Top 5 Baits For Late Winter Bass Fishing!

Its still cold but the fish are getting aggressive! Late Winter is a special time full of big bass and exciting days on the water if you know how to adapt. Sure, you can stick to the same Winter baits you've been throwing these past months, but you're not doing yourself any favors. Its time to adapt, let us show you how. 

A lot of anglers get confused about the transitions between late Winter and the prespawn. We're definitely not in the prespawn yet, water temps are cold (mid-40's in most of the country and even colder farther North) but the fish can sense the change coming and are beginning to get active despite the cold temperatures. This is the time to set the finesse rods down, pick up the reaction baits, and catch the biggest bass of the year. 

We use a handful of very specific baits this time of year. We've broken the baits down by style and included some of our favorite models and colors for each category. Each bait is linked directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of the item. We've also included some of our favorite gear for throwing these baits so you'll be prepared when the big one decides to eat your lure. 

Deep Cranks... 

-R2S TacticalBassin DD75: http://bit.ly/37dclbX

Colors: DD Minnow, Ghost Minnow

-Megabass Deep X 300: http://bit.ly/2sSQHpt

Colors: MB Gizzard, Sexy Ayu

A-Rigs... 

-Hog Farmer BFL Flex Rig: https://bit.ly/2WtLCVK

-G Funk Bladed Cali Rig: http://bit.ly/2rZhST7

-Yum Flash Mob Jr: http://bit.ly/2bgDGNu

Small Underspin... 

Head- CoolBaits 1/8 oz Down Under: http://bit.ly/2boS7QA

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

Colors: Electric Shad, Pro Blue Red Pearl

Blade Baits... 

-Damiki Vault 1/2 oz: http://bit.ly/2rnO7e2

Colors: Black Holo, Holo Ayu, Holo Mossback

-Megabass Dyna Response 1/2 oz: http://bit.ly/2R7FlvL

Colors: Jukucho Shad, Setsuki Ayu, Ito Hiuo

Squarebill Crankbaits... 

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

Colors: Cold Blooded, Delta Craw, I Know It

-Luhr Jensen Hot Lips: http://bit.ly/3ccfJbV

Colors: Crystal Hot Texas Red, Wedge

-13 Fishing Scamp 1.5: http://bit.ly/3iMkYAw

Colors: Mudbug Punch, Day Old Guac, Epic Shad

GlideBait... 

-G Ratt Sneaky Pete 7.5": http://bit.ly/2RYCPFe

Colors: Hitch, Gizzard Shad

Budget Blade Bait/Underspin Combo... 

Rod- St. Croix Bass X 6'8" Medium: http://bit.ly/2r0xWAs

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

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

Budget Squarebill/Deep Crank Combo... 

Rod- Dobyns Fury 7' Medium Heavy Cranking: http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

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

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

Budget Glidebait Combo... 

Rod- Dobyns Fury 7'9" Medium Heavy Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

Reel- Shimano Curado 300K: https://bit.ly/2HbZ3E4

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

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

Want TacticalBassin Apparel?  

We have a variety of apparel items and custom lure designs available! Everything from hats, to hoodies, to crankbaits! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here... 

TacticalBassin Apparel and Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz

Underspin Tricks You've Never Tried That Catch More Bass!

Underspins are a great way to catch bass in the Fall. They add flash and vibration to your favorite swimbait and help it stand out amongst a crowd of baitfish. Whether you're throwing a big swimbait in search of a giant bass or a tiny finesse swimbait just looking for a bite, rigging it on an underspin can make a huge difference!

Tim has a handful of underspins that he relies on to consistently catch fish. Whether he's throwing a 2.8 keitech on a spinning rod, or a larger swimbait deep in the grass, there is a perfect hook for every application. When the fish are short striking or targeting the blade, he's got a trick to add a stinger hook to the blade to hook those finicky bass as well! If you're not throwing an underpin this Fall, you're missing a great opportunity to load the boat with quality fish. 

Below you'll find links to the exact baits, hooks, and components Tim showed in the video. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. We've also included some of his favorite rod/reel combos for these techniques, including a budget combo for anglers that are just getting into this style of fishing. 

The Underspins... 

-Coolbaits Down Under (1/8 oz): http://bit.ly/2boS7QA

Colors: Black Silver, Ol Faithful, Silver Shad

-Blade Runner Screw Lock Spintrix (3/8 - 1/2 oz): http://bit.ly/2oocg0a

Colors: Anchovy, Black Shad, Unpainted

-Fish Head Spin Finesse (3/8 oz): https://bit.ly/3m5tuLv

Colors: Smokin Shad, Albino, Raw Shad

-Owner Flashy Swimmer (1/0, 3/0, 5/0): http://bit.ly/2e8O4Y7

Favorite Underspin Swimbaits... 

-Keitech Fat Swing Impact (2.8, 3.8, 4.3, 4.8): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

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

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

Colors: Electric Shad, TW Ghost Shad, Gizzard Shad

-River2Sea D Walker (100, 120): http://bit.ly/2NwqBmz

Colors: PB Red, Shamrock Shad

-Xzone Swammer (3.5" , 4"): http://bit.ly/2PogV0q

Colors: 309, 210, Tennessee Shad

Tim's Stinger Hook Modification... 

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

**Cut Off Keeper Barb before threading onto Split Ring**

Tim's Finesse Underspin Spinning Combo... 

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

Reel- Shimano Vanford 2500 HGF (Pre-Order Available): https://bit.ly/2PDlKlB

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

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

Heavy Underspin/Flashy Swimmer Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Zodias 7'5" Heavy (Pre-Order Available): https://bit.ly/3aeQbYW

**The Longer Handle Makes This New Rod AMAZING For This Technique**

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

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

Leader- Sunline FC100 20 lb System Leader: http://bit.ly/2O4UElB

Budget Finesse Underspin Combo... 

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

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

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

Leader- Maxima Ultragreen 8 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

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

Topwater Fishing Clearlake Before The Big Move! (Special Guest!)

Matt is headed to Tennessee but not before one last slugfest on Clearlake! Today he hops on the boat with Ross England to stick some fish before the big move! Come along as the guys chase a topwater frog bite in the morning then follow it up with jigs, creatures, and underspins! 

Its going to be a few months before Matt and Tim return to California so Matt couldn't miss the chance to catch a few more fish with Ross before leaving town. The bite was strong despite a ton of tournament boats on the water, and the guys wasted no time putting together a solid Summer pattern. The key this morning was fishing outside corners of cover with a frog. The fish weren't in the pockets, they were right out on the points hunting small baitfish as they passed by. 

Once the sun got overhead the bite shut down but Ross was quick to adapt to an underspin to fire the bite back up. Matt utilized a creature bait to cover water as the temperatures climbed and between them, the guys continued catching fish until midday. 

Below you'll find a breakdown of the baits and equipment used in today's video. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. Additionally, we've included a link to Ross' Guide Service if you're interested in spending a day fishing Clearlake while Matt and Tim are out of the area. 

-Ross England Clearlake Guide Service: http://bit.ly/2mb7DIP

Today's Baits... 

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

Favorite Colors: Little Allen, Ghost, TW Bluegill

Underspin- CoolBaits Down Under Underspin (3/16 oz): http://bit.ly/2boS7QA

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

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

Jig- Dirty Jigs Compact Pitchin' Jig 1/2 oz (Go To): http://bit.ly/2hAIyCV

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

Wobble Head- Dirty Jigs 1/2 oz Pivot Point 4/0 Hook: http://bit.ly/2jOY1Ns

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

Favorite Colors: California 420, Junebug, Huckleberry

Matt's Frog Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Expride 7'3" Extra Heavy: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

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

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

Wobble Head 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 20 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2O4UElB

Budget Frog Combo... 

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

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

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

Budget Wobble Head Combo... 

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

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

Line- Sunline Assassin 17 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