Did He Catch A 10 lb Bass?? Spring Crankbait Bass Fishing!!!

Matt caught a monster bass on a crankbait! Crankbaits are a great way to cover water and catch bass in Spring. If you know how to adapt them to changing conditions they're an excellent way to specifically target GIANT bass. Come along as Matt shows cast to catch footage of this big Clearlake bass then explains exactly why he caught it and how you can do the same. 

We began teaching how to use the Tactical DD Crankbait to specifically target big bass back in November. Since that time a TON of big fish have been landed across the country. Not all crankbaits are created equal in cold water but once you understand the differences and how to apply baits with key vibrations to your fishing, your catch rate on bigger bass will increase. 

Landing giant bass on light line isn't just about choosing the right bait, you'll also need the right equipment and a very patient approach to successfully battle a big fish on light tackle. Take your time, stay calm, and your new personal best could be just a cast away. Below is a breakdown of all the gear we used in the video along with some additional baits and gear that we recommend for cold water and prespawn crankbait fishing. 

Keep in mind that many of the Tactical Crankbait colors are currently sold out. It will be a bit longer before all the colors are back in stock so you may want to try some of the colors currently in stock or backorder a specific color so you're in the front of the line once they're back in stock.

Matt's Exact Equipment... 

Bait- Tactical DD Crankbait 75 (DD Minnow): http://bit.ly/37dclbX

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 906 CBR (7'6" MH): http://bit.ly/2og0BmK

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

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

Net- Frabill Knotless Conservation 9512: http://bit.ly/2FNdnQr

Other Great Crankbaits For This Technique... 

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

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

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

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

Budget Cranking Combo... 

Rod- Fury 7' Medium Heavy Cranking: http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

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

Squarebill Crankbait Tricks For Spring Bass Fishing

With all the colors, sizes, and sounds, which crankbaits should you fish? Virtually every company in bass fishing makes a squarebill crankbait but they are NOT created equal! Knowing how to use different crankbaits to match conditions will help you catch way more fish this Spring. It's more than just looks so come along as we dive into the details that make all the difference with square bills. 

Tim splits his square bills into several categories. He's got silent baits for pressured conditions and rattling baits for aggressive fish or murky water. He uses bill size (diving depth) to adapt to different water levels, and size to match the baitfish. He keeps color simple, relying on 3 categories (baitfish, crawfish, and bold) to adapt to changing conditions. Where it really gets interesting is his use of different hooks to adapt to the fish he's targeting. 

Below is a breakdown of the baits Tim has the most confidence in. He's also included his favorite colors in each, all of his favorite hooks and terminal tackle. Additionally, he's listed his favorite Crankbait combo and a few other rods at different price points that will help you land more crankbait fish on your next trip. 

Rattling Baits... 

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

(Rooster, Abalone Shad, I Know It)

-6th Sense Crush 100: http://bit.ly/2HbaCGT

(Shad Streaker, Shad Scales, Mudbug Red)

-Spro Little John 50: http://bit.ly/2dDfuqt

(Matte Shad, Blood Craw, Rootbeer Chartreuse)

Silent Baits... 

-Lucky Craft 1.5: http://bit.ly/2BGxKPa

(American Shad, Crack, Delta Crazy Red Craw)

-Lucky Craft BDS 3: http://bit.ly/2blTVwI

(TO Craw, Chartreuse Shad, Ghost Minnow)

-Megabass S-Crank: http://bit.ly/2dPdTxb

(MB Phantom, Fire Craw, Megabass Sexy Shad)

-Strike King 1.5: http://bit.ly/2Pz3HvE

(Delta Red, Olive Shad, Sexy Ghost Minnow)

Hook and Hardware Upgrades... 

-Owner ST-36: http://bit.ly/2cWpeyw

(Extremely sharp and reliable, excellent all-around hooks)

-Owner ST-35: http://bit.ly/2g8uCMj

(Short shank hooks with 3 hooks positioned specifically for crankbaits)

-Gamakatsu EWG: http://bit.ly/2cZrsbY

(Incredible sharp, light wire, tipped in hook points)

-Mustad Short Shank Triple Grip: http://bit.ly/32U3TN1

(Short Shank, tipped points, and offered in Red)

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

Tim's Favorite Squarebill 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 30 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- Sunline Sniper 12 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Other Great Crankbait Rods... 

Glass- Shimano Zodias 7' Med Light Glass: http://bit.ly/2cgmMAe

Budget- Dobyns Fury 7' Medium Heavy Crankbait: http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

Squarebill Storage... 

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

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

4 Lipless Crankbait Tricks For Springtime Bass Fishing

Prespawn Bass and Lipless crankbaits go hand in hand! After a long Winter of slow fishing its hard to imagine anything better than burning a lipless across shallow flats in search of big prespawn bass! Its ability to cover water quickly combined with amazing drawing power should put the lipless crankbait at the top of your list in Spring. In today's video Tim teaches two different approaches to lipless fishing and gives some bonus tips along the way that you don't want to miss. 

When you hear the words "lipless crank" most anglers envision burning traps in shallow water, usually around grass beds. This method is so deadly on Spring time bass that its engrained in the minds of bass fishermen everywhere. However there is a second way to fish these baits that is often overlooked and typically catches even bigger fish than the burning method! The slow hop elicits strikes unlike any other lure we've ever encountered. It requires very specialized lipless baits to achieve the right action but once mastered, its amazing the caliber of fish you can catch. 

Both methods should have a place in your arsenal. Both will work on any given day so we're typically prepared with both styles of lipless tied on. While both the burning and hopping styles are done with lipless crankbaits, the similarities end there. You'll want different lures, different weights, and even different line to really dial in the patterns. Below is a breakdown of the baits and equipment by style. 

Lipless For Hopping... 

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

(Ghost Minnow, Spring Craw, American Shad, Chartreuse Shad)

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

(Escape Craw, Super Shad, SG Threadfin)

-Jackall TN-70 Disk Knocker: http://bit.ly/2wuc9Y0

(Escape Craw, Sprinkle Wakasagi, SG Threadfin)

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

(Shad Hammer, Shad Scales, Delta Craw)

Shallow Burners... 

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

(Blue Gizzard Shad, Sexy Shad, Delta Red)

-Strike King Red Eye 2-Tap: http://bit.ly/2gmACC5

(Delta Red, Sexy Shad, Chrome Sexy Shad)

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

(Royal Red, Rayburn Red, Chrome Blue)

Hook Upgrades... 

-Gamakatsu EWG Black Size 4: http://bit.ly/2DCOlmV

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

-Hyperwire Split Rings (Size 3 and 4): http://bit.ly/2v8ArBX

Favorite Crankbait 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 30 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

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

Budget Crankbait Combo... 

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

Reel- Shimano SLX 150 HG: http://bit.ly/2NfdOnk

Line- 12 lb Sunline Assassin: 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

Crankbait Tricks For Spring Bass Fishing (Everything You Need To Know)

No secrets are safe in today's in-depth look at Spring crankbait fishing! From shallow square bills to deep diving cranks, from bright red crawdad colors to water temperatures, nothing is sacred in this video! If you want to catch more bass on crankbaits, this video is for you. Learn how to adapt your crankbaits with water temperature, phase of the spawn, and weather. Crankbaits constantly catch giant bass for the angler that knows how to adapt to changing conditions, you're about to become that angler!

Crankbaits have an incredible ability to TRIGGER a feed response in bass. When a bait is fished properly and deflected off cover a bass is triggered at a core level. They simply have to bite, regardless of mood. Understanding how to apply that information to your fishing will change your entire crankbait fishing experience. Learning when to change diving depths, sizes,  and colors, will take it to the next level. 

In today's video Matt shares the 6 categories of crankbait the Tactical crew uses in Spring. He focuses on 5 of them in this video and Tim will follow up shortly with the 6th. Below you will find a breakdown of those 5 main categories, Matt's best confidence baits for each category, recommended colors, and so much more. 

Related Crankbait Videos... 

-TacticalBassin's New Cold Water Crankbait: https://youtu.be/HAtzFASSeGY

-Cold Water Crankbait Tricks For Big Bass In Winter: https://youtu.be/G-DR1mmX9d8

Deep Diving Crankbaits... 

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

(DD Minnow, Natural Gill, Blood Craw, Ghost Minnow)

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

(Fire Craw, Sexy French Pearl, MB Gizzard, M Western Clown)

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

(Fire Craw, Threadfin Shad, Sexy French Pearl, Ito Wakasagi)

Mid-Depth Diving Crankbaits... 

-Spro Rock Crawler: http://bit.ly/2BLmsVN

(Red River Craw, Red Crawfish, Nasty Shad)

-Strike King 3XD: http://bit.ly/2oSMj8s

(Clearwater Minnow, Delta Red, Chili Craw)

-Norman DLN (Deep Little N): http://bit.ly/2acSLUd

(Clearlake Crystal Craw, Red Black Craw, Texas Shad)

Squarebills... 

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

(Cold Blooded, Delta Craw, Abalone Shad, TS Minnow)

-6th Sense Crush 100: http://bit.ly/2HbaCGT

(Shad Scales, Shad Greens, Boiled Crawfish)

-Spro Little John 50: http://bit.ly/2dDfuqt

(Blood Craw, Spooky Shad, Matte Shad, Chrome Olive)

-Lucky Craft 1.5: http://bit.ly/2BGxKPa

(Golden Shiner, Chartreuse Shad, Ghost Minnow, TO Craw)

Bigger Squarebills... 

-Lucky Craft BDS 6: http://bit.ly/2sRZby9

(Golden Shiner, TO Craw)

-6th Sense Mini Mag: http://bit.ly/31KGyeC

(Craw Bomb, Shad Scales, Ghost Shad Scales)

Magnum Squarebills... 

-Lucky Craft Magnum 110: http://bit.ly/2yaomxB

(Chartreuse Shad, Flake Flake Striped Gill, Nasty Bluegill)

-6th Sense Cloud 9 Magnum Silent: http://bit.ly/31J4Mr5

(Baby Crappie, Shad Treuse, Cajun Gill)

-6th Sense Cloud 9 Magnum: http://bit.ly/31EZooR

(Shad Sense)

7' Crankbait Combo... 

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

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

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

7'6" Crankbait Combo... 

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

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

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

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

Large Crankbait Combo... 

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

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

Line- 15 lb Sunline Assassin: 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