Summer Bass Fishing! Epic Topwater Bite + Ledge Fishing Tips!

Ledge fishing, topwater in shallow backwaters, grass fishing, and fast moving current... Chickamauga is a junk fishing paradise and today we're going exploring! Come along as we catch them out deep on the ledges and dirt shallow on topwater in the same day! 

Matt starts the day off with 16 rods rigged and on deck. He has absolutely no pattern in mind and is going to adapt to the fish. He begins out deep, catching a few fish on ledges in heavy current before deciding to move shallow. The day takes a twist when the topwater bite fires up! Watch as a few blow ups on a frog and walking bait becomes a full-blown predictable pattern. 

Below you'll find links to the exact baits and equipment we were using throughout the day. We've included sizes and colors where relevant as well as a few different options of the "MBR" rods Matt was raving about at the end. 


Scrounger... 

Head- Hog Farmer Hog Wobbler 3/4 oz: https://bit.ly/3vBWUFj

Bait- Scottsboro 5.5" Sniper Shad: https://bit.ly/3gHTQ6t

Color: California Smelt

Alternative Bait- Castaic Jerky J 5": https://bit.ly/35y8w1p

Color: Tennessee River Special


Tail Spinner... 

Bait- Jackall Deracoup 1/0 oz: http://bit.ly/2p8X4b0

Color: Dera Shad

Hook Upgrade- Gamakatsu Finesse Nano (Size 4): http://bit.ly/2dWWAut


Frog... 

Scum Frog Launch Frog: https://bit.ly/3rOYQIF

Color: Leopard


Topwater...

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

Color: Half Mirror Wakasagi


Matt's Topwater Combo... 

**These Rods ARE Available For BackOrder**

Rod- G Loomis NRX+ 844C MBR: https://bit.ly/2SuZG15

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

Line- Sufix 131 Braid 40 lb: https://bit.ly/314VoyF

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


"Bang For The Buck" MBR Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis IMX PRO 844C MBR: http://bit.ly/2lVATTC

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

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

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


Tail Spinner Combo... 

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

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

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


Scrounger Combo... 

Rod- Megabass Orochi XX "Braillist": http://bit.ly/2OSVNwH

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

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

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


Want TacticalBassin Gear?  

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

Summer Gear Review! Topwater, Crankbaits, Jigs, and Soft Plastics!

Let's see what's new! We've been testing a variety of new baits and today we're showing the best of the best! We've got a unique topwater, new frogs, crankbaits, swimbaits, and more. Summer is a great time to catch fish and there are some great new designs available to help you do just that. Some of today's baits are great improvements on existing designs, while others are truly unique creations. Let's take a look!

To kick it off we've got 3 topwater lures. The first is a custom approach to front runners that is going to help a lot of anglers catch schooling bass. After that we've got the complete redesign of the the Snagproof line of frogs, and finally a new size in the Spro Bronzeye series. 

For crankbaits we've got the Jackall Digle which takes a familiar Jackall shape and couples it with an awesome bill that will let the bait go anywhere. Next is a giant crankbait that reaches ultra-deep but fishes comfortably on mid-sized gear. 

From there we've got a new twist on the Savage Gear bluegill, a true handmade finesse jig, and a very unique soft plastic to round out the group. You'll find links to all the products list below. We've included our favorite colors, sizes, and rigging components when relevant. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 


Front Runner... 

-PH Lure Phront Runner: https://bit.ly/3wJIdkH

Favorite Color- Foil Black


Frogs... 

-SnagProof Phat Frog: https://bit.ly/3vCrnTv

Favorite Colors- Grey Ghost, Green Pumpkin


-Spro Bronzeye Poppin Frog 70: https://bit.ly/3iVW03I

Favorite Colors- Nasty Shad, Navy Seal, Killer Gill


Crankbaits... 

-Jackall Digle: https://bit.ly/2Uip6A6

Favorite Colors- Ghost AR Shad, SK Shad, Blueback Chartreuse


-Duel Hardcore Bullet 7+: https://bit.ly/3gH0hGB

Favorite Colors- Sexy Shad, Holographic Shad

Optional Hook Size Upgrade- Owner ST-36 Size 1: http://bit.ly/2cWpeyw


Swimbait... 

-Savage Gear 3D RTF Bluegill: https://bit.ly/3gGH7R8

Favorite Colors- Bluegill, Black Gill


Jig... 

Nishine Lure Works Finesse Football: https://bit.ly/3gIKmrz

Favorite Colors- Pumpkin Pepper, Watermelon Candy

Trailer In Video- Z Man TRD Bugz (MudBug): http://bit.ly/2oiavEE

Hellgramite... 

-Tackle HD Ned Mite: https://bit.ly/3q9VssH

Favorite Colors- Green pumpkin Orange, Green Pumpkin Goby

Head Used- Swagger Tungsten Flanders (1/10th): http://bit.ly/2KcIB6M


Discontinued Jackall Favorites... 

-Muscle Deep Crankbaits: https://bit.ly/35BMOtg

-Aska SR Squarebills: https://bit.ly/2UasX1U

-Aragon Jointed Crank: https://bit.ly/3vC2tUh

-Giron Swimbait: https://bit.ly/3gEHyKw

-Clone Gill Softbait: https://bit.ly/35B7l1l


Favorite Frog Combo... 

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

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

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


BIG Crankbait Combo...

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 968 CBR: http://bit.ly/2og0BmK

Reel- Shimano Tranx 200 (HG): http://bit.ly/2Tv0yCy

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


Want TacticalBassin Gear?  

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

Summer Frog Fishing On Chickamauga!

Come along for an awesome frog bite! We're fishing Chickamauga on a hot, humid day and the bass are smashing topwater! Watch as Tim builds a pattern, uses river current to his advantage, and switches between frogs to catch as many fish as possible. 

Chick has seen an incredible amount of pressure this Spring. With a seemingly unending list of tournaments, Tim opted to fish from his kayak instead of the bass boat. It allowed him to reach deep into backwaters where bass boats can't reach and target fish that are far less pressured. His strategy paid off as he found plenty of fish willing to attack his frogs!

Below you'll find links to the exact baits and equipment Tim was using. We've included the lure colors, rods, reels, and even the kayaks. All the bait and gear links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. The kayak links go directly to the Old Town company website where you can see detailed specs on the kayaks. 


Frogs... 

-Teckel Sprinker Frog: http://bit.ly/2rmnqSI

Color: Pearl White

-Scum Frog Trophy Series 5/8 oz: https://bit.ly/3q2bN2w

Color: Rotten Egg


Tim's Frog Combo... 

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

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

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


Budget Frog Combo... 

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

Reel- Shimano SLX DC (HG): http://bit.ly/2LWzw2Q

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


Kayaks... 

Tim's Kayak- Old Town Sportsman Autopilot 120: https://bit.ly/32ySIuZ

Pedal Drive Kayak- Old Town Sports PDL 120: https://bit.ly/3gxM4Mf


Want TacticalBassin Gear?  

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

Where Do Bass Go During Summer? (And How To Catch Them)

Summer bass fishing is really fun once you know where to look! Many anglers lose track of the fish and struggle to get a bite, but it doesn't have to be that way. You can catch fish all day long, even in the heat of the day once you understand how their movements and feeding patterns change. Once you're ahead of the fish, its non-stop action! Let's take a look at where they are and how to catch them. 

During Summer the bass break into two distinct schools. The first goes shallow into cover and the second heads out to main lake structures. The shallow fish are fun because you can target them with a variety of power fishing techniques, our favorite are frogging, flipping, and throwing swim jigs. The fish on outside structures group up around current when available and large structures when the water is calm. These fish can be caught on wobble heads, crankbaits, worms, jigs, and a variety of other lures. 

Don't let the pressure steer you away, summer is prime time for bass! Below is a breakdown of the lures and equipment we use to target Summer bass. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 


Deep Diving Crankbaits… 

-Strike King 10XD: http://bit.ly/2gHT4F0

Colors- Chart Blue Back, Powder Blue Back, Chartreuse Sexy Shad

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

Colors- Chart Blue Back, Powder Blue Back, Chartreuse Sexy Shad

-Rapala DT20 and DT16: http://bit.ly/2BL0UYl

Colors- Citrus Shad, Parrot, Shad

-Norman DD22: http://bit.ly/2LKB37w

Colors- Chartreuse Sexy Shad, Tropical Shad, Sexy Shad


Squarebill Crankbaits… 

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

Colors- Abalone Shad, TSMinnow, T1000

-Rapala BX Brat: http://bit.ly/2qFBMiR

Colors- Chartreuse Shad, Silver, Hot Dang

-Luhr Jensen Speed Trap: https://bit.ly/3ccfJbV

Colors- Chartreuse Shad, Crystal Chart Blue, Gun Metal Shad


Swing Head Jigs… 

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

Size: 3/4 oz with 5/0 Hook

Bait #1- Zoom Z-Craw: http://bit.ly/2vW7Jo5

Colors- Junebug

Bait #2- Xzone Adrenaline Craw: https://bit.ly/3ebTO5h

Colors- Junebug


Boot Tail Swimbait… 

Bait- Keitech 4.8” Fat Swing Impact: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Colors-Electric Shad, Pro Blue Red Pearl

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

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


Stick Bait… 

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

Colors: Green Pumpkin, Natural Shad, Baby Bass

Weightless Hook- Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap 1/0: http://bit.ly/2aKGmHM

Neko Hook- Owner Weedless Sniper Finesse: https://bit.ly/2zXirRH

Neko Weight- Swagger Tungsten Pagoda (3/32): http://bit.ly/2iGNSFW


Shaky Head Worm… 

Head- Dirty Jigs Canterbury 1/8 oz: http://bit.ly/2aFOs0V

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

Colors: Junebug, Kentucky Special


Frog… 

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

Colors: Little Allen, Bluegill, Ghost

-Jackall Kaera: http://bit.ly/2Fz6SA3

Colors: Glitter Bluegill, Glitter Hasu


Walking Baits… 

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

Colors: Bone, Abalone Shad, Sooner

-Teckel Kicknocker: http://bit.ly/2nvxkoA

Colors: Bone, Bluegill, Threadfin Shad


Frog Fishing Combo... 

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

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

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


Deep Diving Crankbait Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 968 CBR: http://bit.ly/2og0BmK

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

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


Budget Crankbait Combo...

Rod- St. Croix Bass X 7'4" Medium Heavy Moderate: http://bit.ly/2r0xWAs

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

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


Want TacticalBassin Gear?  

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