Tricks To Catch More Topwater And Crankbait Fish This Summer!

Summer bass are aggressive if you know WHERE to look! Even more important is knowing WHEN to look! If you want to catch topwater and crankbait fish in the heat of Summer, the most likely bite is the low light pattern. Get up early and stay out late to catch bass as they feed aggressively in the low light periods of the day. 

Yes, some of the biggest bass are caught under a high sun, even in Summer. But that fact only matters if you're willing and able to withstand the heat. A lot of anglers aren't willing to subject themselves to the harsh Summer temperatures so for you, we've got some recommendations. If you focus early and late in the day you can experience an amazing reaction bite! Topwater, crankbaits, and swimbaits can all be great producers before the sun hits the water. 

When you get on the pattern remember that it is a PATTERN, it can be repeated. Don't get caught up with fishing a single spot. If you can mimic the area you're in somewhere else, don't be afraid to cover water and try multiple locations. This is especially important when your shade is fading. You can stay on the pattern and continue to catch fish, even as the sun rises in the morning sky, by pursuing those final shade pockets. 

Tim's "Go To" baits are broken down below. These are the baits he trusts when he goes out during low light conditions in search of a BIG bite. The links to the baits go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.

Wakebait... 

-Evergreen ND180 Noisy Dachs Wakebait (Black Bone): http://bit.ly/2JbrbaM

-G Ratt Magic Mouse (Grey-White Belly): http://bit.ly/2ytrPbP

Buzzbait... 

-D&M Easy Roller Buzzbait (RedBug, White Shad): https://bit.ly/2SCqcmj

-D&M Double Buzz (Bluegill): http://bit.ly/29W2t9z

Walking Baits/Poppers... 

-Teckel KickKnocker (Bone, Chart Shiner): http://bit.ly/2nvxkoA

-Megabass Pop Max (Gill, White Python): http://bit.ly/2qqfmm1

Frogs... 

-River2Sea Bully Wa2 65 (Little Allen, Dirty White, TW Bluegill): http://bit.ly/2axyR2a

Subsurface Offerings... 

GlideBait- S Waver 200 (Warden): http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

Lipless- Lucky Craft LV-500 (Aurora Black): http://bit.ly/2aAUUbd

Silent Squarebill- Lucky Craft 1.5 (American Shad): http://bit.ly/2BGxKPa

Rattling Squarebill- R2S Biggie Crank (T-1000, Abalone Shad): http://bit.ly/2ahCzvo

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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

Where Do Fish Go In Summer? (And How To Catch Them)

Have your fish disappeared? Are you struggling to get a bite? Today Matt explains exactly where Bass go during the Summer in your local lake. Once you understand how fish move throughout the seasons, catching them consistently throughout the year becomes really simple. In closing, Matt takes it a step further and goes in-depth on his confidence baits to consistently catch fish all Summer.

Predicting Summertime fish movements is all about understanding the importance of shadows. In lakes, reservoirs, and rivers, bass use different structures to hunt but it always revolves around the presence of shadows. Pay close attention to the details that apply to your style of fishery and you'll begin seeing success right away. If you missed our previous video on shadows and color lines you can see that video below. 

Where Do Bass Go After They Spawn? (Color Line Video): https://youtu.be/hGMwt7UsFkI

Once you've located your Summer fish its time to turn your attention to catching them. Matt offered his 5 primarily lure types for consistently catching Summer bass in the video. Below you'll find a breakdown of the baits (including color recommendations) that he recommends throughout Summer.

Plastic Worms... 

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

(Green Pumpkin, Green Pump/Watermelon Laminate)

-Netbait 6.5" T-Mac Worm: http://bit.ly/2jndwj9

(JuneBug, Bama Bug, Kentucky Special)

Frogs...

-River2Sea Bully Wa 2: http://bit.ly/2axyR2a

(Little Allen, Dirty White)

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

(Gold Gill, Lime Frog)

Topwater...

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

(American Shad, Half Mirror Wakasagi)

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

(Smoke Shad, Alewife)

Deep Crankbaits... 

-Azuma Z Boss 22: http://bit.ly/2poLKUC

(Blazing Boss, Hot Mess)

-Strike King 6XD: http://bit.ly/2ery44M

(Powder Blue/Chart, Chartreuse Sexy Shad)

Squarebills... 

-Lucky Craft Silent 1.5/2.5: http://bit.ly/2BGxKPa

(American Shad, Golden Shiner)

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

(T-1000, Abalone Shad)

Swing Head Jigs... 

Jighead- Dirty Jigs Pivot Point: http://bit.ly/2jOY1Ns

Creature- Keitech Crazy Flapper: http://bit.ly/2c3cXrp

Creature- Zoom Z Craw: http://bit.ly/2vW7Jo5

Small Swimbaits... 

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

Weedless Underspin- Owner Flashy Swimmer 1/4 oz 5/0: http://bit.ly/2e8O4Y7

Exposed Hook- Blade Runner Spintrix 1/2 oz: http://bit.ly/2oocg0a

All-Around Summer Combo... 

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

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

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

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

Frog Fishing And Topwater On Lake Chickamauga - Big Bass Caught!

Come along on Lake Chickamauga as we explore a new lake and catch fish! Pay close attention as we refine a pattern and put it into action with no outside information. Chickamauga has almost 800 miles of shoreline but we're able to build a pattern in minutes and start catching really nice bass! You can too! 

Any time you're on a new body of water (Matt has been to the lake once but never this end and Tim has not been here at all) it can be overwhelming. We're thousands of miles from home with hundreds of miles of water to choose from where do you start? Matt and Tim chose to start with reaction. They focused on a spinnerbait, chatterbait, and lipless crankbait to cover water quickly. When that didn't work they turned their attention to the back of a cove that looked promising on the map. 

Once in the cove our attention again turned to covering water. Matt focused on a frog so he could quickly work around vegetation and Tim chose a senko to reach deep in the pockets under flooded trees. A pattern quickly emerged and we were able to dial in a combination of topwater, stick baits, and sight fishing. You can use this method of breaking down water on any lake in the nation. Cover water, get bit, and adapt until a pattern emerges. 

Below is a breakdown of the equipment the we were using to find success. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. We've also included links to the rods and reels we were using to consistently catch these fish. 

Topwater... 

Frog- Jackall Kaera (White): http://bit.ly/2Fz6SA3

Popper- Damiki D Pop 70 (Phantom): http://bit.ly/2Pjvqo3

Soft Baits... 

Stick Bait- Yamamoto 5" Senko (Crushed Goby): http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

Senko Hook- Owner Jungle Wide Gap 3/0: http://bit.ly/2sBsR1Z

Creature- Big Bite Baits Flying Squirrel (Tilapia): http://bit.ly/2sn1FaT

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

Dropshot Weight- Swagger 1/4 oz Tungsten Tear Drop: http://bit.ly/2V2B63h

Reaction... 

Spinnerbait- Megabass V-9 1/2 oz (Kohoku Reaction): http://bit.ly/2tOaVCt

Spinnerbait Trailer- Keitech 4.3" Fat Swing Impact (Pro Blue Red Pearl): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Lipless Crank- Jackall TN-70 Crankbait (RT Scale Minnow): http://bit.ly/2lqAwjh

Chatterbait- Z Man JackHammer 1/2 oz (BHite Delight): http://bit.ly/2popvj6

Chatterbait Trailer- HogFarmer Spunk Shad (Ghost Minnow 4.5): http://bit.ly/2UFkCD7

Matt's Senko/ Heavy Dropshot Combo... 

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

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

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

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

Tim's Popper Combo... 

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

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

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

Budget Frog Combo... 

Rod- Dobyns Fury 7'3" Mag Heavy (736): http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

Reel- Shimano SLX 150 HG: http://bit.ly/2BRTYL8

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

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

Ultimate Frog Review: 14 Frogs Compared! (Frog Fishing Tips For Summer Bass Fishing)

Which frog is the best? Let's compare their action in the water and find out! Come along as we test swim and review 14 different frogs in search of the best walking frogs, popping frogs, and all around producers. If you like frog fishing, this video is going to save you a ton of time and money! Let us do all the hard work while you kick back and pick the frogs that will best suit your bass fishing style. 

As an added bonus Matt goes in-depth to help beginner frog fishermen. He covers the biggest mistakes anglers make and shows exactly how to avoid them. If frog fishing has been a struggle for you in the past, its time to take another look. Don't let this awesome Summer pattern slip away when you can make small adaptations to your technique and equipment and begin catching frog fish right away. 

Below you will find links to all the baits shown in the video. We begin with a few of Matt's overall favorites then look at all 14 frogs. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed descriptions and photos of each bait. Next we included links to Matt and Tim's favorite frog combo, affordable alternatives, and rods specifically adapted for smaller anglers so they too can enjoy the explosive strikes that make frog fishing so fun!

Matt's Top Picks... 

Overall Favorite Frog: http://bit.ly/2axyR2a

Best Walker: http://bit.ly/2QNyXra

Best Cover Frog: https://bit.ly/2VVjRVl

Small Frogs... 

1) Jackall Kaera: http://bit.ly/2Fz6SA3

Colors- White, Green Frog, Glitter Hasu, Glitter Bluegill

2) Evergreen Boota: https://bit.ly/2StZ4Ge

Colors- Rain Call, Shining Wizard, Golden Killer

Large Frogs... 

3) Spro King Daddy: http://bit.ly/2h0LCYd

Colors- Nasty Shad, Killer Gill, Midnight Walker

4) Molix Sneaky Frog 3.5": http://bit.ly/2QNyXra

Colors- Tarpon, Silver Albino, Black Mamba

Popping Frogs... 

5) Jackall Gavacho: http://bit.ly/2L7KsWS

Colors- Black Gill, Chart Strike Gill, Lime Frog, Gold Gill

6) Evergreen SS Softshell Frog: http://bit.ly/2NChzTZ

Colors- Secret Gill, Modo CH, Champion Shad

7) Megabass Big Gabot: https://bit.ly/3bXW8Jh

Colors- Wild Gill, Ama Gear, MB Gizzard Shad

8) Spro Bronzeye Poppin: http://bit.ly/2HsyqIJ

Colors- Freak, Misty Shad, Nasty Shad, Killer Gill

Standard Frogs... 

9) Teckel Honker: http://bit.ly/2Xj7Ye4

Colors- Grey Camo, Crystal Chart, Bluegill

10) Snagproof Bobby's Perfect: http://bit.ly/2abpR40

Colors- Brown Bullfrog, Tweety, Sexy Shad

11) River2Sea Bully Wa 2 65: http://bit.ly/2axyR2a

Colors- Little Allen, Ghost, Yellow Head, TW Bluegill

12) LIVETARGET Hollow Body 65: http://bit.ly/2Q40BAk

Colors- White, Black, Bright Green, Fluorescent Green Yellow

13) Savage Gear DC Walker: https://bit.ly/2VVjRVl

Colors- White, Gill, Black

14) Spro Bronzeye 65: http://bit.ly/2sz9Qje

Colors- Black, Freak, Albino, Leopard

Favorite Frog Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Expride 7'3" XH: http://bit.ly/2czPlZl

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

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

Budget Friendly Frog Combo... 

Rod- Dobyns Fury 7'3" Mag Heavy: http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

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

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

Rods For Smaller Anglers... 

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

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

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