How To Catch Big Bass In Winter: Swimbait Tips For Cold Water Bass Fishing

Swimbaits are easy! They're not complicated, there is no mystery, and you can start catching bass on swimbaits any time you want. Its all about knowing which swimbaits work at different times and how to put them to work for you. Today Matt breaks down the 3 styles of swimbaits that work in cold water and explains what each style is for. 

Do you have a box full of swimbaits but few, if any catches to show for them? Have you lost confidence in the swimbait all together? You're not alone! A lot of bass fishermen have been caught up in the hype without ever being taught the details of how to consistently catch swimbait fish. Today we're focusing on why different styles work and when they should be fished. If you go out with confidence and throw the right baits in the right situations, its a matter of time before you start catching swimbait fish. 

Winter is a tough time of year to get bit on any bait. If you're going to work hard to get bit on anything, you might as well put in the time to get the right bites on big baits. Below are links to our favorite baits, favorite colors, and the gear we use to throw them. All of the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

Glide Baits... 

-Baitsanity Explorer Glide: http://bit.ly/33bQyxY

Colors: Trout, Kokanee, Shad, Raw

-River2Sea S Waver 200: http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

Colors: Light Trout, Rainbow Trout, Warden Hitch

Boot Tail Baits... 

-Scottsboro Tackle 6" Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2Oy7CKH

Colors: Natural Light, Ol Smokey, Mullins Madness

-Little Creeper 8" Trash Fish: http://bit.ly/2hmXtg1

Colors: LC Hitch, Rainbow Trout, Ghosted Chartreuse Shad

-Little Creeper Fatty 6" Trash Fish: http://bit.ly/2ixaEw2

Colors: LC Hitch, Just Shad, Light Hitch

-Owner Beast Hook: http://bit.ly/2ancP66

Sizes: Scottsboro 8/0, 8" trash fish 10/0, 6" trash fish 6/0

WedgeTail Baits... 

-8" Huddleston Deluxe ROF 5 Jig Hook Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2UVHiuQ

Colors: Holdover Trout, Hitch, Trout

-Savage Gear Pulse Tail Shiner: https://bit.ly/2SDD0Zl

Colors: GreenBack, White, Shad

Favorite Swimbait Combo For Bigger Baits (Currently Backordered)... 

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 966: https://bit.ly/3ktZFnF

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

Line- Power pro Maxcuatro (80 lb Braid): http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

leader- Sunline FC100 Fluorocarbon (35 lb): http://bit.ly/2O4UElB

All-Around Swimbait Combo For Large and Medium Baits... 

Rod- Dobyns Champion XP 806 Heavy: http://bit.ly/2aivwYX

Reel- Shimano Curado 300K: https://bit.ly/2HbZ3E4

Line- Power pro Maxcuatro (65 lb Braid): http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

leader- Sunline FC100 Fluorocarbon (30 lb): http://bit.ly/2O4UElB

Budget Swimbait Combo... 

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

Reel- Shimano Cardiff 300A: http://bit.ly/2cvhtMO

Line- Power pro Maxcuatro (65 lb Braid): http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

leader- Sunline FC100 Fluorocarbon (30 lb): http://bit.ly/2O4UElB

NEW Tactical Bassin Apparel... 

TacticalBassin Hat: https://bit.ly/31EYB8W

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

Buyer's Guide: Swimbaits and Glide Baits!

Today’s Buyer’s Guide is all about big swimbaits! There are so many options between Glide Baits, Multi-Joints, Boot Tails, Wedge Tails, Wakes, Crankdowns, and so many more… How do you know where to start?! Swimbaits aren’t cheap so making the right choices the first time is very important. Come along as we take a look at some of our favorites! 

We break our swimbaits into 3 primary categories: Trout/Kokanee,  Baitfish, and Bluegill Imitators. Trout baits are typically open water baits while baitfish and bluegill imitators are cover oriented, shallow water baits. Knowing how to use each style of bait effectively is an entirely different video. Luckily, we shot an in-depth video on this subject last month and have linked it below. 

In this video we’ve broken 9 baits down into these 3 categories and added 2 bonus baits. You’ll find all of the baits we discussed linked below. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. We’ve also included our favorite colors with each bait, hook recommendations for rigging where applicable, as well as links to some of our favorite swimbait rods and reels. 

In-depth Swimbait Video: https://youtu.be/oIck1onpMNs

Previous Buyer’s Guides… 

-High End Combos: https://bit.ly/35PNOeu

-$500 Combos: https://bit.ly/3lW1o5I

-$400 Combos: https://bit.ly/3lSfwwz

-$200 Combos: https://bit.ly/2USSCJv

-$100 Combos: https://bit.ly/37aupED

Trout/Kokanee/Open Water Baits…  

-Baitsanity Explorer Glide: http://bit.ly/33bQyxY

Favorite Colors: Raw, Rainbow, Kokanee

-Huddleston 8” ROF 5: http://bit.ly/2UVHiuQ

Favorite Colors: Trout, Hitch

-Huddleston 8” ROF 12: http://bit.ly/2azFTon

Favorite Colors: Trout, Hitch

Baitfish/Cover Baits… 

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

Favorite Colors: Hitch, Gizzard Shad, Bone

-R2S S Waver 168: http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

Favorite Colors: Bluegill, TW Phantom, Light Trout

-Megabass Magdraft 8”: http://bit.ly/2mc8bfK

Favorite Colors: MB Shad, MB Gizzard, White Back Shad

-Scottsboro 6” Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2Oy7CKH

-Owner 8/0 Beast Hook 1/2 oz: http://bit.ly/2ancP66

Favorite Colors: Mullins Madness, Natural Light, Ol Smakey

-Savage Gear Shiner Pulse Tail 7”: https://bit.ly/2SDD0Zl

Favorite Colors: Green Back, White, Shad

Bluegill Baits… 

-Savage Gear Pulse Tail RTF Bluegill: https://bit.ly/2xx1zjH

Favorite Colors: Bluegill, Ghost Bluegill

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

Favorite Colors: Ghost Gill, Spawn Gill

Bonus Baits… 

-Madness Balam 245: https://bit.ly/36T1epg

Favorite Colors: Laser Hasu, Clear Hasu

-Fish Arrow Riser Jack: https://bit.ly/30FMOqw

Favorite Colors: Biwasagi, Lemonade, Pro Blue

Rods… 

-G Loomis IMX Pro 966: https://bit.ly/3ktZFnF

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

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

Reels…

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

-Shimano Curado 300K: https://bit.ly/2HbZ3E4

NEW Tactical Bassin Apparel... 

TacticalBassin Hat: https://bit.ly/31EYB8W

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

Swimbait Fishing For Bass | Full Seminar | Best Baits, Gear, and Tricks

20 years of swimbait knowledge in one video! How to fish swimbaits, which swimbaits work best, when to crawl a softbait, when to twitch a glide bait, and a whole lot more! Matt shows his favorite baits, gives rigging tricks, shows cadences and retrieves, and gives away some of the long kept secrets of getting fish to bite instead of follow!

Matt spent years learning how to throw swimbaits and today he's sharing all of his hard-earned knowledge. All of the baits and equipment discussed in the video are linked below. Every link goes to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

Soft Bluegill Baits... 

-Savage Gear Bluegill (Jig Hook): https://bit.ly/2xx1zjH

Colors: Bluegill, Ghost Gill, Black Gill

-Savage Gear Bluegill (Weedless): https://bit.ly/2Kd6qct

Colors: Bluegill, Ghost Gill, Black Gill

Hard Bluegill Baits... 

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

Color: Bluegill

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

Color: Ghost Gill, Spawn Gill

-Bull Gill: http://bit.ly/2f1ASHn

Color: Bluegill

-Megabass Vatalion: http://bit.ly/367AOxD

Colors: GG Gill, GG Wild Gill

Fast Multi-Joint Baits... 

-Bull Shad Slow Sink (6" and 7"): http://bit.ly/2eJ8gWM

Colors: Gizzard Shad, Threadfin Shad

-Triple Trout (7" and 8"): http://bit.ly/2E8Up5P

Colors: Blue Violet Shad, Bone, Trout

Open Water Glide Baits... 

-Baitsanity Explorer Glide: http://bit.ly/33bQyxY

Colors: Trout, Kokanee, Shad

-Savage Gear Magnum Shine Glide: https://bit.ly/36LNEWj

Colors: Light Trout, Hitch, Bone

-River2Sea S-Waver 200: http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

Colors: Rainbow Trout, Light Trout, Warden Hitch

Cover Glide Baits... 

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

Colors: Hitch, Gizzard Shad, Baby Trout

-Savage Gear Shine Glide 185 (7.25"): https://bit.ly/30O32xB

Colors: Hitch, Gizzard, Bone

-Baitsanity Antidote: http://bit.ly/2ztUk9z

Colors: Trout, Summer Shad, Shad

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

Colors: Light Trout, Warden Hitch

Boot Tail Soft Baits... 

-Megabass MagDraft (6", 8", 10"): http://bit.ly/2mc8bfK

Colors: MB Shad, MB Gizzard, White Back Shad

-Little Creeper 8" Trash Fish: http://bit.ly/2hmXtg1

Colors: LC Hitch, Just Shad, Ghost Rainbow

Little Creeper 6" Fatty Trash Fish: http://bit.ly/2ixaEw2

Colors: Just Shad, LC Hitch, Blueback Herring

-Keitech Fat Swing Impact (6.8 and 7.8): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Colors: Pro Blue Red Pearl, Electric Shad, Ghost Rainbow Trout

-Scottsboro Tackle (6" and 7"): http://bit.ly/2Oy7CKH

Colors: Mullins Madness, Natural Light, Ole Smokey

-Osprey 6" Tournament Talon: http://bit.ly/2bqsLS0

Colors: Chartreuse Shad, TW Shad, Gizzard

Wedge Tail Soft Baits... 

-Huddleston 4" Jig Hook Shad: https://bit.ly/2GC9Qrg

Colors: Mean Green, Money, Tequila

-Huddleston 8" Trout: http://bit.ly/2azFTon

Colors: Rainbow Trout, Holdover, Hitch

-Huddleston 68 Special: http://bit.ly/2dj5apG

Colors: Black Gizzard, Rainbow, Green Gizzard

-Savage Gear 4D Pulse Tail Trout: http://bit.ly/399bx97

Colors: Ghost Trout, Hitch, Trout

Savage Gear Pulse Tail Shiner: https://bit.ly/2SDD0Zl

Colors: White, Shad, Green Back

Pre-Order Soft Baits... 

-Savage Gear 8" Pulse Tail (Jig Hook): https://bit.ly/33GROg1

-Savage Gear 6" Pulse Tail (Jig Hook): https://bit.ly/2Ib674q

Hook/Split Ring Recommendations... 

-Owner ST-56 Treble Hooks (3X Strong): http://bit.ly/2cVg7xW

-Owner HyperWire Split Rings 3X Strong (Size 4,5,6): http://bit.ly/2aTH3f1

-Owner UltraWire Split Rings 4X Strong (Size 5, 6,7): http://bit.ly/3bQgswL

Hook Sizes By Bait... 

Size 2 Trebles: S-Waver 168, Vatalion, MagDraft 6"

Size 1 Trebles: Shine Glide, Sneaky Pete, Antidote, Triple Trout, Bull Gill

Size 1/0 Trebles: Bull Shad, Sneaky Pete (Front), S Waver 200, Magdraft 8"

Size 2/0 Trebles: Shine Glide Magnum, Baitsanity Explorer

Matt's Line/Leader... 

Main Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro Braid 80 lb: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- Sunline FC100 Shock Leader 35 lb: http://bit.ly/2O4UElB

Budget Line- Power Pro Braid 80 lb: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Budget Leader- Maxima Ultragreen 30 lb: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Matt's Favorite All-Around Swimbait Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 966: https://bit.ly/3ktZFnF

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

High-End Swimbait Combo... 

Rod- Megabass Destroyer Onager: http://bit.ly/2wVOSbY

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

Budget Swimbait Combo... 

Rod- Dobyns Fury 806H 8' Heavy Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

Reel- Shimano Cardiff 300A: http://bit.ly/2cvhtMO

Related Videos... 

Underwater Swimbait Action: https://youtu.be/iye3hF1tCQo

Underwater Swimbait Strikes: https://youtu.be/OT06aiLojOI

S-Wavers: https://youtu.be/dgriRTYyqMM

Spring GlideBait Fishing: https://youtu.be/0CO7nvP7H4w

Our Baits And Apparel…

TacticalBassin Gear: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz

Senko and Underspin Tips For Big Bass! Kayak Bass Fishing on Clearlake

I only brought 3 rods! A senko, an underspin, and a swimbait are all tied on. Which will get the biggest bite? Can we build a pattern? Come along for a really fun day of fishing on Clearlake! We're going to put the kayak to work and stick some big bass along the way!

Today really highlighted the value of fishing from a kayak or other small boat. Often times anglers in smaller craft feel like they're at a disadvantage but the big bites today absolutely would not have come if I was on my bass boat. These are highly pressured fish that are very leery of boats but they had no concerns about the kayak! 

The underspin proved to be the hero of the day. Both of the big fish (a 5 and 6 lber) both annihilated the underspin along the edges of submerged trees. The senko also proved to be invaluable. After making a pass through our small area with the underspin we slowly and methodically worked back through the fish with the senko and were able to pick up a few more key bites to finish out the day. These two baits proved to be an awesome pairing as one got the majority of bites while the other got the kicker bites we were hoping for. 

Below is a breakdown of the baits we had tied on and the gear we were using to throw it. All the bait links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see up close photos of each bait and a detailed description. 

Underspin.. 

-Owner 1/4 oz Flashy Swimmer 5/0 Hook: http://bit.ly/2e8O4Y7

-Keitech 4.8" Fat Swing Impact (Electric Shad): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Senko... 

-Gamakatsu Superline EWG 4/0 Hook: http://bit.ly/2ac92XG

-Yamamoto 6" Senko (Green Pumpkin): http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

Glide Baits... 

-R2S S-Waver 200 (Phantom Trout): http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

-Gratt Sneaky Pete 7'5" (Hitch): http://bit.ly/2RYCPFe

Underspin Combo... 

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

Reel- Shimano Metanium MGL (Current Model): https://bit.ly/34HlAAk

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

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

Senko Combo... 

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

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

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

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

Gear...

Life Jacket- Mustang Elite Inflatable: http://bit.ly/2odXXIP

Camera- GoPro Hero 8: http://bit.ly/37hVTX4

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

**Kayak Link Goes To Manufacturer's Website**

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