River Fishing Trophy Smallmouth On Crankbaits | How To Catch Bass In Current

Big bass are stacked up in moving water, how would you catch them? We decided on a crankbait and it was a blast! We started a feeding frenzy and the fish were lining up for their turn at the deep diving crankbait!

We were positioning our boat downstream and working the crankbaits with the current along the edges of current breaks and seams. Most of the fish ate the crankbait on the pause, resulting in hard hooksets to catch up to them on the slack line that was drifting in the current. The current was fast but the smallmouth were even faster!

There is something special about getting away from the lakes and bass fishing in creeks, streams, and rivers. Its a peaceful change of pace from our typical fishing experience. If you get a chance to get out and catch smallmouth in current be sure and do it, you won't regret it!

What were we using?

Megabass Deep X 150 Crankbait: http://bit.ly/2rWA1zt

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

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

Matt's Crankbait rod is a 7'6” custom model by Curt Demerath Fishing (facebook or instagram) but if you want a very similar production rod, the following is an awesome setup...

Rod- St. Croix Big Cranker (7'8” Medium Moderate): http://bit.ly/2bPOSpx

Reel- Shimano Aldebaran 50: http://bit.ly/2fdX1Uy

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

Hooks- Megabass Katsuage: http://bit.ly/2r9lUmI

Tim's Crankbait Setup...

Rod- Megabass Flat Side Special: http://bit.ly/2sssatO

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

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

Hooks- Megabass Katsuage: http://bit.ly/2r9lUmI

Camera Used: http://bit.ly/2iwZqqU

Sunglasses Used: http://bit.ly/2glE3eN

Tacticalbassin Apparel: Email tacticalbassinapparel@gmail.com

New Personal Best!! Tim Caught A Monster!!

7 lb Smallmouth! Tim's shattered his personal record with this new PB bass! He was throwing a small swimbait in frigid water when the monster bass bit. Check it out!

Tim used the Matt Allen swimbait head paired with a keitech to create a unique rocking action that these bass had never seen before. We were getting bit on nearly every cast when the big one made her mistake. Smallmouth, like most bass, are prone to schooling. By triggering the smaller bass we were able to fire up the school and get this giant to make a mistake. 

What an amazing fish! Huge congrats to Tim on the new personal best bass! 

Keitech 4.8 Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v
Matt Allen Swimbait Head 1/4 oz: http://bit.ly/29RrTYN

Tim's Equipment... 
Rod- G Loomis NRX 7'5" XH: http://bit.ly/2hedqsq
Reel- Shimano Antares: http://bit.ly/2ha2zNI
Line- 50 lb Sufix 832 Braid: http://bit.ly/2ae93Ji
Leader- 15 lb Maxima Ultragreen: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Reasonably Priced Combo for the average angler...
Rod- Shimano Zodias 7'2" Heavy: http://bit.ly/2cgmMAe
Reel- Shimano Curado 70: http://bit.ly/2apmDJt
Line- 50 lb Sufix 832 Braid: http://bit.ly/2ae93Ji
Leader- 15 lb Maxima Ultragreen: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Our favorite life jacket: http://bit.ly/2odXXIP
Our favorite sunglasses: http://bit.ly/2glE3eN
Camera: http://bit.ly/2iwZqqU
Scale: http://bit.ly/2f7QgQ9

Smallmouth bass are amazing predators. They thrive across the country in cold and warm water alike. These bronzebacks are incredible fighters and feed aggressively, even in the coldest of water. Keep an eye on the channel as there is an entire series of smallmouth videos coming soon!

Awesome Underwater Footage of Smallmouth Bass Strikes!

Watch an underwater perspective of a Smallmouth in its natural environment as it defends its bed against incoming lures. The fish viciously attacks the craw every time it comes close! 

Smallmouth are amazing predators and when its time for them to spawn they become incredibly aggressive as they defend their nest. If you've never sight fished for Smallmouth you need to give it a try this year!

Gear Used....
Huddle Bug: http://bit.ly/2qSQ3K1
Football Jighead: http://bit.ly/2dR4g5n

If Huddlebugs are out of stock this is a great alternative that catches fish equally well: http://bit.ly/2rNYFj8

Shimano Expride 6'10" Medium: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL
Chronarch MGL 150: http://bit.ly/2n8DghB
20 lb Sufix 832 Braided Line: http://bit.ly/2ae93Ji
10 lb Maxima Ultragreen Leader: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Camera Used: GoPro Hero5: http://bit.ly/2iwZqqU

White is a great color when targeting spawning bass because you can easily see when the fish picks it up but don't be fooled, the bass are often more aggressive on natural colors. If white isn't working, mix it up and try a natural bait color.