5 Things You Need To Know About Spotted Bass

These are 5 things you need to know about spotted bass to improve the number of fish you catch!
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I was born and raised in Chicago, but after working 12 years in the financial Industry regulating the futures and options markets at the CME/CBOT I decided to pursue my passion fishing professional tournaments and left my full time corporate job. At that point, I moved to Junction City, WI with my wife Sara and two boys Hank and Duke. I've been fishing professionally since 2011 and full-time since 2015. I've qualified for six MLF Championships and won roughly a half million in tournament winnings at the professional level.

[@shadygraves]

MY SPECIALTY! Coosa River Spotted Bass are the meanest, hardest fighting black bass God ever made. I live on the Lower Coosa River. I've caught or guided clients to between 250-300 spotted bass over 4 ½lbs. I've never caught a spot over 35' deep and most 5lbers come from less than 6' of water, with many on the surface, on Spooks or buzzbaits, in shallow water. I have 2 over 6 and one that went 7-1. I've caught over 100 three times, and had numerous 75-80 fish days. They do love shad! Down here, the Sassy Shad is hard to beat. You seldom catch a Magnum Spot that doesn't have something in it's gullet; whether it be a threadfin, gizzard, bream, catfish, or even baby drum, carp, frog, or crawfish; they're insatiable feeders. As far as the chartreuse: I have a trick that was a club secret that was known as 'Grady's Glo-Stick'. You take chartreuse pepper Zoom Centipedes and put water in the bag overnight, so they get waterlogged, opaque, and pushing the salt out. That lure, Carolina Rigged, on a 2/0 round bend worm hook, on a 2' leader, behind a ¾ or 1 ounce egg sinker and glass bead, is absolutely deadly on spotted bass. The ol' Ball and Chain will get your string stretched! Finesse worms on a Slider Head in the spring have caught me thousands of spots, also.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing!

[@BWOUTDOORS]

Your right on these fish, all 5 things that you gave info, about these fish, and when a fisherman learns this it will help your catch them ,thanks for us fisherman to think of.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks!

[@midwestfischerman]

Second!!!👍🏻 I've never been on a body of water with Spotted Bass. They are definitely a bucket list fish for me.

[@MattStefanFishing]

They are a ton of fun!

[@shadygraves]

Come to the lower Coosa River! They're the meanest black bass God ever made.

[@itllkeal]

If in NE Tennessee hit up the Holston River. Good luck.

[@georgiabowhunter]

100% agree with the chartreuse and shad. I catch spots all the time trolling a size 7 chartreuse jointed Rapala Shad Rap.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Awesome!

[@dcslapout5697]

Thanks. Been waiting for someone to talk spotted bass

[@MattStefanFishing]

I hope it was helpful!

[@bill7949]

That’s ,great information.will try

[@MattStefanFishing]

Try it

[@troyseal9877]

Great video man! I always had a little bit of a time finding them in the spring when it's supposed to be easy. I was probably fishing too shallow.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad I could help!

[@shawn_r_schultzfishing4883]

Unfortunately no spotted bass near me, but I always appreciate the knowledge because you can never know enough about fishing 🎣

[@MattStefanFishing]

Very true!

[@itllkeal]

I have success with white storm swimbaits or chartreuse hairjigs nearby here in NE Tennessee. Thanks

[@jwloutdoors3062]

Thanks for the video spots are really fun they seem to fight harder is what I like about them even the small ones

[@MattStefanFishing]

You bet

[@johnhanley8708]

Thanks for the info Matt

[@MattStefanFishing]

Anytime!

[@michaelmay5127]

Hey Matt never been this early

[@MattStefanFishing]

Nice!

[@shannonkirby9295]

I used to have a place where I could catch spotted bass on every cast with a chartreuse squarebill. This year, they are gone. I cannot find them anymore. Great video, matt

[@MattStefanFishing]

Sorry to hear that

[@dcslapout5697]

Best day ever was 30 degrees with 15 wind in a big swirl current. Small tube jig . Caught them until I got tired. All was on rip- raft .

[@MattStefanFishing]

Awesome!

[@jelmo1057]

Great series Matt, thanks for sharing, learned some new things even after fishing 50 years.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad to help

[@johnrayner5599]

Awesome series on our beloved bass! Thanks for these tips Matt, they are all solid tips and I cant wait for more. Thanks and good luck.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks!

[@rcgantt71]

Outstanding. Appreciate your videos man!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad you like them!

[@JS-pe2qq]

I’m in Mississippi. I’m fortunate to be able to fish several waterways off the TN river and even Smith lake in AL all which hold spots. I didn’t know their favorite meal was baitfish. I use chartreuse dip also. I believe in it with certain baits. Caught a 10+ largemouth last year late July in a state park lake here tail was dipped chartreuse. Great stuff thanks again !

[@MattStefanFishing]

That’s a giant!

[@skorflyfishing]

I live on a 95% spotted bass lake. Every one of these points are right on. Thanks for the reinforcement.

[@MattStefanFishing]

You bet!

[@reno-on6vw]

Awesome tips! My home lake is lake Lanier. I knew bass in general often like shade but did not know spotted bass liked shade so much. I’ll definetly try fishing more shade!

[@MattStefanFishing]

they love shade!

[@JohnDentonOutdoors]

I’ve had 2 tournaments this year, my first year to really do a tournament series, that I wouldn’t have limited out without spotted bass. They weren’t big , but have kept me in the top 25% this year!!

[@jamesphillips2216]

Thanks for the tips Matt! We have a lot of opportunities to fish for spotted bass here in the Lake Guntersville area! Thanks for sharing!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Any time!

[@kevinbolton5]

Bravo when I moved to the South had to adapt after years of Smallmouths and LM ,, good point on Chartreuse . On Lanier and Hartwell I always tip the Craws with Chartreuse with a jig along with a Shaky head worm tipped, they tear it up ! On the other end Spotted Bass out competed Smallmouths in Georgia on some impoundments and killed the Smallmouth fisheries

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for sharing!

[@vernervanschalkwyk2280]

Matt, your videos are awesome to watch and is teaching me and my son a lot. Your advice is working here in South Africa as well. Can you perhaps make some videos on the water showing us how you fish?

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep, ive done a bunch and will continue to do more. here is a sample of one kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHbMhaWEaLiJgdE

[@jimmyjackson2361]

Thanks again!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Any time!

[@larrymckinnon4484]

Thanks for the info

[@MattStefanFishing]

you bet

[@timmcc1044]

Great segments. Is there a way you can discuss ledge fishing? The use of larger flys for bass or larger hair jigs? Thanks

[@MattStefanFishing]

Great suggestion!

[@craigstevens9734]

I loved that one thanks

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for watching!

[@richardharding8248]

Love your channel

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks!

[@tommywalker741]

Great tip Matt got deep marinas where I live good to no 🙏

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad to help

[@northeastpac-man7652]

Chartreuse is my favorite all around go to color,, bass see the color chartreuse as a shade of white so you can never go wrong with that

[@MattStefanFishing]

Agreed!

[@northeastpac-man7652]

@@MattStefanFishing my dad always had a saying, it was “it ain’t no use if it ain’t chartreuse”

[@mattquinlan4629]

That salmon color looks great on you Matt. Thanks as always for the great info. Are used power poles a thing? Wondering if that’s gonna be my chance in. Gotta take care of the kids before I spend more on the boat. Thanks

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep you can buy power poles on the secondary market. a lot of anglers sell them separately from a boat they sold.

[@shiggityswa]

What are you’d favorite baits to throw around bulrushes on the Great Lakes?

[@MattStefanFishing]

Chartreuse bladed chartreuse spinnerbait

[@jamescaspersamanthalintner4767]

I love spotted bass my home leg has got Kentucky spots in it and I have caught them everywhere I've caught them up the river arm I've caught them in swamps and of course I've caught them on the traditional places that you find spots in a lake but it seems like to me they can be just about anywhere that being said in my leg they're usually always around Rock feeding on crayfish that's where 75% of them are anyway I find it interesting though that I will catch them in the same places that guys are fishing for big large mouth in two feet of water and flats in dirty water and mud bottom and everything in between

[@MattStefanFishing]

Spots can be just about anywhere

[@Chief-zf5hc]

How and when do you do the monthly giveaways? Watched a lot of your videos but haven't seen one yet. Thanks love the info you put out for us!

[@MattStefanFishing]

The June winner is announced in tomorrows video.

[@donnieleague4818]

Is shade as important on overcast days?

[@MattStefanFishing]

nope

[@HookLife]

Great topic man. The chartreuse thing has got me thinking… Do you throw chartreuse even when they’re in suspended in 50 foot depth over 100 feet? Is the color chartreuse visible in that depth? Or is it just a confidence thing? I have never targeted spotted bass. But I know we have them in our rivers and creeks here in central Indiana. Since they are rumors chasing bait fish, I would assume your confidence baits are probably moving baits that imitate big fish. Is that right?

[@MattStefanFishing]

My number one spotted bass lure is a small 3.3 swimbait on a dirty jigs matt stefan guppy head. I’ll dip the tail of the swimbait in chartreuse dye. I’m not sure why they love the color but it triggers them.

[@comfortablynumb9342]

You know from my other comments on other videos, I'm a saltwater guy stuck in NC (for now). I live near Lake Norman and I don't have a boat. I'd like to catch spotted bass, LMB and SMB, whatever. So far I've caught 2 spotted bass and both had others chasing and trying to steal the bait from my hooked fish. The first was 3.64 lbs on a scale, and a bigger one took my wacky worm while I was fighting mine. The second was smaller and had about 5 more from 1 lb to maybe 4 lbs, all chasing mine. They must be quite aggressive. Anyway I would like to know what lures you would throw in Lake Norman from shore to catch lots of fish. I'd love to catch my first smallie, LMB are fine and spots are hard fighters, so what should I throw?

[@MattStefanFishing]

depends on time of year

[@comfortablynumb9342]

@@MattStefanFishing I will probably go try tomorrow. So this time of year.

[@martyepperly5803]

We've got tons of Spots on my lake, with lots of deep water, shad, bluff walls, and shade. I'm fired up to have some sort of idea what I'm going to do when I get on the lake. Would you expect lipless cranks to be an especially good option to have tied on?

[@MattStefanFishing]

I love lipless cranks and use them year round

[@martyepperly5803]

Thx, and I just watched your video on how to make lipless crank baits weedless. Great idea! I've got lots of submerged bushes and timber. Not much weeds, though.

[@ericfields1165]

Matt, I have really enjoyed your videos, especially the one that focas on the forage and the actual bass themselves! I was wondering if you had anymore pro tips for spotted bass? The lake I fish the most is gin clear and the only forage is kokanee, crawdads and bluegill. How would you approach a lake like this? Thanks again Eric

[@MattStefanFishing]

lots of topwaters and micro baits

[@ericfields1165]

@@MattStefanFishing Matt thanks for getting back to me, and helping all of us become better anglers!

[@juleswinnfield826]

All I gotta say is.... It takes a strong man card to rock a salmon colored shirt....lol. Whats life without good natured push back. So..... I've heard that southern born fisherman don't like smallies because of their ghost like tendencies.... here today gone tomorrow. Never had the chance to chase spots. Between smallies and spots which one has greater ghost like tendencies? Good tips, appreciate the vid.

[@MattStefanFishing]

I love that Striker Shirt! Both have tendencies to be ghost but I’d give the nod to spotted bass. They suspend on bait more and therefore follow the bait which can be pushed all over the place. Smallmouth will ghost you on a sand flat but chances are they will revisit it at some point and you miss them because your timing is off. The spots may never use a spot again if the bait never returns. Either way they both move a lot and can lead to you scratching your head.

[@juleswinnfield826]

@@MattStefanFishing l look forward to the day I get to target spots.

[@elcheapooutdoors7883]

How deep can spots postition on a major river system? Like the ohio river per say. I feel like in the summer the spots are out there on the main river and i have a gut feeling they can be deeper than what people think.

[@MattStefanFishing]

i think they suspend more than go deep. The depth in a river depends on water clarity in my opinion

[@elcheapooutdoors7883]

@MattStefanFishing yes, but with current in the main river, that would make them position in a current break closer to the bottom, correct? Or is it possible for them to suspend in slack water out there. I've caught them around 3lbs on the main river, which is a good fish on the Ohio River in Cincinnati. Everybody swears by the creeks and tributaries. Nobody fishes the main river, so I just feel you'd have a better chance of consistency in a derby if you could learn what the spots do out on that main river. At least east of Cincinnati. West of Cincy on the markland pool, there's 4lb+ largemouth in the creeks. East in Meldahl Pool, you catch 15 largemouth a day in the creeks and hope 3 measure.

[@johngalt3568]

Great series Matt. The info on Spots really opened my eyes. Thank you.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad it was helpful!

[@itllkeal]

Algorithm 😊

[@woodwired1]

FFS sucks!

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for watching