Fishing For Bass, Striped Bass And Other Predator Species With Artificial Lures! (Tennessee)

Come along for an awesome day of fishing! Matt is targeting Striper, AKA Striped Bass, AKA Rock Fish, but that’s not all he catches! From big largemouth to big catfish, it’s a day filled with screaming drags and big fish! Many anglers target these fish with bait, but the guys at TacticalBassin enjoy catching these predatory fish with the same baits they use to target big largemouth bass.

Striped Bass provide a saltwater-like experience, without the expense of driving to the ocean. If you’re looking to try something different, give striper fishing a try. They’re going to rip drag and bend hooks, so be ready! While many anglers bait fish for these species, we choose to target them with swimbaits, Alabama Rigs, and even mid strolling baits.

Below you’ll find links to the exact baits Matt used throughout the day. We’ve included the exact sizes and colors, along with the rods and reels he used to muscle these fish to the boat. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.

STROLLING BAITS…

Bait– Hog Farmer 4” Stroll Shad: https://bit.ly/3ALs7OI

Color: Blizzard Gizzard, Albino

Head– Dirty Jigs 3/8 oz Guppy: https://bit.ly/2nyUJRS

Hook Size: 3/0

Bait– Rapala Crush City Freeloader: https://bit.ly/3QWwj4b

Color: Sight Flash

Head– Dirty Jigs 3/8 oz Guppy: https://bit.ly/2nyUJRS

Hook Size: 3/0

Bait– Damiki 7” Armor Shad: https://bit.ly/2VQ7g6o

Color: Pearl White

Head– Owner Round Ball XL: (Source Locally)

Size: 1/2 oz

SWIMBAIT…

•Megabass Magdraft Freestyle: https://bit.ly/3bRG3Wi

Color: Ghost Shad Solid

•ZMan Diezel Eye Jighead: https://bit.ly/4db6LI2

Size: 3/4 oz, 6/0 Hook

UNDERSPIN…

•Dirty Jigs TacticalBassin Underspin: https://bit.ly/4bKgVQf

Size: 3/4 oz, 5/0 Hook

•Xzone 5.5” Swammer: https://bit.ly/2PogV0q

Color: Ghost Shad

ALABAMA RIG…

Rig– Hog Farmer Tactical Flex Rig (Bladed): https://bit.ly/38xd1es

Head– Dirty Jigs Tactical Screwed Up: https://bit.ly/3U5RsIx

Size: 3/8 oz, 3/4 oz

Bait– Crush City Mayor: https://bit.ly/43Uhyli

Color: Albino Pearl

LARGE STROLLING COMBO…

Rod– G Loomis GLX 892S: https://bit.ly/49kagJX

Model: 7'5" Medium

Reel– Shimano Exsence 3000A: https://bit.ly/2iMtscV

Line– Power Pro Super Slick (15 lb): https://bit.ly/3vSwa6Z

Leader– Sunline Saltimate FC (16 lb): https://bit.ly/2O4UElB

SWIMBAIT COMBO…

Rod– Megabass Destroyer P5 Tequila Baccarac: https://bit.ly/2wVOSbY

Model: 7' Extra Heavy

Reel– Abu Garcia Revo Toro Beast: https://bit.ly/4gvOGqH

LIne– Sufix 832 Braid (65 lb): https://bit.ly/2ae93Ji

Leader– Seaguar Gold Label (25 lb): https://bit.ly/3UqrUbi

A RIG COMBO…

Rod– Shimano Expride B 7’7” Heavy: https://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Reel– Shimano Bantam MGL (HG): https://bit.ly/2H44yjG

Line– Sufix 832 Braid (65 lb): https://bit.ly/3vbtuDw

Leader– Seaguar Gold Label (25 lb): https://bit.ly/3UqrUbi

UNDERSPIN COMBO…

Rod– Fenwick World Class 7’5” Extra Heavy: https://bit.ly/3qbGEya

Reel– Shimano Metanium MGL (HG): https://bit.ly/2ezIBfB

Line– Power Pro Maxcuatro (65 lb): https://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader– Sunline Saltimate FC (25 lb): https://bit.ly/2O4UElB

TACTICALBASSIN LURE DESIGNS (AND APPAREL)

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

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

Two PB's In One Day! MONSTERS On Lake Chickamauga!!

What started out as a fun day of bass fishing turned into a multi species slugfest! Matt is fishing Lake Chickamauga and when a storm began to roll in the big fish started feeding! The key to unlocking the multi-species pattern was a blade bait and everything wanted to eat it!

The day started out right with a nice largemouth on the S-Waver. After that Matt really had to work to put together a largemouth pattern, but soon that would be the least of his concerns. When he finally locked the Damiki Vault in his hand and started hopping it around outside structure, big fish started showing up!

A 30" Walleye is a giant fish no matter where you are but its a MONSTER in the South! What a fun experience! Below you'll find links to the exact baits and gear Matt was using. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

GLIDE BAIT... 

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

Color: I Know It

Hook Upgrade: ST–56: http://bit.ly/2cVg7xW

Size: 2

SMALL SWIMBAIT...

Bait– Keitech 2.8" Fat Swing Impact: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Color: Pro Blue Red Pearl

Head– Dirty Jigs Guppy: http://bit.ly/2nyUJRS

Size: 1/8 oz, 1/0 Hook

BLADE BAIT...

•Damiki Vault (1/2 oz): http://bit.ly/2rnO7e2

Color: Real Shad, Black Holo

BLADE BAIT HOOK UPGRADES...

Split Rings– Owner Hyperwire: http://bit.ly/2v8ArBX

Sizes: 2 and 3

Hooks– Owner STX 38: http://bit.ly/2oNIeCD

Size: 6

CRANKBAIT...

•Megabass Super Z Z2: https://bit.ly/3fsxn9G

Color: Wild Craw

LIPLESS CRANKBAIT...

•Jackall TN 60: http://bit.ly/2lqAwjh

Color: SG Threadfin

Hook Upgrade: Owner ST–35: http://bit.ly/2g8uCMj

Size: 6

MATT'S BLADE BAIT COMBO...

Rod– Shimano Expride B 6'10" Medium: https://bit.ly/32IrXqE

Reel– Shimano Aldebaran MGL (HG): http://bit.ly/2uQ4oH8

Line– Sunline Super FC 10 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

MATT'S LIPLESS CRANKBAIT COMBO...

Rod– G Loomis IMX Pro 855C CBR: http://bit.ly/2og0BmK

Reel– Shimano Curado 70 MGL: https://bit.ly/2apmDJt

Line– Power Pro Maxcuatro 30 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader– Sunline Saltimate 16 lb Shock: https://bit.ly/3oT1oq2

MATT'S S WAVER COMBO...

Rod– Shimano Expride B 7'6" Medium Heavy: https://bit.ly/32IrXqE

Reel– Shimano Curado 200DC (HG): https://bit.ly/3QMMb6o

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

Leader– Sunline Saltimate 20 lb Shock: https://bit.ly/3oT1oq2

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

Fishing Brutal Post Front Winter Conditions For Bass and Catfish

Today we're fishing for a mix of Bass and catfish. We've got brutal post-front conditions that have completely shut down the bite! Instead of giving up we decide to continue the multi-species trend and turn our attention from bass to catfish. This isn't the kind of cat fishing you're used to, we've discovered that in cold water the big catfish school up and devour a spoon! Come along for a few very wet, very windy, very cold hours on Clearlake!

Fishing for big catfish is an awesome alternative to bass in the cold Winter months. Unlike the bass, catfish thrive in cold water and will readily chase baitfish and attack fast moving lures. We choose to target them with one of our favorite Fall bass techniques, the deep jigging spoon. Unfortunately today the "first cast curse" got the best of us and the bite ended just as quickly as it began. We caught a few tiny catfish, blackfish, and hitch off camera but the big channel catfish we were after had stopped biting. 

Instead of simply giving up we continued to endure the cold (with frozen hands and toes) in pursuit of at least one bass to round out the day. When conditions are this tough our confidence lies in the crankbait. It took less than 10 minutes to catch a Clearlake bass on the crank despite the brutal conditions. As soon as we had a fish we headed back to the ramp to get warmed up. 

Today wasn't the great fishing we've grown to love on our home lake, it was downright tough. Tough fishing during brutal weather conditions is the reality of Winter. When you're faced with the same conditions we were, it doesn't have to be a bust. If you bear down and endure, even the toughest conditions will yield a fish or two. 

Below is a breakdown of the baits and equipment we were using to catch these fish. 

Baits…

Spoon- Blade Runner 1 3/4 oz Duh (Morning Dawn, Electric Chicken): http://bit.ly/2aKVLlG

Crankbait- River2Sea Tactical DD 75 (Mirrored Minnow): http://bit.ly/37dclbX

Spoon Combo... 

Rod- Denali Attax 7'2" Medium Heavy: http://bit.ly/2tDsOa0

Reel- Daiwa Tatula SV TWS: http://bit.ly/2xALqpz

Line- Sunline Assassin 20 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

Matt's Crankbait Combo... 

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

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

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

Pending World Record Catfish!

Tim was using 6 lb line and a spinning rod when this giant catfish bit! The fight lasted over an hour with so many drag screaming runs we lost track. Come along and watch the entire fight play out! The fish has been submitted for the Channel Catfish All-Tackle Length Record and is currently pending.

One of the most exciting aspects of fishing is that you never know what's going to bite. Tim was throwing a Neko Rig for bass on light tackle. He was searching for smallmouth when the big cat surprised him.

Quality tackle made all the difference in this fight! There is no doubt that lesser gear would have failed under the strain of the battle. Below is a breakdown of the gear Tim was using when he subdued this monster.

Rod/Reel Combo...

Rod- G Loomis NRX 852S JWR: http://bit.ly/2dX9zjv

Reel- Shimano Exsence 3000: http://bit.ly/2iMtscV

Line- 12 lb Sunline Braid: http://bit.ly/2tn8EzQ

Leader- 6 lb Sunline Sniper: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

The Bait...

Lure- 5" Yamamoto Senko: http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

Weight- Swagger Tackle Tungsten Pagoda: http://bit.ly/2iGNSFW

Keeper- G7 Protect Tubes: http://bit.ly/2PWEkUs

Hook- Owner Mosquito Light 1/0: http://bit.ly/2zQVKx3

Camera Used: http://bit.ly/2RsLpjB

Scale Used: http://bit.ly/2f7QgQ9

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Need Apparel? Tacticalbassin Gear is in stock! Get your hats, hoodies, and sunshirts by emailing Tacticalbassinapparel@gmail.com