Crankbait Tip That Catches Bass When Nothing Else Works!

[@bassman6211]

I keep square A's in the box. Local Walmart runs the three packs on clearance at the end of the year. They're killer, especially for around a buck a piece ( on clearance). Downsizing is a great way to get bit any time of the year if you're struggling, occasionally you get the added bonus of lunch, ie a couple bull gills or slab crappie. 😎

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome!

[@thomasmartin8202]

Rapala's Rippin Rap and Shad Rap in 05 have caught me hundreds of bass. Where I live they so outperform standard-sized crankbaits near shore but I'm not sure many people realize that.

[@MattStefanFishing]

they are great baits

[@guywithagoprofishingshow3011]

its pretty cool when a small channel guy/one man band is on the same page as all the chans I respect (W2F,You,Tactical, Randys' chan)as far as topics that can be within hours of each other; gives ya that positive reinforcement youre progressing as an angler.Just covered my "big -o part 2 " this time with some Info about Fred Young and how Its named after his big brother Odis.Love the chan Matt

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks! keep up the good work!

[@jerryscrappielife]

Spot on. I discovered this four years back when I couldn't get a bite in August and downsized to a Beetlespin and wore them out to the point that I lost my last one, drove to Walmart and bought more, and came back to catch a bass weighing 6 lbs, 1 oz. Fast forward to last year, I was in the same dog days type bite and started throwing a 1/16 ounce roostertail and got another 6 lb, 1 oz bass. I lost three other ones that week that were all big ones and they just destroyed my rooster tails. The lake I fish is 55 acres and private, and it's got an overabundance of threadfin.

[@MattStefanFishing]

sounds like fun!

[@tagg946]

i love the bomber, its such a fun bait to use in bodies of water that are over-populated with shad. the kvd 1.0 is a really nice option too, it dives pretty deep and runs true for a small squarebill.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Nice!

[@scottsoucy6186]

For small crankbaits, I normally use a Bomber 6a, or some small Bagley baits that I've had for over 30 years. I also occasionally use the Mann's Baby 1 Minus and a 5 Plus.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing!

[@zachg5356]

Love it. Great tip for this time of year and something I see constantly. Perfect for my 9 and 7 year old too. Thanks Matt!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Happy to help!

[@heinrichkellogg7563]

🍺Thanks Matt. Another option is the Megabass Super Z1’s, Z2’s, Deep X100 LBO’s, Knuckle LD’s, Type-3’s, S-crank 1.5 and Diving Flapslaps all work well for me.🤠

[@MattStefanFishing]

those are great as well!

[@russellmann3407]

Awesome video !!! Agree its a Dog Day summer. Fish Wheeler on the Tennessee River, no wind, no current and the water temperature was 86. Three dings, thats all. Anyway, again awesome video, lesson learned been fishing those small crankbaits with a baitcaster so now I'm going to switch to a spinning rod. Thanks for the tip and have a blessed week !!!!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Right on!

[@johnroskosky7816]

Just caught this crankbait video and I am hooked on the OG Tiny square bill crank baits. I have them in several color patterns and agree with you that I get better distance with a spinning rod. I love using my bait casters but for the smaller tackle I have switched to spinning tackle. Again, Matt, a great lesson. Thanks

[@MattStefanFishing]

That is awesome!

[@dhjhawk]

I like the two way street of this channel. And the toe nail video was a classic! 🤣

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks!

[@Glock-1]

I like the sitting at the picnic table videos and the tackle room ones as well!

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks so much!

[@roberts.2413]

Love the RC 0.5 , it's a killer along with the Shad Rap. One you didn't mention that will also slay'em is the Megabass Griffon. Good video as usual , I love the fact that you videos are concise and to the point and don't drag on and on like some of the other youtubers out there .

[@MattStefanFishing]

the griffon is a good little crank!

[@ericwakeman6665]

Great video well timed my son in law and I’ve been having a heckofa time in areas we normally catch a lot of fish we’ll be putting this methodology to the test on our local smallmouth river tomorrow morning thanks so much!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Sounds great!

[@pequenioedgarito3067]

Im a bank fisherman here in Illinois. We fish here in a lake that is a man-made quarry. The last month and into August have been the worst. It seems like the fish disappeared. I recently purchased a portable sonar, the Garmin Striker. Sure enough, Matt‘s right. These fish seem to have gone into the deeper end on dropoffs down to 15 ft. And Matt is spot on with using a lighter line wieght and a medium to deep dive crankbait. I own the Rapala shad rap 5 and never found use for it until Now into September. Thank you Matt for the tips.

[@mgdwj]

2 years ago I was fishing my local lake with a small flat side crank bait and just about every other cast we were bringing in doubles. They were all dinks 1 lbs or less but it was super fun. We probably caught 40 fish in about an hour.

[@MattStefanFishing]

sounds like fun!

[@raypod6967]

Small bombers are great but here in NJ you have to get through literally a million crappies and yellow perch, I use my st.croix 8’ panfish series rod with 4lb test, the great thing is when you do get a bass they all feel like 5 pounders. Bagleys B1s are great as well but same problems as well with the bitsy minnow

[@MattStefanFishing]

nothing wrong with catching fish!

[@drjimmy2112]

This time of year is so hard. I have several small rebel cranks that I’ll try asap Thanks for the great informative and instructional videos Matt

[@MattStefanFishing]

give them a try!

[@johnrayner5599]

Great tips on this one, I love the small Berkely square bill and the Rapala Shad Rap. this pattern has worked well this time of the year and moving forward it should continue to work!!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Excellent!

[@CA-sl2xw]

6sense has you covered on the 1/4oz crank baits. The crush mini 25x & 25md.

[@MattStefanFishing]

ill check them out!

[@shawn_r_schultzfishing4883]

When I first got into bass fishing all I used for jerkbaits and crankbaits was a spinning setup because it had a slower gear ratio and I didn't over work the baits and I could cast so much farther. I would throw little cranks that were meant for crappie and catch numbers, not always the biggest but it was loads of fun 🎣

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good stuff

[@bigmikefishingchonicles9950]

Hey matt you are giving up my go-to baits 🤫

[@MattStefanFishing]

sorry buddy!

[@morganhood9425]

Love all these juicy tips man! Rod building tips/process video would be awesome by the way been wanting to dive into building my own but haven't pulled the trigger yet

[@MattStefanFishing]

You got it!

[@clintperry799]

I've been smoked by a friend of mine , years ago throwing a small or tiny chrome crank bait ! Since then I do throw them occasionally.

[@MattStefanFishing]

they catch a ton of fish!

[@fishnhub]

I just started throwing the black/silver 2" Berkley squarebull again tonight on my bfs setup and landed 4 2.5+lb bass. I cut the leading hook off the treble like you showed in one of your videos and I hardly ever lose a crankbait with light line. Appreciate the videos,!

[@MattStefanFishing]

that little squarebull is a good one!

[@richardkeller6940]

So what is the bfs gear ? Shimano ?

[@fishnhub]

@@richardkeller6940 I use a more budget friendly setup. Kastking zephyr reel with spool speed ceramic bearings, 7ft ultralight ugly stik elite rod with 6-8lb seagar invisX fluorocarbon. I may upgrade in the future, the rod is pretty floppy in the tip and I've had the line get caught between the spool and frame a few times. I have the 7ft shimano sensilite rod with light action also that works good with a little more weight.

[@troyseal9877]

Nice video man. I have a certain model of small crankbaits I fish starting in September and fish it through October. Loads of bass with a lot of crappie too.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Sounds great!

[@mikegardiner3934]

ha, I actually have a few of those tiny bomber cranks that I got for crappie fishing. Haven’t pulled em out in 4-5 yrs. I should, especially if doing some ponds. Oh another good one is flicker shad 2”. I have a few of those too. 👍

[@MattStefanFishing]

Nice

[@LowBrowFishing]

How is the toenail bait video performing badly?!?! That one was one of my favorites, lol! It's great that you still have that bait!

[@MattStefanFishing]

one of my favorites as well!

[@robodrop2392]

Salmos Hornet is a great one as well. Had dozens of 40+ fish days, and Bass pro carries them now. They used to be really hard to get.

[@MattStefanFishing]

yes they are!

[@kevinbeaudean704]

Thanks Matt, those little crankbaits are fun to fish and with spinning gear you can cover water pretty fast. I don't throw baits quite that small often but I do throw Manns baby 1=. I fish alot of tidal rivers and small cranks get r done.

[@MattStefanFishing]

those are good baits!

[@terrytresemer2864]

The 9000 is excellent for the task at hand. The baby "0" and tiny torpedo's are good too.

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome!

[@travisbruno1988]

Im a big fan of BFS i just love using a baitcaster with micro and small lures so i understand the casting issue. Another thing i cant get over how awesome it is you build your rods you should make a couple to sell us.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Maybe one day! i love making them...it would be hard to part with them

[@allenfellows8082]

Have some Bombers ...and some old rebel teeny R...both work well !!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

they work great!

[@SimplyFishing]

Some of the best info I've seen in a while.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks so much!

[@SimplyFishing]

@@MattStefanFishing Check my channel out some time when you get a minute. Let me know how I can improve. Tight lines.

[@douglasspickler4925]

I use a St Croix glass spinning rod, a 4000 series Daiwa reel, 8 lb Trilene XL and my favorite baits are Rapala ultra light crankbaits. I do like the Fritts side #5 and Shad Rap #5. Fun fishing.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Sounds great!

[@rvfishingyet]

I have been having fun working with the various L to ML BFS for pike and bass. So much so, I have been getting into the UL 4.5ft to 6ft for Trout. Thanks for the great tips for those setups Matt

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good stuff!

[@adrianthayer4591]

May 2022 was my first time bass fishing. My only spot has been from a medium sized floating dock at an RV park on a medium sized river/reservoir in NE Washington. I've seen plenty of videos on fishing docks from a boat but not much on fishing docks from the dock. It's taken me until early August to start catching 3-5 pounders and not very many at that. It would be nice to get some pointers. Many perch around the dock and the bass are feeding on small blue gill

[@MattStefanFishing]

ill put it on my video suggestion list! thanks!

[@MrJohnB-qs6dp]

Great video!!!You/\'re right, see a lot of small bait this time of year when I'm out on the water. Now it makes sense to throw those small crankbaits and I'll give it a try!! Stay Safe & God Bless!!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

they work great!

[@shannonkirby9295]

Love cranking, Matt. Good info

[@MattStefanFishing]

you bet!

[@richardblake4777]

Going tomorrow and will give it a try. Thanks Matt.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Have fun!

[@robjurbala84]

Again, excellent tips

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad you like them!

[@bobsheller1427]

Thanks Matt I'm seeing this at Lake of the Ozarks now. Will try this tonight.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Have fun!

[@pauleyplay]

Not fair says stuck in Maryland !!

[@johndrx165]

I throw this size crankbait a lot. Have caught some big ones and it can be a blast.

[@MattStefanFishing]

you gpot that right!

[@woefman9467]

Love Your Channel , Glad you joined the youtube game....id like to learn about forage in Wisconsin...im from there before i was really good at bass fishing and mostly tube or wormed there. My Brother rents cabins for all us guys in June in Waupaca for fishing the chain and would love to know what bait is there.

[@MattStefanFishing]

waupaca is one of my favorite lakes and about 30 minutes from my house. lots of fun. It has cisco, but primary forage is bluegill and perch in summer. Its loaded with panfish.

[@castandchill]

feel like a small underspin could work well here too with mimicking those tiny baitfish

[@MattStefanFishing]

agreed

[@johnathonsnape-mclean3457]

Ive been catchin some good 4Lbs smallies on cranks! 😁🤘🏻🎣

[@MattStefanFishing]

Nice!

[@randy4805]

Excellent info! Thx!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad it was helpful!

[@pogoshad990]

Rebel Crickhopper is a fish catching machine

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome!

[@kfishing2779]

Awsome tip!!! I also think that spinerbaits around this time of year are very underrated, do you like spinerbaits this time of year?

[@MattStefanFishing]

Yes I do!

[@coreypowell7194]

A bfs combo is money for those size 4 bomber square a's

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep!

[@franksancimino1297]

Do you ever use EWG hooks on your billed crañks ?

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep sometimes

[@mikeeller557]

Springtime I start with 1.0 square bill. Fall I start with strike king bitsy.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Awesome!

[@raypod6967]

Great video

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks!

[@jbowron1]

I build rods from Mudhole because of you. What mhx blank did u suggest to use for this technique. I have seen those schools of minnows but can’t get bite!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

NSJ-871

[@jbowron1]

@@MattStefanFishing Thanks Matt for all the great tips really does help us recreational fisherman like myself have fun on the water.

[@MRW21783]

What do you recommend for retrieve on these lighter set ups?

[@MattStefanFishing]

i like a stop and go or a sweep style retrieve

[@garydalrymple855]

Talking rods. Can you talk to Mud hole about adding a page or section of your rods / builds. This those of us who would like to build our own, can have a package (kit) to start with.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Something i plan on talking with them about

[@fishden365]

Would like to watch the toenail video but didn’t see the link.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Dang it i forgot to add it. I just added to the end of the video but here is the link for you kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqOaiGWrodyIqJY

[@DanGriffin10]

Where’s that toenail link Matt?

[@MattStefanFishing]

dang it i forgot to add it. I just updated the video and added the link here kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqOaiGWrodyIqJY

[@scotsemmens596]

Do you run straight fluorocarbon or do you run braid to fluoro?

[@MattStefanFishing]

generally straight fluoro

[@Fievel619]

Mr. Stefan, grab some squirmy wormy material (blood red). rig it on a drop shot #14 straight shank hook(YES... that tiny),2.5in- 4in worm wacky rigged, 6 pound fluorocarbon or under. I promise you brother, this is flat out the biggest producer of ALL species in the dog days of summer. This is not a joke and you wont be disappointed. Plus heck, it makes dropshotting actually fun for everyone.

[@MattStefanFishing]

ill give it a try thanks for sharing!

[@erk678]

The new line of bomber baits are just $3.99😀

[@MattStefanFishing]

very reasonable!

[@jamesbarron1202]

One of your boys will pass down their toenail lure to their boys when they get old.

[@MattStefanFishing]

haha!

[@notsogood6249]

Here's my tip...those baits do nothing for you if there not ready to eat, especially during the hot summer day. If you know the bass are there, you need to have patience and wait for them start eating.

[@MattStefanFishing]

I think you can trigger them to bite even when they arent feeding

[@heinrichkellogg7563]

🍺🎣👍.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for watching!

[@raynedostal7363]

Hi

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for watching!

[@wolverinex4243]

Yes, people don't realize one video is over $100. It's why I stay on the fence. My first and only video runs over $1,000 and it's only 3 min. Lol. I need better viewership. Toughest days? Yes and no. You still catch more fish during doggy days than winter, esp when you're on the shore. Just hate the heat, mainly reflecting/radiating off the scorching ground. Some days you feel like you're going to faint here in Coomiefornia. I hate flatsides. The swim is so tight, it is useless. It's like running a cheap or mechanical lure through the water. Very unattractive. I never understood how people could catch fish on them. Pretty sure they are fishing the Midwest. I find the opposite or wide swim to be effective. I used to love spinning and used to hate bcs. There are a lot of things wrong with spinning besides the function. Perhaps two of the biggest reasons why I switch are losing big fish and ease of fighting fish. These days I use them for finessy applications or other species and techniques such as bottom setting for stripers. Then you have your issues with bcs. It's never a perfect setup. For cranks, I do think it is better with a spinning bc it's 1. A straight retrieve 2. If you're going to input drag action, then it is easier on the hand 3. Cranks don't have weight transfer.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing

[@wolverinex4243]

Whatever you do, don't buy the tiny Cultiva in blue crank/jerkbait. That thing veers to one side on straight retrieve and jerks to one side. You're better off burning that $10. The lure looks stunning and quality as fook. Do these lure companies ever test the design on these lures before releasing them? The heck is going on? Even the Trick X will do that. Tuning? The more you tune, the worser it gets. I want my lures to run true out of package. Never buying PH again, bc the topwater veers like heck. They've lost my trust forever. Just want to vent my frustration and hope these premium lure companies see this. Utter garbage.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thats a bummer

[@everettsmith971]

Try the tapas brat. Small. Works great!

[@MattStefanFishing]

ill check it out