Smallmouth Fishing Tips For Spring Bass Fishing!

Its Smallmouth Time! If you live in the North, its go time for big smallmouth! We love chasing big bronze backs and get pretty fanatical about our tackle. Come along for a deep dive into our favorite baits for consistently catching jumbo smallies throughout Spring. 

Smallmouth can be found all over the country but the Great Lakes region is the Mecca of big smallmouth. This entire region is about to fire up so today we're shedding some light on our key baits for fishing in the North. From swimbaits, to topwater, to finesse, these are the baits we rely on to catch the big ones. 

Below you'll find links to all the baits discussed in the video. We've included our favorite sizes, colors, and weights for each application. We've also included some of our favorite high-end smallmouth gear and a great budget combo as well. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

SWIMBAITS...

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

Color: Chartreuse Electric Blue

Head- Tactical Finesse Head (3/8 oz): http://bit.ly/2Pqrq3n

-Megabass Dark Sleeper (1/2 oz): http://bit.ly/2TyR1GT

Colors: Wakasagi, Haze

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

Colors: Albino, Real, Purple Haze

Head- Megabass Okashira Screw head (1/8 oz): http://bit.ly/2EpluSA

CRANKBAITS... 

-R2S Tactical DD 75: http://bit.ly/37dclbX

Colors: Ghost Minnow, Glass Minnow, Green Pumpkin Craw

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

Colors: See Thru Chart, Elegy Bone, Sexy Ayu

-Spro Rock Crawler: http://bit.ly/2BLmsVN

Colors: Goby, Phantom Brown, Phantom Green

TOPWATER... 

-Lucky Craft Gunfish 95: https://bit.ly/3MUktST

Colors: Chrome, Bone Shad

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

Colors: Bone, Full Metal, Skeleton Chartreuse

-Reaction Innovations Vixen: http://bit.ly/2rp11nr

Colors: Bone, Lime Ice

-Whopper Plopper 90: http://bit.ly/2bsPbQV

Colors: Loon, Monkey Butt, Bone

DROPSHOT RIGGING... 

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

Weight- Swagger Tungsten "Tie On" Dropshot: http://bit.ly/2YAoMuv

DROPSHOT BAITS... 

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

Colors: Green Pump orange black blu flk, Chick Magnet

-STH Finesse Crush: https://bit.ly/3s5BcIn

Colors: Smokin Joe, Magic Chart, Bang

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

Colors: Black, Natural Shad, Smoke Black Purple

TUBES... 

-Big Bite Baits Tour Tube: http://bit.ly/32e23VR

Colors: Green Pump Purp Cop Flk, Green Pump Orange

-STH Finesse Tube 2.5: https://bit.ly/3aU0oeU

Colors: Juvenile Goby, Ten Point, Dark melon Purple

TUBE HEADS... 

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

-Blade Runner Inhaler Head (1/8 oz): https://bit.ly/2NX7nYr

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

HAIR JIGS... 

-Oukast Tackle Feider Fly: http://bit.ly/2G7TBwj

Colors: Black

NED WORMS... 

-Roboworm 3" Ned Worm: http://bit.ly/2j9F0Xy

Colors: TW Black Blue Pumpkin, Desert Craw

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

Colors: 309, Big Limit 

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

Colors: Green Pumpkin Goby, Canada Craw, Goby Bryant

JIG... 

-Keitech Finesse Football (3.8 oz): http://bit.ly/2FDQ3o1

Color: Green Pumpkin Blue, Green Pumpkin Black

Trailer- Zman TRD BugZ: http://bit.ly/2oiavEE

Color: Green Pumpkin

DARK SLEEPER COMBO... 

Rod- Megabass P5 "Dark Sleeper": https://bit.ly/30GcHqb

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

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

DROPSHOT COMBO...

Rod- G Loomis NRX+ 822S DSR: https://bit.ly/2RB0oJP

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

Line- Power Pro Super Slick V2 (10 lb): https://bit.ly/3vSwa6Z

Leader- Sunline Super FC (6 lb): http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

CRANKBAIT COMBO... 

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

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

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

BUDGET FINESSE COMBO... 

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

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

Line- Sunline Super FC 7 lb: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

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

Spring Buyer's Guide: Worms, Creatures, Neds, Tubes, and Swimbaits!

In video #4 of our Spring Buyer's Guide Series we're talking soft baits for Bass! Stick baits, curly tail worms, Neds, creatures, tubes, swimbaits, and more! We took the main bait categories for Spring, then assembled our favorite baits for each. These are baits you can rely on the next time you hit the water. 

Walk into any tackle shop and there are walls and walls of soft plastics. With 1000s of soft baits on the market, its impossible to know where to start. From a distance its overwhelming but if we focus on each style of bait, we can easily narrow it down to a few key baits that catch the majority of the fish.

Below you'll find links to the exact baits shown in the video. We've included our favorite sizes and colors for each to help you make the best selections. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of the different baits. 

STICK BAITS... 

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

Colors: Green Pumpkin Watermelon Laminate, Natural Shad, Green Pumpkin Blk

-Yamamoto 6" Senko: http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

Colors: Green Pumpkin Blk, Green Pumpkin Watermelon Laminate

-Magnum Worms 10" Mag Stick: http://bit.ly/2KBhPWU

Colors: Black Blue, Green Pumpkin, Junebug

BIG WORMS... 

-Zoom Ol' Monster: http://bit.ly/2adPtjs

Colors: Junebug Red, JuneBug, Green Pumpkin

-Keitech Mad Wags Long: https://bit.ly/3dkFMLl

Colors: Junebug, Green Pumpkin Pepper, Plum

-Big Bite Bait Tour Swim: https://bit.ly/3ut2QR1

Colors: Purpletoma, 1099, Tilapia

DROPSHOT WORMS... 

-Roboworm 6" Straight Tail: http://bit.ly/2asZyH3

Colors: MMIII, Margarita Mutilator, Pro Staff Peoples Worm

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

Colors: Grn Pump Org Blk, Purp prl, Chick Magnet, Green Pumpkin Purple

-Netbait STH Crush Worm: https://bit.ly/3s5BcIn

Colors: Smokin Joe, Green Pumpkin, LON Goby Pearl

NED RIG... 

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

Colors: Green Pumpkin, Green Pumpkin Goby, MudBug

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

Colors: Green Pumpkin, Drews Craw, Canada Craw

-Roboworm 3" Ned Worm: http://bit.ly/2j9F0Xy

Colors: Desert Craw, TW Black Blue Pumpkin, Twilight

-Savage Gear Ned Salamander: https://bit.ly/3rSNi8g

Colors: Green Pumpkin Purple Copper, Mojito, MudBug

TUBE BAITS... 

-Big Bite Baits Tour Tube: http://bit.ly/32e23VR

Colors: Green Pumpkin Orange Firetail, Green Pumpkin Blue

-Netbait STH Finesse Tube: https://bit.ly/3aU0oeU

Colors: Juvenile Goby, Dark Melon Purple, Ten Point

PADDLE TAIL SWIMBAITS... 

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

Colors: Pro Blue Red Pearl, Electric Shad

-Storm Largo Shad: https://bit.ly/3vxP0NB

Colors: Pro Blue Red Pearl, Sexy Shad, Tennessee Shad

-Gambler EZ Swimmer: https://bit.ly/2OLlyUf

Colors: Gold Rush, New Shad, Tennessee Shad

CREATURE BAITS...

-Reaction Innovations Man Bear Pig: http://bit.ly/2s51oIV

Colors: Hematoma, Magic Craw Swirl, Payback

-Big Bite Baits BFE: https://bit.ly/2Ce0tf7

Colors: Tilapia, Black Blue Flake, Green Pumpkin

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

Colors: Magic Craw Swirl, Green Pumpkin Red, Tramp Stamp

-Netbait Paca Slim: http://bit.ly/2M5cuGF

Colors: Okeechobee Craw, Green Pumpkin, Black Shadow

FAVORITE TERMINAL FOR RIGGING... 

Wide Gap- Gamakatsu Superline (4/0): http://bit.ly/2ac92XG

Oversize- Owner Jungle Wide Gap (4/0): http://bit.ly/2sBsR1Z

Wacky- Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap (1/0): http://bit.ly/2aKGmHM

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

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

Tube- Blade Runner Inhaler (1/0): https://bit.ly/2NX7nYr

Swimbait- Dirty Jigs Matt Allen (3/8): http://bit.ly/29RrTYN

Weedless Swimbait- Owner Beast (4/0): http://bit.ly/2ancP66

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

Finesse Fishing Tricks For Cold Water! (How To Catch More Fish)

Your same old tricks won't work this Winter! If you're trying to catch bass the same way you do in Summer, you're in for some tough fishing! Winter fishing can be amazing but it requires a unique approach. Bass become more lethargic as water temperatures drop and subtle changes in your approach will make huge differences in your catch rate. 

Tim is covering 6 of his favorite finesse techniques and giving you the key detail that makes each method shine. If you want to be one of the anglers consistently catching fish all Winter long, pay close attention to the details. Tim learned each of these nuances through years of Winter fishing and is happily sharing them so you can enjoy your time on the water. 

Below you'll find links to the exact baits and rigging components for each technique. We've included our favorite colors, sizes, and gear where applicable. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

DROPSHOT... 

Bait- Netbait STH 3" Finesse Crush: https://bit.ly/3s5BcIn

Colors: Bang, Green Pumpkin, LON Goby Pearl

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

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

NED RIG... 

Bait- Roboworm 3" Ned Worm: http://bit.ly/2j9F0Xy

Colors: TW Black Blue Pumpkin, Aaron's Green Pumpkin

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

NEKO RIG... 

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

Colors: Watermelon Copper Orange Red, Green Pumpkin Blk Flk

Hook- Owner Sniper Finesse Neko (1/0): http://bit.ly/2kfdv37

Weight- Swagger Tungsten Pagoda (3/64): http://bit.ly/2iGNSFW

Band- VMC Crossover Ring (7MM): https://bit.ly/3w0NYdz

BALL HEAD...

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

Colors: Electric Shad, Green Pumpkin Blk Flk

Head- Missile Baits Ned Ball (3/16 oz): https://bit.ly/3e9HqSK

TUBES... 

Bait- Netbait STH 4" Tube: https://bit.ly/3aU0oeU

Colors: Green Pumpkin, Ten Point

Tube Head- Bite Me Flat Eye (1/4 oz): http://bit.ly/2diyVXK

FLOAT N FLY... 

Bait- Spro Phat Fly: http://bit.ly/2mboisG

Colors: Grey Ghost, Blue Shad

Bait- Cumberland Pro Float N Fly: http://bit.ly/2o9PE63

Colors: Grey White Blue Flash, Silver Shad Pearl Flash

Bobber- Thill Pro Series: https://bit.ly/3shJOiv

Stop- Thill Bobber Stop: https://bit.ly/30FTRCs

TIM'S DROPSHOT COMBO... 

Rod- G Loomis NRX+ 822 DSR: https://bit.ly/2RB0oJP

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

Line- Sunline SX1 10 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2tn8EzQ

Leader- Sunline Super FC 6 lb: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

"BANG FOR THE BUCK" FINESSE COMBO... 

Rod- Shimano Zodias 6'9" Medium Light: https://bit.ly/2jOUXAO

Reel- Shimano Vanford 2500: https://bit.ly/2gu84t7

Line- Power Pro Braid 10 lb: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b 

Leader- Sunline Super FC 6 lb: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

BUDGET FINESSE COMBO... 

Rod- Shimano SLX 7' Medium Light: http://bit.ly/2AdvIC1

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

Line- Sunline Super FC 7 lb: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

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

Simple Trick To Catch Bass When Its Cold!

When cold snaps hit, fishing can be brutal! Here's a quick trick we use to get fish to react and bite when they won't touch anything else! Whether they've suspended, gone deep, or just developed lock jaw, cracking a tube is a great way to catch bass in the cold. 

We all love to power fish in the Fall but when cold weather comes in, that bite can shut down in a hurry. Turning to baits like the dropshot, Neko rig, Ned rig, or slow dragging a tube are all great ways to get a bite. But if you still want to get them to react, try cracking the tube. Instead of using your standard tube head, grab a 1/2 - 3/4 ounce head. Let the bait fall to bottom then use a sharp double snap of the rod to get the bait to hop up off the bottom and fall back down on a semi-tight line. Something about these erratic movements draws a reaction strike, even during these tough conditions. 

Below you'll find links to the exact baits and equipment Tim used throughout the day. We've also included some of our other favorite baits for this technique. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

TODAY'S BAITS... 

Tube- Big Bite Tour Tube: http://bit.ly/32e23VR

Colors: Green Pump Orange Firetail, Green Pump Purp Copper

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

Dropshot- Megabass Hazedong 3": http://bit.ly/2CIwgzt

Colors: Ghost Shad, Tennessee Shad

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

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

OTHER GREAT TUBES... 

-Netbait STH 4" Finesse Tube: https://bit.ly/3aU0oeU

Colors: Frosty Pumpkin, Ten Point

-Savage Gear 4" Goby Tube: https://bit.ly/33QGXzy

Colors: Brown Pump Copper Purp, Watermelon Copper Purple

-Dry Creek 3.5" Double Dip: https://bit.ly/38BgQ15

Colors: Watermelon Craw, Bama Craw

TIM'S TUBE CRACKING COMBO... 

Rod- G-Loomis NRX+ 854C: http://bit.ly/2hedqsq

Reel- Aldebaran MGL (HG): http://bit.ly/2fdX1Uy

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

Leader- Sunline Super FC 12lb: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

TIM'S DROPSHOT SETUP... 

Rod- Expride 7' Medium: http://bit.ly/2osaj3q 

Reel- Shimano Vanford 2500: https://bit.ly/2gu84t7

Line- Power Pro 10 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Leader- Sunline Super FC 6 lb: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

"BANG FOR THE BUCK" TUBE CRACKING COMBO... 

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

Reel- Shimano Curado 70 MGL: https://bit.ly/2apmDJt

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

Leader- Sunline Super FC 12lb: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

BUDGET TUBE CRACKING COMBO... 

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

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

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

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