I’d like to see a on the water fishing competition between Matt and you. You in your boat and him in his boat 👍. Love y’all’s videos they helped me a lot.
If they added some rules that would be even better. No FFS, they both use the same bait and every 30 minutes they switch baits. You know, things like that.
Another tip Matt, is on a drop shot I take a piece of stiff stainless steel wire and push it into my bait. The wire will hold it straight, and I normally use a piece half as long or just long enough to get to the tail that way it doesn't mess with the action at all. Don't use thick wire, if you can find aluminum wire it's better. You can also use small foam ball on the head of the bait to hold more bait fuel. I've caught thousands of fish in the winter doing this the last 2 years. Had a day it was 27° in Alabama and I caught 41 bass and had a best 5 of 26lbs I caught probably 15 over 3lbs that day
Tim, My best cold water method is a Jika Rig. I make my own (hook, split ring & drop shot weight). Weights from 1/8oz to 1/2oz. I like to use the D-bomb & Baby D-bomb. Last week I caught 3 LM for 19.5lbs fishing from the bank. I was casting to 8' to 14' of water with brush piles on a main lake point. Lake had skim ice then thawed out. Just drag the rig slowly along the bottom. NE-KS area.
Best finesse jigs particularly for winter are the Bassdope Candy Jigs and Bassdope Football Finesse Jigs. We crack them up here in the North all year, and then through the winter on the rivers that aren’t frozen over.
I love using the Berkeley champ minnow purple smelt on a 1/4 drop shot using #2 hook. I fish off rock bluffs from the bank and watch a ton of smallmouth/largemouth and walleyes!
Everything Tim Is saying is exactly how it went for me last trip out. Post front and dragging a ned rig and finesse tube was the only thing that would work
I went fishing yesterday, breaking through ice with the boat in 38° waters. Do the bait balls dye off? I couldn't locate any fish at all here in New Jersey.
They do in TN. First real cold front and the rivers are full of them being swept away. Makes it kinda tough. All the free dead or nearly dead bait all over. The holster gets full of them. Little bitty minnows
3 and 4 inch Keitech easy shiner has been my cold water go to for years. I picked up some of the new-ish baits on market Largo shad, crush city Mayor, mooch minnow etc to try them out this season.
Largo shad is not good in cold water. Stiffens up too much. Can’t even fish it on an a rig or ball head. it just stiffens and rolls unfortunately. the mayor is probably the same. keitechs are best for cold water
I use the Bait Fuel stick on everything. In my mind, even if they don't have the time to really inspect the bait, the scent is being dispersed into the water. Almost chumming the water in a way. My Dad doesn't use scent, but he has started catching more fish from the back of the boat since I started using it. It seems like the cloud of scent in the water is getting their attention and causing them to look for the source.
Matt and Tim. Do you guys change line for the colder water temps? (Brand/Model/Size) Have you noticed over the years that maybe certain lines that you fish during 3/4 of the year become more brittle during the cold winter months?
@michaelsheppard4227 love their beaver in the post spawn. Only max scent I've ran. Must try more. The plastic responds to water logging faster than most I've used but you wear them out too quick for that. Noticed it last winter. Maybe a bad batch. The bass liked them.
You mentioned fish having mud and I have also experienced that. I had a winter tournament on pickwick a few years back and we were catching some really chunky fish with clay caked on their belly
I still feel traditional 2D sonar shows the best. If they are moving and you're looking out in front of the boat the newer FFS sometimes shows them pretty well too. What's crazy is your screen can be completely blank and then all of a sudden a school of bass will emerge from the bottom. Even with the latest and greatest technology, bass can still hide on bottom.
I added that BaitFuel goop to a bag of senkos... it dried into a jelly overnight... and even after peeling off the jelly snot, I haven't caught a senko fish in 2 months since I put it on my baits, lol.
@@tacticalbassin if you put it on certain plastics they will swell up and then the excess will dry out. it’s kind of odd bc I used it on a bag of t macs and they got really big and the baitfuel was dry but that bag of worms absolutely caught me some fish. so idk why it doesn’t go well with some plastic formulas
Can you answer my question about BaitFuel please. I have one bottle and the BaitFuel is yellow, and another is clear. Same product. Is the yellowing mean that it is older scent? Thanks guys!
I don't think it hurts for these techniques (Slow Finesse) although i hear some guys swear by it for large glide baits and swimbaits. I don't use it all the time.
To be honest I’ve always hunted in winter but this year I’ve been fishing alot more cuz I lost most of my land. So I’m not great at winter fishing yet. Last week only bite I had was on a table rockish colored plus one jerkbait. Hoping to figure it out. Thanks for the great tips
Man Ive heard so many stories recently of people losing their hunting leases. I hope you can find somewhere else to hunt. If not, winter fishing can be fun too.
@ I have one small tract and I have killed 2 8 points but I’ve lost hundreds and hundreds over last 5 years. Last few years I’m more obsessed with bass fishing anyway! Preciate yall!
Do not use BAIT FUEL it will rust out your hooks. Please don't use it. I lost $200 in chatterbaits and other lures using that junk. Please don't use it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I use bait fuel religiously and use only waterproof storage boxes, always allow baits to thoroughly dry before putting back in with other baits plus I do a couple other things to insure baits are dry and stay dry and don't have much problems with rust thankfully.
I’d like to see a on the water fishing competition between Matt and you. You in your boat and him in his boat 👍. Love y’all’s videos they helped me a lot.
This would be fun!
Loser has to fish for a month with only googan gear
That’d be cool
This would be awesome to watch I hope they see this
If they added some rules that would be even better. No FFS, they both use the same bait and every 30 minutes they switch baits. You know, things like that.
Another tip Matt, is on a drop shot I take a piece of stiff stainless steel wire and push it into my bait. The wire will hold it straight, and I normally use a piece half as long or just long enough to get to the tail that way it doesn't mess with the action at all. Don't use thick wire, if you can find aluminum wire it's better. You can also use small foam ball on the head of the bait to hold more bait fuel. I've caught thousands of fish in the winter doing this the last 2 years. Had a day it was 27° in Alabama and I caught 41 bass and had a best 5 of 26lbs I caught probably 15 over 3lbs that day
How exactly do you rig the wire.? It sounds like a great tip
This was Tim, not Matt.
It happens all the time lol. No worries!
Tim, My best cold water method is a Jika Rig. I make my own (hook, split ring & drop shot weight). Weights from 1/8oz to 1/2oz. I like to use the D-bomb & Baby D-bomb. Last week I caught 3 LM for 19.5lbs fishing from the bank. I was casting to 8' to 14' of water with brush piles on a main lake point. Lake had skim ice then thawed out. Just drag the rig slowly along the bottom. NE-KS area.
Good stuff Tim as always! Haven’t really tried winter fishing yet but I’m looking forward to it soon!!
Thanks Tim! Big fan of your content, the way you explain things and your style really seems to reasonate with me. Happy holidays 🍻
Good stuff. Thank you sir. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Best finesse jigs particularly for winter are the Bassdope Candy Jigs and Bassdope Football Finesse Jigs. We crack them up here in the North all year, and then through the winter on the rivers that aren’t frozen over.
Quick question I have a lake near me that is olny 10 feet deep would you recommend to fish at the deepest part? During the winter.
I love using the Berkeley champ minnow purple smelt on a 1/4 drop shot using #2 hook. I fish off rock bluffs from the bank and watch a ton of smallmouth/largemouth and walleyes!
Everything Tim Is saying is exactly how it went for me last trip out. Post front and dragging a ned rig and finesse tube was the only thing that would work
Thanks for watching Thomas
I wish Berkeley would bri g back the 4" finesse worm. I used to slay them on that little worm any time of year.
Great video!!
Thanks for watching!
You got me stoked bro
Thanks for the reminder to downsize leader line!
Great info and tips Tim thank you sir 👍🏻
Thanks for watching!
I went fishing yesterday, breaking through ice with the boat in 38° waters. Do the bait balls dye off? I couldn't locate any fish at all here in New Jersey.
That's because all the bass migrate south for the winter😂
You solved the drone questions. They’re taking your baitfish and making canned fish with them.
I dont get much ice next to cape cod ,but the ice in the guides kills me till Feb.
They do in TN. First real cold front and the rivers are full of them being swept away. Makes it kinda tough. All the free dead or nearly dead bait all over. The holster gets full of them. Little bitty minnows
@@captaincavemanfpv9772 I think I should follow them!!
My favorite bait for deep winter bass is a Neko rig.
Tim MERRY Christmas and a Happy New Year. Bassmd
Merry Christmas Mike!
Always like a 3-3 1/2" soft plastic craw on a weedless football head jig w/out a skirt in cold water
Hey Tim/Matt! I recently got gifted a 5.6:1 reel; what would be a good setup to run with this reel?
That would be good for slow rolling swimbaits or A-Rigs
@@tacticalbassin what rod specs would best suit that?
3 and 4 inch Keitech easy shiner has been my cold water go to for years. I picked up some of the new-ish baits on market Largo shad, crush city Mayor, mooch minnow etc to try them out this season.
Largo shad is not good in cold water. Stiffens up too much. Can’t even fish it on an a rig or ball head. it just stiffens and rolls unfortunately. the mayor is probably the same. keitechs are best for cold water
Those are good ones!
Tim what do you think about the yamamoto 2.5 covert craw.love the xzone and the x80 jerkbait but that craw looks good on a ned.
I just ordered some the other day to try out. Ill let you know
I use the Bait Fuel stick on everything. In my mind, even if they don't have the time to really inspect the bait, the scent is being dispersed into the water. Almost chumming the water in a way. My Dad doesn't use scent, but he has started catching more fish from the back of the boat since I started using it. It seems like the cloud of scent in the water is getting their attention and causing them to look for the source.
We have found the same results.
When can yall come to wheeler lake?
Hopefully soon. There are so many great fisheries nearby
What will bass bite on for sure ?
Matt and Tim. Do you guys change line for the colder water temps? (Brand/Model/Size) Have you noticed over the years that maybe certain lines that you fish during 3/4 of the year become more brittle during the cold winter months?
I haven't noticed that but I do respool prior to winter fishing.
Power bait has always worked for me and theres a large line of products..
Powerbait is straight money. Max scent is double money.
@michaelsheppard4227 love their beaver in the post spawn. Only max scent I've ran. Must try more. The plastic responds to water logging faster than most I've used but you wear them out too quick for that. Noticed it last winter. Maybe a bad batch. The bass liked them.
You mentioned fish having mud and I have also experienced that. I had a winter tournament on pickwick a few years back and we were catching some really chunky fish with clay caked on their belly
Yes sir! Thanks for watching
What sonar is best for seeing bass on the bottom? 2d? Down imaging?
I still feel traditional 2D sonar shows the best. If they are moving and you're looking out in front of the boat the newer FFS sometimes shows them pretty well too. What's crazy is your screen can be completely blank and then all of a sudden a school of bass will emerge from the bottom. Even with the latest and greatest technology, bass can still hide on bottom.
Just the TIPS!
😂
Tim, water temps are still in the mid 50’s here at Center Hill you guys need to come on down, they’re still biting good.
I added that BaitFuel goop to a bag of senkos... it dried into a jelly overnight... and even after peeling off the jelly snot, I haven't caught a senko fish in 2 months since I put it on my baits, lol.
That shit sucks
Interesting! I haven't left mine for long periods of time.
Did you have the same problem with BaitFuel?
@@tacticalbassin if you put it on certain plastics they will swell up and then the excess will dry out. it’s kind of odd bc I used it on a bag of t macs and they got really big and the baitfuel was dry but that bag of worms absolutely caught me some fish. so idk why it doesn’t go well with some plastic formulas
Can you answer my question about BaitFuel please. I have one bottle and the BaitFuel is yellow, and another is clear. Same product. Is the yellowing mean that it is older scent? Thanks guys!
We dont know the answer to that... we've also had both... didn't seem to bother the fish at all.
How much shorter should you make the drop shot leader?
He said around 6 inches below the bait
@ thank you I didn’t catch that.
Just one more technique to go! Lol the DEAD STICK!
Shad swim bait 2-3 inch
So baitfuel actually work?? I was still under the impression that scents caught anglers instead of bass.
I don't think it hurts for these techniques (Slow Finesse) although i hear some guys swear by it for large glide baits and swimbaits. I don't use it all the time.
Let me see yo TIPS Timmy!
To be honest I’ve always hunted in winter but this year I’ve been fishing alot more cuz I lost most of my land. So I’m not great at winter fishing yet. Last week only bite I had was on a table rockish colored plus one jerkbait. Hoping to figure it out. Thanks for the great tips
Man Ive heard so many stories recently of people losing their hunting leases. I hope you can find somewhere else to hunt. If not, winter fishing can be fun too.
@ I have one small tract and I have killed 2 8 points but I’ve lost hundreds and hundreds over last 5 years. Last few years I’m more obsessed with bass fishing anyway! Preciate yall!
I down size and now I'm catching crappies... lol
Well..at least you're catching 😉
@@ballzybaits4414 lol 😆
@@tacticalbassin facts! Haha.
Do not use BAIT FUEL it will rust out your hooks. Please don't use it. I lost $200 in chatterbaits and other lures using that junk. Please don't use it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not taking proper care of your tackle rusted your hooks. Not baitfuel.
@@rodneyrandolph2128 I still have riverside real craw squirreled away for winter
I use bait fuel religiously and use only waterproof storage boxes, always allow baits to thoroughly dry before putting back in with other baits plus I do a couple other things to insure baits are dry and stay dry and don't have much problems with rust thankfully.
Moisture or salt from plastics got to your hooks I bet.
I haven't had this issue but I don't ever put used/wet baits back in a box. I hang them and let them dry.