Spring Topwater Bass Fishing - Everything You Need To Know!

Whopper Ploppers, Frogs, Poppers, Buzzbaits, and Walking baits are all great Spring topwater lures. Today Matt explains the signs that the topwater bite has started, where to throw the lures, and when each style is effective. He also gives key tips on retrieve, cadence, color, and gear selection.

The excitement of a topwater explosion is unlike anything else in bass fishing. Once you've had an explosive strike you can't wait for the next! Knowing when to put the time in to get those bites is the key. Is today a good day for a popper? Would you have caught more bass with a buzzbait? Matt explains explains how to choose the baits based on conditions, fish behavior, and location.

Color selection is very simple with Spring topwater. If you cover the 3 basics of white, black, and chartreuse, you're prepared for virtually any situation. It doesn't hurt to throw a natural bluegill in from time to time as well.

Below is a breakdown of the baits Matt discussed in the video as well as Matt's top choices for hook upgrades, rods, reels, and more.

Walking Baits...

-River2Sea Rover 128: http://bit.ly/2acSVea

-Reaction Innovations Vixen: http://bit.ly/2rp11nr

-Bubble Walker 128: http://bit.ly/2e0PZOY

Poppers...

-Yellow Magic 1/2 oz: http://bit.ly/2al0dKP

-Splash It Standard: http://bit.ly/2Fp8MQV

-Bubble Walker 80: http://bit.ly/2e0PZOY

Frogs...

-Bully Wa 2: http://bit.ly/2axyR2a

-Gavacho: http://bit.ly/2L7KsWS

Buzzbaits...

-D&M Slow Roller (Clacker removed): http://bit.ly/2t7BMKt

-Brabec Double Buzz: http://bit.ly/2OVAfjy

Whopper Ploppers...

-Whopper Plopper 75 and 110: http://bit.ly/2bsPbQV

Hook and Split Ring Replacements...

-Regular Treble- Owner ST-36: http://bit.ly/2cWpeyw

(small baits size 4, large baits size 2)

-Feathered Treble- Gamaktsu Black: http://bit.ly/2Ii4IXO

-Split Rings- Owner Hyperwire (Size 2,3,4): http://bit.ly/2v8ArBX

All-Around topwater Combo...

Rod- Curado 7' Medium: http://bit.ly/2E9gktQ

Reel- Shimano SLX 150: http://bit.ly/2NfdOnk

Line- 40 lb Power Pro: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

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

________________________________________________________________

Need Apparel? Tacticalbassin Gear is in stock! Get your hats, hoodies, and sunshirts by emailing Tacticalbassinapparel@gmail.com

Swimbait Buyer's Guide: Glide Baits, Hardbaits, and Topwater

Today we're exploring big swimbaits! The buyer's guide series continues with an in-depth look at glide baits, multi-joint hardbaits, and even a few topwater options. You can go broke buying swimbaits and they're not all created equal so today we're sharing some of our favorite baits that consistently produce BIG bass!

If you're wondering which baits you should try or which baits to buy for a loved one, look no further. Today's focus is hard swimbaits but tomorrow we'll follow up with a BONUS video on soft swimbaits. From budget friendly to extreme, we're covering all the bases and making it as easy as possible for you.

Below you'll find a breakdown of the baits by category, recommended colors, as well as our rod and reel choices for various baits. If you have any questions be sure to leave them in the comment section and we'll help you make your selection.

Glide Baits...

-Gan Craft 230: http://bit.ly/2fLjSnm

(Dark Rainbow, Ghost Chart Shad, Se Ayu, Stocker Rainbow)

-S-Waver 168 and 200: http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

(Lite Trout, Rainbow Trout, Warden Hitch, Bone)

-Baitsanity Explorer Glide: http://bit.ly/2DcI1yM

(Trout and Carp)

-Baitsanity Tails: http://bit.ly/2R0yP7x

(Holdover Trout Hard PVC, Dark Carp Hard PVC)

Topwater Baits...

-Spro BBZ 8" Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2cU1x5P

(Any color for topwater)

-Johnny Rat Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2q9CNA8

(Either color but overall we prefer the larger Johnny)

Multi-Joint Baits...

-Jackall DowzSwimmer 220: http://bit.ly/2OqDNMM

(RT Spawn Gill, RT Trout, Ghost Scale Minnow)

-Bucca's Bull Shad Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2eJ8gWM

(Prefer 5" and 6" Sizes)

-Bucca's Bull Gill: http://bit.ly/2f1ASHn

(Bluegill and Dirty Bone)

Big Glidebait Combo...

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 966: http://bit.ly/2x9kxuS

Reel- Shimano Tranx 300 AHG: http://bit.ly/2kYsvRw

Line- 80 lb Power Pro MaxCuatro: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- 30 lb Maxima Ultragreen: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Small Bait Rod...

Rod- IMX Pro 904 SWBR: http://bit.ly/2x9kxuS

Reel- Metanium MGL HG 150: http://bit.ly/2ezIBfB

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

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

Budget Friendly Combo...

Rod- Dobyns 795 Fury: http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

Reel- Cardiff 300: http://bit.ly/2cvhtMO

Line- 65 lb Power Pro: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Leader- 25 lb Maxima Ultragreen: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

________________________________________________________________

Need Apparel? Tacticalbassin Gear is in stock! Get your hats, Hoodies, and sunshirts by emailing Tacticalbassinapparel@gmail.com

Giant Midwest Bass Eat Swimbaits Too!

Tim traveled 2500 miles to throw swimbaits and topwater for BIG bass in the Midwest and it worked! The big Michigan Smallmouth fell victim to the the swimbait just like their cousins out West. Time after time we're reminded that a bass is a bass, no matter where they swim.

We get asked over and over again if our techniques will work in a particular state or on a particular lake. Anglers constantly overlook the simple truth that all bass are inherently the same. They live in different environments but their feeding activity, movements, behavior, etc... are all identical.

Swimbaits work from coast to coast. Topwater, finesse, reaction, etc... will catch bass EVERYWHERE when the conditions are right. In today's video Tim gives a detailed step-by-step look at a day on the water in Northern Michigan as he breaks down the lake, locates the giant bass, and uses a handful of key baits to consistently put them in the boat.

Below is a breakdown of the gear he used to accomplish this feat:

Baits...

S-Waver 168 Swimbait (Light Trout): http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

Reaction Innovations Vixen (Bone): http://bit.ly/2rp11nr

Matt Allen Swimbait Head: http://bit.ly/29RrTYN

Keitech 4.3 Fat Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Strike King Dream Shot: http://bit.ly/2aAoUoR

Vixen Modifications...

Split Ring- Owner Hyperwire #3: http://bit.ly/2v8ArBX

Front Hooks- Owner ST-36 Size 4: http://bit.ly/2cWpeyw

Rear Treble- Owner Feather Treble Size 4: http://bit.ly/2dJH8V6

Sunglasses For Clear Water/Cloudy Skies (Copper Lenses): http://bit.ly/2glE3eN

Trolling Motor- Minn Kota Ulterra: http://bit.ly/2PoYlTd

S Waver Combo...

Rod- G Loomis GLX 894C JWR: http://bit.ly/2gqziwT

Reel- Metanium MGL: http://bit.ly/2ezIBfB

Line- Sunline XPlasma 50 lb: http://bit.ly/2OR5i2j

Leader- Maxima Ultragreen 20 lb: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Vixen Combo...

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

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

Line- Sufix 832 50 lb: http://bit.ly/2ae93Ji

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

________________________________________________________________

Need Apparel? Tacticalbassin Gear is in stock! Get your hats, Hoodies, and sunshirts by emailing Tacticalbassinapparel@gmail.com

How To Catch Striped Bass

From Topwater to Swimbaits, we show you how to target big striped bass! If you've ever wanted to catch Striper on artificial lures, this information will help you be more successful. Come along for an exciting day on the water!

We begin throwing big swimbaits in the early morning hours. As the day unfolds we transition to a combination of swimbaits, topwater both big and small, and swim jigs. This combination allowed us to maximize our time on the water, increase or shot a big bites, without catching too many smaller fish.

Traditional striper fishing involves cut bait, rattle traps, and small topwater lures. These are all incredibly effective ways to catch striped bass, but they're not great ways to consistently TARGET Big Striped Bass. We use a combination of swimbaits and topwater to eliminate the smaller bites and more effectively target the big bass that we're searching for.

The baits in order of appearance...

S-Waver 200 (Light Trout, Powder, Bone): http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

Evergreen Shower Blows Topwater (150): http://bit.ly/2zIkqUH

Jackall DowzSwimmer 220: http://bit.ly/2OqDNMM

R2S Rover 128 Topwater: http://bit.ly/2acSVea

California Swim Jig 3/4 oz (Dirty Shad, Crappie, Citrus Shad): http://bit.ly/2auXfmx

Keitech 4.8 Swimbait (French Pearl, Sight Flash): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Swimbait Setup...

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 966: http://bit.ly/2x9kxuS

Reel- Tranx 300: http://bit.ly/2kYsvRw

Line- 80 lb Power Pro MaxCuatro: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- 30 lb Maxima Ultragreen: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Budget Swimbait Combo...

Rod- Dobyns Fury 8' Heavy Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

Reel- Shimano Cardiff 300: http://bit.ly/2cvhtMO

Line- 80 lb Power Pro: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Swim Jig/Large Topwater Combo...

Rod- Expride 7'6" Medium Heavy: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

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

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

________________________________________________________________

Need Apparel? Tacticalbassin Gear is in stock! Get your hats, Hoodies, and sunshirts by emailing Tacticalbassinapparel@gmail.com