GIANT 9 lb BASS + Cold Water Fishing Tips!

Winter fishing is a hunt for big fish! Some days are tougher than others but you always know the right fish is just a cast away. Today was one of those days, as Tim struggled all day, but was rewarded by a MONSTER 9.24 lb largemouth! Come along for a fun day on the water!

We talk a lot about the fun patterns that Winter fishing can bring. We catch them cranking, on jerkbaits, on metal baits, and jigs. But some days, it just gets tough. For whatever reason, those tough days seem to be the days when the really big bass bite! Tim spent a full day on the water and only got one bite from a largemouth, but it was a giant bite!

Below you'll find links to the baits and gear he used throughout the day. Of course, there is a full breakdown of the A–Rig that caught the giant, but also the baits that caught drum, because those are key baits that he was using in the search for big bass. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.

STROLLING...

•Rapala Crush City Mooch Minnow: https://bit.ly/3Yn4NR6

Color: Electric Shad

•Dirty Jigs Guppy head: https://bit.ly/2nyUJRS

Size: 1/8 oz, 1/0 Hook

SPOONS AND BLADES...

•Nichols DUH Spoon (3/4 oz): https://bit.ly/4cSEVki

Color: Black Shad

•Damiki Vault Blade (1/2 oz): https://bit.ly/2rnO7e2

Color: Holo Silver

TACTICAL RIG...

•Hog Farmer Tactical Mini Flex Rig (Bladed): https://bit.ly/3uwY6Md

•Dirty Jigs Tactical Screwed Up Head: https://bit.ly/3U5RsIx

Size: 1/4 oz

•Main Baits: Keitech 3.8" Fat Swing Impact: https://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Color: Electric Shad

•Dummies: Damiki 3" Armor Shad: https://bit.ly/2KtPDAT

Color: American Shad

LURE RETRIEVERS...

Retreiver– Toothy Fishman Retriever: https://bit.ly/3Lcntfd

Knocker– StrikeZone: https://bit.ly/2csyRVT

TIM'S LAYERED COLD WEATHER CLOTHES...

Beanie– Summit Beanie: https://bit.ly/3vLCEGR

Jacket– Aftco Insulated Hydronaut: https://bit.ly/426eOnu

Bibs– Aftco Insulated Hydronaut: https://bit.ly/3FS21bC

Puffy Jacket– Crosswind Puff Hooded: https://bit.ly/4jausEt

Mid Layer Top– https://bit.ly/3Wgk2Jo

Mid Layer Bottom– https://bit.ly/3tXLIbr

Gloves– Aftco Breakwater Waterproof: https://bit.ly/3C73i0q

Boots– Aftco Deck Boot: https://bit.ly/3OhVo7z

TACTICAL MINI FLEX RIG COMBO...

Rod– Shimano Expride B 7'7" Heavy: https://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Reel– Shimano Tranx 200 A (HG): https://bit.ly/2Tv0yCy

Line– Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon (15 lb): https://bit.ly/3pF7HBK

STROLLING COMBO...

Rod– Shimano Expride B 6'10" ML XFast: https://bit.ly/2osaj3q

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

Line– Sufix 832 Braid (10 lb): https://bit.ly/2ae93Ji

Leader– Seaguar Gold Label (8 lb): https://bit.ly/3UqrUbi

BLADE BAIT COMBO...

Rod– Shimano Expride B 6'10" Medium: https://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Reel– Shimano Aldebaran MGL (HG): https://bit.ly/2fdX1Uy

Line– Sufix 832 Braid (20 lb): https://bit.ly/2ae93Ji

Leader– Seaguar Gold Label (12 lb): https://bit.ly/3UqrUbi

TACTICALBASSIN LURE DESIGNS (AND APPAREL)

We have a variety of custom lure designs and apparel available! Everything from Swimbaits and crankbaits, to apparel and merch! See it here…

•TacticalBassin Apparel and Merch: https://bit.ly/3ZxEI0z

•TacticalBassin Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz

Bass Fishing When Its COLD! Key Baits And Locations To Catch Fish!

Come along for a very cold day on the water! Matt uses a combination of power and finesse techniques to catch bass all day long! He hits the water with a plan, puts key baits to work, and catches a pile of really nice bass. Listen as he talks through fish location, bait selection, and how he adapts to changing conditions throughout the day.

Matt starts the day speed cranking for bass that have moved up to feed, then immediately switches to a football jig and a strolling bait for midday fish. He targets likely locations by studying mapping, and uses the best bait for each location, based on depth. This method of fishing is very simple, and extremely effective!

Below you'll find links to the exact baits Matt used through the day. He's included his baits, trailers, colors, etc. He's also included all of the high end combos he used to help detect subtle bites in the cold. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.

THE CRANKBAIT...

•River2Sea Tactical DD 75: https://bit.ly/37dclbX

Color: Green Pumpkin Craw

THE JIGS...

•Dirty Jigs Finesse Football Jig (5/8 oz): https://bit.ly/2d2apsm

Color: Alabama Craw

•Yamamoto 5" Double Tail Grub: https://bit.ly/2db9w1p

Color: Green Pumpkin Black Flake

•Beast Coast Fishing OW Football (1/2 oz): https://bit.ly/4gFj0yq

Color: MB Pumpkin

•Reins 3" Double Tail Grub: https://bit.ly/3ZWP3o6

Color: Green Pumpkin Black Flake

•Yamamoto 2.5" Hula Grub: https://bit.ly/497jz1m

Color: Green Pumpkin Purple Copper Flake

•Great Lakes Finesse Stealth Football: https://bit.ly/4eQjXTb

Size: 3/8 oz, 2/0 Hook

THE MINNOW...

•Rapala Crush City Mooch Minnow: https://bit.ly/3Yn4NR6

Color: Electric Shad

•VMC Redline Tungsten Ball Head: https://bit.ly/3ZIjeyd

Size: 1/4 oz

CRANKBAIT COMBO...

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

Reel– Shimano Curado 150 MGL (XG): https://bit.ly/2TQHwrP

Line– Sunline Crank FC (12 lb): https://bit.ly/3fohguC

HEAVY FINESSE FOOTBALL COMBO...

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

Model: 7' Heavy

Reel– Shimano Metanium MGL 150 B (HG): https://bit.ly/2ezIBfB

Line– Sufix 131 Braid (40 lb): https://bit.ly/314VoyF

Leader– Seaguar Gold Label (15 lb): https://bit.ly/3UqrUbi

HULA GRUB COMBO...

Rod– Shimano Poison Ultima 6'10" Medium Fast: https://bit.ly/3OfNBGe

Reel– Shimano Aldebaran MGL 50 (HG): https://bit.ly/2fdX1Uy

Line– Seaguar PEX8 Braid (24 lb): https://bit.ly/3UEhhl2

Leader– Seaguar Gold Label (10 lb): https://bit.ly/3UqrUbi

MICRO JIG COMBO...

Rod– Megabass P5 Destroyer "X Bites": https://bit.ly/2wVOSbY

Model: 7'2" Heavy Extra Fast

Reel– Shimano Metanium MGL (HG): https://bit.ly/2ezIBfB

Line– Power Pro Maxcuatro (40 lb): https://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader– Sunline Super FC (12 lb): https://bit.ly/2p7fxju

STROLLING COMBO...

Rod– Shimano Poison Adrena 6'10" Med+ Extra Fast: https://bit.ly/4c0fQmq

Reel– Shimano Stella FJ 2500: https://bit.ly/2U8Pkzg

Line– Sunline Almight Braid (16 lb): https://bit.ly/4flJrsg

Leader– Seaguar Gold Label (8 lb): https://bit.ly/3UqrUbi

TACTICALBASSIN LURE DESIGNS (AND APPAREL)

We have a variety of custom lure designs and apparel available! Everything from Swimbaits and crankbaits, to apparel and merch! See it here…

•TacticalBassin Apparel and Merch: https://bit.ly/3ZxEI0z

•TacticalBassin Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz

Top 5 Baits For January Bass Fishing!

Catching bass in January is very different than the rest of the year! Do you want to be consistent? These are the top 5 baits (actually 6) that we rely on to consistently catch bass during the coldest part of the year! Come along as we explore our confidence baits to help you catch more fish in January!

In most of the country January is the coldest month of the year. Fish are lethargic and often laying right on bottom. Finesse is the natural approach for these fish but the right reaction baits can trigger a feed response as well, even in a lethargic bass. We rely on a mix of reaction, finesse, and metal baits to consistently catch fish all through Winter.

Below you'll find links to the exact baits and gear we use in January. We've linked the exact colors, sizes, and rigging components to help you find the exact items you're looking for. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.

NED RIG...

•ZMan Finesse TRD: http://bit.ly/2hs4RtR

Color: Meat Dog

•Xzone Ned Zone: https://bit.ly/2mRiYhF

Color: Violet Secret

FOOTBALL JIG...

Jig– Dirty Jigs 5/8 oz Finesse Football: http://bit.ly/2d2apsm

Color: Supermatt Brown

Trailer– Yamamoto 5" Double Tail Grub: http://bit.ly/2db9w1p

Color: Cinn Blk Purp, Green Pump Purple Copper

CRANKBAIT...

•River2Sea Tactical DD 75: https://bit.ly/37dclbX

Colors: Glass Minnow, Ghost Minnow, True shad

•Megabass Deep X 300: https://bit.ly/2sSQHpt

Colors: Sexy Ayu, Matte Shad

MINI ALABAMA RIG...

Rig– Hog Farmer Tactical Mini Flex (Bladed): https://bit.ly/3uwY6Md

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

Baits– Xzone 4" Swammer: https://bit.ly/2PogV0q

Color: Pro Blue Red Pearl

Dummy Baits– Xzone 3.5" Swammer: https://bit.ly/2PogV0q

Color: Electric Shad

MICRO ALABAMA RIG...

Rig– Hog Farmer Tactical MICRO Flex (Bladed): https://bit.ly/3RY1wUK

Heads– ZMan Trout Eye Finesse Head (1/8 oz): https://bit.ly/3C7H1iL

Baits– Damiki 3" Armor Shad: https://bit.ly/2KtPDAT

ALABAMA RIG STORAGE...

•Tackle Warehouse Umbrella Rig Bag: https://bit.ly/3Z1xAbH

•Tackle Warehouse Umbrella Rig Tubes: https://bit.ly/40VDQoO

STROLLING...

•Hog Farmer 3" Spunk Shad: https://bit.ly/2UFkCD7

Color: Ghost Minnow, Electric Shad

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

•ZMan Graph Shadz: https://bit.ly/3Spu6xP

Colors: Tennessee Shad, Electric Shad, Smelt

SPOONS AND BLADE BAITS...

•Nichols Duh Spoon: https://bit.ly/4cSEVki

Colors: Shattered Glass Silver, Morning Dawn, Sierra

•Damiki Vault (1/2 oz): https://bit.ly/2rnO7e2

Colors: Black Holo, Real Shad

BUDGET ALABAMA RIG COMBO...

Rod– Shimano SLX A 7'5" Medium Heavy: https://bit.ly/2L3wppO

Reel– Shimano SLX A 150 (HG): https://bit.ly/2NfdOnk

Line– Power Pro Braid (50 lb): https://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Leader– Sufix Advance Green Mono (20 lb): https://bit.ly/3GJEUix

AFFORDABLE SPEED CRANKING COMBO...

Rod– St. Croix Mojo Glass Trigon 7'4" Medium Heavy: https://bit.ly/2YIxLy5

Reel– Daiwa Fuego CT (HS): https://bit.ly/35hugfH

Line– Sunline FC (15 lb): https://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

AFFORDABLE FINESSE JIG COMBO...

Rod– Shimano Intenza 6'10" Medium Heavy: https://bit.ly/3QjR9Kw

Reel– Shimano SLX 70 MGL (HG): https://bit.ly/3gIUCgJ

Line– Seaguar InvizX (15 lb): https://bit.ly/2oVsG2Y

TACTICALBASSIN LURE DESIGNS (AND APPAREL)

We have a variety of custom lure designs and apparel available! Everything from Swimbaits and crankbaits, to apparel and merch! See it here…

•TacticalBassin Apparel and Merch: http://store.tacticalbassin.com

•TacticalBassin Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz

Don't Make These 3 Winter Fishing Mistakes! (And How To Avoid Them)

Don't be caught making these mistakes! Winter bass fishing is really simple, but if you're making these mistakes you're ruining your own fishing. Subtle details like time of day, lure speed, and size, are often overlooked. These details can make or break your day, so it's time to pay attention! Avoid these mistakes and you'll catch more bass this Winter!

We all make mistakes that hurt our fishing. Some we're aware of, and some catch us off guard. If you can avoid these three, you're going to have a lot more fun this Winter! Focus on fishing during low light periods, especially early morning. Next, stop trying to be comfortable. Forget about your "go to" baits and focus on fishing the extremes. And finally, pay attention to the way you're working your bait. This isn't the time of year for aggressive shaking or hard hopping along the bottom.

Below you'll find links to the baits Tim discussed in the video. We've also included a few key budget–friendly rod and reel combos to help you fish these baits effectively. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.

BIG SWIMBAITS...

•Savage Gear 8" RTF Trout: https://bit.ly/33GROg1

Colors: Dirty Silver, Trout

•Baitsanity Trout Explorer: https://bit.ly/33bQyxY

Colors: TW Steelhead, Shad

SMALL SWIMBAITS...

•Dirty Jigs Guppy Head: https://bit.ly/2nyUJRS

Size: 1/8 oz – 1/0 Hook

•Rapala Crush City 3" Mayor: https://bit.ly/43Uhyli

Colors: Gizzard Shad, Shad

•Megabass 3" Spark Shad Swimbait: https://bit.ly/2XcLZk4

Colors: Real, Albino

SUBTLE JIGS...

•Keitech Tungsten Jig: http://bit.ly/2FDQ3o1

Size: 1/2 oz

Colors: Brown/Purple, Green Pumpkin Black

•Great Lakes Finesse Matte Finesse Jig: https://bit.ly/3Yj41mp

Size: 3/16 oz

Colors: Matte Green Pumpkin Black, Matte Black Brown

SUBTLE JIG TRAILERS...

•ZMan TRD CrawZ: http://bit.ly/2U9vx6P

Colors: Green Pumpkin, Canada Craw

•Xzone Stealth Finesse Creature: https://bit.ly/3M0BXOU

Colors: Grass Craw, Green Pumpkin Blue

SUBTLE NED RIG...

•ZMan Finesse TRD: http://bit.ly/2hs4RtR

Color: Mood Ring, PB&J

•ZMan NedLockZ EWG: https://bit.ly/3OWdp9W

Size: 1/10 oz

MICRO A–RIG...

Rig– Hog Farmer Tactical Micro Flex Rig: https://bit.ly/3RY1wUK

Heads– Z Man Finesse Trout Eye (1/8 oz): https://bit.ly/3C7H1iL

Baits– Rapala Crush City 3" Mayor: https://bit.ly/43Uhyli

Colors: Gizzard Shad

BUDGET SWIMBAIT COMBO...

Rod– Shimano SLX 7'8" Heavy: https://bit.ly/3QbMjvs

Reel– Shimano Cardiff 300: https://bit.ly/2cvhtMO

Line– Power Pro Braided Line (65 lb): https://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Leader– Seaguar Blue Label (30 lb): https://bit.ly/48EP2Hz

BUDGET FINESSE JIG COMBO...

Rod– Shimano SLX 6'10" Medium Heavy: https://bit.ly/2mGp1Vc

Reel– Shimano SLX 70 MGL (HG): https://bit.ly/3gIUCgJ

Line– Seaguar Red Label (12 lb): https://bit.ly/2LOVEwA

BUDGET SMALL SWIMBAIT/NED RIG COMBO...

Rod– St. Croix Bass X 6'10" Med Light X Fast: https://bit.ly/3xi0ren

Reel– Shimano Miravel 2500: https://bit.ly/3QZnwL5

Line– Sunline Super FC (7 lb): http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

TACTICALBASSIN LURE DESIGNS (AND APPAREL)

We have a variety of custom lure designs and apparel available! Everything from Swimbaits and crankbaits, to apparel and merch! See it here…

•TacticalBassin Apparel and Merch: https://bit.ly/3ZxEI0z

•TacticalBassin Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz