GIANT Bass In A Lake Full Of Predators!

We're on a SMALL Lake full of BIG predators! The plan is to target bass but we've got to avoid the musky and pike to make it happen. How do you find bass in a lake like this? We're about to find out! The plan is to target bass that are moving into the shallows as the water warms up. Come along for a fun day full of GIANT Smallmouth!

We began the day by looking shallow. In clear water fisheries your best bet is often to simply look, don't even make a cast. If the water is murky, use a fast moving search bait as your eyes to determine if the fish have moved in. Once we established the fish had moved up, the hunt for the big ones began! The first bite of the day came from a musky, the second from a 5 lb smallmouth!

We spent the day targeting bass in and around cover. Even the big bass are wary to mix with the big pike and musky for fear of becoming a snack. Despite the presence of heavy cover, we focused on 5-6 lb fluorocarbon line to fool the clear water bass into biting. We used a variety of baits to target these fish, catching them on nearly everything we threw. Below is a breakdown of the baits and gear we used to make this day a success!

The baits...

-Roboworm FX Sculpin (Oxblood Light Red Flake): http://bit.ly/2XMbwoQ

-Megabass Okashira Screwhead (Real Minnow): http://bit.ly/2EpluSA

-Keitech Fat 3.3 (Pro Blue Red Pearl): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

-Dry Creek Tube (Green Pumpkin): http://bit.ly/2cJwI6r

-Zoom Super Fluke (Houdini): http://bit.ly/2aqys0H

-Strike King Half Shell (KVD Magic): http://bit.ly/2iR9awm

Worm Rod...

Rod- Conquest 902S SJR: http://bit.ly/2BiGUNi

Reel- Shimano Stradic Ci4+ 2500: http://bit.ly/2gu84t7

Line- Sunline Sniper 5 lb: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

(This rod was selected for its incredible sensitivity and parabolic action. It was the perfect match for 5 lb fluorocarbon against BIG fish. Its a rare combination of sensitivity and flex.)

Keitech/Screwhead Rod...

Rod- Shimano Expride 6'10" Medium Light: http://bit.ly/2osaj3q

Reel- Shimano Stella FJ 2500: http://bit.ly/2U8Pkzg

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

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

Budget-Friendly Finesse Combo...

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

Reel- Nasci 1000 FB: http://bit.ly/2g278cC

Line- 6 lb Sunline Sniper: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

NEW PB!! Trophy Smallmouth - Sturgeon Bay, WI

3 new PERSONAL BEST smallmouth bass on one lake!! CC and Tonya both got to catch monster Smallmouth on finesse tackle and Tim's son JD (6 years old) got in on the action with a 5.26 lber of his own!! What an amazing trip! Come along with us for some amazing fishing on world famous Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.

We planned this trip over a year ago and were actually en route when Matt got into his terrible car crash. Fast forward a year and we all regrouped and came together for Sturgeon Bay round 2! The weather didn't play nice but we would not be stopped... we pushed through the wind and rain and found exactly what we came there for.

Despite the tough fishing reports leading up to our arrival, we had an amazing time on Lake Michigan. Our group caught several smallmouth over 6 lbs, more than a dozen 5 lbers, and countless 3's and 4's. Wisconsin did not disappoint! If you ever get the chance to fish Sturgeon Bay be sure and make it happen. Thanks for coming along with us on our vacation!

Below is a breakdown of our favorite baits from the trip as well as a couple of the combos that really performed while fighting these monster fish.

The baits...

-Keitech 4" Easy Shiner: http://bit.ly/2bxJK6H (Tennessee Shad)

-Megabass Okashira Screw Head: http://bit.ly/2EpluSA

-Keitech 3.3" Fat Swing Impact Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v (Electric Shad, Goby, Chartreuse Blue)

Megabass Dark Sleeper: http://bit.ly/2TyR1GT (Donko, Haze, Wakasagi)

-Dry Creek 3.5" Tube: http://bit.ly/2cJwI6r (Green Pumpkin)

-Strike King Half Shell: http://bit.ly/2iR9awm (Green Pumpkin Purple, KVD Magic)

-Outcast Tackle Feider Fly 1/16 oz: http://bit.ly/2G7TBwj (Black)

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

Matt's Combo for hair jigs, and other ultralight presentations...

Rod- Conquest 902 SJR: http://bit.ly/2BiGUNi

Reel- Stradic Ci4+ 2500: http://bit.ly/2gu84t7

Line- Sunline Sniper Fluorocarbon 5 lb: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Tim's Combo For Dark Sleeper, Keitech, and Screw Head...

Rod- NRX 852C JWR: http://bit.ly/2hedqsq

Reel- Aldebaran MGL: http://bit.ly/2uQ4oH8

Line- 20 lb Power Pro Maxcuatro: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- 10 lb Sunline Assassin: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

Ultra Clear Water Fishing For BIG Bass!

Have you seen water this clear? Tim found schools of giant bass and panfish holding on current seams in fast moving water. He's sight fishing them as they feed in the current. If you've ever seen water this clear you know how intimidating it can be but by adapting your equipment and carefully selecting the right bait you can catch some truly GIANT fish. The best part of all is you get to watch them bite!

As Tim explains in the video the fish are holding on the seam between fast moving current and the eddies. He uses a 1/4 ounce Ned rig to get the bait down as quickly as possible then bumps it down the current toward the bass. The concept is very similar to back bouncing a bait for salmon or steelhead.

The key to fishing in water this clear is gear selection. Light fluorocarbon is essential as is a rod and reel that can withstand the screaming runs that these big smallmouth make in current. If your line is too heavy the fish refuse to bite, too light and you'll break off. The same goes for rods and reels. Too heavy, you'll break off every time but too light and you'll never gain control of the fish. Below is a breakdown of the tackle Tim was using to catch this awesome limit of bass!

The tackle...

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

(TW Black Blue Pumpkin, Desert Craw)

Hook-Z Man LockZ HD Head 1/5 oz: http://bit.ly/2kIgRYK

Ultrex Trolling Motor: http://bit.ly/2vFQypW

Rod/Reel Combo...

Rod- G Loomis Conquest 902S: http://bit.ly/2BiGUNi

Reel- Shimano Stella 3000: http://bit.ly/2U8Pkzg

Line- Sunline SX1 Braid 12 lb: http://bit.ly/2FngUkQ

Leader- Sniper Fluorocarbon 5 lb: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

All-Around Combo...

Rod- Megabass Levante 2019 Whipsnake: http://bit.ly/2Ibeo70

Reel- Ultegra 2500: http://bit.ly/2nfApml

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

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

Budget Friendly Combo...

Rod- Dobyns Fury 7' Med Light: http://bit.ly/2e7HZPF

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

Line- 8 lb Sunline Sniper: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

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Lake Cumberland - Catching Fish In A New Lake

How do you find fish in a new lake? Where do you look and how do you target them? Come along with Matt for a day on Lake Cumberland in Kentucky. With no outside information and little more than a map to guide the way, he covers water and locates feeding bass.

Whether you're in the PNW, the Midwest, or deep in the South, bass all behave the same way. Once you understand their feeding habits and basic movements they become highly predictable. Don't let a new fishery frighten you, its not that hard to find fish.

During the cold months we typically start by exploring the backs of deep pockets and creeks. If you can locate baitfish with your electronics you're already off to a great start! Pay attention to the depth of those baitfish and repeat the process in a different location until you find baitfish with bass around them.

Once you've located fish it simply comes down to confidence. Pull out your favorite lures, those baits you've got the most confidence in, and begin targeting those bass. If you don't have confidence baits look below, you'll find a break down of the lures and gear Matt had the confidence to use on his first visit to Cumberland.

The Baits...

Yellow Magic Popper- http://bit.ly/2al0dKP

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

Keitech 2.8 Swimbait- http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Swimbait Head: 1/8 oz Guppy- http://bit.ly/2nyUJRS

Blade Runner 1 3/4 oz Spoon- http://bit.ly/2aKVLlG

Finesse Combo...

Rod- Expride 7' Light+ Spinning: http://bit.ly/2osaj3q

Reel- Stradic CI4+ 2500: http://bit.ly/2gu84t7

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

Leader- 8 lb Maxima Ultragreen: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Spoon Combo...

Rod- Zodias 7'2" Medium Heavy: http://bit.ly/2cgmMAe

Reel- Curado 200 HGK: http://bit.ly/2tHewEh

Line- 60 lb Power Pro MaxCuatro: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- 20 lb Maxima Ultragreen: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

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Need Apparel? Tacticalbassin Gear is in stock! Get your hats, Hoodies, and sunshirts by emailing Tacticalbassinapparel@gmail.com