Fall Topwater For Bass | Everything You Need To Know + Underwater Footage!

Its topwater time!! Who's ready?! Popper, buzzbait, whopper plopper, walking baits, wakebaits... Fall is awesome! If you're as pumped up as we are its time to get serious about topwater fishing! Fall bass fishing is just around the corner, the baitfish will be schooling in the shallows, and its time to get your equipment dialed in. From insane underwater footage, to favorite baits, to rigging tricks, we're about to talk all things TOPWATER...

As Fall approaches the topwater bite will get better and better. Best of all, BIG bass are heading into the shallows again. If you're tired of the Summer doldrums and want to catch bigger bass this Fall, topwater is going to help you do it. Understanding when to throw topwater, how to select the right gear, and knowing which lures offer you the best chance at success, is what this video is all about.

Matt and Tim use a variety of lures to accomplish their goals. One day you might see them throwing a giant wakebait, the next morning it could be a little popper. How do they make those decisions and how can you do the same? It all comes down to understanding what the bass are eating. Matching the SIZE of the baitfish is critical to success throughout the coming months. In this video covers a ton of different lures in a variety of sizes to help you prepare for every situation. We don't expect you to remember it all so below is a breakdown of the exact lures and gear Matt discussed (in order of appearance).

Buzzbaits...

-D&M Slow Roller Buzz: http://bit.ly/2t7BMKt

-Dirty Jigs Skirtless Pro Buzz: http://bit.ly/2cWI6if

-Trailer Hook- Gamakatsu 3/0: http://bit.ly/2IGCfg1

-Swimbait Trailer- D Walker 120: http://bit.ly/2NwqBmz

Buzz Color Recommendations: White, Shad, Silver, Black/Red

Trailer Color Recommendations: PB Red, Shamrock Shad

Wakebait...

-Evergreen Noisy Dachs ND180: http://bit.ly/2JbrbaM

Color Recommendations: Black Bone, Oikawa

Ploppers...

-Whopper Plopper 130: http://bit.ly/2a7ipHL

-Whopper Plopper 110: http://bit.ly/2bsPbQV

-Whopper Plopper 75: http://bit.ly/2bsPbQV

Color Recommendations: I Know It, T-1000, Monkey Butt, Bone

Poppers...

-Megabass Pop Max: http://bit.ly/2qqfmm1

-Jackall Binksy: http://bit.ly/346G9Wk

-Damiki D Pop 70: http://bit.ly/2Pjvqo3

-Yellow Magic 1/4 oz: http://bit.ly/2al0dKP

Megabass color Recommendations: Ito Wakasagi, Megabass Sexy Shad

Jackall color Recommendations: Ghost Minnow, Ghost Oikawa

Damiki Color Recommendations: Black Hollow, Spayu

Yellow Magic Color Recommendations: Alewife, Smoke Shad, White Shad

Walking Baits...

-Evergreen Shower Blows 150: http://bit.ly/2zIkqUH

-Strike King Mega Dawg: http://bit.ly/2NNGQvs

-Evergreen Shower Blows 125: http://bit.ly/2zIkqUH

-Reaction Innovations Vixen: http://bit.ly/2rp11nr

-River2Sea Rover 128: http://bit.ly/2acSVea

-Heddon Chug N Spook: http://bit.ly/2Pk0TpZ

Evergreen Color Recommendations: Half Mirror Wakasagi, American Shad, Bone

Strike King Color Recommendations: Chrome Sexy Shad, Sexy Blueback Herring

Reaction Innovations Recommendations: Bone, Silver Shiner

River2Sea Color Recommendations: Sooner, Ghost Minnow, You Know It

Heddon Color Recommendations: G Finish Shad, Okie Shad, Bone Silver

Red Hook Upgrades...

Split Ring- Owner Hyperwire Size 3 or 4: http://bit.ly/2v8ArBX

Red Hook- Owner ST-36 Red Size: http://bit.ly/2wSknXp

Matt's Repurposed Jerkbait Combo...

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

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

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

Leader- 12 lb Maxima Ultragreen: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

All--Around Topwater Combo...

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

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

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

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

Deep Crank Rods That Work Well...

Dobyns Champion 804CB or 805CB: http://bit.ly/29OVD4V

Shimano Zodias 7'6" Glass: http://bit.ly/2cgmMAe

Buzzbaits - Everything You Need To Know

The buzzbait is one of the easiest topwater lures you can fish. It can be fished over cover, through grass, or in open water. No matter where its fished, it produces some of the biggest, most violent bites of the Summer! Many anglers fail to realize how versatile the buzzbait really is. With simple modifications these baits can be fished in virtually any cover.

The number one buzzer on the market is a single-bladed buzzbait with a clacker. That configuration covers water quickly and draws fish from the depths with its ruckus. However, if you're on a lake where a lot of other anglers are throwing a buzzbait its often wise to try a different profile. We often turn to a quad blade, which is extremely subtle, or a double buzz which can be retrieved at an extremely slow pace.

If you find yourself around overhead cover like docks, trees, or brush, the skirtless buzz is a must have! We typically tip the skirtless buzzbait with a paddle tail swimbait to create an action the fish haven't seen before. With a swimbait for a trailer this buzz can easily be skipped deep into cover and on the retrieve the subtle blade leads a perfectly natural swimbait profile back out of the shadows. If you haven't tried a skirtless buzzbait, now is the time.

Below is a breakdown of the buzzbaits and trailers we use for different circumstances. Our favorite buzzbait colors are Red/Black, Black, and White, in that order.

The Buzzbaits...

Quad Blade- D&M Slow Roller: http://bit.ly/2t7BMKt

Double Buzz- Brabec Double: http://bit.ly/2OVAfjy

Single Clacker- Jackall Firecracker: http://bit.ly/2t7Frbj

Single Head Knocker- Zorro Head Knocker: http://bit.ly/2d4VpK1

Skirtless Buzz- Dirty Jigs Pro Buzz: http://bit.ly/2cWI6if

Skirtless Buzzbait Trailers...

-River2Sea D Walker 120: http://bit.ly/2NwqBmz

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

-Zoon Horny Toad: http://bit.ly/2aY5lBt

Trailer Hooks...

-Gamakatsu SP Trailer Hook: http://bit.ly/2IGCfg1

-Owner Trailer Hook: http://bit.ly/2KQXvQm

Buzzbait Combo...

Rod- Shimano SLX 7'2" MH: http://bit.ly/2L3wppO

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

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

3 New Frog Fishing Tricks To Catch More FIsh!

Come along for an evening of frog fishing and learn new tricks to put more frog fish in the boat! Matt and Tim spend most of the year with a frog rod in their hands and they've learned a ton of tricks along the way. Tonight Matt is giving up 3 tips that will completely change your frog fishing. Whether you've struggled to land your fish or maybe you'd just like to get some more bites, this video was made for you!

Matt's first tip to improve you frogging is to explore your opportunities in open water. If you frog heavy cover and slop, its time to branch out and fish away from the cover. The majority of our really big frog fish come in open water.

The second tip is to make sure you're using the right rod and the right frog. While that seems simple on the surface what Matt is actually recommending is that if you're struggling to hook or land frog fish, it might be time to look at a softer rod and a smaller frog with lighter wire hooks. By dropping down in power, you'll have time to build up speed in your hookset before connecting with the fish. This is especially important for smaller or younger anglers who don't have the power to smash hookset after hookset.

The final tip is to branch out and try new frogs. Fish become conditioned to frogs just like they become conditioned to other baits. By changing profile, action, or in some cases sound, you can catch a lot more fish. Below is a breakdown of the frogs we recommend trying, as well as the gear we'd use to fish those baits.

Favorite Open Water Frogs...

-River2Sea Bully Wa 2 65 (Little Allen or Ghost): http://bit.ly/2axyR2a

-Snag Proof Bobby's Perfect: http://bit.ly/2abpR40

-Live Target Hollow Body: http://bit.ly/2Q40BAk

Favorite Popping Frogs...

-Spittin Wa: http://bit.ly/29YS5g6

-Jackall Gavacho: http://bit.ly/2L7KsWS

Smaller Frogs...

-Bully Wa 55: http://bit.ly/2axyR2a

-Jackall Kaera: http://bit.ly/2Fz6SA3

-Spro Bronze Eye Jr: http://bit.ly/2XkbgxR

Frogs With Unique Action...

-Teckel Sprinker: http://bit.ly/2rmnqSI

-Teckel Honker: http://bit.ly/2Xj7Ye4

-Teckel Maracker: http://bit.ly/2xlXI5s

-Deps Basirisky: http://bit.ly/2uIS4cx

Our Favorite Frog Rod...

Rod- Shimano Expride 7'3" XH: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

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

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

Lighter Action Frog Rods (Highest Priced to Lowest)...

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

-Shimano Curado 7'2" Medium Heavy: http://bit.ly/2gUWTft

-Dobyns Fury 7'3" Heavy: http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

Early Summer Whopper Plopper Fishing From The Kayak

Come along as Tim heads out on Clearlake for an evening of topwater fishing. Tim is fishing out of an all-new kayak and he brought 3 rigs along for the adventure. He has a Whopper Plopper, a frog, and a Punch Rig. Its a short trip before the sun goes down but that's prime time for the evening topwater bite!

The topwater bite in June can be truly incredible. The fish's metabolisms are the highest they've been in months, the water temperatures are warm but not exceedingly hot, and the baitfish are typically still shallow. Its a recipe for topwater mayhem! We chose the kayaks for this quick adventure because we can move stealthily through the shallow cover and catch fish that often spook when the bass boat trolling motor is chopping through heavy grass.

Tim's kayak of choice tonight was the new Topwater 120 PDL. This boat is known for its sturdy platform and ample storage, two things that are very important to Tim. Tim ran into Matt on his Predator PDL, giving them a great chance to compare the boats side by side. If you're in the market for a new kayak, boat boats are excellent choices!

Below is a breakdown of the baits and gear the guys were using in the video.

Baits...

- Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver (Delicious): http://bit.ly/29W3RZW

-Tungsten Weight 1 oz: http://bit.ly/2bo4NZf

-Peg X Stoppers: http://bit.ly/2bHjowk

-Bully Wa 2 Frog (Ghost): http://bit.ly/2axyR2a

-Whopper Plopper 110 (Monkey Butt): http://bit.ly/2bsPbQV

Tim's Kayak- Old Town Topwater 120 PDL: http://bit.ly/2KGiYf5

Matt's Kayak- Old Town Predator PDL: http://bit.ly/2WyVQka

Tim's Whopper Plopper Combo...

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

Reel- Curado 70 HG: http://bit.ly/2apmDJt

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

Tim's Punching Combo...

Rod- Expride 7'11" XH: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Reel- Tranx 200 A: http://bit.ly/2Tv0yCy

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