Wide Open Winter Bass Fishing! Its A Slugfest!

Come along for a day on the water as we pound the fish while battling the cold! Most anglers think the Winter is tough fishing but it can be amazing! We're targeting fish with a wide variety of baits but the big ones are eating a tube and a jig on this cold Winter day! 

This is a Highland Reservoir with water temperatures in the mid to upper 40's and water clarity of 5 to 8 feet. We found bass positioned in 20-50 feet of water on outside points and breaks with quick deep water access. At the end of the day we found a bonus pattern with bass in shallow water feeding aggressively around the remnants of a grass mat. We caught fish on a variety of baits today but our best success came on a 5/8 ounce jig with a double tail grub, a 1/2 oz Tube, a blade bait, and a Dark Sleeper. If you're deciding whether or not to fish this Winter, we hope this video inspires you to get back on the water!

Below you'll find links to all of the baits and equipment used in the video. We've included exact colors and sizes so you can perfectly mirror these patterns on your own lake this Winter. All of the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 


Matt's Jig... 

Jig- Dirty Jigs Finesse Football 5/8 oz (Pond Bug): http://bit.ly/2d2apsm

Trailer- Yamamoto Double Tail 5" Grub (Green Pumpkin): http://bit.ly/2db9w1p


Tim's Tube... 

Tube- Dry Creek 3.5" Full Body (Bama Craw): https://bit.ly/38BgQ15

Head- Bite Me Tackle Big Dude Goby Head (1/2 oz): http://bit.ly/2CV3o7S


Blade Bait... 

Blade- Megabass Vibration X Dyna Response 1/2 oz (Ito Hiuo): http://bit.ly/2R7FlvL


Dark Sleeper... 

Swimbait- 3" Dark Sleeper 3/4 oz (Donko): http://bit.ly/2TyR1GT


Jig Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis Conquest 904C MBR: http://bit.ly/2iL1PAY

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

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

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


Tube/Blade Bait Combo... 

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

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

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


Dark Sleeper Combo... 

Rod- St. Croix Legend X 6'10" Medium: http://bit.ly/2r3Wskp

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

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

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


Budget Jig Combo... 

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

Reel- Shimano SLX XT (HG): http://bit.ly/2BRTYL8

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


NEW Tactical Bassin Apparel... 

TacticalBassin Hat: https://bit.ly/31EYB8W

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

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Catching Winter Bass On Almost Every Cast!

Think Winter Bass Fishing is tough? It doesn't have to be! When you understand how the fish are positioned and which baits will trigger them to feed, it can be amazing! Come along as Tim explores a brand new lake and starts getting bites from big bass on his very first stop!

Most anglers think of Winter as the time to stay at home. If you are going out, you're probably finesse fishing, dragging small plastics along the bottom. While slow finesse fishing can be effective, its a whole lot more fun to get fish to react! In today's video Tim is using a handful of key baits to break down a new lake without any mapping. He's combining visual clues along the shoreline with his vast fishing knowledge, to immediately catch fish. Pay close attention to the details he's teaching throughout the video and apply them to your next day on the water. 

Tim used a handful of baits and some very specific equipment to catch these fish and to map the lake for future trips. Below you'll find links to all of the gear he used. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 


Swimbait... 

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

Head- Tactical Finesse Swimbait Head (1/2 oz): http://bit.ly/2Pqrq3n


Tube... 

Bait- Big Bite Baits Tour Tube (Green Pump Purp Cop): http://bit.ly/32e23VR

Head- Bite Me Big Dude Goby Head (1/2 oz): http://bit.ly/2CV3o7S


A-Rig... 

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

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

Baits- Keitech 4.8" Fat Swing Impact (Pro Blue Red Pearl): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v


Neko... 

Bait- Yamamoto 5" Senko (Electric Shad): http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

Hook- Owner Weedless Finesse Sniper Neko (Size 1/0): https://bit.ly/2zXirRH

Harness- G7 Protect Tube: http://bit.ly/2PWEkUs

Weight- Swagger Tungsten Pagoda Nail (1/16 oz): http://bit.ly/2iGNSFW


Tim's Electronics/Autochart Live... 

Unit- Humminbird Solix 15: https://bit.ly/35HuPRY

Mapping- LakeMaster Plus Digital Charts: http://bit.ly/2Dk5Erc

Map Making- Humminbird AutoChart Live: http://bit.ly/2unEs8y


Swimbait Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis GLX 893C JWR: http://bit.ly/2gqziwT

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

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


A-Rig Combo... 

Rod- Dobyns Champion Extreme 784 7'8" Heavy: http://bit.ly/2ab2kRX

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

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

Leader- Sunline FC-100 Fluorocarbon 20 lb: http://bit.ly/2O4UElB


Budget Swimbait/Heavy Tube Combo... 

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

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

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


NEW Tactical Bassin Apparel... 

TacticalBassin Hat: https://bit.ly/31EYB8W

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

Tim winter fishing web.jpg

Fishing 3 States In 3 Days! Awesome Fall Bass Fishing Road Trip!

Come along as we explore new lakes in new states! We're throwing everything from crankbaits and swimbaits, to jigs and dropshot, to catch a pile of bass! We stick great big Smallmouth, beautiful Spotted Bass, and a few Largemouth too! Watch as we dissect 3 very different fisheries in 3 days and build patterns that produce consistent bites each day. Next, take that information home and use it to catch more fish on your own lake!

Whether you're driving across state lines or fishing right in your back yard, you can use this information to break down the lakes and ponds around you. Bass are feeding heavily before Winter and you can catch some really nice fish if you target them strategically instead of just going down the bank. Watch as we adapt to different conditions on different lakes, switch between lure styles at different times of day, and always keep an eye peeled for busting fish on the surface in the Fall!

Below you'll find links to the baits we caught our fish on each day. Its separated into day's one through three, with bait that caught the biggest bass of the day listed first. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 


Day One Baits...

Matt's Crankbait- R2S Tactical DD 75 (Mirrored Minnow): http://bit.ly/37dclbX

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

Matt's Swimbait Head- Guppy Head 1/8 oz with 1/0 (Gizzard Shad): http://bit.ly/2nyUJRS

Coop's Jig- Jewel 7/16 Pee-Wee Football Jig (First Down): https://bit.ly/2IkGi20

Coop's Jig Trailer- Rage Baby Menace (Green pumpkin): http://bit.ly/2DSrZK3


Day Two Baits... 

Coop's Jig- Jewel 7/16 Pee-Wee Football Jig (First Down): https://bit.ly/2IkGi20

Coop's Jig Trailer- Rage Baby Menace (Green pumpkin): http://bit.ly/2DSrZK3

Crankbait- R2S Tactical DD 75 (Ghost Minnow): http://bit.ly/37dclbX

Lipless- Lucky Craft LV-500 (Phantom Chart Shad): http://bit.ly/2aAUUbd

Matt's Topwater- SG Prop Walker 4" Dirty Silver (Back Order Available): https://bit.ly/3kwBFAa

Coop's Topwater- R2S Rover 128 (Herring): http://bit.ly/2acSVea

GlideBait- R2S S-Waver 168 (Rainbow Trout): http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh


Day Three Baits...

Matt's Jig- Dirty Jigs Finesse Football 1/2 oz (Green Pumpkin Craw): http://bit.ly/2d2apsm

Matt's Jig Trailer- Yamamoto Double Tail 5" Grub (Cinnamon Blk Pr): http://bit.ly/2db9w1p

Finesse Jig- Keitech Tungsten Football 1/2 oz (Brown/Purple): http://bit.ly/2FDQ3o1

Finesse Jig Trailer- Z Man TRD CrawZ (Green Pumpkin): http://bit.ly/2U9vx6P

GlideBait- R2S S-Waver 168 (Rainbow Trout): http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

Crankbait- R2S Tactical DD 75 (Ghost Minnow): http://bit.ly/37dclbX

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

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

Weight- Swagger Tungsten 3/16 oz: http://bit.ly/2V2B63h


Glide Bait Combo... 

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

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

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

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


Football Jig Combo... 

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

Reel- Shimano Chronarch MGL 150 HG: http://bit.ly/2n8DghB

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

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


Crankbait Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis 906 CBR: http://bit.ly/2og0BmK

Reel- Shimano Bantam MGL 150 HG: http://bit.ly/2H44yjG

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


Budget Crankbait Combo...

Rod- St Croix Bass X 7'2" MH Moderate: http://bit.ly/2r0xWAs

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

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


NEW Tactical Bassin Apparel... 

TacticalBassin Hat: https://bit.ly/31EYB8W

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

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Bank Fishing and Kayaking Small River For Bass and Musky!

This creek is FULL of bass and musky! Come along as we drift a new river in search of anything that will bite! We find smallmouth, largemouth, and GIANT muskie as we kayak through deep pools and shallow riffles. With no expectations and no information we adapt to the changing conditions, catching fish on everything from topwater to crankbaits. We even get the opportunity to throw big baits at some fired up musky!

Today’s video is all about relaxing and having a good time. When we arrived in East Tennessee we knew that river drifting in the kayaks was going to be a great opportunity for all sorts of species and this is our first chance to get out and try it. We anticipated big smallmouth in this stream but we had no idea that 4’ long predators would be lurking in every pool! Thankfully Matt had packed a travel rod and a couple big baits just in case… while he never connected on a musky, he had multiple opportunities throughout the day as fish chased and reacted to his glide bait. 

If you’ve never considered travel rods they’re a great option for bringing rods along in tight spaces like the kayak. We use travel rods when traveling out of the country but they’ve proven to be invaluable for last second trips. Because they pack down  so small they’re great for keeping in the car, truck, or kayak “just in case”.  

Below you’ll find a breakdown of the gear we were using throughout the day including the rods, travel rods, and kayaks. The bait and equipment links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. The kayak link goes directly to the manufacturer's website where you can get more information on the Sportsman Series kayak. 

Topwater... 

-Megabass Pop X Popper: https://bit.ly/3i9T3sg

-River2Sea Whopper Plopper 75 (Phantom Shad): http://bit.ly/2bsPbQV

Ned Rig... 

Bait- Roboworm 3" (Black Blue Pumpkin): http://bit.ly/2j9F0Xy

Hook- Swagger Tungsten 1/8 oz Ned Head: http://bit.ly/2KcIB6M

Stick Bait... 

Bait- Yamamoto 4" Senko (Watermelon): http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

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

Finesse Swimbait... 

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

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

Crankbait... 

Bait- Megabass Super-Z Z1 Squarebill: https://bit.ly/2Y9dkHB

Colors: Mat Craw 2, Wild Craw

Glidebait... 

Bait- River2Sea S-Waver 200: http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

Color: Bone

Kayak...

Old Town Sportsman Autopilot 136: https://bit.ly/3h9ngaS

Finesse Crankbait Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 7'2" Deep Flex 864 CBR: http://bit.ly/2og0BmK

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

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

Finesse Spinning Combo... 

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

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

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

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

Budget Finesse Spinning Combo... 

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

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

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

Leader- Maxima Ultragreen 8 lb Mono: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Travel Rods are an amazing option when space and storage are an issue. Today Matt was using an older version of an F5 Swimbait travel rod paired with a Tranx 300 casting reel. There are a variety of widely available travel rods at various budgets to meet the needs of every angler. If you're interested in giving them a try here are some of our favorites. 

Travels Rods... 

High End Casting- Megabass Triza Series: https://bit.ly/2Glg3au

Budget Casting- Daiwa Ardito TR Travel: https://bit.ly/36f22pT

Budget Spinning- Daiwa Ardito TR Travel: https://bit.ly/3n3MIT2

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

creek web.jpg