How To Catch Open Water Bass! (When Others Are Giving Up)

Yes, those really are bass busting in open water! And yes, you can catch them! So many anglers pass on these fish because they don't understand what the bass are doing out there, and they have no idea how to target them. Here's what you need to know...

Catching open water bass is an art form. Once you've got it figured out, you've conquered the last frontier of bass fishing and the sky is the limit! Some of the largest, most unpressured fish in our lakes roam the open water, especially in Fall. These giants are rarely caught but its not because it can't be done, its because anglers are afraid to try. 

Below you'll find links to the exact baits and equipment we use for this fishing style. Again, the biggest tip is to use light line and smooth braid so you can cover more water effectively. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

FINESSE SWIMBAITS... 

Bait- Storm 3" Largo Shad: https://bit.ly/3vxP0NB

Colors: Albino Shad

Head- Dirty Jigs Guppy Head: http://bit.ly/2nyUJRS

Size: 3/16 oz, 3/0 Hook

Bait-Keitech 3.3" Fat Swing Impact: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Color: Pro Blue Red Pearl

Head- Picasso Single Barrel: https://bit.ly/3py2s0v

Size: 1/4 oz, 2/0 Hook

SWIMBAIT... 

-Megabass 6" Magdraft: http://bit.ly/2mc8bfK

Colors: White Back Shad, MB Gizzard Shad

-Savage Gear 8" Trout RTF: https://bit.ly/33GROg1

Colors: Dirty Silver, Trout, Kokanee

WAKEBAIT... 

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

Colors: Rainbow Trout, Hitch, Tactical Shad

TOPWATER FRONT RUNNER... 

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

Colors: Abalone Shad, Sooner

Front- PH Customs Phront Runner: https://bit.ly/3wJIdkH

Colors: Foil Black, Sexy Shad

TOPWATER... 

-Shower Blows 105 & 77: http://bit.ly/2zIkqUH

Colors: Full Metal, Neon Wakasagi, Flash Silver Shad

-Lucky Craft Gunfish 117: https://bit.ly/3vy7Pln

Colors: Aurora Black, BP Golden Shiner

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

Colors: Munky Butt, Phantom Shad

INLINE SPINNER... 

-Rooster Tail (3/4 oz): https://bit.ly/3BkIfoc

Colors: White, Chrome White

SPY BAIT... 

-SPRO Spin John 80: https://bit.ly/3ycTg9o

Colors: Matte Shad, Herring Pink

TAIL SPIN... 

-Jackall Deracoup (1 oz): http://bit.ly/2p8X4b0

Colors: Dera Shad, Silver

SPOON... 

-Blade Runner DUH (3/4 oz): http://bit.ly/2aKVLlG

Colors: UV Sierra, UV Morning Dawn

SMOOTH BRAIDED LINES... 

-Power Pro Super Slick: https://bit.ly/3vSwa6Z

Sizes: 15, 20, 30

-Sufix 131 G-Core: https://bit.ly/314VoyF

Sizes: 6,10, 20, 30

-Sunline X Plasma Asegai: http://bit.ly/2OR5i2j

Sizes: 12, 16, 18

TIM'S TOPWATER COMBO...

Rod- Megabass P5 Z-Crank Elseil: https://bit.ly/2wVOSbY

Reel- Daiwa Steez 70 CT SV TW: https://bit.ly/3esUZjg

Line- Sufix 131 (10 lb): https://bit.ly/314VoyF

Leader- Maxima Ultragreen (10 lb): http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

TIM'S SMALL TOPWATER COMBO... 

Rod- Dobyns Sierra Ultra Finesse 700: https://bit.ly/3C4PWgc

Reel- Shimano Curado BFS (XG): https://bit.ly/2QGRVF2

Line- Sufix 131 Braid (6 lb): https://bit.ly/314VoyF

Leader- Maxima Ultragreen (10 lb): http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

TIM'S FINESSE SWIMBAIT SPINNING COMBO... 

Rod- Shimano Expride 7'2" Medium Light: https://bit.ly/3AFcaFF

Reel- Shimano Exsence A 3000: https://bit.ly/2iMtscV

Line- Sufix 131 Braid (10 lb): https://bit.ly/314VoyF

Leader- Sunline Super FC (8 lb): http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

BUDGET TOPWATER COMBO... 

Rod- Shimano SLX 6'10" Medium: http://bit.ly/2mGp1Vc

Reel- Shimano SLX 70 MGL (XG): https://bit.ly/3gIUCgJ

Line- Power Pro Braid (15 lb): http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

WANT TACTICALBASSIN GEAR??

We have a variety of apparel items and custom lure designs available! Everything from hats, to hoodies, to crankbaits! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here... 

TacticalBassin Apparel and Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz

Fall Topwater Fishing! Walking Baits For Big Bass!

Spotted Bass and topwater! Does it get more fun?! Tim is exploring a new lake and there are Magnum Spotted Bass chasing baitfish in open water! Watch as he adapts his baits and technique to go from catching small spots to big magnums in just a few hours on a lake he knows nothing about!

Fall is topwater time! If you don't have a walking bait in your arsenal you're missing an opportunity to have a lot of fun on the water. Today Tim had to adjust the size and color of his walking bait until he found what the fish were after. He also used a minnow-imitating dropshot to get a few bonus bites when the fish dropped down to the bottom between feeding periods. You can mirror this pattern on your lake, using a topwater in conjunction with a bottom contact bait to catch more fish when you're on the water. 

Below you'll find links to the exact baits Tim used throughout the day. We've included size and color recommendations, along with Tim's favorite rod and reel combos. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

TOPWATER... 

-Shower Blows 125: http://bit.ly/2zIkqUH

Colors: Black Bone, Full Metal, American Shad

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

Colors: Chrome Black, Funky Tiger, Herring

-Shower Blows 105: http://bit.ly/2zIkqUH

Color: Full Metal, Black Bone, Blue Back Herring

DROPSHOT... 

Bait- Megabass Hazedong 3": http://bit.ly/2CIwgzt

Colors: Ghost Shad, Shio Kosho

Hook- Owner Mosquito Light (Size 1): http://bit.ly/2zQVKx3

Weight- Swagger Tungsten 1/4 oz: http://bit.ly/2UY7cgx

UNDERSPIN... 

Head- Cool Baits Down Under 3/16 oz: http://bit.ly/2boS7QA

Color: Silver Shad/Silver Plate

Bait- Keitech Easy Shiner 3.5": http://bit.ly/2bxJK6H

Colors: Electric Shad, Pro Blue Red Pearl

BLADE BAIT... 

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

Colors: Holo Cyber Purple

TOPWATER COMBO...

Rod- Shimano Zodias 6'10" Medium: https://bit.ly/2cgmMAe

Reel- Shimano Curado 70 MGL (XG): https://bit.ly/2apmDJt

Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 40 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

DROPSHOT COMBO... 

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

Reel- Shimano Exsence A 3000: https://bit.ly/2iMtscV

Line- Sunline SX1 12 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2tn8EzQ

Leader- Sunline Super FC 7 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

BUDGET TOPWATER COMBO... 

Rod- St. Croix Bass X 7'1" Medium: http://bit.ly/2r0xWAs

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

Line- Power Pro Braid 30 lb: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

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

WANT TACTICALBASSIN GEAR??

We have a variety of apparel items and custom lure designs available! Everything from hats, to hoodies, to crankbaits! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here... 

TacticalBassin Apparel and Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz

Lake Cumberland - Catching Fish In A New Lake

How do you find fish in a new lake? Where do you look and how do you target them? Come along with Matt for a day on Lake Cumberland in Kentucky. With no outside information and little more than a map to guide the way, he covers water and locates feeding bass.

Whether you're in the PNW, the Midwest, or deep in the South, bass all behave the same way. Once you understand their feeding habits and basic movements they become highly predictable. Don't let a new fishery frighten you, its not that hard to find fish.

During the cold months we typically start by exploring the backs of deep pockets and creeks. If you can locate baitfish with your electronics you're already off to a great start! Pay attention to the depth of those baitfish and repeat the process in a different location until you find baitfish with bass around them.

Once you've located fish it simply comes down to confidence. Pull out your favorite lures, those baits you've got the most confidence in, and begin targeting those bass. If you don't have confidence baits look below, you'll find a break down of the lures and gear Matt had the confidence to use on his first visit to Cumberland.

The Baits...

Yellow Magic Popper- http://bit.ly/2al0dKP

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

Keitech 2.8 Swimbait- http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Swimbait Head: 1/8 oz Guppy- http://bit.ly/2nyUJRS

Blade Runner 1 3/4 oz Spoon- http://bit.ly/2aKVLlG

Finesse Combo...

Rod- Expride 7' Light+ Spinning: http://bit.ly/2osaj3q

Reel- Stradic CI4+ 2500: http://bit.ly/2gu84t7

Line- 10 lb Power Pro Braid: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Leader- 8 lb Maxima Ultragreen: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Spoon Combo...

Rod- Zodias 7'2" Medium Heavy: http://bit.ly/2cgmMAe

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

Line- 60 lb Power Pro MaxCuatro: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

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

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

Fall Bass Fishing: How To Catch Bass On Spoons

Spoon fishing is easy! Its one of the oldest fishing techniques but most anglers don't have any idea how to fish spoons for bass. The trick to getting bit on a spoon is in the details. From line material to colors, to drop speed, the subtle changes are the difference between catching and wasting time.

As the cool nights set in, the jigging spoon bite is the best it will be all year. Don't be afraid to head out to deeper water in search of schooling fish. If you can find bass around baitfish you've got the recipe for quick success.

We use a variety of spoons to catch the bass. Matching the size of the baitfish can be very important so don't be afraid to change sizes, even switching to a tail spinner or underpin when the bite slows. But if you need a place to start, the 1 3/4 oz Blade Runner is the most consistent producer amongst our spoons.

Below is a breakdown of our gear:

Spoons...

BladeRunner 1 3/4 oz Duh Spoon: http://bit.ly/2aKVLlG

BladeRunner 1 1/4 oz Duh Spoon: http://bit.ly/2zXfwGa

Nichols Lake Fork Flutter Spoon: http://bit.ly/2ICAGKL

Tail Spinners...

Damiki Axe Blade: http://bit.ly/2w2uB9t

Duo Realis Spin: http://bit.ly/2QKeL9X

Matt's Spoon Setup...

Rod- G Loomis GLX 853C JWR: http://bit.ly/2gqziwT

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

Line- 20 lb Sunline Assassin: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

Tim's Tail Spinner Setup...

Rod- 13 Fishing Muse 7' Medium: http://bit.ly/2xVM80V

Reel- 13 Origin TX: http://bit.ly/2NUHiej

Line- 15 lb Sunline Sniper: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Budget Friendly Spoon Combo...

Rod- Shimano SLX 7'2" Medium Heavy: http://bit.ly/2L3wppO

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

Line- 20 lb Sunline Assassin: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

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