Best Baits To "Free Rig" For Spring Bass!

Have you tried the "Free Rig" yet? The subtle action of the Free Rig has been outperforming both the Texas Rig and Carolina Rig in a lot of situations! It's a fish catcher that's it's here to stay, and these tips will help you use it effectively. Not all baits are created equal, but Tim has been exploring this technique for several years and has some key tips to help you catch fish.

The Free Rig isn't new, but is continuing to gain popularity! It shines around stumps, laydowns, docks, and grass. Bass that have become conditioned to traditional presentations continue to fall for this subtle approach. The benefit of this rig is it allows your bait to fall very slowly, while still keeping great contact with the bottom.

Below you'll find links to Tim's favorite baits for free rigging, along with the gear he uses to fish them effectively. We've also included our favorite colors for each bait to help you get started. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.

HOOKS AND WEIGHTS...

Light Wire Hook– Hayabusa Round Bend: https://bit.ly/3Zbo8Ty

Sizes: 2/0 for small profiles, 4/0 for large

Heavy Wire Hook– Owner Cover Shot HD: https://bit.ly/36Gunbf

Sizes: 1/0 - 3/0

Wide Gap Hook– Gamakatsu Offset EWG: https://bit.ly/2d07gvp

Sizes: 3/0 - 4/0

Heavy Weight– Reins Heavy Tungsten: https://bit.ly/47iSN4V

Size: 1/2 oz

Standard Weight– Swagger Tungsten Casting Pencil: https://bit.ly/2YAoMuv

Size: 1/8 - 3/8 oz

Light Weight– Zappu Pinfree Shot Tungsten: https://bit.ly/48750Kw

Size: 1/8 - 3/16 oz

CRAW BAITS...

•XZone Adrenaline Craw Jr (3.5"): https://bit.ly/3ebTO5h

Colors: Green Pumpkin Blk Flake, Tilapia

•OSP DoLive Beaver: https://bit.ly/3ECnepu

Colors: Green Pumpkin Pepper, Watermelon Pepper

•Crush City Bronco Bug: https://bit.ly/4aUfkGv

Colors: Black Blue Green Pumpkin, Green Pumpkin

CREATURE BAITS...

•MissileBaits Baby D Stroyer: https://bit.ly/3248BXL

Colors: Super Bug, Green Pumpkin

•MissileBaits D Stroyer: https://bit.ly/2QiTTrM

Colors: Super Bug, Green Pumpkin

SHAD/GILL PROFILES...

•GeeCrack Bellows Shad: https://bit.ly/3E4zVdl

Colors: Electric Shad, AJ's Juice

•GeeCrack Bellows Gill: https://bit.ly/3PUJgbL

Colors: Electric Shad, Green Pumpkin Blue Flake

•Zoom Super Fluke: https://bit.ly/2aqys0H

Colors: Baitfish, Smokin Shad, Electric Shad

TIM'S FAVORITE COMBO...

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

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

Line– Sufix 131 Braid (30 lb): https://bit.ly/314VoyF

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

SPINNING COMBO...

Rod– Shimano Zodias 7'2" Medium Light+ Fast: https://bit.ly/2jOUXAO

Reel– Shimano Vanford 3000: https://bit.ly/2gu84t7

Line– Seaguar SmackDown Braid (15 lb): https://bit.ly/43KGHQH

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

BUDGET COMBO...

Rod– Cashion Element 6'9" Medium XFast: https://bit.ly/48w69eC

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

Line– Sunline FC (12 lb): https://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

TACTICALBASSIN LURE DESIGNS (AND APPAREL)

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

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

Spring Fishing Tips For Bass! ( Dropshot, Chatterbait, Glide Bait )

Spring bass fishing is awesome... if you're willing to adapt! One minute you've got a dropshot in your hand, the next minute you're slinging a glide bait. As conditions change, you have to adapt with them if you want to consistently catch fish. Come along for a fun day with Tim and the boys. Watch how they adapt to changing conditions and learn as Tim teaches them about Spring bass fishing.

The guys started out with a plan to power fish but quickly realized they had to adapt. The dropshot and shaky head saved the day until the conditions began shifting. Once the light got a little lower, the power fishing techniques came back into play, with multiple fish on chatterbaits and glide baits. Keep an open mind, be willing to adapt, and you'll take your Spring bass fishing to new heights!

Below you'll find links to the exact baits and gear the guys were using. We've included the exact colors and sizes, and even the rod and reel combos. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.

THE DROPSHOT...

Worm– MissileBaits 6" Magic Worm: https://bit.ly/3T7dHgB

Color: PB & J

Hook– Owner Cover Shot HD: https://bit.ly/36Gunbf

Size: 2

Weight– Swagger Tungsten Pencil Dropshot: https://bit.ly/2UY7cgx

Size: 1/4 oz

THE SHAKEY HEAD...

Worm– Netbait Baitfuel Finesse Worm: https://bit.ly/43iBmzX

Color: Tilapia Magic, Green Pumpkin

Hook– Dirty Jigs Canterbury Shakey: https://bit.ly/2aFOs0V

Size: 3/16 oz

THE CHATTERBAIT...

•ZMan Elite Evo (1/2 oz): https://bit.ly/3OAGB8y

Color: Electric Shad

•Hog Farmer 4.5" Spunk Shad: https://bit.ly/2UFkCD7

Color: Electric Shad

THE GLIDE BAIT...

•River2Sea S Waver 168: https://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

Color: Warden Hitch

Hook Upgrade– Owner ST 56 Treble: https://bit.ly/2cVg7xW

Size: 2

TIM'S POWER SHOT COMBO...

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

Reel– Shimano Curado 70 MGL (XG): https://bit.ly/2apmDJt

Braid– Sufix 131 (30 lb): https://bit.ly/314VoyF

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

JD'S BUDGET POWER SHOT COMBO...

Rod– Shimano SLX A 6'10" Medium Heavy: https://bit.ly/2L3wppO

Reel– Shimano SLX 150 XT (HG): https://bit.ly/2BRTYL8

Line– Seaguar Basix (12 lb): https://bit.ly/38c1HHr

CHATTERBAIT COMBO...

Rod– G Loomis IMX Pro 883C BJR: http://bit.ly/2QurcHi

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

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

Leader– Sunline Saltimate System Shock 20 lb: https://bit.ly/3oT1oq2

GLIDE BAIT COMBO...

Rod– Shimano Expride B 7'6" Medium heavy: https://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

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

Line– Sufix 832 (65 lb): https://bit.ly/2ae93Ji

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

TACTICALBASSIN LURE DESIGNS (AND APPAREL)

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

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

How To Find Bass In A Shallow Lake! ( Breaking Down A New Lake )

Come along as we explore a new lake! As Tim drops the trolling motor in a lake with no map, he immediately realizes he's faced with giant shallow flats and endless grass. How will he break it down? Where will he start? Come along as he puts the pieces together and catches a nice limit on a new lake!

Tim's first move in a new lake was to target visible cover. If this had worked, his day would have been easy. Unfortunately, bass weren't on visible cover (this is common). Once he realized the bass were in the grass he started to grind, looking for grass edges, pockets, and openings. Anything "different" from the expansive grass as key to his bites.

Below you'll find links to the exact baits and gear he used throughout the day. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.

GLIDE BAIT...

•River2Sea S Waver 168: https://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

Color: Party Crasher

UNDERSPIN...

•Xzone 4.75" Swammer: https://bit.ly/2PogV0q

Color: Green Pumpkin Blue Flake

•Owner Flashy Swimmer: https://bit.ly/2e8O4Y7

Size: 5/0 with 1/4 oz

POWER SHOT...

Worm– MissileBaits 6" Magic Worm: https://bit.ly/3T7dHgB

Color: PB&J

Hook– Owner Cover Shot HD: https://bit.ly/36Gunbf

Size: 2/0

Weight– Swagger Tungsten Vader Dropshot: https://bit.ly/3LeDf7Z

Size: 3/8 oz

S–WAVER COMBO...

Rod– Shimano Expride B 7'6" Medium heavy: https://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

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

Line– Sufix 832 (65 lb): https://bit.ly/2ae93Ji

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

POWER SHOT COMBO...

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

Reel– Shimano Curado 70 MGL (XG): https://bit.ly/2apmDJt

Braid– Sufix 131 (30 lb): https://bit.ly/314VoyF

Leader– 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 hats and hoodies! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here... 

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

Mini Underspins + Other Early Spring Tricks For Big Bass!

Get ready for a 31+ lb limit of bass with a spinning rod! Come along for an awesome day on the water! Matt is searching for prespawn bass that are moving into the shallows but what he finds is staging fish that are ready to eat! This is an action packed day full of big fish on light tackle!

Typically when we catch 30+ lbs we do it with a swimbait. Today all but 2 of the fish were caught on spinning rods with a mini underspin and a mid strolling bait. These fish were fired up and ready to feed but it took 3 hours for Matt to figure it out. Reading the conditions and being willing to adapt are critical elements of success on the water!

Below you'll find links to the exact baits and gear Matt used throughout the day. We've included the exact colors and sizes for the baits, along with the exact rod and reel combos. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.

MID STROLLING BAIT...

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

Size: 1/4 oz, 3/0 Hook

•Hog Farmer 3.5 Spunk Shad: https://bit.ly/2UFkCD7

Color: Electric Shad

UNDERSPIN SWIMBAIT...

•Dirty Jigs Tactical Mini Underspin: https://bit.ly/3JOd8UY

Size: 1/4 oz

•Xzone 3.5" Swammer: https://bit.ly/2PogV0q

Color: Pro Blue Red Pearl

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

Color: Electric Shad

UMBRELLA RIG...

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

Heads– Dirty Jigs Matt Allen Swimbait: https://bit.ly/29RrTYN

Size: 1/8 oz

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

Color: Pro Blue Red Pearl

Dummy Baits– Keitech 4" Easy Shiner: https://bit.ly/2bxJK6H

Color: Pro Blue Red Pearl

STROLLING COMBO...

Rod– Shimano Expride B 6'8" Medium: https://bit.ly/2osaj3q

Reel– Shimano Ultegra 2500: https://bit.ly/2nfApml

Line– Power Pro Braid (10 lb): https://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Leader– Sunline Super FC (8 lb): https://bit.ly/2p7fxju

UNDERSPIN COMBO...

Rod– Daiwa Steez AGS 7'1" Medium: https://bit.ly/44wVwFk

Model: Utility Player

Reel– Daiwa Certate LT 2500: https://bit.ly/35Kclij

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

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

MINI FLEX RIG COMBO...

Rod– Shimano Zodias 7'5" Heavy: https://bit.ly/2cgmMAe

Reel– Shimano Bantam MGL A (HG): https://bit.ly/2H44yjG

Line– Power Pro Maxcuatro (65 lb): https://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader– Sunline Saltimate FC (20 lb): https://bit.ly/2O4UElB

TACTICALBASSIN LURE DESIGNS (AND APPAREL)

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

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