Catch More Bass This Fall Transition! Junk Fishing Tips!!

We're going "junk fishing" on Lake Chickamauga, come along! Throughout the year we spend a ton of time teaching anglers how to build patterns but during the transition, you need to get every bite possible. Today we mix it up by fishing deep ledges with a tail spinner, fan casting with swimbaits, and breaking down grass flats with flukes and topwater. Come along for a day of junk fishing and exploring on the Tennessee River. 

The term "junk fishing" is a reference to fishing without a specific pattern. You may be throwing a jig one moment, a spinnerbait the next, and be slinging topwater toward schooling fish, all on the same spot. Its about adapting to changing conditions instead of running a pattern. We spend all year dialing in patterns but during transition times, learning to junk fish is a must. 

Today Matt starts out with a handful of baits he thinks will work but in a matter of minutes he's already sitting down, tying on different baits, and adapting to what he's seeing on the water. He's reading conditions, following baitfish, and exploring. The next time you go fishing you can do the same on your local lake. Below is a breakdown of the baits Matt used to find success today along with the gear he used to throw them. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

Tail Spinner... 

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

Hook Upgrade- Gamakatsu EWG Red (Size 4): http://bit.ly/2dmxXK8

Today's Bait Color: Black holo

Other Great Colors: Holo Real Shad, Holo Silver

Swimbait... 

Bait- Scottsboro Tackle 6" Paddle Tail: http://bit.ly/2Oy7CKH

Hook- Owner Beast 8/0 1/2 oz: http://bit.ly/2ancP66

Today's Bait Color: Natural Light

Other Great Colors: Mullin's Madness, Ol Smokey

Soft Jerkbait... 

Bait- Zoom Super Fluke: http://bit.ly/2aqys0H

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

Today's Bait Color: Pro Blue Red Pearl

Other Great Colors: Smokin Shad, Sexy Shad, Electric Shad

Topwater... 

Bait- Evergreen Shower Blow 105: http://bit.ly/2zIkqUH

Today's Bait Color: Skeleton Chartreuse

Other Great Colors: Blueback Herring, American Shad

Topwater Combo... 

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

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

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

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

Fluke Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Curado 7'2" Medium Heavy: http://bit.ly/2gUWTft

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

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

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

Big Swimbait Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 965: https://bit.ly/3ktZFnF

Reel- Shimano Tranx 300 HG: http://bit.ly/2kYsvRw

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

Leader- Sunline FC100 Shock Leader 30 lb: http://bit.ly/2O4UElB

Budget Topwater/Tail Spin Combo...

Rod- Shimano SLX 6'10" Medium: http://bit.ly/2L3wppO

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

Line- Power Pro Braid 40 lb: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

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

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

4 Topwater Tricks For Early Fall Bass Fishing!

The Fall transition can be a topwater angler's dream! When the bass are feeding and you've got a bait that matches the hatch, it feels like you can do no wrong! Poppers, walking baits, buzz baits, and frogs, can all produce days on the water you'll never forget. But what about the other days? The days when the bite shuts off or the bass key in on a specific baitfish so aggressively that you can't lure them away... These 4 tricks will make all the difference on the tough days. 

Step 1 is to go natural. Stick to colors that perfectly match the baitfish. Its not the time for bright chartreuse or bone, stick to the ghost tones. Step 2 is to downsize and match the exact size of the baitfish the bass are targeting. Step 3 is to accent your hooks with feathers, colors changes, etc... to create the most natural bait possible. And finally, step 4 is to focus on subtle baits. 

Below is a breakdown of Tim's most reliable baits this time of year. We've also included links to the hooks and hardware upgrades he recommends. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

Poppers... 

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

Colors: Japanese Shad, Smoke Shad

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

Colors: MB Gizzard, Ito Wakasagi

Frogs... 

-Spro Poppin Frog 60: http://bit.ly/2HsyqIJ

Colors: Misty Shad, Speck

-LiveTarget Hollow Body Frog 55: http://bit.ly/2Q40BAk

Colors: Brown Black, Tan Brown

Walking Baits... 

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

Colors: American Shad, Blue Back Herring

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

Colors: Ghost Minnow, Funky Tiger

Buzzbaits... 

-Big Bite Baits Suicide Shad 1/4 oz: https://bit.ly/3iDnLLi

Color: Nickel

-Dirty Jigs Canterbury Buzz 1/2 oz: http://bit.ly/2cWI6if

Bait- Keitech 4.3" Fat Swing Impact: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Toads... 

-Big Bite Baits Tour Toad: http://bit.ly/2NtAghc

Colors: Pearl Shine, Silver Shine

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

Colors: Grey Ghost, Watermelon Seed

Hook- Gamakatsu Superline Spring Lock 5/0: https://bit.ly/3mkwZi1

Hooks... 

Red Treble- Owner ST-36 (Size 4, 2): http://bit.ly/2wSknXp

Feathers- Owner Feathered Hooks (Size 4, 2): http://bit.ly/2m7XrAx

Split Rings- Owner Hyperwire (Size 2, 3): http://bit.ly/2v8ArBX

Ultimate Frog Combo... 

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

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

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

All-Around Topwater Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Expride 7' Medium Light+: http://bit.ly/2czPlZl

Reel- Shimano SLX DC XG: http://bit.ly/2LWzw2Q

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

Budget Topwater Combo...

Rod- Dobyns Colt 7' Medium heavy: http://bit.ly/2lU0LfV

Reel- Daiwa CR80 High Speed: http://bit.ly/2Cgk5Nh

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

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

Catching GIANT Striped Bass in a NEW Lake!

Come along as Matt and Tim chase big striper! They're exploring new water in search of these big predatory fish and it doesn't take long to find them! The guys start out with swimbaits and A-rigs but quickly realize the fish have gone deep. A quick switch to a spoon is all it takes to get the big ones biting!

The key tonight was finding lures that could be fished effectively in deep water. Tim put time into the A-Rig (A proven producer for big striped bass) but the combination of deep water (30-45 feet) and strong current was too much for the rig. A heavy spoon (1 3/4 oz) in bold colors proved to be the best option. Even in the current we were able to hop the spoons as we back drifted. We had a very short bite window before the river currents slowed but we connected with two beautiful Striper before it was over. 

We've done quite a few videos on spoon for bass and striper in the past. Matt typically leans toward a jigging spoon while Tim prefers a flutter spoon. Both styles are a must-have in an angler's arsenal and worth learning how to fish effectively. If you've missed our previous videos on the subject you can see them here... 

-Fall Spoon Fishing: https://youtu.be/ldW7yW4Fum8

-Flutter Spoons: https://youtu.be/OH46tQAT634

-Jigging Spoons: https://youtu.be/sCBKJaOj3ss

Below is a breakdown of the baits and equipment the guys were using this evening. We've even included a link to the NET they SHOULD HAVE brought with them to land these big fish with ease. All of the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each.

The spoons... 

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

Colors: UV Fried Chicken, UV Citrus

Hook- Owner ST-56 Size 2: http://bit.ly/2cVg7xW

Swivel- Sampo Welded Ring Black Size 4: https://bit.ly/3kflHd2

The A-Rig... 

Rig- G Funk Baits Cali Rig: http://bit.ly/2nD76fw

Heads- Matt Allen Swimbait Head (1/8 and 1/2 oz): http://bit.ly/29RrTYN

Baits- Keitech 4.8" Fat Swing Impact (Electric Shad): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Dummy Baits- Keitech 3.3" Fat Swing Impact (Electric Shad): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

The Net... 

Frabill Knotless Conservation Net 9522: https://bit.ly/33vYRaq

Matt's Spoon Combo... 

Rod- Poison Adrena 7'4" Heavy: https://bit.ly/3diigiT

Reel- Shimano Metanium  MGL 150 B HG: https://bit.ly/34HlAAk

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

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

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

** Note: If this was a dedicated spoon rod Matt said he would remove the braid/leader and fish this rig with 20 lb Sunline Assassin Fluorocarbon. He feels the Fluoro is a better option for deep spooning around finicky fish but the braid is a better line for fishing a variety of baits with this rod.

"Bang For The Buck" Spoon Combo... 

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

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

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

Budget Spoon Combo...

Rod- Shimano Intenza 7'4" Heavy: http://bit.ly/2QADLTq

Reel- Daiwa CA 80 High Speed: https://bit.ly/3hprTgv

Line- Sunline Assassin 20 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

Topwater, Flukes, and Underspins For Aggressive Fall Bass!

There are dozen of bass busting on the surface and we've got the right baits to catch them! Come along as Matt takes a finesse approach to Chickamuaga. He's throwing a fluke, a topwater, and several bladed swimbaits, but everything has been downsized to match the size of baitfish in the shallows. By "matching the hatch" the bite gets so good he can almost call his shots. Let's go fishing!

One of the biggest mistakes we see anglers make when they downsize their lures is they also downsize their drawing power. Choosing baits that will draw a finesse bite but still maintain drawing power is an art in itself. Today Matt focused in on 4 key baits to accomplish this and ultimately added fifth. 

The fluke is by far the easiest of the bunch, it has natural drawing power at any size because of its aggressive darting action. The topwater was accomplished by choosing a bait with a cupped face that spit water and created a larger disturbance than other similarly sized baits. Upsizing the drawing power of tiny swimbaits is a task but its most easily accomplished by adding flash. Matt used one with a flashing underspin blade and another with a spinner on the nose. And finally, when he backed out to deep water, the tail spin was implemented to maintain a small size but increase drawing power. 

The next time you're met with tiny baitfish in the shallows remember that you can downsize your presentation without downsizing your catch rate. Focus on baits with significant drawing power and you'll catch fish. Below are links to all the baits and equipment Matt used in the video. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.

Fluke... 

Bait- Zoom Super Fluke Jr: http://bit.ly/2aqys0H

Colors: Smokin Shad, Albino, Arkansas Shiner

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

Support- Owner CPS Spring (Size Small): http://bit.ly/2b2YgDf

Video detailing this rigging method: https://youtu.be/U3bP0HkJxk0

Topwater... 

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

Colors: Skeleton Chartreuse, American Shad, Emerald Shiner

Underspin... 

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

Colors: Pro Blue Red Pearl, Electric Shad

Hook- Owner Flashy Swimmer 1/8 oz with 1/0 hook: http://bit.ly/2e8O4Y7

Screw Head... 

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

Colors: Albino, Real, Silver Shad

Hook- Megabass Okashira Screw Head (1/16 oz): http://bit.ly/2EpluSA

Tail Spinner... 

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

Red Hook Upgrade- Owner ST-36 Red (Size 4): http://bit.ly/2wSknXp

Matt's Finesse Swimbait Combo... 

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

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

Line- Sunline Assassin 10 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

Topwater Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Expride 7' Medium Light+: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Reel- Shimano Bantam Metanium MGL HG: https://bit.ly/34HlAAk

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

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

Budget All-Around Finesse Casting Combo...

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

Reel- Shimano SLX DC: http://bit.ly/2MJyuXN

Line- Sunline Assassin 10 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