Fall Topwater For Bass | Everything You Need To Know + Underwater Footage!

Its topwater time!! Who's ready?! Popper, buzzbait, whopper plopper, walking baits, wakebaits... Fall is awesome! If you're as pumped up as we are its time to get serious about topwater fishing! Fall bass fishing is just around the corner, the baitfish will be schooling in the shallows, and its time to get your equipment dialed in. From insane underwater footage, to favorite baits, to rigging tricks, we're about to talk all things TOPWATER...

As Fall approaches the topwater bite will get better and better. Best of all, BIG bass are heading into the shallows again. If you're tired of the Summer doldrums and want to catch bigger bass this Fall, topwater is going to help you do it. Understanding when to throw topwater, how to select the right gear, and knowing which lures offer you the best chance at success, is what this video is all about.

Matt and Tim use a variety of lures to accomplish their goals. One day you might see them throwing a giant wakebait, the next morning it could be a little popper. How do they make those decisions and how can you do the same? It all comes down to understanding what the bass are eating. Matching the SIZE of the baitfish is critical to success throughout the coming months. In this video covers a ton of different lures in a variety of sizes to help you prepare for every situation. We don't expect you to remember it all so below is a breakdown of the exact lures and gear Matt discussed (in order of appearance).

Buzzbaits...

-D&M Slow Roller Buzz: http://bit.ly/2t7BMKt

-Dirty Jigs Skirtless Pro Buzz: http://bit.ly/2cWI6if

-Trailer Hook- Gamakatsu 3/0: http://bit.ly/2IGCfg1

-Swimbait Trailer- D Walker 120: http://bit.ly/2NwqBmz

Buzz Color Recommendations: White, Shad, Silver, Black/Red

Trailer Color Recommendations: PB Red, Shamrock Shad

Wakebait...

-Evergreen Noisy Dachs ND180: http://bit.ly/2JbrbaM

Color Recommendations: Black Bone, Oikawa

Ploppers...

-Whopper Plopper 130: http://bit.ly/2a7ipHL

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

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

Color Recommendations: I Know It, T-1000, Monkey Butt, Bone

Poppers...

-Megabass Pop Max: http://bit.ly/2qqfmm1

-Jackall Binksy: http://bit.ly/346G9Wk

-Damiki D Pop 70: http://bit.ly/2Pjvqo3

-Yellow Magic 1/4 oz: http://bit.ly/2al0dKP

Megabass color Recommendations: Ito Wakasagi, Megabass Sexy Shad

Jackall color Recommendations: Ghost Minnow, Ghost Oikawa

Damiki Color Recommendations: Black Hollow, Spayu

Yellow Magic Color Recommendations: Alewife, Smoke Shad, White Shad

Walking Baits...

-Evergreen Shower Blows 150: http://bit.ly/2zIkqUH

-Strike King Mega Dawg: http://bit.ly/2NNGQvs

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

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

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

-Heddon Chug N Spook: http://bit.ly/2Pk0TpZ

Evergreen Color Recommendations: Half Mirror Wakasagi, American Shad, Bone

Strike King Color Recommendations: Chrome Sexy Shad, Sexy Blueback Herring

Reaction Innovations Recommendations: Bone, Silver Shiner

River2Sea Color Recommendations: Sooner, Ghost Minnow, You Know It

Heddon Color Recommendations: G Finish Shad, Okie Shad, Bone Silver

Red Hook Upgrades...

Split Ring- Owner Hyperwire Size 3 or 4: http://bit.ly/2v8ArBX

Red Hook- Owner ST-36 Red Size: http://bit.ly/2wSknXp

Matt's Repurposed Jerkbait Combo...

Rod- Shimano Expride 6'10" Medium: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Reel- Shimano Aldebaran MGL HG: http://bit.ly/2uQ4oH8

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

Leader- 12 lb Maxima Ultragreen: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

All--Around Topwater Combo...

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

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

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

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

Deep Crank Rods That Work Well...

Dobyns Champion 804CB or 805CB: http://bit.ly/29OVD4V

Shimano Zodias 7'6" Glass: http://bit.ly/2cgmMAe

Where Do Bass Go During The Fall Transition? (And How To Catch Them)

Fall is fast approaching and the bass are already on the move. If your fish are starting to disappear and you don't know why, we're here to help! As the nights get cooler the bass fishing changes over night, stumping many anglers. The offshore fish begin to gather and the shallow fish abandon their Summer cover in search of new spots. If you're not ready for what comes next it can leave you scratching your head.

The Fall Transition comes much earlier than most anglers realize. Its not a slow progression, the bass will begin their movements overnight. One day you're on an awesome topwater bite, the next you can't find a fish. When this happens its time to step back and look at what is motivating these fish to move. Whether you're targeting shallow bass or deep, the bass' next movement is motivated by the baitfish's location. As the bait begins to gather, so will the bass.

If your fish are out deep, expect them to begin gathering on the best structures. Expect to find them on corners of ledges with deep water access, long tapering points that break to deep water, and later you can expect them to transition toward the backs of deep coves. Shallow fish will abandon the scattered weeds in favor of thick weed clumps and hard structures. As the seasons progress these fish will begin bunching up along ambush points and pockets.

Below is a breakdown of the gear we recommend using during these conditions. We've separated it into shallow and deep approaches depending on which group of fish you're pursuing.

Shallow Flipping components...

Stopper- 6th Sense Peg X: http://bit.ly/2bHjowk

Weight- Vader Tungsten 1.5 oz: http://bit.ly/2NjDYtV

Hook- Owner Jungle Wide Gap 5/0: http://bit.ly/2sBsR1Z

Bait #1- Jackall Archelon (Green Pumpkin, School Gill): http://bit.ly/2uo4sN5

Bait #2- Strike King Rage Craw (Green Pumpkin, Dirty Craw): http://bit.ly/2uoqsLJ

Shallow Reaction Baits...

Crankbait- River2Sea Biggie Squarebill (Abalone Shad, TS Minnow): http://bit.ly/2ahCzvo

Crankbait- Lucky Craft 1.5 Squarebill (Ghost Minnow, American Shad): http://bit.ly/2BGxKPa

Topwater- River2Sea Rover 128 (Ghost Minnow, Sooner, You Know It): http://bit.ly/2acSVea

Jig For Deep Or Shallow...

Jig- 1/2 oz Pitchin Jig (Go To, Molting Craw): http://bit.ly/2amL3of

Jig Trailer- Sweet Beaver (Green Pumpkin, Tramp Stamp): http://bit.ly/29W3RZW

Deep Water Baits...

Crankbait- Strike King 6XD (Chartreuse Sexy Shad, Delta Red, Pro Blue): http://bit.ly/2ery44M

Crankbait- Strike King 10XD (Chartreuse Sexy Shad, Delta Red): http://bit.ly/2gHT4F0

Hook Upgrades...

6XD - Gamakatsu EWG Size 2: http://bit.ly/2cZrsbY

10XD- Owner ST-36 Size 1/0: http://bit.ly/2cWpeyw

Biggie- Owner ST-36 Size 2: http://bit.ly/2cWpeyw

Preferred All-around Combo...

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

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

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

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

Budget-Friendly All Around Combo...

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

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

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

Summer Topwater Fishing | Grass Fishing Tips

Bass are exploding inches from the rod tip! Its a feeding frenzy!! When Matt woke up he knew he had perfect topwater fishing conditions so he jumped in the kayak and headed out on Clearlake with 3 topwater rods in hand. His hunch was right as bass were exploding through the grass beds ambushing baitfish. Come along and see how Matt adjusts to catch as many bass as possible before the wind and waves get a chance to ruin it all.

Matt started the day with 3 baits tied on. He'd selected a Gavacho (popping frog), Teckel Honker (straight retrieve frog), and a Rage Shad (straight retrieve solid body) for their unique actions. Each bait would meet a different set of possible circumstances and at least one was going to produce. Before day's end Matt also added a Fluke to the arsenal to help convert leery bass.

Fishing weed beds can be overwhelming but it doesn't need to be. The bass treat this cover like any other. They focus on points, funnels, overhead cover, and small protected pockets. Once you learn to look through the expanse of weeds and see the subtle differences between one clump and the next, the bass become very predictable. Once Matt identified prime spots he was able to use the topwater and fluke combination to successfully lure out the bass.

Below is a breakdown of the gear and equipment Matt used today...

The baits...

Teckel Honker Frog (Grey Camo): http://bit.ly/2Xj7Ye4

Strike King Rage Shad (Blue Glimmer, Smokey Shad): http://bit.ly/2dqEf8E

Jackall Gavacho (Chart Strike Gill): http://bit.ly/2L7KsWS

Zoom Super Fluke (Smokin Shad): http://bit.ly/2aqys0H

Fluke Hook- Gamakatsu EWG Superline 4/0: http://bit.ly/2ac92XG

Kayak Storage...

Plano V-Crate: http://bit.ly/2BLjK4f

Plano Hydroflow 3700: http://bit.ly/2PR1kU0

Kayak...

Old Town Predator PDL: http://bit.ly/2WyVQka

Matt's Fluke Combo...

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

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

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

Matt's Rage Shad Combo...

Rod- Dobyns Champion Extreme 746: http://bit.ly/2ab2kRX

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

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

Budget Friendly Frog/Shad Combo...

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

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

Line- 50 lb Power Pro: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Buzzbaits - Everything You Need To Know

The buzzbait is one of the easiest topwater lures you can fish. It can be fished over cover, through grass, or in open water. No matter where its fished, it produces some of the biggest, most violent bites of the Summer! Many anglers fail to realize how versatile the buzzbait really is. With simple modifications these baits can be fished in virtually any cover.

The number one buzzer on the market is a single-bladed buzzbait with a clacker. That configuration covers water quickly and draws fish from the depths with its ruckus. However, if you're on a lake where a lot of other anglers are throwing a buzzbait its often wise to try a different profile. We often turn to a quad blade, which is extremely subtle, or a double buzz which can be retrieved at an extremely slow pace.

If you find yourself around overhead cover like docks, trees, or brush, the skirtless buzz is a must have! We typically tip the skirtless buzzbait with a paddle tail swimbait to create an action the fish haven't seen before. With a swimbait for a trailer this buzz can easily be skipped deep into cover and on the retrieve the subtle blade leads a perfectly natural swimbait profile back out of the shadows. If you haven't tried a skirtless buzzbait, now is the time.

Below is a breakdown of the buzzbaits and trailers we use for different circumstances. Our favorite buzzbait colors are Red/Black, Black, and White, in that order.

The Buzzbaits...

Quad Blade- D&M Slow Roller: http://bit.ly/2t7BMKt

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

Single Clacker- Jackall Firecracker: http://bit.ly/2t7Frbj

Single Head Knocker- Zorro Head Knocker: http://bit.ly/2d4VpK1

Skirtless Buzz- Dirty Jigs Pro Buzz: http://bit.ly/2cWI6if

Skirtless Buzzbait Trailers...

-River2Sea D Walker 120: http://bit.ly/2NwqBmz

-Keitech 4.8" Fat Swing Impact Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

-Zoon Horny Toad: http://bit.ly/2aY5lBt

Trailer Hooks...

-Gamakatsu SP Trailer Hook: http://bit.ly/2IGCfg1

-Owner Trailer Hook: http://bit.ly/2KQXvQm

Buzzbait Combo...

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

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

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