Cold Winter Bass Fishing: Tubes, Jigs, and Mega Live Sonar

Its another cold, Winter day on the water! Our hands are frozen, the fish are cold, but the bite is on! Between catches Tim shows his Humminbird Mega Live unit where you can actually see bass swimming through the baitfish in front of the boat! Come along for an educational day on the water and watch as the guys use a jig and a tube to catch big bass during brutal conditions. 

We regularly talk about how we prefer to power fish through the Winter months. Once in a while, the fish just won't cooperate. This is one of those days. The fish are on bottom, around cover, and won't chase at all. Luckily the guys are ready with a finesse football jig and a heavy tube to fool these lethargic bass into biting. They don't get a lot of bites, but the ones they get are really nice fish!

Below you'll find links to the baits, gear, and electronics the guys were using. We've included our favorite sizes and colors where applicable. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

TIM'S TUBE...

Bait- Big Bite Baits Tour Tube: http://bit.ly/32e23VR

Color: Green Pumpkin Orange Firetail

Head- Bite Me Tackle Big Dude: http://bit.ly/2CV3o7S

Size: 3/4 oz

JARRED'S JIG... 

Bait- D&L 3/4 oz Wire Guard Football: https://bit.ly/3eYbnWa

Color: Cali 420

Trailer- Yamamoto 5" Double Tail: http://bit.ly/2db9w1p

Colors: Green Pumpkin Black Flake

LURE KNOCKERS... 

-StrikeZone Pocket Knocker: http://bit.ly/2csyRVT

-StrikeZone Magnum Pocket Knocker: https://bit.ly/3xPivLl

HUMMINBIRD MEGA LIVE...

-Mega Live: https://bit.ly/2VXoaC7

TIM'S ELECTRONICS... 

-Humminbird Apex 13: https://bit.ly/3pdaK1q

-Humminbird Solix 15: https://bit.ly/2Hazsej

JARRED'S JIG COMBO... 

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

Reel- Shimano Curado 200K (XG): http://bit.ly/2tHewEh

Line- Seaguar Red Label 15 lb: http://bit.ly/2LOVEwA

TIM'S TUBE COMBO...

Rod- G Loomis NRX+ 844C MBR: https://bit.ly/2hedqsq

Reel- Shimano Metanium MGL (HG): http://bit.ly/2ezIBfB

Line- Sunline Super FC 15 lb: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

WANT TACTICALBASSIN GEAR??

We have a variety of apparel items and custom lure designs available! Everything from hats, to hoodies, to crankbaits! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here... 

TacticalBassin Apparel and Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz

Winter Jig Fishing Tips And Tricks!

Snow and ice won't stop us from catching fish! Come along as the guys hit the water on Dale Hollow in search of a Winter jig bite. They use a two-pronged approach throwing both a traditional football jig, and a Hula Grub in the cold January waters and it doesn't take long before big bass start coming into the boat!

Winter is a great time to throw a jig. The larger crawfish profile dragged slowly along bottom is often more than a lethargic Winter bass can resist. Similar to a swimbait, the jig creates a slow moving, oversized meal that requires little energy to eat and tends to catch bigger than average fish. Notice that Tim's first several fish were big bass, despite the brutal cold conditions. When the water temperatures plunge and the fish don't seem to want to feed, switching from a traditional football jig to a "Hula Grub" style jig will often get more bites as well. 

Below you'll find links to the exact baits and gear used in the video. We've included our preferred sizes, colors, and rod models for each presentation. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

TIM'S JIGS... 

Bait- Yamamoto 5" Hula Grub: http://bit.ly/2d7SpgG

Colors: Green Pumpkin Purple Copper, Green Pumpkin Large Red Flake

Head- Dobyns 1/2 oz Football: https://bit.ly/3H8KY44

Bait- Dirty Jigs 1/2 oz Skirted Football: http://bit.ly/2d2apsm

Color: Canterbury Craw

Trailer- Yamamoto 5" Double Tail: http://bit.ly/2db9w1p

Colors: Green Pumpkin Purple Copper

JARRED'S JIG... 

Bait- D&L 3/4 oz Wire Guard Football: https://bit.ly/3eYbnWa

Color: Cali 420

Trailer- Yamamoto 5" Double Tail: http://bit.ly/2db9w1p

Colors: Green Pumpkin Black Flake

TIM'S HULA GRUB COMBO... 

Rod- St. Croix Legend Xtreme 7'4" Heavy: https://bit.ly/2wlJQLu

Reel- Shimano Metanium MGL (HG): http://bit.ly/2ezIBfB

Line- Sunline Super FC 12 lb: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

TIM'S JIG COMBO... 

Rod- G Loomis NRX+ 894C JWR: https://bit.ly/2hedqsq

Reel- Shimano Metanium MGL (HG): http://bit.ly/2ezIBfB

Line- Sunline Super FC 15 lb: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

JARRED'S JIG COMBO... 

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

Reel- Shimano Curado 200K (XG): http://bit.ly/2tHewEh

Line- Seaguar Red Label 15 lb: http://bit.ly/2LOVEwA

WANT TACTICALBASSIN GEAR??

We have a variety of apparel items and custom lure designs available! Everything from hats, to hoodies, to crankbaits! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here... 

TacticalBassin Apparel and Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz

Catch Fish Every Time! How To Speed Crank For Bass Right Now!

This is THE BEST technique to consistently catch fish in the Fall and Winter. Over the past few years we've dialed in our crankbait fishing and developed a style we call "speed cranking". It requires specialized baits (We even designed our own specifically for the technique), high-speed reels, and a very unique cadence with the retrieve. Done correctly, it produces incredible results all around the country throughout the Fall and Winter. 

Today we're demonstrating the technique on Dale Hollow Lake on the Kentucky/Tennessee border. This world-renowned lake is home to the world record smallmouth but is also a great largemouth and spotted bass fishery. Before we even left the marina we were catching bass on the crankbait. Throughout the day we found success using a high speed retrieve with aggressive pauses. We caught fish on both the Tactical Crankbait and the Rock Crawler with our best results split between outside grass lines and deep rock points. 

The Bait We Designed... 

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

There are a handful of lures that are capable of triggering a feed response in bass when they're not in a feeding mood. The jerkbait, Speed Cranking a deep diving crankbait, and an Alabama Rig are all great methods to trigger a bass but of these, the crankbait is the most predictable around the country. Whether you're looking for a GIANT largemouth, a world-class Smallmouth, or a trophy Spotted Bass, it can be done by speeding up your retrieve, mixing up cadence, and choosing a bait with the right vibration. 

Below is a breakdown of the baits and equipment we use for speed cranking. First is today's baits and specific colors used, then we separated all of the baits by category and included very specific color recommendations that you can rely on to get bit. We've also included the exact gear we use so you're prepared when the right bite comes and even added in budget-minded alternatives that will help you land these crankbait fish without breaking the bank. The links go direct to Tackle warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.

Today's Baits... 

-Spro RkCrawler 55 (Phantom Green, Red Crawfish): http://bit.ly/2NFPA5t

-R2S Tactical DD 75 (Green Pumpkin Craw): http://bit.ly/37dclbX

Cranks For Primarily Baitfish Eaters... 

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

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

-R2S Tactical DD 75: http://bit.ly/37dclbX

Cranks For Primarily Crawfish Eaters... 

-Spro RkCrawler 55 MD (Shallower): https://bit.ly/3juD6hS

-Spro RkCrawler 55 (Deeper): http://bit.ly/2NFPA5t

-Teckel Drunker: http://bit.ly/2xryClV

-R2S Tactical DD 75: http://bit.ly/37dclbX

Consistent Shad Colors... 

Deep X 300: MB Gizzard, Sexy Ayu, Sexy Shad

Deep Six: Ito Wakasagi, MB Gizzard, Sexy Shad

Tactical DD: Ghost Minnow, Glass Minnow, Mirrored Minnow

Consistent Craw Colors... 

RkCrawler: Phantom Brown, Phantom Green, Red River Craw

Drunker: Phantom Green Craw, Phantom Brown Craw, Phantom Red

Tactical DD: Green Pumpkin Craw, Blood Craw

Hook and Hardware Upgrades... 

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

Light Wire Hook- Gamakatsu EWG: http://bit.ly/2cZrsbY

Heavy Wire Hook- Owner ST-56: http://bit.ly/2cVg7xW

Hook Sizes... 

Size 2: Deep Six

Size 4: Deep X 300, Tactical DD

Size 6: Drunker, RkCrawler

Braided Line 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 Shimano Bantam MGL HG: http://bit.ly/2H44yjG

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

Other Budget Rods... 

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

Shimano- SLX 7' Medium Glass (Pre-Order Available): http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

Daiwa- Tatula XT 7' Medium Glass: http://bit.ly/2FXhNpO

Falcon- Lowrider 7'6" Medium Heavy Moderate: https://bit.ly/3negdkY

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