Bank Fishing: How To Catch The Biggest Bass Of Your Life!

Fishing from shore is a huge advantage when targeting trophy bass! Many anglers don't realize how big of a factor "stealth" is when searching for the true giants. Sure, you can't cover as much water, but the element of surprise far outweighs that minor problem. Today Tim teaches which spots to spend your time on whether you're on a big lake or a tiny pond. 

Shore-based angling gives the angler a variety of advantages. You get different cast angles than boats, access to inside grass lines, backsides of lay downs, and most of all, stealth. There is no engine sound, no sonar ping, nothing to tell the bass their next meal might not be real. The only tricky part is that you have to be around big bass to catch big bass. 

The bass will position differently depending on the baitfish they're hunting. For example, trout/kokanee eaters will be found on long-tapering points, choke points, and funnels. Shad/Panfish eaters will use backwaters and shoreline anomalies. The final keys are time of day, and lure selection. Below you'll find links to our favorite baits for targeting these fish, based on what they're hunting and the size of the lake/pond they are in. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

Matt's Video (How To Catch Your PB Bass): https://youtu.be/F552R5_ZG9M

Trout/Kokanee Eaters... 

Soft Swimbait- Huddleston 8" ROF 5 Trout: http://bit.ly/2UVHiuQ

Soft Swimbait- Savage Gear 8" 4D Trout: http://bit.ly/399bx97

Glide Bait- Gan Craft 230 (Dark Rainbow Trout): http://bit.ly/2fLjSnm

Topwater- Megabass Mega Dog (Live Shiner): http://bit.ly/2VIYoMH

Shad/Bluegill/Crappie... 

Glide Bait- S Waver 168 (Bluegill): http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

Squarebill- Lucky Craft 1.5 (BP Golden Shiner): http://bit.ly/2BGxKPa

Topwater- Teckel Kicknocker (Threadfin Shad): http://bit.ly/2nvxkoA

Big Ponds... (Add these baits to shad/bluegill/crappie)

Worm- 10" PowerWorm (Green Pumpkin): http://bit.ly/2cxomPX

Lizard- Zoom 8" Lizard (Watermelon Red): https://bit.ly/36qHvgs

Creature- Zoom Brush Hog (Green Pumpkin): http://bit.ly/2bnpCRx

Frog- Spro King Daddy (Albino): http://bit.ly/2h0LCYd

Small Ponds... (Add these baits to Big Ponds)

Frog- Jackall Kaera (Glitter Bluegill): http://bit.ly/2Fz6SA3

Punch Creature- RI Sweet Beaver (Green Pumpkin Red): http://bit.ly/29W3RZW

Punch Weight- Swagger Tungsten 1 oz: https://bit.ly/2X35Jtl

Punch Stop- 6th Sense Peg X Stoppers: https://bit.ly/32aJG6J

Budget Swimbait Combo... 

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

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

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

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

All-Around Pond Combo... 

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

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

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

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

Budget All-Around Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Intenza 7'2" Medium Heavy: http://bit.ly/2QADLTq

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

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

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

Early Summer Fishing- Catch A Giant Bass Right Now!

You only have a few days! There is a short window during the full moon in June that you can specifically target MONSTER bass with swimbaits. Once this window closes you're in to Summer patterns and typically have to wait until Fall for your next shot with the giant baits. Don't miss your chance, get the info and head to the lake now!

You only have a few days before the full moon arrives. Its time to head to the lake! Our primary bait for this window is a wake bait. If the fish won't come all the way to the surface with switch our attention to a glide bait. If the glide doesn't seem to fool them, we head a little deeper with paddle tail swimbaits. All 3 options have a shot at putting a truly GIANT bass in the boat for you this weekend.

Below is a breakdown of the lures and equipment we use for this big bait approach to Summer bass fishing. Remember, its a short window so get out there and catch them while you can!

Wakebait...

-Spro BBZ 8": http://bit.ly/2cU1x5P

-Evergreen Noisy Dachs: http://bit.ly/2JbrbaM

-Megabass Garuda: http://bit.ly/2ILgfxc

Glide Baits...

-S-Waver 168 and 200: http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

-Baitsanity Explorer Glide: http://bit.ly/2DcI1yM

Boot-Tail Softbaits...

-Osprey 6" and 7" Tournament Talon (Top Hook): http://bit.ly/2bqsLS0

-Osprey 6" Winged Talon (Belly Hook): http://bit.ly/2IBlDTG

-Keitech 6.8" Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

-Matt Allen Swimbait Head 1 oz: http://bit.ly/29RrTYN

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

Bonus Swimbaits...

-Mattlures Shad: http://bit.ly/2vM8cKF

-Scottsboro Tackle Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2LBssth

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

Matt's All Around Swimbait Combo...

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 966: http://bit.ly/2x9kxuS

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

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

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

How To Catch Your New PB Bass Before Summer

Its not too late! You've got one more shot at MONSTER bass before Summer arrives. Matt explains what the bass are doing as they transition, how to get ahead of them, and the best presentations to catch them. Whether you're already fishing the post spawn in the South or your lakes are just opening up in the North, this information will help you catch a bigger bass this Spring!

Catching a monster bass can happen at any time, but catching them consistently requires commitment. You have to start thinking differently when you're on the water, no longer focusing on "going fishing" and instead focusing on the fish's movements and feeding habits so you can predict their next move. If the bass in your area are still spawning, you have an awesome shot at a new Personal Best bass this Spring but if that door has already closed, all hope is not lost!

Matt explains that after the fish spawn there is one more shot to specifically target the biggest fish. They'll move off to recuperate but as soon as they're done (typically no more than 2 weeks) they'll feed aggressively one more time before heading into Summer. These fish can be targeted with a swimbait on virtually any fishery. Its not the way to catch numbers of bass but if you're ready to break your PB, the biggest bass of your life could be waiting for you on your next trip to the lake.

Below is a breakdown of the baits and tackle Matt recommends for this Style of Spring and post spawn fishing.

Spawning Bass Baits...

-Imakatsu Javallon Gill: http://bit.ly/2IvM1jj

-Mattlures Ultimate Bluegill: http://bit.ly/2FsZhA3

-Dirty Jigs Pitching Jig: http://bit.ly/2amL3of

(Canterbury Craw, Molting Craw, Go To)

-Sweet Beaver (Green Pumpkin Red Flake): http://bit.ly/29W3RZW

Glidebaits and Swimbaits...

-S-Waver 168 and 200: http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

(Bluegill, Light Trout, Rainbow Trout)

-Keitech 6.8 Fat Swing Impact: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

(Light Hitch, Copperfield, Sexy Shad)

-Osprey Inline Talon Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2laKeWD

(Bluegill, Light Hitch, TW Shad)

Wakebaits and Topwater...

-Megabass MegaDog: http://bit.ly/2VIYoMH

-Spro BBZ 8" Floater: http://bit.ly/2cU1x5P

-Bucca's Bull Shad Wakebait: http://bit.ly/2yceVRt

Matt's Favorite Swimbait Combo...

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 966: http://bit.ly/2x9kxuS

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

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

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

________________________________________________________________

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

New Personal Best!! Tim Caught A Monster!!

7 lb Smallmouth! Tim's shattered his personal record with this new PB bass! He was throwing a small swimbait in frigid water when the monster bass bit. Check it out!

Tim used the Matt Allen swimbait head paired with a keitech to create a unique rocking action that these bass had never seen before. We were getting bit on nearly every cast when the big one made her mistake. Smallmouth, like most bass, are prone to schooling. By triggering the smaller bass we were able to fire up the school and get this giant to make a mistake. 

What an amazing fish! Huge congrats to Tim on the new personal best bass! 

Keitech 4.8 Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v
Matt Allen Swimbait Head 1/4 oz: http://bit.ly/29RrTYN

Tim's Equipment... 
Rod- G Loomis NRX 7'5" XH: http://bit.ly/2hedqsq
Reel- Shimano Antares: http://bit.ly/2ha2zNI
Line- 50 lb Sufix 832 Braid: http://bit.ly/2ae93Ji
Leader- 15 lb Maxima Ultragreen: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Reasonably Priced Combo for the average angler...
Rod- Shimano Zodias 7'2" Heavy: http://bit.ly/2cgmMAe
Reel- Shimano Curado 70: http://bit.ly/2apmDJt
Line- 50 lb Sufix 832 Braid: http://bit.ly/2ae93Ji
Leader- 15 lb Maxima Ultragreen: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Our favorite life jacket: http://bit.ly/2odXXIP
Our favorite sunglasses: http://bit.ly/2glE3eN
Camera: http://bit.ly/2iwZqqU
Scale: http://bit.ly/2f7QgQ9

Smallmouth bass are amazing predators. They thrive across the country in cold and warm water alike. These bronzebacks are incredible fighters and feed aggressively, even in the coldest of water. Keep an eye on the channel as there is an entire series of smallmouth videos coming soon!