Ready for some of the most fun you'll have on the water all year? As Spring comes to an end and Summer begins, the shad begin to spawn. They move into the shallows and the bass are ready! The whole process lasts a few short weeks but you can continue to carry the pattern for a month after the Shad spawn ends.

Targeting bass around shad takes a little practice but once you've got it, you'll look forward to the opportunity all year! We use a variety of baits to target bass around baitfish but it boils down to a simple pattern that anyone can replicate.

Below is a breakdown of our confidence baits and gear that we use for consistently catching fish during the shad spawn and following weeks when shad and other large baitfish can be found near shallow water.

Topwater...

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

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

Lipless Crankbait...

-Lucky Craft LV-500: http://bit.ly/2aAUUbd

-6th Sense Quake: http://bit.ly/2Kxt4zm

-Cotten Cordell Spot: http://bit.ly/2y3K210

Underspin...

-Blade Runner SpinTrix: http://bit.ly/29UVegz

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

-Revenge Underspin: http://bit.ly/305o5cV

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

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

Squarebill Crankbait...

-River2Sea Biggie: http://bit.ly/2ahCzvo

-6th Sense Crush: http://bit.ly/2HbaCGT

-Lucky Craft 2.5: http://bit.ly/2BGxKPa

Crankbait Combo...

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 845 CBR: http://bit.ly/2FQj6CZ

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

Line- 15 lb Sunline Assassin: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

All-Around Budget Friendly Combo...

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

Reel- SLX 7:1 Ratio: http://bit.ly/2NfdOnk

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

Crankbaits are one of the easiest ways to catch bass. Throwing them is easy but knowing how to target big bass takes more effort. Today Matt explains 3 different retrieve styles that will get big bites when nothing else will. Adapting your retrieves will require changes in tackle and equipment as well but Matt makes it easy with simple steps anyone can follow.

Our favorite retrieve with the lipless is to hop the bait on bottom similar to how you work a jig. When the bottom is clean its simple and can be done with a light crankbait rod. As the grass grows up many anglers turn away from the lipless or modify their retrieve but if you learn to power through with heavier equipment you may encounter your biggest bass of the year!

The other two retrieves are easier but knowing which baits to throw when, will take your catch rate through the roof! Stop running bank throwing a lipless on a chuck and wind retrieve. Make some simple changes to your method and start catching bigger bass today!

Below is a breakdown of the baits and gear discussed in the video.

The baits...

-Lucky Craft LV 500: http://bit.ly/2aAUUbd

(Ghost Minnow, Golden Shiner, American Shad, Chartreuse Shad)

-Jackall TN-70: http://bit.ly/2lqAwjh

(Ghost Minnow, Scale Minnow, Super Shad)

-Red Eye Shad: http://bit.ly/2fqX1RT

(Clearwater Minnow, Japanese Shad, Sexy Ghost Minnow)

-Cordell Super Spot: http://bit.ly/2y3K210

(Foxy Momma, Foxy Shad, Royal Shad)

-6th Sense Quake: http://bit.ly/2Kxt4zm

(American Shad, Ghost Hot Herring, Shad Hammer, Violet Panda)