Crankbait Tricks For Winter and Early Spring Bass Fishing!

You've been going to slow! High Speed Burner Reels in Winter? Really? Oh that's just the beginning... Come along for a day on the water with Matt and Tim as they burn crankbaits and draw reaction strikes from bass in 46 degree water. The guys hold nothing back as they teach how to trigger a feeding frenzy with the Tactical DD Crankbait. 

Winter was always considered a slow fishing period. Many anglers Winterize their boats and give up completely. Unbeknownst to the masses some of the best fishing of the entire year exists in the dead of Winter. By experimenting with a new style of fishing we've been able to consistently trigger reaction bites from the coldest of bass under the harshest of conditions. They key is a combination of speed, sound, and action. 

In November of 2019 we released the Tactical DD Crankbait with River2Sea. This crank is designed for these exact cold water conditions. It sold out immediately and has been nearly impossible to find ever since. Today the crankbaits are back in stock so we headed out on the water to teach you exactly how to use them. Don't settle for one bass here or one bass there, its time to trigger a feeding frenzy in cold water!

Below is a breakdown of the baits, colors, equipment, and upgrades we use to maximize our time on the water with the crankbait. 

Our Crankbait... 

-River2Sea Tactical DD 75 Crankbait: http://bit.ly/37dclbX

Today's Colors: Mirrored Minnow, DD Minnow

Other Great Cold Water Crankbaits... 

-Spro RK Crawler 55: http://bit.ly/2NFPA5t

-Megabass Deep Six: http://bit.ly/2A3clKP

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

-6th Sense Curve 55: http://bit.ly/37hZ1TD

Favorite Colors by Bait... 

Tactical: Mirrored Minnow, DD Minnow, Glass Minnow, Ghost Minnow

Deep X 300: Stealth Craw, Sexy Ayu, Megabass Sexy Shad

Deep Six: MB Gizzard, Shadow Craw, Ito Wakasagi

RkCrawler: Missouri Craw, Phantom Brown, Red Crawfish

Curve 55: Craw Bomb, Ghost Missouri Craw, Red Claw

Hook And Component Upgrades...

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

Hooks- Owner ST-56 Size 4: http://bit.ly/2cVg7xW

(These hooks are smaller than "stock" but work extremely well)

Braid Rod/Reel Combo... 

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

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

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

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

Fluorocarbon Rod/Reel Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 906 CBR: http://bit.ly/2og0BmK

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

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

Budget-Friendly Rod/Reel Combo... 

Rod- St Croix Bass X 7'2" MH Moderate: http://bit.ly/2r0xWAs

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

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

NEW Tactical Bassin Apparel... 

TacticalBassin Reaper Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2TwBWs7

TacticalBassin Shadow Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2FVD9Rs

TacticalBassin Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/2TvFMBD

TacticalBassin Hooded Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/38cVi9G

Cold Water Crankbait Tricks For Big Bass In Winter

Stop missing the best bite of the year for big bass! Forget the spawn, set the jig aside, let's talk about how to catch giant bass with crankbaits in cold water! Triggering a feed response in bass can be done at virtually any temperature when you have the right tools. Once you understand which baits emit the right frequencies and how quickly to fish them, catching a big bass is as easy as casting and retrieving, with a few hard pops, snaps and rips thrown in for good measure.

Matt and Tim recently released their Tactical DD Crankbait to specifically target big Winter bass. This bait is incredibly easy to fish, comes in cold water specific color patterns, and has produced giant catches all over the country. Smallmouth, Spotted Bass, and giant Largemouth have all fallen prey to its high speed vibration..

While the guys built this bait specifically for cold water versatility, they also recognize that a variety of other baits are great for Winter bass. TacticalBassin has and always will be about quality, honest information. With that in mind, Matt and Tim would never turn their back on the other proven cold water producers.

In today's video Matt shows a variety of proven cold water crankbaits, how to fish them, then goes in depth with retrieves and equipment. If you're tired of finesse fishing in Winter, this video is for you! Below you'll find a breakdown of the baits and equipment along with explanations of when each bait shines.

Tactical Crankbait Release Video: http://bit.ly/2XC3Zq4

Baits…

River2Sea Tactical DD Crankbait: http://bit.ly/37dclbX

-This bait shines in a variety of water temperatures. While designed for cold water it also excels in warm water around baitfish. The primary benefit of this bait is its ability to be fished effectively throughout the water column. It deflects extremely well, allowing it to be fished shallow. It also dives quickly and reaches far deeper depths (18+ feet) than other baits of its size.

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

-Most anglers use this bait for Smallmouth. While it is an amazing bait for smallies (note the 6 lber Matt caught on it in this video) the bait actually excels in all cooler water situations for every species of bass. The bait has an extremely tight action and fishes extremely well in depths up to 14 feet.

Megabass Deep Six: http://bit.ly/2A3clKP

-The larger brother to the Deep X 300, the Deep Six reaches deeper and is equipped with larger hooks. It is a great option as the water cools in Fall and again as it begins to warm in Spring. With its larger size comes a slightly wider wobble, making it a versatile bait year round.

Spro RK Crawler 55: http://bit.ly/2NFPA5t

The Rock Crawler is truly a craw-imitator. This bait has a wider wobble than the other cold water baits but is irrelevant because you're fishing it properly when it spends all its time on the bottom. This bait is designed to grind, hop, and dodge its way through rocky bottoms, triggering bites as it deflects off cover.

6th Sense Curve 55: http://bit.ly/37hZ1TD

-The Curve, like the Rock Crawler, is designed to spend its time on bottom. This bite will hunt, pop, and deflect its way through hard cover. Pause it as it breaks away from cover to get that vicious reaction strike you've been searching for.

Favorite Colors by Bait...

Tactical: Mirrored Minnow, DD Minnow, Ghost Minnow, Glass Minnow

Deep X 300: Stealth Craw, Sexy Ayu, Megabass Sexy Shad

Deep Six: MB Gizzard, Shadow Craw, Ito Wakasagi

RkCrawler: Missouri Craw, Phantom Brown, Red Crawfish

Curve 55: Craw Bomb, Ghost Missouri Craw, Red Claw

Braid Combo...

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

Reel- Shimano Bantam MGL HG: http://bit.ly/2H44yjG

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

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

Fluorocarbon Combo...

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 906 CBR: http://bit.ly/2og0BmK

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

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

Low Budget Combo...

Rod- St Croix Bass X 7'2" MH Moderate: http://bit.ly/2r0xWAs

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

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

TacticalBassin's New Cold Water Crankbait! Catch Your Biggest Bass This Winter!

We're thrilled to announce our brand new crankbait! The Tactical DD Crankbait 75 is designed for cold water, Winter bass fishing. We partnered with River2Sea on this project to develop a bait that would catch MONSTER bass in the coldest temperatures. Are you tired of dragging worms and jigs all Winter? You're going to love this crank!

In 2011 Matt and Tim realized that what we thought we knew about bass behavior in cold water was incomplete. To their surprise, under the right conditions big bass would aggressively hunt and feed, even in near freezing water conditions. Through years of study and experimentation they began identifying key vibrations that would consistently trigger an aggressive feeding response in these bass. To their amazement, the biggest bass in the schools were the most likely to react!

Fast forward and we arrive at the Tactical DD Crankbait. The guys combined a unique sound profile with incredible fish-catching paint schemes, added a bill shape that fishes well at a variety of diving depths while deflecting off cover with ease, and created a perfect package for targeting big bass in cooler water temperatures. As an added bonus they stumbled on this bait's surprise ability to catch fish at virtually any water temperature when baitfish are present!!

The same sound and vibration combination that works well in cold water also causes a remarkable feed response when bass are actively targeting baitfish. The bait "feels" like a lipless crankbait in the water but has the ability to make abrupt stops and starts that elicit incredible reactions. With this second approach, this "cold water bait" instantly became a year round producer!

The bait...

-Tactical DD Crankbait 75: http://bit.ly/37dclbX

The guy's Favorite Combo...

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 906 CBR: http://bit.ly/2FQj6CZ

Reel- Shimano Bantam MGL HG: http://bit.ly/2H44yjG

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

This bait can be thrown with a variety of lighter crankbait rods. It does not require the heavier actions that larger baits require. When considering the best rod, focus on the rods you already use for square bills, smaller deep diving crankbaits, or lipless crankbaits.

Other models we like from various manufacturers...

-G Loomis E6X 845 CBR: http://bit.ly/2G5Bc86

-Dobyns Fury 7' Med Hvy Cranking: http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

-Expride 7' Medium Glass: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

-Megabass Orochi XX Flatside Special: http://bit.ly/2OSVNwH

Storage, Hook Upgrades, and More...

Box- Plano 3707 Medium Crankbait Organizer: http://bit.ly/2KwA8Kp

Hook Upgrade- Gamakatsu Short Shank EWG Size 2: http://bit.ly/2Qsvgtj

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

Lure Retriever- Frabill Extendable Pole: http://bit.ly/2TLTJc6

Deep Crankbaits Tricks To Catch More Bass This Fall

Ready to catch a big Fall bass on a crankbait? Matt and Tim share some awesome tips to help you catch more crankbait fish in the midst of a Fall feeding frenzy! They’re catching these bass 2 and 3 at a time but that doesn’t stop them from explaining retrieves, bait modifications and so much more while reeling in their fish! If you’re interested in throwing crankbaits for Fall bass, let Matt and Tim help you do it more effectively.

Big bass are schooling and ambushing baitfish right now! If you’re not using a deep crankbait to reach those fish, you’re missing one of the best opportunities of the year to catch a new personal best bass! From coast to coast, baitfish gather along deep structure (bluffs, long points, creek channels, and cove backs) and bass of all species come together for the feast. There are a handful of baits that will help you target these fish effectively but few elicit as aggressive a response as the deep diving crankbait.

The guys are using 2 different crankbaits today to keep one of these schools of bass fired up. The bass have a school of baitfish trapped on a tapering point full of scattered rock and with 2 crankbaits flying, the action never stops! Any time you get around schooling fish your goal should be to always have a bait in the water. The key to consistent action is keeping the feeding frenzy alive. Below you’ll find a breakdown of the baits and gear the guys were using to catch these bass.

The baits…

Tim’s Crankbait- Strike King 10XD (Sexy Blue Back Herring): http://bit.ly/2gHT4F0

Matt’s Crankbait- Azuma Z Boss 22 (Grand Shad): http://bit.ly/2poLKUC

Alternate Option- 6th Sense Cloud 9 size 25 (Shad Craft): http://bit.ly/2BQ4uDs

Hook and Hardware Upgrades…

Matt’s Favorite Hook- Owner ST-36 (Size 1/0): http://bit.ly/2cWpeyw

Tim’s Favorite Hook- Owner ST-35 Short Shank (1/0): http://bit.ly/2g8uCMj

Alternate Hook- Mustad KVD 2X Short Shank Triple Grip (1/0): http://bit.ly/2wSxIRz

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

Tim’s Rod/Reel Combo…

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 968 CBR: http://bit.ly/2FQj6CZ

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

Line- 16 lb Sunline Sniper: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Matt’s Rod/Reel Combo…

Rod- Shimano Zodias 7’6” MH Glass: http://bit.ly/2cgmMAe

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

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

Budget Friendly Combo…

Rod- Shimano SLX 7'10" Heavy Moderate: http://bit.ly/2L3wppO

Reel- Shimano SLX XT HG*: http://bit.ly/2BRTYL8

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

*The added adjustment of the "XT" over the standard SLX makes dialing in a crankbait much easier for long range casting.

**Tim and Matt are both using "HG" models in their reels. This is a 7:1 ratio. This may come as a shock to many anglers but deep cranking on a 7:1 allows for more control of your speed, harder starts and stops, and more aggressive reactions. It is more difficult to reel than a 5:1 or 6:1 but the pros outweigh the cons**