Chatterbait Trailer Tips to Save $$$

Matt gives two quick tips that will help you improve your chatterbait fishing. Bladed swim jig trailer options are endless but these two stand out from the crowd! 

Using paddletail swimbaits as a trailer on a bladed swim jig is no secret. However, running your swimbait upside down or running it with a modified tail will set you aside from all the other anglers. 

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Matt explains how to use each of these methods to maximize the effectiveness of your chatterbait the next time you're on the water. Forget the traditional trailers and put one of these tricks to work for you!  

Baits Shown In this video...

-Chatterbait
-Revenge Bladed Jig
-Keitech 4.8" Fat Swimbait
-Rage Swimmer

Save $$$ By Making Your Own Feathered Trebles!

Feathered trebles are an awesome way to accent your favorite topwaters and jerkbaits but store bought options are very limited. Matt shows a fast and easy way to build your own feathered trebles on the water and the best part is you can do it with any hook you want! 

This quick tip will save you so many headaches! You're no longer limited to 3 sizes and a few colors of feathered trebles. Any size, any color, and any model of hook is fair game as you quickly and easily accent your own trebles. All you need is a hook of your choice, some craft hair or feathers, a small piece of shrink tube, and a lighter. 

Here are Matt's favorite hooks and components for making feathered trebles...

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Gamakatsu Marten's Finesse Treble
Owner 3x Treble
Gamakatsu EWG Bronze
Owner Round Bend

Marabou Feathers
Slinky Craft Fiber
Hackle Feathers

Store Bought Version with Owner Hook

Everything You Need to Know About Swim Jigs!

Bass fishing with Swim jigs has increased in popularity the last few years. This video is full of tips and tricks to make you more effective at fishing a swim jig. Matt breaks down everything you need to know from jighead design, jig colors, jig trailers, swimbaits, etc. 

Most bass fishermen fish a swim jig around shallow grass and cover but there are a lot of other great options. Don't be afraid to bottom crawl the bait in the rocks like a big trout swimbait. Its also an awesome option for night fishing in Summer and Fall!
 
The swim jig can be thrown as a replacement for a spinnerbait, chatterbait, underspin, or squarebill crankbait. You get all the action and fish attracting features of the above baits but with the realism and secondary action that only a swim jig can provide. 

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Finesse swim jigs are great for spotted bass, smallmouth bass, or for largemouth in reservoirs. The standard swim jig is an awesome all around option with a pointed head for coming through grass, tullies, reeds, and wood. 

The California Swim Jig is designed for giant bass. Whether you're in California, Texas, or Florida, if you're targeting big bass this is the swim jig for you! Its designed with the heaviest hook on the market so that no freshwater fish can bend it. 

We hope this video helps you understand the difference between different styles of jigs and when to use each one. There isn't a perfect jig for every situation so stock up on a few different models and you'll be prepared when the swim jig bite turns on.

Products explained in this video:

Jig Styles...

-Finesse Swim Jig
-Skirted Swim Jig
-California Swim Jig
-No Jack Swim Jig

Trailer Options for Baitfish Imitators...

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Keitech Fat Swing Impact Swimbait*
Roboworm EZ Shad
RI Little Dipper
Netbait Spanky Swimbait

*Keitech Fat should be throw in 3.3, 3.8, 4.3, and 4.8 sizes

Trailer Options for Crawdad Imitators...

Strike King Rage Bug
Netbait Paca Chunk

Jig Color Recommendations...

Shad Imitators: Crappie, Tactical Shad
Bluegill Imitators: Alabama Bream, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed Bream
Baitfish Imitators: Light Hitch, Pearl Ghost Shiner, Golden Shiner

Swim Jig Rods...

Finesse Swim Jig Setup:
-Rod- Zodias 7'2" Medium
-Reel- Curado 70
-Line- Maxcuatro 30 lb
-Leader- 12-15 lb Maxima

Standard Swimjig Setup:
-Rod- Champ Extreme 7'8" 4 power
-Reel- Curado 200
-Line- MaxCuatro 50 lb
-Leader-15-20 lb Maxima

California Swim Jig Setup:
-Rod- Zodias 7'5" Heavy
-Reel- Curado 200
-Line- MaxCuatro 65 lb braid
-Leader- 20-25 lb Maxima

Paddle Tails Swimbaits for Big Fall Bites!

Its that time of year again! Its time to pull out the paddletails and hollow bellies in search of big bass! The bite is just beginning and will continue to improve over the coming months. 

Whether you prefer a Basstrix or a Keitech, a swimbait head or an underspin, its prime time to pull out your confidence bait and begin loading the boat! 

In this video Matt and Tim show how to rig swimbaits and paddle tails a variety of different ways. They even show how to make your own underspin with a swimbait head or weedless swimbait hook! 

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If you're planning to creep the bait through heavy cover we recommend using the Beast Hook. If you're fishing around docks, wood, or other isolated cover the Matt Allen Swimbait Head is the way to go! If there are large schools of baitfish present you should either use the Spintrix Head or the Matt Allen head with the added belly blade.  

Hook options and baits shown in this video are as follows... 

-Matt Allen Swimbait Head
-Owner Beast Hook
-BladeRunner Spintrix Underspin
-Small Spinner Blades

-Keitech Fat Swing Impact

-Basstrix Hollow Belly Swimbait

We hope you find these tips useful this Fall as the bass begin corralling the baitfish and feeding heavily before Winter arrives.