Dustin Connell's Tournament-Winning Guide to Spotted Bass

Fresh off of his 2024 Bass Pro Shops REDCREST win, Wired2fish gives viewers an in-depth look into Dustin Connell’s spotted bass-catching mind. The prespawn spotted bass bite is Connell’s favorite of the year. Stationed on the Coosa River, his approach targets current-influenced main lake shoals, where spots feed heavily before spawning. He discusses spotted bass location and his top bait rotation to keep the bite going for some of the biggest spotted bass in the country.
TACKLE USED (retail links)
SWIMBAIT SETUP
• SWIMBAIT - CrushCity The Mayor: Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.vzck.net/eKPxGX | Buy at Tackle Warehouse bit.ly/3OLj3hm
• JIG - VMC Hybrid Swimbait Jig - Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.vzck.net/5gkyrN | Buy at Tackle Warehouse bit.ly/3YGsYYC
• ROD - Favorite Hex Spinning Rod, 6'10'' Medium: Buy at Favorite bit.ly/3OQokEl | Buy at Tackle Warehouse bit.ly/3OQokEl
• REEL - Shimano Vanford Spinning Reel, 3000 size: Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.vzck.net/baOq6B | Buy at Tackle Warehouse bit.ly/3R3jQvh
• LINE (braided mainline) - Seaguar Smackdown Braided Line Flash Green, 15-pound: Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.vzck.net/xkLm41 | Buy at Tackle Warehouse bit.ly/3DPDXW2
• LINE (fluoro leader) - Seaguar Gold Label Fluorocarbon Leader, 12-pound: Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.vzck.net/DVDxzj | Buy at Tackle Warehouse bit.ly/46IHXoi
SCROUNGER SETUP
• BAIT - Rapala CrushCity Freeloader, color - Gizzard Shad: Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.vzck.net/AW5V7J | Buy at Tackle Warehouse bit.ly/3P0iVtf
• JIG - Luck-E-Strike Scrounger Jig Head, Long Bill - 1/4 oz 3/0: Buy at Tackle Warehouse bit.ly/49YE28o
• ROD - Favorite Pro Series Casting Rod, 7'3'' Heavy: Buy at Tackle Warehouse bit.ly/49fB26S
• REEL - Shimano Chronarch MGL Casting Reel, 7.1:1 Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.vzck.net/q4qVY5 | Buy at Tackle Warehouse bit.ly/484MmBS
• LINE - Seaguar INVIZX Fluorocarbon Fishing Line, 17-pound: Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.vzck.net/jrOaWe | Buy at Tackle Warehouse bit.ly/3rfXIDD
JERKBAIT SETUP
• JERKBAIT - Rapala PXR Mavrik 110 Jerkbait, color - Pearl Sexy Shad: Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.vzck.net/9g3O3e | Buy at Tackle Warehouse bit.ly/3Kzpe5k
• ROD - Favorite Pro Series Casting Rod, 6'8'' Medium: Buy at Tackle Warehouse bit.ly/49fB26S
• REEL - Shimano Chronarch MGL Casting Reel, 7.1:1 Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.vzck.net/q4qVY5 | Buy at Tackle Warehouse bit.ly/484MmBS
• LINE - Seaguar INVIZX Fluorocarbon Fishing Line, 12-pound: Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.vzck.net/jrOaWe | Buy at Tackle Warehouse bit.ly/3rfXIDD
• TREBLE HOOKS - VMC RedLine Series Finesse Treble Hooks, size - 5: Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.vzck.net/6bBYr3 | Buy at Tackle Warehouse bit.ly/43hhWLD
Locating the right spots plays a crucial role in Connell's strategy. He looks for structural changes like main lake shoals adjacent to the river channel (current). While forward-facing sonar can be an indispensable tool, it factors less around shallow current areas. Connell uses nature's visual cues, such as bird activity, to zero in on feeding zones. His dynamic approach involves constantly reading the conditions and adjusting tactics to stay on top of the fish.
Connell prefers starting with a more aggressive presentation. His scrounger jig approach imparts a deadly rocking action onto his straight tail minnow, similar to the more manual shake and bake. A scrounger also excels in the current, slowing the bait in the strike zone. If he's fishing with a co-angler, he'll have finesse paddle tail swimbait in the rotation. Connell always makes a few casts with the tried and true jerk bait to trigger a few extra bites. As he notes, some fish are trained on feeding up, which is where the jerkbait excels.
BOAT SETUP & OTHER
• TROLLING MOTOR - Minn Kota Ultrex QUEST: Buy at Bass Pro Shops bit.ly/49npejB
• FISH FINDER - Lowrance HDS PRO 12 Fish Finder/Chartplotter: Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.vzck.net/DKgxk5
• FORWARD-FACING SONAR - Lowrance ActiveTarget 2 Live Sonar: Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.vzck.net/eKQB2Z
• BOAT - Triton 21 TRX: Check out at Triton Boats bit.ly/4917TvJ
• MOTOR - Mercury Pro XS 250 hp: Check out at Mercury bit.ly/3PeIhVk
• SCALE - Rapala 15-lb. Touch Screen Scale Angler Model: Buy at Bass Pro Shops bassproshops.vzck.net/Kj6z17 | Buy at Tackle Warehouse bit.ly/3TpJVUW
#rapala24 #favorite24 #shimano24 #seaguar24 #basspro24 #minnKota24 #mercury24
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[@TripEfishing]

The crush city lineup is absolute fire! Dustin Connell is killing the game right now!

[@cross_fire_]

He’s the best fisherman in the world at the moment in my opinion. I’m so glad he left Googan and now he’s with crush city and I’ve caught fish on most of the new lineup this spring. I’m also fishing the Coosa River and have caught some big ones pre spawn.

[@areddfishing7473]

I’m convinced I need to get me some!

[@rodcashman4793]

Thanks for sharing 👍

[@davidhenderson1738]

People are getting it twisted. DC is a hammer. You do not need FFS to fish and have fun. You do need it to compete. Get over it fellas.

[@andybales7318]

Correct, pros do need it to compete..That alone tells the story of FFS..BUT, doesn't change the fact it's a video game & not fishing...it's scoping & the scopers just need to admit it's illegitimate in the sport of actual fishing...Anyone can use FFS after a small amount of time learning what u are seeing...Not anyone can go out & catch fish with their own skills, talents, and techniques

[@okitailsnscales1707]

Did he just say Jacobs PB spot is 4lb 12 oz ? Same as mine. But mine wasn't in the Tennessee river. The Arkansas river in Oklahoma from the bank. I was actually finishing for striper or hybrid. Definitely a nice surprise. Alabama rig 2 winter ago. Love your videos D.C

[@SuperSNOOPSTER]

The Man! RTR!!!

[@user-ot4ro5gd6u]

Grew up fishing the Coosa, like me! 😏

[@ADKyakman]

Jenko tennesee river tremor head with a GP/Chart freeloader caught me my first LMB of 24, my 2 and 3rd too, also my first lake smallie.. can’t wait for them to open the dams to the mighty Mohawk River and catching 4 and 5 poind smallies on it

[@randallrandolph4977]

No you didn’t mention it but it’s what all are doing now. And your using to.

[@augiefishes]

simplified: buy ffs

[@travisbruno5964]

Randy stopit blauket is already hatin on this bait

[@andybales7318]

while im not a hunter, FFS is like a deer hunter flying a drone over top of a large wooded area & calling it a "sport" 😂 won't be long & 16 year olds will be "winning" Scoping tournaments

[@davidscales8614]

95% of the bass boats in any given tournament have ffs. Bit only a small percentage of the fisherman are proficient enough to be consistently in the check line with it. Common sense says, that not that easy. So I don't think you will see teenagers winning with it unless they are already hammers anyway.😅

[@andybales7318]

@@davidscales8614 common sense will tell u, finding the fish is the 1st part..once u find them, it's game over with FFS....the ONLY reason not every angler is catching 30 lbs./day, is they all aren't idling over enough fish through the day quick enough.....ability to put your bait in a fish's face thx to a screen isn't skill... ..Fishing is the sport of Angler vs Fish...When Angler is replaced with a cheat screen, it's no longer fishing...call it what it is. Scoping.. FFS is a joke & "anglers" that use it should be embarrassed knowing they are only responsible for 5% of any fish "caught"

[@randallrandolph4977]

FFS. With a 7.99$ pack of shad minnows

[@ufcguruofficial]

And with your mom

[@ryandechaine2291]

There wasn't a mention of FFS in this video. Working current on shallow shoals, casting and winding. Co-angler caught 'em good too on a paddle tail swimbait in the back.

[@andybales7318]

​@@ufcguruofficialdidn't graduate high school, huh?

[@andybales7318]

Should get some weenie worms, too..

[@ufcguruofficial]

@andybales7318 don't mention me, you wouldn't say anything in person