Great video! It is very confusing when to throw a spinnerbait vs swim jig vs square bill vs hybrid hunter vs chatterbait vs flipping. I liked your explanation about it really doesn't matter that much.
I really try and simplify my spinnerbait/SWM jig fishing. Heavy pressure, calm water, thick cover SWM jig. Chop/wind spinnerbait, if i catch bass with shad in their mouths spinnerbait.
Anytime I fish shallow cover it’s always going to be a Hybrid Hunter Jr. tied on my line, I couldn’t believe how good that lure runs through wood cover! I always use Mustad Triple Grip trebles, awesome hooks!
I started fishing the HH a few years ago. I never throw a square bill anymore. I do get hung up now and then. But I keep my Smooth and another color tied on all the time. Along with my Sexy Dawg, swim jig and Popping Perch. They’re my go to baits.
I’m waiting for your in depth review of the Strike King structure jig and mini structure jig. I normally make my own jigs but I want to try the mini for sure. Is it equally effective to the regular size? I would love to use it as a finesse flipping and skipping jig. I’m sure I will change the skirts because I don’t throw many lures with the original skirt. I make 5 or 6color combinations of jig skirts including all bladed jig skirts. I don’t know how much better or worse they work compared with common patterned skirts but they sure give me confidence.
The smart old guys are starting to use bamboo for building brushpiles. It's harder to find on forward/side imaging, so they can mark the waypoints and not worry about everyone else spotting them.
Great info, ive watched your other frog video, can you go over frogging open water and froggin matted cover, bushes. like cadence's and presentation. I throw 2 colors black and black lol. Do colors really matter?
I do like throwing square bills but at the same time the hook to land ratio aint as good as a swim jig or spinnerbait or even flipping some kind of soft plastics so when it comes to fishing lay downs if I can get bit on one of those I'm almost always going to try those 1st. The Hybrid Hunter isnt something I throw a bunch unless I'm around grass but I'd really like to try out the shallow version that sounds almost like a souped up wake bait...
Hey Todd, I’d really like you to do a video on the Caffeine Shad. Do you use it primarily just as a follow up bait? What makes it different than a fluke? Are there any times that it’s the best thing to throw and if so, when? I really like your style of fishing and would appreciate your thoughts!
I normally don’t like throwing squarebils but my son wanted to use one. I said okay we will both tie one on and see what happens. I explained to him you could throw in a brush pile and worm it through with out getting hung up to much. I was kinda learning at the same time I was showing him how you can let up on retrieve to allow to come over a limb. Actually that is when we got the majority of the bites floating over the top of the limbs. We crushed them that day and thought why I haven’t been doing this more often. This was on Chickamauga and we decided to fish a Saturday tournament because of our new found pattern that seemed to be working. That Saturday we came in third which didn’t payout because only a few boats. The real bummer is I lost 2 big fish on that square bill and son lost 1 big one as well but we still had our limit. We would have won easily that day if we hadn’t lost those 3. This was early spring right before TVA raised the water. It really opened my eyes to the power of that technique. A lot of times I forget about doing that plus I hate throwing a crank bait although I still throw a six XD from time to time. One more thing is the location I was fishing was a tributary of Chickamauga and I don’t think many people were throwing the square bill that much in this area. When the water is at winter pool the brush piles on the bank are hard to come by. Thanks Todd!! Love the show!
I also use the HH much much more than a square bill. In fact, I call it a square bill when others ask me what I was throwing. I’m always trying to find alternatives to what I think others are throwing at the time, and most of the time it pays off.
You seem like you developed your fishing philosophy from learning most of your techniques all on your own. That's how I learned. It's made me very simplistic and has given me a very "anti-herd" mentality when it comes to my approach to finding and catching bass.
We both know TRA will never do anything to support black bass fishing on Livingston, but you're exactly right. Last big draw down years ago, it rivaled Rayburn. I won a tour here with over 25#. Now #12# has a shot...
The Hybrid Hunter is by far the most versatile lure on the market, it does a little of everything but it excels in a ton of things! Hey Todd does Strike Pro have other crazy lures that SK is going to bring back out to the market?
On the subject of secrets, way, way back in the day, some would hang certain crankbaits in the sun or in the dash of their truck to fade the paint to the magic secret fade color which was of course the deal. Some would even fade their flake worms to make the flash brighter. Did you ever play the fade game? Also, some folks would bake their rattle traps in the oven to make them swell up just a bit to change the sound. Ever bake any baits?
Todd your videos are good you share useful information for us amateurs. But taking the videos out in your side yard isn't working anymore. The lighting is atrocious. Please spend a little money on some lighting and do them inside your garage or something like that. Thank you.
Great video! It is very confusing when to throw a spinnerbait vs swim jig vs square bill vs hybrid hunter vs chatterbait vs flipping. I liked your explanation about it really doesn't matter that much.
I really try and simplify my spinnerbait/SWM jig fishing. Heavy pressure, calm water, thick cover SWM jig. Chop/wind spinnerbait, if i catch bass with shad in their mouths spinnerbait.
Anytime I fish shallow cover it’s always going to be a Hybrid Hunter Jr. tied on my line, I couldn’t believe how good that lure runs through wood cover! I always use Mustad Triple Grip trebles, awesome hooks!
Great video. Thx
I started fishing the HH a few years ago. I never throw a square bill anymore. I do get hung up now and then. But I keep my Smooth and another color tied on all the time. Along with my Sexy Dawg, swim jig and Popping Perch. They’re my go to baits.
I’m waiting for your in depth review of the Strike King structure jig and mini structure jig. I normally make my own jigs but I want to try the mini for sure. Is it equally effective to the regular size? I would love to use it as a finesse flipping and skipping jig. I’m sure I will change the skirts because I don’t throw many lures with the original skirt. I make 5 or 6color combinations of jig skirts including all bladed jig skirts. I don’t know how much better or worse they work compared with common patterned skirts but they sure give me confidence.
Thanks, very helpful explanation!
Todd I turned around and ordered some series 5 right then. Got them today.
The smart old guys are starting to use bamboo for building brushpiles. It's harder to find on forward/side imaging, so they can mark the waypoints and not worry about everyone else spotting them.
Ok how about you release the Hybrid Hunter in Gizzard Shad color
Great info, ive watched your other frog video, can you go over frogging open water and froggin matted cover, bushes. like cadence's and presentation. I throw 2 colors black and black lol. Do colors really matter?
Bought me a whole set of Hybrid Hunters due to a few videos back I'm all in see what Todd's talking about 😂waiting for Christmas to open
Incredible advice.
What lb test do you typically use on a swim jig? Thanks for the content. 👍
Always thinking outside the box😎
I do like throwing square bills but at the same time the hook to land ratio aint as good as a swim jig or spinnerbait or even flipping some kind of soft plastics so when it comes to fishing lay downs if I can get bit on one of those I'm almost always going to try those 1st. The Hybrid Hunter isnt something I throw a bunch unless I'm around grass but I'd really like to try out the shallow version that sounds almost like a souped up wake bait...
Jimmy Houston used to say " don't thank, just crank."
Hey Todd, I’d really like you to do a video on the Caffeine Shad. Do you use it primarily just as a follow up bait? What makes it different than a fluke? Are there any times that it’s the best thing to throw and if so, when? I really like your style of fishing and would appreciate your thoughts!
I normally don’t like throwing squarebils but my son wanted to use one. I said okay we will both tie one on and see what happens. I explained to him you could throw in a brush pile and worm it through with out getting hung up to much. I was kinda learning at the same time I was showing him how you can let up on retrieve to allow to come over a limb. Actually that is when we got the majority of the bites floating over the top of the limbs. We crushed them that day and thought why I haven’t been doing this more often. This was on Chickamauga and we decided to fish a Saturday tournament because of our new found pattern that seemed to be working. That Saturday we came in third which didn’t payout because only a few boats. The real bummer is I lost 2 big fish on that square bill and son lost 1 big one as well but we still had our limit. We would have won easily that day if we hadn’t lost those 3. This was early spring right before TVA raised the water. It really opened my eyes to the power of that technique. A lot of times I forget about doing that plus I hate throwing a crank bait although I still throw a six XD from time to time. One more thing is the location I was fishing was a tributary of Chickamauga and I don’t think many people were throwing the square bill that much in this area. When the water is at winter pool the brush piles on the bank are hard to come by. Thanks Todd!! Love the show!
I also use the HH much much more than a square bill. In fact, I call it a square bill when others ask me what I was throwing.
I’m always trying to find alternatives to what I think others are throwing at the time, and most of the time it pays off.
I do the same.
What’s the jig you use? I know you basically only use 1 for swim jig and regular jig fishing?
The Only Jig You Ever Need (Jig Modifications)
ruclips.net/video/HtUQq9HX16o/видео.html
You seem like you developed your fishing philosophy from learning most of your techniques all on your own. That's how I learned. It's made me very simplistic and has given me a very "anti-herd" mentality when it comes to my approach to finding and catching bass.
Very true!
Is there really any other way
Thanks
Livingston getting tougher by the year, although last draw down may help now that lake is full again.
I know its depressing, this last draw down will help a bit. They really need to drop about 6 feet for 2 years and that place will be incredible
We both know TRA will never do anything to support black bass fishing on Livingston, but you're exactly right. Last big draw down years ago, it rivaled Rayburn. I won a tour here with over 25#. Now #12# has a shot...
I like your style... or better said I RELATE to your style of fishing Todd Castaline lol
Any chance you have a nick name Top Water Todd ? Wish I was as good with em
Yes I understand what you always don't have to be in the fall to use crankbaits you can use them during the summer time to
Green gizzard hybrid hunter is definitely something Strike King needs to look into
We have that color I believe
They do and it works great
The Hybrid Hunter is by far the most versatile lure on the market, it does a little of everything but it excels in a ton of things! Hey Todd does Strike Pro have other crazy lures that SK is going to bring back out to the market?
On the subject of secrets, way, way back in the day, some would hang certain crankbaits in the sun or in the dash of their truck to fade the paint to the magic secret fade color which was of course the deal. Some would even fade their flake worms to make the flash brighter. Did you ever play the fade game? Also, some folks would bake their rattle traps in the oven to make them swell up just a bit to change the sound. Ever bake any baits?
Love the channel. Not the music tho 😬🤢. Thanks for tips and best to you and yours ! 👍🏻🙏💕
Todd your videos are good you share useful information for us amateurs. But taking the videos out in your side yard isn't working anymore. The lighting is atrocious. Please spend a little money on some lighting and do them inside your garage or something like that.
Thank you.
Can’t
Llama