How To Catch Bigger Smallmouth (And Largemouth) - Everything You Need To Know - Finesse Bass Fishing

Smallmouth are amazing! They're aggressive, even in cold water. They're willing to migrate huge distances for food. When you set the hook they give you a ride that is unrivaled by the other bass. There is little wonder why so many anglers love Smallmouth bass fishing. Targeting these predators requires a finesse touch and some unique gear that is often overlooked for the other bass species.  

While you can catch a smallmouth on virtually anything, the fish tend to favor clearer water and a true finesse touch will increase your odds dramatically. In today's video Tim dives into his favorite finesse tactics and equipment for consistently targeting these bronze backs. 

Below is a breakdown of the gear he discussed in order of appearance. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

Finesse Keitech Swimbaits... 

-Keitech Fat Swing Impact 4.3 and 3.8: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Colors: Chartreuse Blue, Crystal Shad, Goby, Smallmouth Magic

-Tactical Finesse Swimbait Head 3/8 oz: http://bit.ly/2Pqrq3n

-2.8 keitech Fat Swing Impact: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Colors: Electric Shad, Pro Blue Red Pearl, Tennessee Shad

-Dirty Jigs 1/8 oz Guppy Head 1/0: http://bit.ly/2nyUJRS

Finesse Swimbaits…

-Megabass 3" Spark Shad: http://bit.ly/2XcLZk4

Colors: Purple Haze, Real, Silver Shad

-Megabass 1/16 oz Okashira Head: http://bit.ly/2EpluSA

-Megabass Dark Sleeper 2.4" and 3": http://bit.ly/2TyR1GT

Colors: Donko, Haze, Hanahaze Wakasagi

Spy Baits... 

-Duo Realis Spin Bait 80: http://bit.ly/2oeVG1m

Colors: Ghost SX Shad, BK Ayu, Ghost Minnow

-Duo Realis Spin Bait 90: http://bit.ly/2nhw56N

Colors: Ghost Minnow, Purple Reign AM, Shiner AM

Hair Jigs... 

-Outkast Tackle Feider Fly 3/32 (Black): http://bit.ly/2G7TBwj

Dropshot Worms...

-Big Bite Baits Smallie Smasher: http://bit.ly/2ZpCOCY

Colors: Chick Magnet, Green Pump Purp, Smoke Purp Flake

-Strike King Half Shell: http://bit.ly/2iR9awm

Colors: Morning Dawn, Magic, TW Green Pumpkin

Dropshot Rigging... 

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

Medium Wire Hook- Trokar Dropshot (Size 1, 2): http://bit.ly/2ahxJOr

Tungsten Tie-On Weight- Swagger Tear Drop (3/16): http://bit.ly/37AVcrx

Tungsten Dropshot Weight- Swagger Tear Drop (3/16): http://bit.ly/2V2B63h

Tubes... 

-Dry Creek Tournament Tube 3.5": http://bit.ly/2cJwI6r

Colors: Old Ugly, Mocha Copper Pepper, Crazy Eddie

-Big Bite Tour Tube 3.5": http://bit.ly/32e23VR

Colors: Tilapia, Green Pumpkin Purple Copper Flk

Tube Heads... 

-Bite me 60 degree Flat Eye Head (3/16): http://bit.ly/2diyVXK

-Provider Tackle 90 degree (3/16): http://bit.ly/2OAvYRv

Z Man Ned Rig Baits... 

-Z Man Finesse TRD: http://bit.ly/2hs4RtR

Colors: Green Pumpkin Goby, Canada Craw, Mud Bug

-Z Man TRD BugZ: http://bit.ly/2oiavEE

Colors: Green Pumpkin, Mud Bug, Hot Snakes

-Z Man TRD TicklerZ: http://bit.ly/2mGyDAC

Colors: Green Pumpkin Goby, Canada Craw, Mud Bug

Other Ned Rig Worms... 

-Xzone Ned Zone stick Bait 3": http://bit.ly/2mRiYhF

Colors: 309, Green Pump Purple, Minnow Magic

-Roboworm Ned Worm 3": http://bit.ly/2j9F0Xy

Colors: Desert Craw, TW Black Blue Pumpkin

-Missile Baits Ned Bomb: http://bit.ly/2XCOGwd

Colors: Super Bug, Bluetonium Green Pumpkin Core

Ned Heads... 

Tungsten- Swagger Flanders Head 1/6 oz: http://bit.ly/2KcIB6M

Lead- Z Man Ned LockZ HD Head: http://bit.ly/2kIgRYK

Stick Baits... 

-5" Yamamoto Senko: http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

Colors: Baby Bass, Crushed Goby, Electric Worm

-5" Yum Dinger: http://bit.ly/2J8nMrF

Colors: Elders Magic, Green Pumpkin, Ozark Smoke

Stick Bait Rigging... 

-G7 O-Rings 7MM: http://bit.ly/2PWEkUs

-G7 O Ring Tool: http://bit.ly/2PRMNrG

-Owner Jungle Wacky Weedless Hook: https://bit.ly/2VKZl9U

-Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap Hook: http://bit.ly/2aKGmHM

Tim's Favorite Keitech Combo... 

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

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

Line- Sunline Sniper 12 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Tim's Favorite Ultra-Finesse Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Conquest 902S SJR: http://bit.ly/2BiGUNi

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

Line- Sunline SX1 Braid 10 lb: http://bit.ly/2tn8EzQ

Leader- Sunline Sniper 6 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Tim's Feider Combo... 

Rod- Daiwa Tatula Elite AGS 7'6" ML: http://bit.ly/2QHupT9

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

Line- Sunline 6 lb Sniper Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Never Get Skunked - Micro Swimbait Tips For Early Season Bass

We're back on Lake Berryessa for a quick evening fishing trip. Fresh off the jerkbait and fluke video from a few days ago, we're back to see how many bass we can catch! Matt hopes to pick up where he left off so he's brought a variety of jerkbaits and topwater options. Of course nothing goes to plan but he adapts and has an awesome evening fishing with finesse swimbaits!

Spring bass fishing is all about adapting to changing conditions. One day its beautiful, the next day its snowing. One day you've got the lake to yourself, the next day there are boats everywhere. If you find that your fish have shut down, look no further than a tiny swimbait like the 2.8 keitech to save the day! These little baits are incredibly adaptable and get bit by everything that swims. Trout, crappie, and even trophy bass, have no problem gulping them! 

Hopefully you enjoyed today's video as much as we did. We were met with challenging conditions but were able to adapt and overcome. Below is a breakdown of the exact equipment we were using and a few bonus baits that are worth trying if your fish are already conditioned to the Keitech. All of these baits go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see close up photos and detailed descriptions of each item. 

The Baits In order Of Appearance... 

Topwater- Showerblows 105 (Half Mirror Wakasagi): http://bit.ly/2zIkqUH

Soft Jerkbait- Zoom Super Fluke (Electric Shad): http://bit.ly/2aqys0H

Swimbait- Keitech Fat Swing Impact 2.8" (TW Ghost Shad): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Swimbait Head- Dirty Jigs 1/8 oz Guppy Head 1/0: http://bit.ly/2nyUJRS

Other Great Finesse Swimbaits... 

-Damiki Armor Shad 3": http://bit.ly/2KtPDAT

-Megabass Spark Shad 3": http://bit.ly/2XcLZk4

-Jackall Rhythm Wave 2.8": http://bit.ly/2m78LM9

Matt's Finesse Swimbait Combo...

Rod- Shimano Expride 6'10" ML: http://bit.ly/2osaj3q

Reel- Shimano Stadic FL 1000: http://bit.ly/35Bufnb

Line- Sunline Asegai 10 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2OR5i2j

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

Mid-Priced Finesse Swimbait Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Zodias 6'8" ML: http://bit.ly/2jOUXAO

Reel- Shimano Ultegra 1000: http://bit.ly/2nfApml

Line- Sunline Sniper Fluorocarbon 8 lb: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

NEW Tactical Bassin Apparel... 

TacticalBassin Reaper Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2TwBWs7

TacticalBassin Shadow Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2FVD9Rs

TacticalBassin Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/2TvFMBD

TacticalBassin Hooded Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/38cVi9G

Fishing a Tiny Creek With Crystal Clear Water For Big Fish!

This tiny creek has crystal clear water and there are so many big fish just swimming around! We never would have believed a creek this small could have so many quality fish if we didn't see it for ourselves. Today we're exploring a hidden creek that everyone overlooks in search of big Smallmouth Bass. Its an adventure full of big fish, shallow water, thick brush, and a whole lot of fun!

While kayaking a little creek in a farmer's field isn't everyone's idea of fun, it brought us back to our roots. Its important to take a trip or two every year that refocuses you on why you love fishing so much. We all grew up stream fishing so this drift reconnected each of us with our love of fishing. It certainly helped that there were big bass around every corner!

At the start, the plan was to explore this untouched section of creek from the kayaks. We weren't sure we could get them down stream and as it turns out, we got stuck a few times. We knew there were quality fish in the deeper sections but weren't sure how to catch them. With 3 kayaks, we were able to try a variety of lures and to our amazement, all of them worked!

Below is a breakdown of the baits we used to fool these bass. Fall bass fishing is incredible on big lakes and tiny creeks so don't be afraid to get out there and catch some fish this Fall!

Tim's Baits...

Topwater- Whopper Plopper 110 (Bone): http://bit.ly/2bsPbQV

Ned Worm- Roboworm (Desert Craw): http://bit.ly/2j9F0Xy

Ned Head- Swagger Tungsten "Flanders" 1/10th: http://bit.ly/2KcIB6M

Matt's Baits...

Topwater- Yellow Magic 1/2 oz (Smoke Shad): http://bit.ly/2al0dKP

Jig- Bass Patrol 3/8 oz (Brown Green Pumpkin): http://bit.ly/2Hbyf5x

Jig Trailer- Strike King Rage Chunk (Hard Candy): http://bit.ly/2Hd4MFA

Shawn's Baits...

Senko- Yamamoto 5" (Green Pumpkin Magic): http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

Hook- Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap 1/0: http://bit.ly/2aKGmHM

Kayaks and Gear...

-Old Topwater Topwater 106 PDL: http://bit.ly/2YAQdnu

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

Life Jacket- Mustang Inflatable: http://bit.ly/2odXXIP

Tim's Spinning Combo...

Rod- Shimano Zodias 7' Medium Light: http://bit.ly/2jOUXAO

Reel- Stradic CI4+ 1000: http://bit.ly/2gu84t7

Line- 7 lb Sunline Sniper Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Matt's Primary Baitcasting Combo...

Rod- G Loomis GLX 843C MBR: http://bit.ly/2gqziwT

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

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

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

Stream Fishing Big Smallmouth In Clear Water!

The guys found a small creek loaded with smallmouth bass! The water is crystal clear and the fish are in all 3 stages of the spawn. There are fish just coming in from Lake Michigan, other bass on beds, and a lot of big bass cruising the edges and shadows in search of a big meal. Realizing the opportunity, the guys quickly began catching fish on everything from a dropshot to a swimbait. Come along for an exciting day of fishing and teaching as we explain how to fish for bass in current.

Its early Summer in Michigan and the fish are aggressive! We began by catching fish sitting along the edges of cover but as we moved farther up river we discovered spawners in the shallows. Toward the end of the day we realized post spawn fish would ambush reaction baits as well, catching them on swimbaits, jerkbaits, and topwater.

Fishing in current is all about understanding bass behavior. These fish face up stream and feed by sight. They're watching the moving water for any sign of food drifting by. When a meal appears they have one shot to capture it as it passes so strikes tend to be vicious! While neither angler had ever been on this fishery, Cobi guides in both Michigan and Wisconsin on a lot of amazing smallmouth waters. If you're interested in seeing more of his work, visit his instagram here: http://bit.ly/2XMpoPW

Below is a breakdown of the baits we caught fish on throughout the day. We caught them on an incredible variety of techniques so we will separate them into softbaits and hardbaits, including the colors used to successfully fool these smallmouth.

Softbaits...

1) Finesse Jig (Kentucky Craw): http://bit.ly/2eJinXo

-Smallie Beaver (Green Pumpkin): http://bit.ly/2dR6CkP

2) Strike King Half Shell (KVD Magic on Dropshot): http://bit.ly/2iR9awm

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

3) Roboworm 4" Fat Worm (Oxblood Light on Dropshot): http://bit.ly/2awYSxM

4) Megabass Spark Shad 3" (Real): http://bit.ly/2XcLZk4

- Megabass Okashira Screw Head: http://bit.ly/2EpluSA

5) Dark Sleeper Swimbait (Haze): http://bit.ly/2TyR1GT

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

-Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap 1/0: http://bit.ly/2aKGmHM

Hardbaits...

1) Splash It Popper (Chartreuse Pearl Shad): http://bit.ly/2Fp8MQV

2) River2Sea S-Waver 168 (Light Trout): http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

3) Megabass Vision 110 Jerkbait (PM Twilight Chart Back): http://bit.ly/2j31TKb

Matt's most versatile Combo this trip...

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

Reel- Aldebaran MGL 50: http://bit.ly/2uQ4oH8

Line- 12 lb Sunline Assassin: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm