Crankbait Tricks For Pressured Bass With Adam Hinkle! ( Tactical Family )

Welcome to one of the most pressured lakes in the country! Tactical Family member, Adam Hinkle, is no stranger to tough fishing conditions. Today we're jumping in the boat with him for an amazing reaction bite, in the midst of brutal conditions. When most anglers would pick up a spinning rod, Adam reaches for his cranking stick!

The San Diego lakes of Southern California are highly pressured and difficult to fish, even on the best days. Some of the greatest finesse techniques of our lifetime were born on these waterways out of pure necessity. Today, Adam is proving that despite it all, power fishing is still a viable option. He's locking a Frittside in his hand and loading the boat with quality bass!

Below you'll find links to the exact baits Adam used in the video. We've included the exact colors for reference, as well as some of our favorite crankbait combos for both enthusiast and budget-minded anglers. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.


TACTICALBASSIN GEAR...

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

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


CRANKBAIT...

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

Color: HD Bluegill, HD Brown Craw


•Berkley Frittside 5: https://bit.ly/4gLRM98

Color: MF Bluegill


FLUOROCARBON LINE...

•Seaguar Tatsu Fluorocarbon: https://bit.ly/4lN1MBm

Size: 15 lb


HIGH END CRANKBAIT COMBO...

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

Model: Super Griffon Competizione

Reel– Shimano Metanium MGL (HG): https://bit.ly/34HlAAk

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


MID PRICED CRANKBAIT COMBO...

Rod– G Loomis IMX PRO 7'6" 903C CBR: https://bit.ly/4pQHTwR

Reel– Shimano Curado 150 M (XG): https://bit.ly/4odTDs7

Line– Sunline Crank FC (12 lb): https://bit.ly/3fohguC


BUDGET CRANKBAIT COMBO...

Rod– Dobyns Fury 705CB: https://bit.ly/4h9DHmn

Reel– Daiwa Fuego CT: https://bit.ly/35hugfH

Line– Seaguar Red Label (12 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

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

4 Best Crankbaits For Summer Bass Fishing! (Shallow To Deep)

Crankbaits are awesome in Early Summer! Tim is breaking down the best baits for Summer Bass Fishing, as well as the baits that will carry you into Fall. Bass are ambush predators by nature, and a crankbait is a great lure to trigger a feed response in them. No matter how deep your fish are positioned, there is a bait that can target them efficiently. From shallow to deep, these are the baits we count on when the Summer heat begins to arrive.

If you're not fishing crankbaits during Summer, you're missing some of the easiest fish catches of the year. Bass are targeting baitfish from deep to shallow. Covering water with a crankbait is an easy way to locate fish, as well as to fire up schools of fish. Focus your attention on baitfish colors and use Tim's key "bite triggers" to get more fish to bite.

Below you'll find links to the baits discussed in the video. We've included our favorite colors for each lure, as well as some great rod and reel combos for fishing these lures effectively. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.


SQUAREBILL CRANKBAITS...

•Megabass IXI Blowly: https://bit.ly/3RNQZxL

Colors: GG Wakasagi, Secret Truffle, PM Sexy Shad


•Bill Lewis ATV 1.5: https://bit.ly/41o3ctj

Colors: Tennessee Shad, Sneaky Shad, Guacamole


MID DIVING CRANKBAITS...

Megabass Super Z Z–2: https://bit.ly/3fsxn9G

Colors: Yuzu Shad, GP Sexy Shad, Mat Shad


•Rapala DT 10: https://bit.ly/2BL0UYl

Colors: Citrus Shad, Caribbean Shad, Helsinki Shad


DEEP DIVING CRANKBAIT...

•Strike King 6XD: https://bit.ly/2ery44M

Colors: Powder Blue Chart, Sexy Shad


•Rapala DT 16: https://bit.ly/42ITxNr

Colors: Citrus Shad, Caribbean Shad, Pearl Grey Shad


•Rapala DT 20: https://bit.ly/3JmnnR3

Colors: Citrus Shad, Caribbean Shad, Pearl Grey Shiner


•River2Sea Tactical DD 75: https://bit.ly/37dclbX

Colors: Summer Minnow, Chartreuse Blue, Metallic Shad


•Nomad D Trak 65: https://bit.ly/4a5wAYX

Colors: Chartreuse Blue Back, Sexy Shad, Tennessee Shad


EXTRA DEEP DIVING CRANKBAIT...

•Strike King 10XD: https://bit.ly/2gHT4F0

Colors: Sexy Blue Back Herring, Powder Blue Chartreuse


•Bill Lewis DR24: https://bit.ly/43j2C2g

Colors: Chartreuse Blue, Citrus Shad, Green Gizzard


HOOK UPGRADES...

Round Bend– VMC Short Shank Round Bend: https://bit.ly/4acSvzG

Crankbait Treble– Owner ST-35: https://bit.ly/2g8uCMj

Split Ring– Owner Hyperwire: https://bit.ly/2v8ArBX


SQUAREBILL CRANKBAIT COMBO...

Rod– Megabass Levante Flat Side Special: https://bit.ly/2FdE3YY

Reel– Daiwa Tatula SV TW 70: https://bit.ly/3ZcBbCZ

Line– Sunline Crank FC (12 lb): https://bit.ly/3fohguC


BUDGET SQUAREBILL COMBO...

Rod– St. Croix Mojo Glass 7'4" MH: https://bit.ly/3P8REVe

Reel– Shimano SLX A 150 (HG): https://bit.ly/2NfdOnk

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


DEEP DIVING CRANKBAIT COMBO...

Rod– Fenwick Elite 7'9" Med Hvy Mod: https://bit.ly/4jbZGvj

Reel– Abu Garcia Revo SX VoltiQ: https://bit.ly/493t4Qq

Line– Sunline Super FC (15 lb): https://bit.ly/2p7fxju


BUDGET ALL AROUND CRANK 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


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

The Best Hard Baits For Bass Fishing - Shallow, Deep, Reaction (SPRING BUYER'S GUIDE 2026)

Today we're covering the best hard baits for Spring bass fishing! In our final Buyer's Guide of Spring, we're covering all the major categories for Spring Bass Fishing. From Blade baits to crankbaits, swimbaits to chatterbaits, these are the baits we personally fish in Spring. No matter what you face on the water, you can go confidently know exactly what we'd throw in your situation.

Spring is a great time to learn a new technique. Bass are moving shallow and you can target them with a variety of lures. Whether you're looking to dial in a technique, or you just want to fish with more confidence, these recommendations will save you a lot of time and money. These are our favorite baits from each major category we use in the Spring, so you don't have to second guess your choices when you're out fishing.

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


TACTICALBASSIN GEAR...

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

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


PREVIOUS BUYER'S GUIDE...

•Budget Rods and Reels: https://youtu.be/3yxQzzPMxM0

•Bang For The Buck Rods and Reels: https://youtu.be/zSpUeryIBoE

•High End Rods And Reels: https://youtu.be/eN0jl8xIJR4

•Budget Baits: https://youtu.be/4_M0OoZK2Y8

•BFS Guide: https://youtu.be/BO3GbKkgobo

•Soft Baits: https://youtu.be/02vnmQ6dJzQ


JERKBAITS...

•Jackall Rerange 95: https://bit.ly/3JCi7f6

Colors: HL Silver Shad, SG Threadfin


•Duo Realis 100 SP: https://bit.ly/45LDkf7

Colors: AM Edge, Ghost Minnow, Prism Smelt


SHALLOW CRANKBAITS...

•Bill Lewis ATV 1.5: https://bit.ly/41o3ctj

Color: Fire Truck Craw, Red Glitter Craw, Tennessee Shad

•Rapala OG Rocco: https://bit.ly/3PHvNCI

Colors: Classic Craw, Red Crawdad, Bruised Citrus Shad


•Berkley Frittside 5 Clickin: https://bit.ly/4rV0Kah

Colors: Ghost Red Craw, Special Red Craw, Kentucky Blue


MID/DEEP DIVING CRANKBAITS...

•Rapala DT 12: https://bit.ly/4pSzbNU

Colors: Live River Shad, Crystal Craw, Citrus Shad


•R2S Tactical DD 75: http://bit.ly/37dclbX

Color: DD Minnow, Metallic Shad, Ghost Minnow


LIPLESS CRANKBAIT...

•Nomad Swimtrex Max Series: https://bit.ly/3SjrDWD

Sizes: 1/2 oz, 3/4 oz

Colors: Red Craw, Threadfin Shad, Natural Threadfin


•Rapala Snare 50: https://bit.ly/47hD5sq

Colors: Classic Craw, Red Craw, Lemon Shad


SWIMBAITS...

•Jackall Gantarel: http://bit.ly/2adZI3R

Colors: RT Bluegill, RT Ghost Gill


•Bucca Brand 5" Bull Shad: https://bit.ly/4aYEpTm

Colors: Gizzard Magic, Matte Shad


•Bucca Brand 6" Trick Shad: https://bit.ly/4hFD5Go

Colors: Threadfintastic, Gizzard Magic, Matte Shad


•Savage Gear Scandal 200: https://bit.ly/48q7MNJ

Colors: Gizzard Shad, Rainbow Trout, Ghost Bone


SPY BAIT...

•Duo Realis Spinbait 80 (3/8 oz): https://bit.ly/3QE27YK

Colors: Ghost Minnow, Komochi Wakasagi


BLADE BAIT/TAIL SPIN...

•Damiki Vault (1/2 oz): http://bit.ly/2rnO7e2

Color: Black Holo, Real Shad


•Jackall Deracoup: http://bit.ly/2p8X4b0

Color: Dera Shad, Clear Shad, Silver


TOPWATER...

•Rapala PXR Jowler: https://bit.ly/3A3HDVs

Colors: Matte Shad, Pure Chrome


•Megabass Giant Dog X: https://bit.ly/2yU84eE

Colors: Bone Python, Spotlight Shad, Juvy Gill


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

Colors: Kasumi Ito, HT Ito Wakasagi, HT Moroko KS


•Megabass Karashi 80: https://bit.ly/4lgNFFK

Colors: STP, Kasumi Ito, Matte Shad


•Duo Realis Popper 64: https://bit.ly/4a1hoMQ

Colors: Ghost Gill, Ghost Minnow


•Nomad Chug Norris: https://bit.ly/3wn1zRJ

Colors: Shadow Boxer, Holo Ghost Shad


WIRE BAITS...

•Zman Evo Elite (1/2 oz): https://bit.ly/3OAGB8y

Color: Electric Shad, Bama Bream, Bruised Green Pumpkin


Bluegill Trailer - Hog Farmer Spunk Shad 4.5: http://bit.ly/2UFkCD7

Color: TW Sunfish Magic


•Dirty Jigs Compact Double Willow Spinnerbait: https://bit.ly/3OyxKDD

Colors: Tactical Shad, Alabama Bream


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


If you plan to shop, using these affiliate links before shopping at Tackle Warehouse is the single greatest way to support us! You won't be able to see a difference but they'll know you're one of us!