Jig Fishing BIG Fall Smallies!

I go fishing for smallmouth bass on the river one last time before they move to deeper water for the winter. Will the Bitsy Bug jig get some big thumps???
Gear used on this trip:
Lure: Bitsy Bug Jig 1/4oz amzn.to/46XNuHs
Z-man TRD Craws amzn.to/40mYbB8
Rod: St Croix BassX 6'6" M F amzn.to/43qNq0o (new version)
Reel: Daiwa Zillion SV TW G amzn.to/3F6TCCc
Line: Trilene Sensation 14lb amzn.to/44rDODR
Pliers: Umpqua Rivergrip amzn.to/3ykw4ow
Net: Frabill 3673 amzn.to/39S8es0 (new floating version)
Anchor: Power Pole micro anchor amzn.to/3EHNcbo

[@bigmoemedina313]

this is why I like to call you "The Bob Ross of Fishing" The way you conduce yourself and present your videos it's pure art to me, the Scenery and the places you go fishing are simply beautiful!! would really like to see you bank fishing once in a while too!! Thanks for all you do to make these videos possible.

[@bassaholicfishing]

This is true! He speaks so clear and quiet and it's soothing 😂

[@219Fishing]

Coffee is made just in time 🫡

[@STONERCREEK1]

I've taken the last 2 years off from fishing my close Smallmouth fishing creek/river that I haven't seen anyone fishing but me in the last 20 years (yes sounds crazy, but I'm fortunate to be in an area not many people fish due to access) Hopefully this new year will bring alot of good memories. This channel has helped me make it through the last 2 years of not fishing it.

[@geraldduncan5646]

Knowing your fishes habitat, along with good lure presentation can really make all the difference. Nice job,Matt!👍

[@sweynforkbeard8857]

I've tried fishing shallow weed beds in the fall and catch nothing. The weeds are dying off and the area gets low in oxygen. I've done this with zero success and always have to fish deeper.

[@Aidan_Eh]

YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BassMang! ! ! ! ! 👋🤓 5:50 thats exactly what i was thinkin... they are in deeper water on a windy cold day.. 😏 8:37 DUDEEEEE!!!! that bass has no eye 😳😳😵😵🤪🤪 thx so much for sharing your fishing trips... ive said it before but im a disabled carpenter, i was hurt at work.. an now i barely leave my house, its too hard for me to get around.. Videos like yours gives me fond memories an hearing that water lap against your kayak as you paddle along is soooo relaxing.. i appreciate the effort you have to do to get the final product uploaded.. thank you again.. stay safe Matt, see ya on the next 👋🥸

[@stevekrieg5334]

I just watched an episode where you hiked through the forest in the spring and stopped at a few small lakes to fish with a collapsible rod. You only caught a few small panfish but you still enjoyed yourself, and I thought it was great. I'm in my sixties and have fished, mostly for cold water fish, for over 50 years. In the last few years I started kayak fishing targeting bass and pike and musky. I was always a little scared landing a big pike or musky from a kayak, but I found your channel and saw how you did it, so I feel a lot better about it now. Thanks for one of the best, if not the best, fishing channels on KZbin. I hope you keep fishing, enjoying yourself, and making videos.

[@stevenkimbrell8796]

It's always a good thing being on the Open weather it's on the river or lake

[@heavenbound358]

You sold me on that bitsy bug several years ago! That's a smallmouth bait that works. I like the craw colors. First time I used it I caught 10 smallmouth in a quarter mile stretch

[@christinerogers5331]

What a wonderful day of smallie fishing on a beautiful river, thanks, Matt, for taking us along! Anxiously awaiting your next video!

[@Louiscare]

This man has the most impeccable uploading schedule

[@MN-Bassassin13]

I needed this. I haven’t fished since the end of September and my mental health is suffering greatly. Living vicariously through you and being able to see you catch some nice ones helps tremendously

[@shingobiggs4963]

This is how you start off a Saturday morning 👍

[@ROMAN-oy5ju]

Best bass fishing channel on KZbin

[@huskergator9479]

Thanks for taking us along Matt! You’re the best!

[@troysnyder6273]

mastered the smaller... excited for some crappie through the ice again

[@kirkallen1246]

I appreciate your commitment to a lure you decide to run on each of your videos. I tend to loose patience after an hour or so of fishing the same lure and find myself making changes. It's inspiring to see your persistence pay off with some great catches.

[@davidfranklin1885]

I appreciate your practiced conversation of the sport you enjoy. Thank You !

[@JReb71]

Nice day of fishin see ya next time

[@SteveC810]

Perfect video to enjoy while sitting in deer blind.

[@richardporter1455]

The Bitsy bug is good. I used it a long time. I started using the Denny Bauer baby structure jig. Cost a little more but I lose very few and it's got a much better hook. Nice video, thanks

[@thunderwang4832]

Thanks, Matt! You are the bomb!!!

[@colingordon5950]

October is so beautiful in the midwest. Love it.

[@Madisonrvr]

Man that Bitsy Bug is just a fishing machine. Been using them for 20+ years and it just catches em. $2 a pop too. That and the Berkley Powerworm and the original jointed floating Rapala, three old school baits that still produce. Nice job Matt, keep em coming.

[@rukiddingmewiththis]

I’ve smashed creek smallmouth for over 20 years with the old f7 floating rapala plug in the brown trout pattern. We call it the baby trout. Lethal as both a top water bait or under the surface on a straight retrieve in shallow water. Classic.

[@rockyparent9085]

Thanks for taking me along!!

[@larrywhittaker9901]

What a beauty to start your day...I ❤ smallies..my favorite freshwater fish. Almost always get at least 1 jump out of these scrappy fish 👍👍

[@Imunderpar4win]

Voice and sound quality was amazing!

[@brianathern9154]

Yep we're nearing the finish line in IL too. Great video Matt and Yep if it's cold hands and fish poop 🐟 💩 to land my first 20 bring it. Glad you took us along. Blessings

[@martinsigala4619]

Keep doing what your doing ! It’s ok to mention the date and day. Great presentation and clean language. Martin 👮‍♂️🚔🎣

[@scottschlemmer4787]

When you say BIG it gets my attention.

[@Garou0410]

what a beautiful place to fish from the kajak 👍👋

[@yummygogolak]

It's cool that you have an obvious wintering spot, wind and all. Once our smallies started moving I could not locate them again.

[@danielmartens156]

The Therapy Channel! Thank you 😊

[@jimgillett1184]

Mat slams thumb in truck door! Mat whispers ahh shucks 😂

[@zaidsafri9617]

a very good show to make us sleepy quickly, good night everyone... 😴😴 Jakarta at 9:47 pm

[@robertream6571]

Dude, you are by far my favorite fisherman on KZbin and ontop of that you go and make a video on my birthday. How special are we? Dude love your videos. Been watching for a long time and I’m gonna keep watching as long as you keep filming. Thank you very much. all you out there that know you’re blessed please stay that way all you out there that don’t think you’re blessed please find the Lord because things are gonna be changing real soon. Stay safe N D Yacker! ❤️📖🙏🏻❤️!!!

[@brianathern9154]

Happy Birthday bud

[@TheCeraminator]

I'm going to miss these when it's too cold to fish.

[@stevefisher2121]

Super video - The bitsy bug for some reason just catches fish!!!! It has been a favorite of mine for years.

[@rvmcwhorter]

You’ve caught more smallmouth 18 “ than Jamie O Brien has gotten barreled at pipeline !! Amazing as usual .

[@sicily6740]

Fun video, Matt. Well done technically, as always, and it's a pleasure to watch and listen as you fish. It's much more relaxing than the guys I fish with.

[@jadynebert9997]

Woke up, great start to a new day

[@josephabeytajosephabeyta9305]

20 1/2? That one made your trip well worth it. awesome stuff, good job(again)

[@ndyakangler]

The last three trips to this place I’ve found 20”+ smallies! I fished the reservoir a couple times since this trip.

[@ph00z00]

Another late season post from a real expert on smallmouth bass. Kayaking is the best way to fish them, imho.

[@papocintron6420]

Thanks for another great video, always watching from Puerto Rico 🇵🇷

[@crazy88909]

Another great video!

[@larrywhittaker9901]

I knew there was going to be a nice one on that lay down 20-1/2 Nice !!

[@telecatsermaster]

Catchin footballs! Great vids. Thank you

[@jamessontankersley2255]

Loading up my kayak right after this! Thanks Matt!

[@starkeyshelbyj]

Bob Seeger - Against the Wind Best fisherman in youtube- calm consistent reverent🙏🏼❣️🇺🇸happy holidays Matt‼️

[@dawiebotha5961]

Hi Mat, I love to watch your videos! The way you present and comment is awesome! Always looking out for your new ones. Been catching up from the first ones. I’m from Cape Town, South Africa. (Keep them coming!)

[@nauz7368]

That black thumb is looking gnarly man, hope the truck door is ok lol. Caught some footballs in this video as usual, keep up the grind, tight lines 🤙

[@brucesheehe6305]

Beautiful scenery

[@daking414]

Next season you gotta give the mega bass sleeper craw a shot maybe in the bed videos. Game changer for me this year on the smallies in WI

[@lukehuffman6126]

Heck yeah this video was filmed on my birthday. Lol great content brother God bless brother stay safe out there on the water

[@fatballsakagrandpa3697]

Grandpa Was Here 🤘🏻😬💯🇺🇸☕️

[@markg1490]

Wow some really nice late season smallies

[@davidhakadoober._1-]

Now that it's November and the bite night be all done til hard water.

[@Elroy5150]

Another fantastic video!

[@the2060ish]

Last catch of the day love it a pike. Fish whisper you need to detox from Smallies lol.

[@AverageDadFishing]

Excellent video…so fantastic smallies!

[@exwldr6945]

They're all nice especially when they bite

[@Kltpzyxm17]

Howdy Matt! New kayak with electric troll motor!

[@3headedgoat804]

Amazing video!!!

[@DoubleBogeyBass]

You caught one eyed Willy!

[@Youri2]

Omg one of the smallies was he’s eye of

[@atuuschaaw]

Made my morning! ♥

[@DavidSmith-zr3nd]

You have me hungry for some fish filets

[@haisyburner5603]

I wish I could catch that many footballs in one day 😊

[@Tightt88]

Dang, your setup is exactly what I would use if I still used baitcasting combos. The reel is a little expensive but the is a XS toy what I would use.

[@mikecollins2476]

This has been killer for me the last month especially except I've been using black and blue 1/4 with a yum crawbug. They've been hitting it swimming it back it's crazy. I like the bitsy flip too little stouter hook on the flip.

[@MrJaxnbeFishing]

Best small jig ever!

[@snakeeyes9246]

Never caught a Smallie before. Hopefully I can get one next year.

[@coltonthorpe7812]

Great video, man! The leaves are all bare up here in Michigan already. Have you ever done a fall transition catfish video?

[@ndyakangler]

I’ve caught catfish on this same stretch of river, a couple weeks after the smallies left it for the fall. They seem to put up with the cold a bit longer.

[@RobinRK1962]

Very similar weather here in Midland Ontario

[@btownhavocrl9858]

Hey just to verify your comment, I’m in NC our northern rivers/streams are 46-48 and our southern rivers are around our southern rivers/streams are 59-62 degrees as of 11/3. When you made this video 10/17 they were quite a bit warmer.

[@biggruv2839]

Matt I'm a huge fan. Your knowledge of the waters and fishes tendencies and videos are amazing. But I can't find the bitsy bug jig like the one you showcase in this video, in my area which is Portage, Michigan. And we have a nice amount of bait shops

[@ndyakangler]

I usually have to order them online somewhere. Last time I found them for like $1.19 a piece somewhere, grabbed 20 of them and I’ve been set for a while now.

[@biggruv2839]

@@ndyakangler OH wow. Nice. I've also looked online. Guess I'll try harder Lol. Keep up the great work. I'll continue to watch. Happy fishing👍

[@thatfishingnoob]

Idk why I thought of this now, but I imagine the fish thinking, “WHAT IS THIS PLACE?!” when being brought out of the water lol.

[@trevorwren1418]

Awesome videos. Just curious what river(s) you’re fishing in MN? One of your videos it looked like the Cannon River near Welch, Mn. I live near there and it’s the river I fish the most.

[@eric1richards]

There has got to be a local coffee roaster that can make “NDyakangler morning roast”. Seems appropriate because 90% of your audience watches your new uploads with a cup of coffee. Seems like a million dollar idea.

[@frankvandalen4883]

Hey! That's my birthday!

[@williamvaughan9036]

You should give the date so we have a reference from your area compared to where we live.

[@rhodesianhunter9360]

I started to see my river bass move south in the beginning of October this year. This in northern Ohio, it got cold earlier this year. There is about a two week difference between here and southern Ohio. So I guess central Ohio is the line between north and south. Usually it happens mid October to late for me.

[@ndyakangler]

It seemed like the water temp stayed right around 50 for 2-3 weeks here. That’s about the point for those fish to start moving so they were scattered for a bit.

[@quelchx]

@NDYakAngler if you get chance because I know you enjoy St.Croix rods -- the 2023 Mojo Bass rods are mighty nice 👍.

[@ndyakangler]

They do look pretty nice! My only issue with St Croix is that lately they seem to be doing away with the under 7’ rods. They used to have three 6’6”-6’8” rods in almost every series that were perfect for my kayak bass fishing setups. Now I’m lucky if they have one and I have to go with 7’6” rods for my other two and that’s just way longer than I like to deal with in a kayak. I’m hoping the new BassX rods have all three and are more like the ones I have than the current ones.

[@quelchx]

I think the new Mojo does have a 6'8 M XF similar to the the older Bass X M XF (not sure about newer models) -- I had the Bass X for finesse jig fishing the rivers before I snapped the tip 😞. Looking at the selection though your right they have 2 rods under 7 foot.

[@turboboy0]

went fishing the other day and got skunked for the first time this year. i maybe could have caught something if i used a different rod but i was being stubborn. i keep at least 6 rods in my truck.

[@jeffking887]

5:33. Shawshank Redemption reaction video?

[@TheCertifiedNeto]

Just found your channel, love your videos. What’s one of your favorite lakes in Minnesota to fish on?

[@love_as_music]

Anyone else notice that the smallie at 8:29 was missing an eye?

[@TyTyman8]

Ever try Big O crank baits Mr NDyak? Work good here in central Indiana and our fishing sucks. Or a lure collaboration with Marling Baits?

[@jeffcrouch4892]

Was wondering ... do you ever eat any of the fresh fish you catch ... smallies, largies and crappie are wonderful ... not a muskie fan ... just curious ?

[@genielife7618]

Great vids. Can you start weighing them?

[@bera2762]

I caught my biggest largemouth bass on January 22,2000. 46 degree clear water. Bitsy bug jig with strike king trailer. When I set the hook that fish stripped drag so much. I had no idea at the time it was a bass. I thought it was a large catfish because I couldn’t bring the fish up. After about a minute and a half she came up some and I could see the fish. At first I thought ok six or seven pounds. A few more dives later she came up and vomited out two fish. One was a crappie and the other I have no clue. I had this fish mounted but now I wish I wouldn’t have done it. Anyway weight was 10lbs 12oz. 28” long and 20.5” girth. These measurements were taken after 45 miles of driving. I can only guess what her weight was had she not vomited up fluid and two fish. She almost swallowed that bitsy bug and the hook was bent almost 90 degrees. Mercy what a fight it was for so cold of water. I enjoy your videos and thanks for uploading!

[@crazy88909]

Just wanted to say thank you for answering my questions about fishing smallmouth. I was new to Minnesota and it was my first time fishing for smallmouth. I was able to catch a few smallmouth around 3 pounds using your tips! Do you have any winter fishing tips for smallies? Thank you!

[@ndyakangler]

I’ve never had much luck targeting them through the ice. If I float the Mississippi I look for the deeper slower moving water.

[@crazy88909]

@@ndyakangler Thanks for the tip! My brothers coming up this winter from Texas and I'm hoping I can take him to the Mississippi to catch some smallies.

[@XxNERFx]

Awesome content man, THANK YOU!! [+]

[@oldschoolhawking8191]

I'm not surprised you snapped off using Trilene Sensation line. I spooled up with that line and lost two nice stripers in a row. I tested the line and found out that it easily stretched, breaking at the knot.🤔👎

[@Kltpzyxm17]

Maybe change knots? 😊

[@oldschoolhawking8191]

​@@Kltpzyxm17 I only use two knots, Clinch & Palomar. I've been tying Clinch knots on my hooks for almost 60 years, with many different lines, I never had any problems. 🤔 This line stretches too much.

[@adventurousretiredamericans]

We enjoy your videos so much! I hope to fish in your part of the country one day; love the clarity of the rivers. What kind of camera do you use for your videos?

[@ndyakangler]

I have a Hero 5 black with a polarized lens, and a Zoom H1/lapel mic for audio.

[@ethanzander7898]

Meanwhile us up here in ND...

[@outdoornobles]

Even though we are competing against each other putting videos out the same day and all but I enjoy watching the smallies coming in, we’ve been slow on the river over here since about mid October but we are hitting a warming trend that may bring them up and I’m going to go for carp tomorrow

[@ndyakangler]

I found a few nice smallies on the river today and saw a couple big sturgeon too! They were just sitting on the bottom. I could probably drop a hook full of worms right in front of them and back off, I’m just not sure how I’d land a 5’ fish in my kayak!

[@outdoornobles]

@@ndyakangler man that’s awesome I’m over in Wisconsin just outside of Milwaukee and rarely get a full day to kayak but if one lines up where I can be off and the weather is ok I’m putting in and paddling upstream and floating down. I won’t see a sturgeon though and the biggest smallmouth I’ve caught or seen in the river was just under 20” but the pike and carp are fun, I don’t think I’d want to catch one of the 12+lb carp in my kayak though much less a baby dinosaur like you’re talking about. ;) appreciate your videos man they keep me going out there even on my short trips and your duck video has me wanting to get a pike on one from the yak, right now I just use glides I painted with Walmart markers but a top water strike would make my year especially from a kayak with a nice size pike

[@dzydvl76]

@@outdoornobles - You're in my old stomping grounds, I used to live in Waukesha, spent some time in Johnson Creek, then Waterloo, and a little time up near Superior. Now I'm way down south, but I miss knowing I should be packing up the gear for opening day of gun deer. Stay dry, and good look on the river.

[@outdoornobles]

@@dzydvl76 appreciate it man I grew up on the Gulf Coast and in another month I’m going to miss that open water ;)

[@user-vu9xj1be1p]

Hey man I’m watching your video and it’s absolutely incredible. I really like the rod that you have and I tried to look for it online and couldn’t find it so if you could maybe put a link to it that would be very helpful

[@ndyakangler]

It’s a St Croix Bass X, one of the older ones. I’ve heard a lot of complaints about the current version but I think they’re re designing them for next season.

[@snuffy25454]

Any tips for bank fishing in this type of weather ?

[@andybales7318]

Jig n craw, soft jerkbait, and if the cover isn't an issue, suspending jerkbait & crankbait

[@adammead8197]

Howdy everyone

[@thomasandrews7783]

It looks like the fish at 8:38 was missing an eye or was I just “seeing “ things?

[@thomasandrews7783]

@@ndyakangler good job! It’s harder to catch a half blind fish 😂