How To Catch Bass In Shallow Water | Spring Bass Fishing

Spring is here! The bass are moving into the shallows and you should be out catching them. The prespawn period before the bass begin bedding is an amazing opportunity to catch both numbers of fish and giant fish. Don't let the shallow water intimidate you; you can catch these fish! Today Tim is demonstrating his favorite lures for shallow water and showing exactly how he fishes them. 

This is the time of year to expand your fishing arsenal. If you've ever wanted to build confidence in a new bait, this is the time. Try a glide bait, a crankbait, Spinnerbait, etc... because the fish are moved up and they're feeding. If the weather changes and the bite gets tough, adapt to a slower presentation and you'll continue to catch fish. 

Below you'll find links to Tim's favorite techniques and the exact baits he uses in each category. We've included his favorite colors, along with some universal rod and reel combos to help you succeed on your next trip. All of the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

GlideBait... 

-River2Sea S Waver 168: http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

Colors: Warden, Bluegill, Light Trout

-G Ratt Sneaky Pete: http://bit.ly/2RYCPFe

Colors: Hitch, Gizzard Shad

Sunglasses (For spotting followers on your glide bait)... 

-Eye Surrender TacticalBassin Glasses: https://bit.ly/3cLH0kl

Lense Color: Grey, Amber, Copper

Squarebills...

-Rapala BX brat: http://bit.ly/2qFBMiR

Colors: Delta, Hot Dang

-River2Sea Biggie: http://bit.ly/2ahCzvo

Colors: Cold Blooded, Delta Craw, Abalone Shad

Chatterbait... 

-EverGreen JackHammer 1/2 oz: http://bit.ly/2popvj6

Colors: Green Pumpkin, Brett's Bluegill, Fire Craw

-Z Man Chatterbait Custom 1/2 oz: http://bit.ly/2Ix71mI

Colors: Bluegill, Green Pumpkin, Hodge Knocker

Spinnerbait... 

-River2Sea Bling 1/2 oz: http://bit.ly/2diSwqq

Colors: Abalone Shad, I Know It

-War Eagle Screamin Eagle: http://bit.ly/2IEHHjA

Colors: Mouse, Aurora, Silver Shiner

Weedless Underspin... 

Hook- Owner Flashy Swimmer 5/0: http://bit.ly/2e8O4Y7

Bait- Keitech 4.8" Fat Swing Impact: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Colors: Electric Shad, Pro Blue Red Pearl

Flippin Jig... 

Jig- Dirty Jigs No-Jack Flippin' Jig 5/8 oz: http://bit.ly/2fx8YBI

Colors: Go To, Hematoma, Magic Craw Swirl

Creature Trailer- RI Sweet Beaver: http://bit.ly/29W3RZW

Colors: Green Pumpkin Red, Tramp Stamp, Hematoma

Chunk Trailer- Netbait Paca Chunk Sr: http://bit.ly/2d8mIXx

Colors: Black Blue, Magic Craw, Toledo Special

Texas-Rigged Bait... 

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

Colors: Tilapia, Tilapia Magic, Green Pumpkin

Hook- Owner Jungle Wide Gap 4/0: http://bit.ly/2sBsR1Z

Weight- Swagger Tungsten Vader 1/2 oz: http://bit.ly/2NjDYtV

Favorite Finesse Worms...  

Shakeyhead- Netbait T-Mac 6.5": http://bit.ly/2jndwj9

Colors: JuneBug, Texas Craw, Green Pumpkin

Neko Rig- Missile Baits Quiver Worm: https://bit.ly/2xehVgx

Colors: Bluetonium Green Pumpkin, Super Bug

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

Colors: Green Pump Org Black Purp Prl, GreenPumpkin Purple

Texas Rig/Flipping Jig Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Expride 7'6" Medium Heavy: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

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

Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 65 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

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

Spinnerbait/Chatterbait Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Expride 7'2" Medium Heavy Glass: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Reel- Curado 70 MGL K: https://bit.ly/3jdrMqa

Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 50 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- Sunline FC100 16 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2O4UElB

Budget All-Around Finesse Combo... 

Rod- St. Croix Bass X 7'1" Medium: http://bit.ly/2r69Sj6

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

Line- Sunline Assassin 8 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

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

Big Swimbaits and Topwater For Spring Bass | Texas Bass Fishing

The guys are back in Texas chasing PreSpawn bass with a swimbait, an A-rig, and a variety of topwater. Come along as they build a pattern and adapt to changing conditions throughout the day. Watch how they fish with confidence and get bites, even on big swimbaits, without knowing anything about the lake. 

So many anglers get caught up in the mindset that certain baits (swimbaits, frogs, jigs, etc...) don't work on their lake. The reality is that bass behave very similarly and with few exceptions, eat the same baits throughout the country. We travel constantly and have seen over and over again that we can quickly catch fish on baits like a Gantarel or a frog, in lakes where others hesitate to even try these lures. 

The key to consistent fishing success anywhere in this country is building patterns. Focus on the conditions, how bass should behave during the season you're in, and take the extra time to intentionally fish likely locations based on those variables. You'll be amazed how many more bass you'll begin to catch!

As we continue to travel we're constantly refining our equipment. Life on the road requires specialized rods and an array of tackle. In the beginning our boats could hardly float from the masses of tackle we'd bring on trips. Anymore, we find key baits that work everywhere and we're able to narrow down our selections.

Below you'll find links to the baits we were using on this trip, some of our gear, and some travel-specific equipment that makes your life easier whether you're going cross country or to a lake down the road. All of the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

A-Rigs... 

Rig- Hog Farmer TacticalBassin Bladed Flex: https://bit.ly/38xd1es

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

Baits- Keitech 4.8" Fat Swing Impact (Pro Blue Red Pearl): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Swimbait... 

-G-Ratt Sneaky Pete: http://bit.ly/2RYCPFe

Favorite Colors: Hitch, Gizzard Shad

-Jackall Gantarel: http://bit.ly/2adZI3R

Favorite Colors: RT Spawn Gill, RT Ghost Gill

Topwater...

-ScumFrog Launch Frog (Bluegill): https://bit.ly/3rOYQIF

-River2Sea Whopper Plopper 90 (Phantom Shad): http://bit.ly/2bsPbQV

-Evergreen Shower Blows 105 (Skeleton Chartreuse): http://bit.ly/2zIkqUH

Lure Retriever...

-Frabill 15' Pole Retriever: http://bit.ly/2TLTJc6

Travel Rods... 

High End (Our Favorite)- Megabass Triza Casting Rods: https://bit.ly/2Glg3au

Mid Range- St. Croix Triumph Casting Rods: https://bit.ly/3urbTSn

Budget Swimbait- Okuma Nomad Xpress: http://bit.ly/2p4zr3g

Tim's A-Rig Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Zodias 7'5" Heavy: https://bit.ly/3aeQbYW

Reel- 13 Fishing A2 (7.5:1): https://bit.ly/36XlOVs

Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 65 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Tim's Topwater Combo... 

Rod- Megabass Destroyer P5 Z-Crank: https://bit.ly/30GcHqb

Reel- Shimano Curado 150 DC: http://bit.ly/2yHtsp4

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

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

Lipless Crankbait and Blade Bait Tips For Spring Bass Fishing

The lipless crankbait is a staple in most angler's Spring bass fishing arsenal, but very few understand the late-season effectiveness of the blade bait. Both options can produce incredible results in Spring and you should fish them with confidence. 

Today we're heading down the rabbit hole of lipless and blade baits. Matt begins with a surface level approach, recommending a couple baits for all-around success, but it doesn't take long before we're looking at niche baits, detailed color analysis, and in-depth descriptions of how big bass stage in Spring. 

With an almost endless list of baits in today's video we're using the video description to simplify the selections. Below you'll find links to our favorite all-around baits, our favorite baits by depth, and our favorite gear to throw them. We've included favorite colors, hook upgrades, and more. All of the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

If You Could Only Have One... 

Bottom Contact- Lucky Craft LV-500 (Ghost minnow): http://bit.ly/2aAUUbd

Shallow Retrieve- Cotton Cordell Spot (Chrome Blue): http://bit.ly/2y3K210

Favorite Blade Baits For Spring... 

-Megabass Dyna Response 1/2 oz: http://bit.ly/2R7FlvL

Favorite Colors: Ito Hiuo, Jukucho Shad, Gill OB

-Damiki Vault 1/2 oz: http://bit.ly/2rnO7e2

Favorite Colors: Black Holo, Holo Cyber Purple, Real Shad

Lipless Crankbaits For Bottom Hopping... 

-Jackall TN-70: http://bit.ly/2lqAwjh

Favorite Colors: Super Shad, SG Threadfin, RT Escape Craw

-Lucky Craft LV-500: http://bit.ly/2aAUUbd

Favorite Colors: Ghost minnow, American Shad, Chartreuse Shad

Lipless Cranks For Mid-Column Fishing... 

-Booyah One Knocker: https://bit.ly/3kyOoD5

Colors: Bling, Ghost, Tiger Craw

-6th Sense Quake 70: http://bit.ly/2Kxt4zm

Colors: Crimson Flash, Shad Hammer

-Strike King Red Eye Shad: http://bit.ly/2fqX1RT

Colors: Chartreuse Sexy Shad, Chrome Sexy Shad, Delta Red

Lipless Crankbaits For Shallow Fishing... 

-Damiki Tremor 65: http://bit.ly/2fVt8H6

Colors: American Shad, Real Shad, Red Craw

-Cotton Cordell Super Spot: http://bit.ly/2y3K210

Colors: Chrome Blue, Royal Red

-Lucky Craft LVR D-7: http://bit.ly/3r45j1T

Colors: Golden Shiner, Chartreuse Shad, Ghost Minnow

Split Ring/Treble Hook Upgrades...  

Split Rings- Owner Hyperwire (Size 3): http://bit.ly/2v8ArBX

Hooks For BIG Fish- Owner ST-56: http://bit.ly/2cVg7xW

Sizes: 4 for 1/2 oz baits, 2 for 3/4 oz baits

**LV-500 and TN-70 both use Size 4 Hooks**

Hooks For Quality Fish- Gamakatsu EWG: http://bit.ly/2cZrsbY

Sizes: 4 for 1/2 oz baits, 2 for 3/4 oz baits

**LV-500 and TN-70 both use Size 4 Hooks**

Our Favorite Lipless Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 845 CBR: http://bit.ly/2og0BmK

Reel- Shimano Bantam 150 XG: http://bit.ly/2H44yjG

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

Leader- Sunline FC-100 Shock Leader 16 lb: http://bit.ly/2O4UElB

Great Mid-Price Lipless Combo... 

Rod- Megabass Levante Flat Size Special: http://bit.ly/2FdE3YY

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

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

Leader- Maxima Ultragreen 15 lb Mono: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Budget Lipless Combo... 

Rod- Dobyns Fury 705 CB (7' Med Heavy Cranking): http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

Reel- Shimano SLX HG: http://bit.ly/2NfdOnk

Line- Sunline Assassin Fluorocarbon 15 lb: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

Budget Blade Bait Combo...

Rod- 13 Fishing 6'10" Medium Omen Black 3: http://bit.ly/3lAXbEV

Reel- 13 Fishing Origin C (8:1): http://bit.ly/392qsU6

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

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

Bites On Every Cast! Spring Bass Fishing Chaos with Blade Baits and Glide Baits!

The bite is on fire!! Come along for a morning of bass fishing on Clearlake like we all dream about! Matt is throwing a glide bait and a blade bait and the fishing is incredible! Bass are schooling up before the spawn and this school is feeding heavily on small baitfish. Once Matt dials in the blade bait cadence, the fish start biting on every cast!

Many anglers overlook the effectiveness of lipless crankbaits and blade baits fished slowly along the bottom in Spring. They throw blade baits in Winter but they put them away as the water warms up in Spring. With newer baits like the Megabass Dyna Response and Damiki Vault coming to the market, blade bait season has extended all the way through the Spring. Its a great addition to your lipless crankbait arsenal to ensure you're catching the maximum number of fish when you locate schooling fish. 

Today's video revolves around two baits. Matt's first fish came on the Baitsanity Antidote glide bait, the rest fell for the Megabass Dyna Response 1/2 oz in Ito Hiuo. Keep in mind, when the bite is on, you don't have to have 50 different baits on deck to catch fish. You simply need to put the time in, learn from the clues you're getting on the water, and adapt with the conditions. 

Below you'll find links to the exact baits Matt was using as well as the gear he fished to keep those fish pinned all the way to the boat. Notice how few of his fish got off, despite fishing a heavy blade bait with small trebles on long casts. Using the right gear is key! All of the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

Below the gear links you'll find time stamps for the video so you can jump between key fish catches if you'd like. However, this may be the one full-length video you want to watch straight through because as the bite heats up, its EVERY CAST!

Matt's Baits... 

Swimbait- Baitsanity Antidote Slow Sink (Shad): http://bit.ly/2ztUk9z

Other Great Colors- Summer Shad, Trout

Blade Bait- Megabass Dyna Response 1/2 oz (Ito Hiuo): http://bit.ly/2R7FlvL

Other Great Colors- Jukucho Shad, Setsuki Ayu

Backup Swimbait- G Ratt Sneaky Pete (Hitch): http://bit.ly/2RYCPFe

Matt's Glide Bait Combo... 

Rod- Dobyns Fury 806H: http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

Reel- Shimano Tranx 300 HG: http://bit.ly/2kYsvRw

Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 65 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- 30 lb Sunline FC100 Shock Leader: http://bit.ly/2O4UElB

Matt's Blade Bait Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Expride 6'10" Medium: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

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

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

Budget Blade Bait Combo...

Rod- 13 Fishing 6'10" Medium Omen Black 3: http://bit.ly/3lAXbEV

Reel- 13 Fishing Origin C (8:1): http://bit.ly/392qsU6

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

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

Cut Points For This Video... 

3:30 Matt Catches Bass On Glide Bait

11:05 First Blade Bait Fish

16:35 The decision that changes everything, bit IMMEDIATELY

32:30 Next Cast Is A Giant!! Cut Points End Because its big bass on every cast!