5 Finesse Tactics For Fall Bass Fishing

When the Fall Transition gets tough, turning to finesse will save the day. It might even get that big kicker bass you've been looking for! Tim is an expert with finesse tactics and today he's discussing the 5 rigs he turns to when the reaction bite shuts down. Do you have a favorite? 

Tim's 5 rigs include a dropshot, shaky head, ned rig, finesse swimbait, and finesse jig. He leans very strongly to the dropshot but each of these options has a key place in the arsenal. Pay attention to the details of his dropshot rigs including different hooks and baits to achieve different actions. While dropshot fishing isn't glamorous its incredibly effective in the Fall and is capable of fooling the biggest bass in the school. 

Below you'll find links to all of the items discussed in the video. We've included color recommendations, weight and size preferences, as well as some of our favorite gear to throw these lures. All of the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

Texas-Rigged Dropshot... 

Worm- Roboworm 4" Fat (Prism Shad): http://bit.ly/2awYSxM

Other Colors: Hologram, Aaron's Pro Shad

Hook- Owner Cover Shot (1/0): http://bit.ly/2ISr7bR

Weight- Swagger Tungsten Dropshot 1/4 oz (Black): http://bit.ly/2UY7cgx

Nose-Hooked Dropshot... 

Worm- Roboworm Alive Shad (Hologram Shad): http://bit.ly/2kDNeYw

Other Colors: Prism Shad, Aarons Blue Smelt

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

Weight- Swagger Tungsten Dropshot 3/16 oz (Black): http://bit.ly/2UY7cgx

Other Great Dropshot Baits... 

-Berkley Maxscent Flat Worm: https://bit.ly/3lAAorL

Colors: Black Shiner, Natural Shad, Smoke Black Purple

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

Colors: Silver Smoke Blue, Smoke Purple Flake

-Damiki Armor Shad: http://bit.ly/2VQ7g6o

Colors: RP Blue Pearl, PB Silver, American Shad

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

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

Shaky Head... 

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

Other Colors: Texas Craw, Green Pumpkin

Hook- Canterbury Shaky Head 3/16 oz: http://bit.ly/2aFOs0V

Ned Rig Baits... 

- Zman Finesse TRD: http://bit.ly/2hs4RtR

Colors: Green Pumpkin Goby, The Deal, Canada Craw

-Zman TRD TicklerZ: http://bit.ly/2mGyDAC

Colors: Drew's Craw, Green Pumpkin, The Deal

-Xzone Ned Zone: http://bit.ly/2mRiYhF

Colors: 309, Minnow Magic, Green Pumpkin Purple

Ned Rig Heads... 

Tungsten- Swagger Tungsten Flanders 1/8 oz: http://bit.ly/2KcIB6M

Lead- Z Man Ned LockZ HD 1/10: http://bit.ly/2kIgRYK

Finesse Swimbaits... 

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

Colors: Electric Shad, TW Ghost Shad

- Keitech 4" Easy Shiner: http://bit.ly/2bxJK6H

Colors: Electric Shad, Tennessee Shad

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

Colors: American Shad, RP Blue Pearl

-Megabass Dark Sleeper: http://bit.ly/2TyR1GT

Colors: Wakasagi, Shirauo

Finesse Swimbait Head... 

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

Finesse Jigs... 

Lead- Dirty Jigs Finesse Jig 5/16 oz: http://bit.ly/2eJinXo

Colors: Supermatt Brown, Go To, Green Pumpkin Craw

Tungsten- Keitech Football Jig 3/8 oz: http://bit.ly/2FDQ3o1

Colors: Brown/Purple, Dark Green Pumpkin

Finesse Jig Trailers... 

-Strike King Rage Chunk: http://bit.ly/2Hd4MFA

Colors: Green Pumpkin, Blue Craw

-Netbait Paca Chunk: http://bit.ly/2d8mIXx

Colors: Watermelon Jelly, Green Pumpkin

-Yamamoto 4" Double Tail: http://bit.ly/2db9w1p

Colors: Smoke Black Purple, Cinnamon Blk Purple

"Bang For The Buck" Dropshot/Ned Combo... 

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

Reel- Shimano Vanford 2000 (Pre-Order Available): https://bit.ly/2PDlKlB

Line- Sunline SX1 Braid 12 lb Hi Vis: http://bit.ly/2FngUkQ

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

Budget Dropshot/Ned/Finesse Swim Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Intenza 7' Medium Light: http://bit.ly/2s7kaQn

Reel- Shimano NASCI 2500: http://bit.ly/2g278cC

Line- Power Pro 15 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Leader- Maxima Ultragreen 6 lb Mono: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Favorite Finesse Jig/Shaky Head Combo... 

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

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

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 Finesse Baits That Always Catch Bass (Beginner To Advanced)

Struggling to catch bass during the Fall Transition? You're not alone! While some anglers have located aggressive schools and are catching fish on topwater and reaction baits many others continue to struggle. When the bite is tough, these 4 rigs are what Tim relies on to consistently put fish in the boat. 

We all dream about aggressive schools and big bass but all too often we're met with wind, rain, and tough fishing conditions. We always start with reaction baits in search of aggressive fish but if its not happening, its time to slow down and finesse. The rigs we rely on are a dropshot (both texas rigged and nose hooked), a shaky head, and a senko. Each rig has a purpose and when you learn how to switch between them, the combination can be deadly. 

Below is a breakdown of the baits and equipment discussed in the video. The links go directly to TackleWarehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. We've included our favorite colors for each bait as well as our favorite combos to fish them effectively. 

Weedless Dropshot… 

Bait- Roboworm 6” Straight Tail Worm (MMIII): http://bit.ly/2asZyH3

Hook- Owner Cover Shot 2/0: http://bit.ly/2ISr7bR

Weight- Swagger Tungsten Cylinder 1/4 oz: http://bit.ly/2UY7cgx

Nose Hook Dropshot… 

Bait #1- Keitech Easy Shiner 3” or 4” (Electric Shad): http://bit.ly/2bxJK6H

Bait #2- Damiki Armor Shad 3” (American Shad): http://bit.ly/2KtPDAT

Hook- Owner Mosquito 1/0: http://bit.ly/2fqYFCR

Weight- Swagger Tungsten Cylinder 1/4 oz: http://bit.ly/2UY7cgx

Senko… 

Bait- Gamakatsu 5” Senko (Natural Shad or 956): http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

Colors- Natural Shad, Watermelon Copper Org Red Lam (956)

Hook- Owner Worm Hook 5/0: http://bit.ly/2D9Pmj0

Shaky Head… 

Bait- Netbait T-Mac 6.5”: http://bit.ly/2jndwj9

Colors- Sun Perch, JuneBug

Hook- Dirty Jigs Canterbury Shaky Head 1/4 oz: http://bit.ly/2aFOs0V

Nose Hook Dropshot Combo… 

Rod- Shimano Zodias 7’ Light: https://bit.ly/3ab5b9V

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

Line- Power Pro 15 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

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

Weedless Dropshot Combo…

Rod- Shimano Expride 7’ Light+: http://bit.ly/2osaj3q

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

Line- Sunline SX1 12 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2tn8EzQ

Leader- Sunline Sniper 10 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Shaky Head Rod… 

Rod- Expride 6’10” Medium: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

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

Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 20 lb: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- Sunline Sniper 12 lb Fluorocarbon: 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

Summer Fishing For Bass with Jigs, Creature Baits, and Plastic Worms!

Summer fishing is easy if you know where to look! Today Matt's Dad joins us as we target bass near deep water with 3 key summertime techniques. If you want to catch more bass, pay close attention to how the guys use the shaky head worm, jig, and wobble head creature bait to locate bass and dial in the pattern!

The guys haven't been on Clearlake for months but they start catching fish immediately. If you struggle to find Summer bass, we recommend you go back and revisit our "Where Do Bass Go In Summer" video (linked below). Today the guys targeted chunk rock in 5-15 feet of water but the key was finding these areas with quick access to deep water. If you could find that scenario, the fish were always present. They knew they could get bit on a shaky head and a jig but once fish started coming in the boat, the wobble head was employed to get the bigger bite. 

All 3 of these are simple techniques to use and they will work on your local water. Focus on the shaky head worm to find a consistent bite. Of the 3 techniques, it is the easiest to get bit on day in and day out. If your fish are dialed in on eating crawdads switch to the jig and you'll almost always see the size of the fish increase. Once you've located fish on hard bottom, the wobble head is an incredible technique for catching those "kicker fish" you're looking for. It will cover water quickly, get big bites, and is very snag resistant. 

Below are related videos you should check out, followed by links to all of the baits and equipment used in today's video. We've even included color recommendations for each item. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

Related Videos…

Where Do Bass Go In Summer Video: https://youtu.be/wzXL9aY0SAk

Wobble Head Video (Swing Head Jigs): https://youtu.be/DPk5YDdaZxo

Shaky Head... 

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

Colors: Junebug, Bama Bug, Texas Craw

Hook- Canterbury Shaky Head 1/4 oz: http://bit.ly/2aFOs0V

Alternative Hook- Stand Up Shaky 1/4 oz: https://bit.ly/3hI1tqQ

Jigs... 

Dale's Jig- Compact Pitchin Jig 1/2 oz (Molting Craw): http://bit.ly/2hAIyCV

Trailer- Missile Baits D Bom (Green Pumpkin Red): http://bit.ly/2d2dVlt

Matt's Jig- Dirty Jigs Football Jig 1/2 oz (Molting Craw): http://bit.ly/2d0iJbd

Trailer- Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver (Green Pumpkin Red): http://bit.ly/29W3RZW

Wobble Head...

Head- Pivot Point Football 3/4 oz (4/0 Hook): http://bit.ly/2jOY1Ns

Bait- Zoom Z Craw (Regular): http://bit.ly/2vW7Jo5

Colors: California Craw, Junebug, Huckleberry

Matt's Wobble Head Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Expride 7'6" Medium heavy: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

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

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

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

Matt's Jig Combo... 

Rod- Dobyns Xtasy 7'5" Heavy (755): http://bit.ly/36fIHCg

Reel- Shimano Metanium DC HG: http://bit.ly/2qrSZvs

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

Leader- Sunline FC100 16 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2O4UElB

Budget Jig Combo... 

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

Reel- Shimano SLX DC 150: http://bit.ly/2LWzw2Q

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

Budget Shaky Head Combo... 

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

Reel- Shimano SLX DC 150: http://bit.ly/2LWzw2Q

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

How To Catch Fish Around Docks: Summer Fishing Tips

If your lake has docks, the fish are under them right now! From bass and catfish down to the smallest baitfish, everything that swims relies on the shade of docks for safety and comfort in the Summer heat. Today Tim goes in-depth showing how to approach dock fishing, explains which docks are most likely to hold fish, and demonstrates some of his favorite ways to target them. 

You can spend years dialing in which pilings on which docks consistently hold fish. Anglers make entire bass fishing careers out of doing exactly that. But if you just want to go fishing and consistently catch fish there are some simple tips that will help you choose the right docks quickly. Focus on docks that stand alone. A dock by itself will often hold large numbers of fish that would otherwise spread out along a row of docks. Focus on docks with quick deep water access. If the dock is in deeper water than those around it, there are likely to be bigger fish underneath. 

Lastly, choose docks based on the type of fishing you plan to do. If you're fishing slowly with finesse baits target single docks or areas with limited numbers of docks. This will give you the confidence to fish methodically and really pick the docks apart. If you're fishing fast moving reaction baits then areas with a lot of docks will give you endless targets to throw to. While you'll make more casts per fish, the reaction bite is so fun that it often outweighs the alternatives. 

Our final tip is about skipping docks. You may have noticed Tim is able to do this effortlessly. While a skilled angler who practices can do this with virtually any reel, the "DC" reels make it simple for almost anyone to do. If you want to get serious about fishing docks, don't be afraid to try a DC to shorten the learning curve and make the fishing more fun from the start. 

Below is a breakdown of the baits and equipment Tim recommends for Summer dock fishing. Of course you can dial in subtle details on your local lake but these baits and this equipment is what we use anywhere we go in the country when its time to target fish under docks. We've broken down the baits into reaction baits and slow moving baits to help you make the best choices. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

Tim's #1 Bait Today... 

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

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

Fast Moving Baits... 

-Damiki BTC Squarebill Crankbait: https://bit.ly/35yagXK

(Threadfin Flash, Moss Back, Real Shad)

-Teckel Kick Knocker Topwater: http://bit.ly/2nvxkoA

(Bone, Bluegill, Chart Shiner)

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

(Ghost, TW Gill, Little Allen)

Slow Moving Baits... 

-Dirty Jigs Pitchin' Jig (1/2 oz): http://bit.ly/2amL3of

(Molting Craw, Hematoma, Go To)

-Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver Jig Trailer: http://bit.ly/29W3RZW

(Green Pumpkin Red, Hematoma, Tramp Stamp)

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

(Green Pumpkin, Watermelon/Green Pumpkin, JuneBug)

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

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

(Bama Bug, Green Pumpkin)

-Dirty Jigs Canterbury Shaky Head 1/4 oz: http://bit.ly/2aFOs0V

DC Reels work great at every price point. As you move up to higher end equipment the reels become stronger and smoother but the technology that aids your ability to skip works throughout the line. Also, when dock fishing it is recommended to use an HG (high gear 7:1) or XG (Extra High Gear 8:1) to help you pull the fish out of the docks quickly before they tangle in the pilings. 

High End DC: Shimano Metanium DC: http://bit.ly/2qrSZvs

Mid-Range DC: Shimano Curado 150 DC: http://bit.ly/2yHtsp4

Budget DC: Shimano SLX 150 DC: http://bit.ly/2LWzw2Q

Excellent All-Around Combo For Docks... 

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 853C JWR: http://bit.ly/2R4f2Ud

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

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

Leader- Sunline Sniper Fluorocarbon 14 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