4 Tricks That Get Bass To Bite In Early Summer! ( Ft. Adam Hinkle – Tactical Family )

We're jumping in the boat with Adam Hinkle (member of the Tactical Family) for an awesome day on the water! He's targeting bass on one of California's toughest lakes, and he's using some really surprising techniques. This is a great reminder that bass can be caught on a variety of baits, even in the toughest conditions.

We expected Adam to turn to finesse presentations to get bit after listening to his description of the lake. He did do some drop shotting, but most of his fish came while power fishing the shallows. He caught his biggest fish on a large topwater swimbait before ultimately dialing in a shallow crankbait bite. This was a great reminder that while fishing may be tough, there are plenty of techniques that continue to catch fish.

Below you'll find links to the baits and gear he used throughout the day. We've also included some great budget–friendly combos that work effectively for each of these techniques. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.

THE KARASHI...

•Megabass Karashi: https://bit.ly/3LwMGS7

Colors: Juvy Gill

DROPSHOT...

Worm– Roboworm 6" Straight Tail: https://bit.ly/2asZyH3

Colors: Purple Weenie

Other Great Colors: Aarons Magic, Watermelon Magic, Baby Bluegill

Hook– Roboworm Rebarb: https://bit.ly/4uFwcdk

Size: 1/0 Hook

Weight– Xzone Tungsten: https://bit.ly/2UY7cgx

Size: 3/16 oz

CRANKBAIT...

•Berkley Frittside 5: https://bit.ly/4hcwfXJ

Color: HD Bluegill

BUDGET CRANKBAIT COMBO...

Rod– St. Croix Black Bass 7'4" Medium Hvy Mod: https://bit.ly/41ntbDB

Reel– Seviin GF Series (7:1): https://bit.ly/3qa2SQZ

Line– Seaguar Red Label (12 lb): https://bit.ly/2LOVEwA

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

ALL AROUND CASTING COMBO...

Rod– Dobyns Fury 733C 7'3" Med Hvy: https://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

Reel– Abu Garcia Max5 Pro: https://bit.ly/4pGZ4Az

Line– Sufix 832 Braid (40 lb): https://bit.ly/2ae93Ji

Leader– Sufix Advance Mono (15 lb): https://bit.ly/3GJEUix

ALL AROUND KARASHI COMBO...

Rod– Cashion Icon 7' Light: https://bit.ly/3mLIIes

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

Line– Daiwa Hidden FC (7 lb): https://bit.ly/3ILKXH0

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

Targeting Bass In The Desert SouthWest With Adam Hinkle! (Tactical Family)

Jump in the boat with Tactical Family member and good friend, Adam Hinkle! Today he's in Yuma, Arizona on the Lower Colorado River, chasing bass in the desert. From micro baits, to crankbaits and jerkbaits, even the big glide bait, Adam does what it takes to put fish the boat!

We all face tough conditions and there is a lot that can be learned watching someone grind through less than ideal conditions. Few anglers would think to fish a 3" Sakamata Shad weightless, then turn around and throw a glide at the same fish. Adam is a well rounded angler that is very familiar with tough fishing conditions, growing up on the pressured lakes of Southern California.

Below you'll find links to all the baits and gear Adam used to catch his fish. We've included specific colors, rigging components, as well as the closest available rods to the custom models Adam builds for himself. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.

SOFT JERKBAIT...

•Deps 3" Sakamata Shad: https://bit.ly/3QMt9yd

Color: Electric Shad

•Owner Haymaker: https://bit.ly/3Muie8j

Size: 2/0

CRANKBAIT...

•Rapala DT–8 Crankbait: https://bit.ly/40JmoBQ

Color: Rusty

JERKBAIT...

•Lucky Craft Slender Pointer 97MR: https://bit.ly/4a5FV68

Colors: NC Shell, Ghost Minnow

GLIDE BAIT...

•Gancraft Jointed Claw 178: https://bit.ly/2d5l48K

Favorite Colors: Waka Ayu, Clearlake Hitch

SAKAMATA ROD...

Rod– Megabass 7'4" Enforcer: https://bit.ly/2XkVoej

Reel– Daiwa Tatula MQ LT 2500: https://bit.ly/3IWhxbv

Line– Cortland Master Braid (5 lb): https://bit.ly/3Mt1iVf

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

CRANKBAIT COMBO...

Rod– G Loomis IMX Pro 906 CBR: https://bit.ly/2FQj6CZ

Reel– Metanium MGL (HG): https://bit.ly/2n8DghB

Line– Seaguar InvizX (12 lb): https://bit.ly/2oVsG2Y

JERKBAIT COMBO...

Rod– Megabass Levante Jerkbait Special: https://bit.ly/2OSVNwH

Reel– Shimano SLX DC (XG): https://bit.ly/2LWzw2Q

Line– Seaguar InvizX (10 lb): https://bit.ly/2oVsG2Y

GLIDE BAIT COMBO...

Rod– Megabass Levante 7'5" EMTF: https://bit.ly/2OSVNwH

Model: Extreme Mission Type F

Reel– Shimano Curado 200M (XG): https://bit.ly/2tHewEh

Line– Seaguar Red Label (20 lb): https://bit.ly/2LOVEwA

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

Big Bait Fishing Southern California With Adam Hinkle! – Tactical Family

Come along or an awesome day on the water with Adam Hinkle! Adam has a long history of big bait fishing, and today he's catching big bass with glide baits, wake baits, and topwater. Before its over, he pulls out some of his hand made baits and catches the biggest fish of the day!

We're continuing to expand in 2025 with bonus content featuring some of our closest friends! Meet Adam Hinkle, a serious bass angler from the San Diego area in Southern California. Adam brings a unique perspective to the Tactical Family, having grown up in California's "Big Bass Era", and constantly adapting both power fishing and finesse presentations to the clear, pressured waters of Southern California.

Below you'll find links to the exact baits and gear Adam was using, as well as some widely available options that are very similar to his custom gear. All the link go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.

ADAM'S WAKEBAIT...

•Discontinued Rago Top Trout: Unavailable today

TACTICAL'S FAVORITE WAKEBAITS...

•River2Sea Tactical Wake 210: https://bit.ly/3aV6peA

Colors: Copper Carp, Tactical Shad, Chrome Gill

•Bucca Bull Shad Wake: https://bit.ly/2yceVRt

Colors: Gizzard Shad, Dirty Bone

ADAM'S POPPER...

•Megabass Pop Max: https://bit.ly/2qqfmm1

Color: Pagani Raigyo

ADAM'S GLIDE BAIT...

•86 Baits Fail Safe: Source Directly When Available

TACTICAL'S FAVORITE SHAD GLIDES...

•Baitsanity Chimera Shad: https://bit.ly/44XiYvW

Color: Ghost Gizzard Shad, Threadfin Shad

•Bucca Brand Trick Shad: https://bit.ly/4hFD5Go

Color: ThreadfinTastic, Matte Shad

•Spro Chad Shad: https://bit.ly/3AqivoQ

Color: Threadfin Shad

TACTICAL'S FAVORITE BUZZBAITS...

Full Size– Megabass Jamaica Boa: https://bit.ly/3iofbiZ

Loud– Damiki MTB Noisy Buzz: https://bit.ly/2P8PWnd

Subtle– D&M Easy Roller: https://bit.ly/2SCqcmj

THE FLUKE...

•Zoom Salty Super Fluke: https://bit.ly/2aqys0H

Colors: Albino, Smokin Shad

•Gamakatsu Superline Hook: https://bit.ly/2ac92XG

Size: 3/0

SWIMBAIT COMBO...

Rod– Dobyns 7'9" Champion XP 795: https://bit.ly/2aivwYX

Reel– Curado 300K (HG): https://bit.ly/2HbZ3E4

Line– Maxima Ultragreen (25 lb): https://bit.ly/2ae97J9

POPPER COMBO...

Rod– Shimano Expride 7'2" Med Mod Glass: https://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Reel– Shimano SLX DC (XG): https://bit.ly/2LWzw2Q

Line– Sufix Advance Mono (12 lb): https://bit.ly/3GJEUix

BUZZBAIT COMBO...

Rod– Megabass Levante 7'5"  EMTF: https://bit.ly/2OSVNwH

Reel– Shimano Curado 200 DC (XG): https://bit.ly/3QMMb6o

Line– Seaguar InvizX (17 lb): https://bit.ly/2oVsG2Y

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

Tips For Fishing The Shad Spawn Ft. Adam Hinkle! ( Tactical Family )

Come along with Adam for an awesome day of fishing! Tactical Family member, Adam Hinkle, is targeting agressive bass that are ambushing baitfish in the early morning hours. He's capitalizing on the shad spawn, a phenomenon that happens around the country in late April and early May.

If you've never experienced this bite, it's one of the easiest times of year to catch fish! Shad are spawning along the shoreline during the night, and at first light, the bass begin ambushing them. Baits like spinnerbaits, chatterbait, Alabama rigs, swim jigs, and swimbaits are all great options during this bite window!

Below you'll find links to the baits Adam used throughout the day. We've included his favorite colors for each bait, as well as the rod and reel combos he was using to fish the baits effectively. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.

SPINNERBAIT...

•Dirty Jigs Compact Spinnerbait (3/8 oz): https://bit.ly/3OyxKDD

Color: Magic Shad

SWIM JIG...

•Dirty Jigs Finesse Swim Jig (5/16 oz): https://bit.ly/2dr2933

Color: Pearl Ghost Shiner

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

Color: Threadfin Shad

CHATTERBAIT...

•ZMan JackHammer Baby Jack (1/4 oz): https://bit.ly/4jvWTMx

Color: Green Pumpkin Shad

•Hog Farmer 4" Stroll Shad: https://bit.ly/3ALs7OI

Color: Tennessee Magic

THE MICRO RIG...

Rig– Hog Farmer Tactical Micro Rig: https://bit.ly/3RY1wUK

Heads– ZMan Trout Eye Finesse (1/8 oz): https://bit.ly/3C7H1iL

Baits– Xzone 2.75" Swammer: https://bit.ly/2PogV0q

Color: Pro Blue Red Pearl

Baits– Yamamoto 3.2" Shad Shape Swimmer: https://bit.ly/4hOE5al

Color: Pro Blue

SHAD SWIMBAIT...

•Huddleston Deluxe Shad: https://bit.ly/42tKn9g

SPINNERBAIT COMBO...

Rod– Megabass Levante 6'11" Jerkbait Special: https://bit.ly/2OSVNwH

Reel– Shimano SLX XT (XG): https://bit.ly/2BRTYL8

Line– Seaguar InvizX (12 lb): https://bit.ly/2oVsG2Y

CHATTERBAIT COMBO...

Rod– Shimano Expride 7'2" MH Fast: https://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Reel– Shimano SLX 150 DC (XG): https://bit.ly/2LWzw2Q

Line– Seaguar InvizX (12 lb): https://bit.ly/2oVsG2Y

RIG COMBO...

Rod– Megabass Levante 7'5" EMTF: https://bit.ly/2OSVNwH

Reel– Shimano Curado 200 M (XG): https://bit.ly/3YafZyg

Line– Seaguar Red Label (15 lb): https://bit.ly/2LOVEwA

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