Summer Fishing Tricks: Early Morning Bite (Whopper plopper and Crankbait)

No one likes getting up early but in Summer, its worth it! Midday the lake can feel like a Dead Sea if you don't know where to look but in the morning, everything is alive! Come along with Matt on the Tennessee River as he explores new water and builds a morning pattern with a whopper plopper, lipless crankbait, and wobble head (swing head jig).

Most anglers fish a whopper plopper on a slow, steady retrieve. Most of the time we do too, but there is a time and place for the popping method and today it paid off with 2 nice bites. After the topwater bite slowed Matt turned to a lipless and ultimately a swinging jig to continue catching fish. 

The morning bite window is incredibly easy but is also very short. Its imperative that you get on the water at first light and if you're not prepared to begin shadow fishing and targeting offshore fish, expect the bite to be done before 9 AM. Below we've included links to all the gear Matt used in today's video. We included the exact colors as well as recommendations on some of our other favorites. 

Hard Baits... 

-Whopper Plopper 110 Topwater (Bone): http://bit.ly/2bsPbQV

Other Favorites- Loon, Munky Butt

-TN70 Lipless Crank (RT Scale Minnow): http://bit.ly/2lqAwjh

Other Favorites- Super Shad, Ghost Minnow

Swing Head Jig... 

Jighead- Swing Head Football 3/4 oz 4/0 Hook: http://bit.ly/2jOY1Ns

First Bait- Keitech Crazy Flapper 4.4 (Green Pumpkin): http://bit.ly/2c3cXrp

Second Bait- Zoom Z Craw (Junebug): http://bit.ly/2vW7Jo5

Matt's Topwater Combo... 

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

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

Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 50 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Matt's Swing Head Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Zodias 7'5" Heavy: http://bit.ly/2cgmMAe

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

Braid- Power Pro Maxcuatro 50 lb: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

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

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

Is Lake Chickamauga Really That Good? (Big Bass Eats A Spinnerbait)

Chickamauga was amazing! We'd never been to the lake but we had heard the rumors! Is it as good as they say? Can we catch a bunch of fish? How about a big bass? Come along as we head out on the water to see what all the fuss is about on Tennessee's best trophy bass lake. Spoiler Alert: Its good and we catch some big ones!

In 3 days we never struggled to get a bite and we caught fish on every lure that we threw. From senkos up shallow to deep cranks offshore, there we bass everywhere! The trick was figuring out how to catch the big ones but after a few days we got it dialed in and had an amazing time catching quality fish all over the lake The key for the bigger bites was shad. There was a shad spawn in the morning and the big bass were keying in on the opportunity.

Below is a breakdown of the baits and equipment we used during our time on the lake. Baits are listed in order of appearance as we caught fish on a variety of lures. If you ever get the chance, take a day to fish Chickamauga, its an awesome fishery!

The Baits...

-California Swim Jig (3/8 oz Tactical Shad): http://bit.ly/2auXfmx

-Keitech 3.8" Fat Swing Impact (Electric Shad): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

-Jackall TN-70 lipless Crankbait (Ghost Minnow): http://bit.ly/2lqAwjh

-River2Sea Bling Spinnerbait (I Know It): http://bit.ly/2diSwqq

-Keitech 4.3" Fat Swing Impact (Pro Blue Red Pearl): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

-Matt Allen Swimbait Head 1/2 oz: http://bit.ly/29RrTYN

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

-Jackall TN- 70 Lipless Crankbait (RT Scale Minnow): http://bit.ly/2lqAwjh

-Azuma Z Boss 22 (Grand Shad): http://bit.ly/2poLKUC

-Blade Runner Underspin 1/2 oz: http://bit.ly/29UVegz

-Strike King 6XD (Powder Blue Chartreuse): http://bit.ly/2ery44M

-Yamamoto 5" Senko (Green Pumpkin/Watermelon Laminate): http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

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

Matt found an All-Around Rod This Trip that was unbelievably universal. From senko to spinnerbait, swim jig to Keitech, he was able to use a single rod. That's extremely rare but the combination of soft tip and solid back bone made the MBR amazingly versatile.

Matt's Versatile Combo...

Rod- G Loomis GLX 844C MBR: http://bit.ly/2gqziwT

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

Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 50 lb: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Crankbait Combo...

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

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

Line- 20 lb Power Pro: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

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

Winter Jig Fishing In The Midwest!

Come along as we talk jig fishing tips and catch largemouth and smallmouth on football jigs on Dale Hollow Lake in Tennessee! Winter is a great time to catch big bass and fishing a jig is one of the best ways to do it!

Which jigs should you fish with? Which trailers work best in the cold water? Which jig rod should you buy? We answer these questions and more! 

The Gear...
Finesse Football Jig: http://bit.ly/2d2apsm
Finesse Jig: http://bit.ly/2eJinXo
Casting Jig: http://bit.ly/2ayUXnE
Compact Pitching Jig: http://bit.ly/2hAIyCV

Yamamoto Double Tail Grub: http://bit.ly/2db9w1p
Smallie Beaver: http://bit.ly/2dR6CkP

Preferred Winter Jigs Colors: Supermatt Brown, Go To, Molting Craw, Green Pumpkin Magic

Combo #1
Rod- Megabass Extreme Mission Type F: http://bit.ly/2wVOSbY
Reel- Shimano Chronarch MGL: http://bit.ly/2n8DghB
Line- 20 lb Sufix 832: http://bit.ly/2ae93Ji
Leader- 12 lb Sunline Assassin: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

Combo #2
Rod- G Loomis GLX 853C JWR: http://bit.ly/2gqziwT
Reel- Shimano Aldebaran 50: http://bit.ly/2fdX1Uy
Line- 20 lb Sufix 832: http://bit.ly/2ae93Ji
Leader- 12 lb Sunline Assassin: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

Jig Storage...
Plano Waterproof 3740: http://bit.ly/2fvjcFB
Bass Mafia Bait Casket 3600: http://bit.ly/2BM2FIr
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