catch a handful of really nice bass and is confident he could have caught quite a few more given another day or two on the lake.

Next Stop: Wisconsin! Matt, CC and Sierra are headed North to meet up with Tim's family as well as a few friends in search of giant smallmouth. Keep your eye out for our next video, its going to be fun! Below is a breakdown of the baits and equipment Matt used on Patoka Lake.

Electronics...

Humminbird Solix 12: http://bit.ly/2AE2YDB

Humminbird Solix 15: http://bit.ly/2Hazsej

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

Baits...

-California Swim Jig 3/8 oz (Crappie): http://bit.ly/2auXfmx

-Keitech 3.8" Fat Swimbait (Electric Shad): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

-Yamamoto 5" Senko (Green Pumpkin Black Flake): http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

-Gamakatsu Wide Gap Superline Hook 2/0: http://bit.ly/2ac92XG

Swim Jig Combo...

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

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

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

Leader- 17 lb Maxima Ultragreen: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Senko Combo...

Rod- Shimano Expride has 6'10" Medium: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Reel- Shimano Aldebaran MGL 50 HG: http://bit.ly/2uQ4oH8

Line- 12 lb Assassin Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

Is Lake Chickamauga Really That Good? (Big Bass Eats A Spinnerbait)

Chickamauga was amazing! We'd never been to the lake but we had heard the rumors! Is it as good as they say? Can we catch a bunch of fish? How about a big bass? Come along as we head out on the water to see what all the fuss is about on Tennessee's best trophy bass lake. Spoiler Alert: Its good and we catch some big ones!

In 3 days we never struggled to get a bite and we caught fish on every lure that we threw. From senkos up shallow to deep cranks offshore, there we bass everywhere! The trick was figuring out how to catch the big ones but after a few days we got it dialed in and had an amazing time catching quality fish all over the lake The key for the bigger bites was shad. There was a shad spawn in the morning and the big bass were keying in on the opportunity.

Below is a breakdown of the baits and equipment we used during our time on the lake. Baits are listed in order of appearance as we caught fish on a variety of lures. If you ever get the chance, take a day to fish Chickamauga, its an awesome fishery!

The Baits...

-California Swim Jig (3/8 oz Tactical Shad): http://bit.ly/2auXfmx

-Keitech 3.8" Fat Swing Impact (Electric Shad): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

-Jackall TN-70 lipless Crankbait (Ghost Minnow): http://bit.ly/2lqAwjh

-River2Sea Bling Spinnerbait (I Know It): http://bit.ly/2diSwqq

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

-Matt Allen Swimbait Head 1/2 oz: http://bit.ly/29RrTYN

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

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

-Azuma Z Boss 22 (Grand Shad): http://bit.ly/2poLKUC

-Blade Runner Underspin 1/2 oz: http://bit.ly/29UVegz

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

-Yamamoto 5" Senko (Green Pumpkin/Watermelon Laminate): http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

-Yamamoto 6" Senko (Green Pumpkin): http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

Matt found an All-Around Rod This Trip that was unbelievably universal. From senko to spinnerbait, swim jig to Keitech, he was able to use a single rod. That's extremely rare but the combination of soft tip and solid back bone made the MBR amazingly versatile.

Matt's Versatile Combo...

Rod- G Loomis GLX 844C MBR: http://bit.ly/2gqziwT

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

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

Crankbait Combo...

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

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

Line- 20 lb Power Pro: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Leader- 12 lb Maxima Ultragreen: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Summer Bass Fishing: Senko And Frog Fishing Tricks

Wacky rig vs. Texas rig; which Senko will the bass prefer tonight? Surprise! The wind kicked up and the senko fishing is tough. Matt turns to a new hollow frog he's never used before to quickly load the boat. Summer fishing is all about adapting to conditions and choosing the right bait for the job, come along as Matt makes the best of a Summer evening on Clear Lake.

Matt hit the water with a simple plan. He rigged three rods and planned for a fun evening of senko fishing. While idling out he quickly realized conditions had changed and big waves were waiting to great him on the main lake. It took some adapting but his three baits all proved successful once he located a calmer area with fish holding along grass and shadow lines.

Below is a breakdown of the gear used in today's video. Matt included the baits with color recommendations, some bonus rigging options, as well as his gear.

5" Wacky Senko Setup...

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

Hook- Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap 1/0: http://bit.ly/2aKGmHM

Rod- G Loomis GLX 843 MBR: http://bit.ly/2gqziwT

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

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

Leader- 12 lb Maxima Ultragreen: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

6" Senko Texas Senko Setup...

Bait- Yamamoto 6" Senko (Green Pump/Watermelon Laminate: http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

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

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

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

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

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

Frog Setup...

Bait- Jackall Kaera Frog (Glitter Hasu, Glitter Bluegill): http://bit.ly/2Fz6SA3

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

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

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

-Weighted Wacky Hook- Wack A Sack: http://bit.ly/2oFduEq

Summer Crankbaits For Big Bass on Lake Guntersville

We're on Lake Guntersville in Alabama today in search of big largemouth! We've got one day to figure it out so we have to eliminate water quickly as we try to locate the big bass this lake is famous for. Matt combines the power of mapping with an array of crankbaits and swimbaits to cover water quickly and efficiently and ultimately finds exactly what he's searching for. Come along...

The day starts off with a variety of baits on deck. Matt is throwing a squarebill crankbait, whopper plopper, frog, spinnerbait, keitech, gantarel, and deep crankbait just hoping to connect with a fish that can give him a clue what stage the bass are in. Any time you fish a new lake the first bite is key to the success of the entire day. Matt's first bite however came shallow and threw him a curveball that required a few hours to solve.

After probing the shallows with a variety of baits Matt returned to his original plan of fishing deep ledges and breaks in search of schooling bass. That decision turned the entire day around as Matt began loading the boat with fish! Below is a breakdown of the gear and equipment Matt used to find success on Guntersville in one day without any outside help.

The baits...

-River2Sea Biggie Poppa (TS Minnow): http://bit.ly/2ahCzvo

-Hog Farmer 1/2 oz War Pig: http://bit.ly/2pcQnRP

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

-Strike King 6XD Crankbait (Sexy Blue Back Herring): http://bit.ly/2TcuSyi

-Azuma Z Boss 22 Crankbait (Grand Shad): http://bit.ly/2poLKUC

Deep Crankbait Setup...

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

Reel- Shimano Bantam MGL HG: http://bit.ly/2H44yjG

Line- Power Pro 20 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Leader- 12 lb Maxima Ultragreen: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Electronics...

-Humminbird Solix 12 G2: http://bit.ly/2AE2YDB

-Humminbird Lakemaster Plus Digital Chart: http://bit.ly/2Dk5Erc

Rain Gear...

Jacket- Aftco Anhydrous 2.0: http://bit.ly/31DjxeR

Bibs- Aftco Anhydrous 2.0: http://bit.ly/2IpBTbp