Mopping Up A Classic Win! The Damiki Rig Is So Underrated!

Gussy Just won the Bassmaster Classic using the Mopping (Damiki Rig, Scrubbing) technique which is a killer for all bass species! Give it a try!
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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 seven MLF Championships and won over a half million in tournament winnings at the professional level.

[@timjustus7831]

He got it but not by a landslide, I'm sure it was hell watching him struggle but as a fan watching it was exciting to watch!!! Congrats on the win gussy

[@MattStefanFishing]

Im so happy for gussy!

[@fredthompson1279]

As a Canadian , it's great to see a compatriot win this prestigious event.

[@MattStefanFishing]

gussy is a good guy

[@lloydwilliams7674]

He appears to be a great guy...grounded, polite, well spoken and obviously a hard worker, etc. Congrats to he and his family!

[@peterhing3608]

Thanks for a great video Matt and CANADA IN DA HOUSE!! WHAT WHAT!! Haha. So pumped to see a fellow Canadian in Gussy going wire to wire for the win! Simply awesome and making Canadian fishing history as only the 2nd Canadian to win a Bassmaster Classic tournament. Congrats to him and his family! Have a great 2023 fishing season Matt and all!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for the support!

[@AjLynn45thParallelFishing]

There's a video of Jeff fishing this deal with James Linder 11 years ago - James is the first basshead I'd heard using this while winning multiple events up north back in 2008-ish.

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome! Jeff was the first one to tell me about it when we used to room together in the old FLW Tour days

[@williamknight5142]

Gussy got it done! Man that lake was fishing tough. 👍👍👍👍👍

[@MattStefanFishing]

yes he did!

[@mikegardiner3934]

nice vid, Matt! So happy Gussy won. Great job from start to finish!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Im so happy for Gussy!

[@manonamissionstudios9440]

I catch a lot of largemouth on this rig in the clear MN lakes, and it is a staple for me fishing panfish in the late fall when they suspend deep. Great break down Matt. Love the Gussy win too, I felt so nervous for him, so great to see him pull it off!!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Very cool!

[@mjk934]

Really happy for Jeff, great guy , I've chatted with him a few times, nice guys do finnish 1st.

[@MattStefanFishing]

We agree!

[@nickc8629]

Great video! Congrats to Gussy! Schmitty made it close! 🔨

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks!

[@heinrichkellogg7563]

🍺I’m very happy for Guzzy and his family🥳He is not only an extremely talented angler but he is a good dude. In my opinion he also uses the best rods(G Loomis NRX+) reels (Shimano Stella)and hooks(Gamakatsu) on the planet.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Hes a good dude!

[@travisbruno1988]

Thanks for another great one i havent been able to watch vids lately my wife has been hospitalized for 3 weeks now.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Sorry to hear that

[@willperryman4559]

I’ve followed Gussy since his rookie year with FLW,along with you and a few others, but, I’ve fished this way on Kentucky lake and Cumberland and Dale Hollow and my brother and I also learned that crappie could be caught by the dozens.😊 I am thrilled for Gussy, and I just watched him WIN 🏆 🎉. I also just got my Core Baits Hover Rigs, and I have a club tournament this Wednesday and another next Sunday 👍😎 I love when good guys win, and I have always thought you were also one of the Good Guys🍀🎣🍀💯

[@MattStefanFishing]

Gussy and I were roomates until he went to the Elites so Im super excited for him. He is a good dude!

[@willperryman4559]

@@MattStefanFishing That’s awesome, I know you are happy for him. My son was with FLW for 18 years creating the TV show and the Live Streams his company is DigitalP Media and I’ve been to several big events including the Forrest Wood Cups, and Peyote took me behind the scenes and I ever drove camera boats in the early days, and that’s where my loyalty begins to anglers like you and Miles, Gussy and so many others. I’m retired now and fishing in 2 bass clubs in the Raleigh NC Area. I’m always pulling for you Matt👍🍀🍀🎣🍀🍀

[@johnrayner5599]

What a great break down of this intriguing technic, I feel like I had a personal instruction!!! What a dominating way to fish if you know the secrets to it, awesome video!!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@TN-Vols-Fan]

Congratulations to Gussy and all Canadian angler's. Sure would be great to see Matt Stefan in the Classic! While fishing like that is a great technique, I don't think that I have the patience to do it.

[@MattStefanFishing]

one day!

[@TN-Vols-Fan]

@@MattStefanFishing I heard Mrs Stefan say that she wants you in the Elites!

[@nickp8373]

Hey Matt. Thanks for the breakdown on this rig. Your videos are excellent. Also my hover rig hook’s finally got here yesterday. Super nice quality and design. Thank you brother.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Great to hear!

[@normanwiggins1320]

Good call Matt. Schmitt had him on the run. Can you imagine catching 2 keepers and win the Classic. The Ray Scott biography of BASS was really nice. Never threw the demeki rid before but might give it a try

[@MattStefanFishing]

give it a try!

[@kevindunn3883]

Great info! So many different methods since I last fished! Tokyo, Damiki, etc. The Damiki seems to be an upsized crappie jig that you don't impart movement on. Presume it's Imitating a "dead" baitfish. When you were talking about going to 3/8-1/2oz head it seems you would have to have a pretty hefty plastic to balance and keep it horizontal.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for watching!

[@petehayduk8051]

Great video Matt! I'd love to hear how to use this in shallow water, 4' or less, to imitate all the glass minnows I see very shallow. I fish the Juniata River in Pa. Also, you are a gifted teacher! You're articulate without talking over people, you're easy to understand because of your pronunciation and fluid way of speaking. You'd make a great biology professor in some big college! Maybe in your free time, when you're 85 or so. LoL! Seriously though, great job, and you are a fantastic teacher! Thanks Man!

[@MattStefanFishing]

you can achieve the same thing in shallow water fishing it under a bobber and casting it

[@petehayduk8051]

​@@MattStefanFishing Thanks Matt!!! I hadn't thought of that. I can't wait to try it!

[@lannyseals2084]

From what I see and read about, seems like such a killer technique if done right! Believe I need to look more into learning this! Thanks for the video Matt!

[@MattStefanFishing]

you bet!

[@MarkSmith-hf3sw]

Nice info gonna commit some time this up here in the great north west .

[@MattStefanFishing]

Have fun!

[@LowBrowFishing]

I actually have the stuff to fish a damiki rig but since most of the water I fish is less than 6 feet deep and choked with hydrilla, I don't get many opportunities to do so. However, I had already planned on throwing one in a couple of weeks at the private lake. I think the deep water around standing timber will be perfect for it!

[@MattStefanFishing]

yah not quite the right place for a damiki

[@midwestfischerman]

It is OFFICIAL!!!! GUSSY WON!!! He went WIRE TO WIRE IN 1ST!!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

YEP!

[@jonc.5310]

Just looked up the purse because I don't follow this stuff. Three hundred thousand dollars?!

[@mallard243]

I can’t find wallenpaupac lake NE PA in your breakdowns that’s surprising that lake is so popular with so many in the northeast

[@MattStefanFishing]

I havent been there

[@bassmedic]

only got 2 at just over 6 lbs but was enough for the win. congrats on becoming a legend in bass fishing.

[@MattStefanFishing]

a win is a win!

[@ceciljohnson5997]

It's just like the way I fish crappie jigs during the winter. Vertical and hold it still with maybe a slow rise to get them to commit

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep!

[@adkshaun70]

Another great tip! Upstate NY so plan on trying this at ice out.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Have fun!

[@secretbassrigs]

Essentially, it's any jig that has a level presentation using a straight tailed soft plastic finesse body, for suspended fish with a dead stick presentation. Like a fly and float, where your boat is the float. The difference in the Freestyle Rig and presentation (other than the large profile eye pattern) is that it is a yo yo, then pause, presentation.

[@MattStefanFishing]

for the most part yes

[@johnbutler307]

Thanks for another great video.

[@MattStefanFishing]

you bet

[@gordjohnson70]

Good video. This works good for Walleye and pike too.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Yes it does!

[@fishindoc6025]

Thanks for this,,Ive started trying to do this technique. Id like someone to discuss using this with the underspin too.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for watching

[@ryanvarner6520]

Excellent info!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks!

[@vegetablejoe2389]

I do that under a weighted bobber! My go-to Spring bait!

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome!

[@MrJohnB-qs6dp]

Congrats to Gussie!!! He sure made us all who were cheering for him bite our nails!! Glad he hung on and won!!! Stay Safe & God Bless!!!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

it was a close one!

[@mikeeller557]

Thanks Matt, This is also a saltwater technique. I have not tried it , Its on my list.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Go for it!

[@douglasspickler4925]

I need practice for this technique and to get better with my Active Target. Gussy makes it look easy, and, therefore, many people believe it is automatic fish catching with FFS. Not.

[@MattStefanFishing]

he is just as good with 2D sonar.

[@oregonsmalljaw3732]

I use the same rig with a 1/8 head and slowly swim it back through shallow water . The Smallmouth crush it especially in the river.

[@MattStefanFishing]

yes they do!

[@joshuajadolon3591]

Thanks for the breakdown, Matt. Could you explain the differences and maybe the nuances between this technique and hover strolling? What conditions would determine using each technique? On day 3 it appeared that it was a high pressure day and the Moping Technique wasn’t as effective as the previous two days. Would hover strolling been more effective? Lastly, when is it going to stop snowing in this state (WI) so we can go fishing?

[@MattStefanFishing]

mopping is vertical fishing under the boat and not moving the bait. hover strolling is a casting technique

[@shannonkirby9295]

He has done very well

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep!

[@johnzaucha8908]

Great info, have you used this right in the summer months?

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep

[@mikeantes9597]

Matt thanks for sharing .Is this a technique you would need spot lock for?

[@MattStefanFishing]

nope sometimes its great just drifting

[@lost4real777]

I really wish the fusion 19 jigheads had a 90 degree tie on it. I really like them and they work well

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep!

[@jamesh7469]

The guppy head is already so damn good for it I don’t see the need for anything else. I do also like screw lock style heads though

[@ronstrohman672]

Do you know what knot he used? I watched a little bit on tv yesterday,Mark Zona mentioned about a specific knot. I know when I slip bobber fish I push my knot towards the hook point so t hangs more vertically

[@MattStefanFishing]

ill ask him waht knot, but the key is to make sure the knot is holding the bait horizontal

[@clintperry799]

I saw that on the TV today ! 👍✅ 28

[@MattStefanFishing]

sounds good!

[@mouaem1]

Have been damiki rigging and tight lining for years. I laugh when people think I'm just crappie fishing.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good stuff

[@DavidBronstein1961]

Could you adopt this for shore fishing by fishing the jig under a float?

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep!

[@jamesh7469]

Matt when you rig fluke style baits with a belly slot on a jighead… do you thread the hook all the way through the think back of the body above the slot, or do you run the hook through the nose to come out inside the slot and then poke it back through the think back?

[@MattStefanFishing]

i stay int he plastic!

[@timkelleher6384]

Hey Matt couldn’t I pretty much do the same thing using one of your core tackle jig heads?

[@MattStefanFishing]

shhhh

[@kurtvigil375]

Hi Matt! I'm curious to know why? Gussy didn't use drop shot or doodling technique when the fishing got so slow on Sunday?

[@MattStefanFishing]

youd have to ask him

[@kurtvigil375]

Yes! I was curious what your thoughts might on that

[@funnynader9149]

Quick question what specs do you like for your spinning rod when using a Damiki rig?

[@MattStefanFishing]

I use a 7’3” ML fast

[@FutureBassmaster4469]

Matt, honest question n opinion do you think Gussy would have won WITHOUT livescope??

[@MattStefanFishing]

yes! he won a four day bassmaster elite tourney there a few years ago without livescope. Since you fish it vertical under the boat he used 2D sonar and demolished the field by a big margin

[@lucaslogg1024]

As soon you speak about deep water techniques it is wise to say something about not fishing too deep so you pressure damage the fish when you reel it up. There also should be some regulations in competition about how deep you should be able to fish.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for watching

[@spencersmith6754]

Since your bait is stationary do you use scent more often?

[@MattStefanFishing]

it doesnt hurt

[@bobhochtritt2662]

does this work good on walleyes? why no shout out to the zman scented jerk shad?

[@MattStefanFishing]

i have had better luck on other baits personally.

[@adrianthayer4591]

If you were using this technique from a platform with no electronics what formula would you use? Example: Start at 10 ft for x amount of time then drop down x number of feet for another try.

[@MattStefanFishing]

id lower to the bottom and raise it up about 5 feet

[@terrytresemer2864]

I've had some success with it, but not anything I'm going to brag about. I'll master it at some point, still waiting for the light to pop on. The ahh hah moment has to come along at some point. 😂

[@MattStefanFishing]

it can be killer!

[@jamesh7469]

Matt, in theory this technique should work excellent with your Hover rigs, right?

[@MattStefanFishing]

in the right conditions yes, but the hover rig is very light to get to stay in place

[@smallmouthcity]

Would love a breakdown of Puckaway

[@MattStefanFishing]

sounds good!

[@smallmouthcity]

@@MattStefanFishing Thanks! I couldn’t find the page where you breakdown lakes. Can you post the link?

[@williamnaples372]

Looks great how can u get this bait

[@MattStefanFishing]

links are in my video description

[@brianprice7645]

Well he didn't run away with it but he did win, I'm glad you didn't jinx him

[@MattStefanFishing]

a win is a win!

[@colbyb24]

Your boy Johnny put me on this rig

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome!

[@edwardcowan7012]

Turned into a nail biter. I fished a Federation National Championship there in 2000. They draw it down every winter. The Large Mouth don’t get shallow good until they fill it up. Pre fished in March, tournament in April. I don’t think any Small Mouth were weighed in, finished 11th.

[@MattStefanFishing]

nice!

[@williamfaragher3671]

True suspending jerkbaits and finesse topwaters can be presented in similar fashion using FFS, taking advantage of the curious nature of smallmouth. They cannot resist well presented lures hanging over their heads for long periods of time. There are times when a topwater bait is just the delivery system and attractor for the trailer. I believe there is a lot of room for innovation regarding finesse trailers...

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing

[@williamfaragher3671]

@@MattStefanFishing yep...

[@af4od02]

Isn’t Mopping basically the Hover rig?

[@MattStefanFishing]

nope completely different methods. Mopping is fishing vertical under the boat.

[@timg185]

I didn’t see Gussy fissing any of his fish. Is there a reason he didn’t. Or did I just miss it.

[@MattStefanFishing]

youd have to ask him

[@timg185]

I was just curious how he managed to keep his fish alive. Thought maybe you had some insight.

[@EdwardClarkIII]

How does this work over bushes? 25ft deep. Bushes top out at 15ft deep.

[@MattStefanFishing]

really good!

[@nancyzipperer8819]

Mopping up

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep!

[@davidcrump2348]

It’s official. But he didn’t get his 15. He had 12. Good thing for him both fish today was 3+#. But I had picked Brandon Lester to win it.

[@MattStefanFishing]

a win is a win!

[@davidcrump2348]

@@MattStefanFishing Truth!

[@sliderman6899]

Good information on how to fish this deadly bait. However I wish you would have mentioned some aspects of fish care for these fish caught out of deep water. As all your youtube followers start catching these fish they are going to need to know about the adverse affects of Barotruma, especially if they are going to be transporting these fish to a weigh in site. Please do a video on fish care for tournament fish or there won't be any fish left to catch. Ask Randy he knows!!!!!!!!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

i have done videos on fish care in the past

[@sliderman6899]

@@MattStefanFishing I know you and others have done some good videos on fish care. I just thought that because this pattern is almost exclusive to deep water that it would have been a good idea to at least direct them to yours or other fish care video as it pertains to Barotrma . Again good information!!

[@davesizemore3367]

Happy for Gussy. That smeltinator looks a lot like that MATT STEFAN guppy head by dirty jigs... sucks you lost their sponsorship and they dropped your name from that jig. I'm gonna order these from Omnia instead, unless you have a better source?

[@MattStefanFishing]

smeltinator is a great jighead

[@bryangustafson1369]

@@MattStefanFishing thanks Matt

[@davesizemore3367]

Where would be the best place to order your jigs from sir?

[@johnmiller5987]

Want to learn how to vertically jig. Ask a walleye guy. If you care about bass you should not fish over 25 ft.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for watching

[@buschleaguebassin]

No, it needs to be a smeltinator! 😝🇨🇦

[@MattStefanFishing]

haha

[@joeys7519]

Dam he literally exposed my rig

[@MattStefanFishing]

sorry

[@garyboudreau2872]

Imo Not a fan of that type of fishing….. I was rooting for the other anglers who didn’t video game it…. Gussy is a nice guy for sure but maybe they should limit the use of electronics for maybe only a couple hours in tournaments

[@MattStefanFishing]

he won it by even more using 2D sonar last time they were there

[@MichaelSmith-ne4oy]

I always thought that moping was the right term, taken from the word mope, to sit around doing nothing.

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep and then people called it mopping because you mop up the floor with them, and then the damiki rig came out, and then tightlining...etc

[@charles7878]

Bro I just call that a jig.

[@MattStefanFishing]

its how you fish it

[@robertvanbeck918]

So vertical jigging... Got it. Seriously though... Why do people insist on calling something a "rig"? Like everything everyone has done for 60 years already is brand new... So dumb. A rig has a few different components. A Carolina rig, Texas rig, flasher/fly... I might as well call a bare hook with a plastic a rig... The Rob "rig'...

[@robertrodriguez4587]

Yep, it’s just marketing to try and sell more.

[@MattStefanFishing]

If you are jigging you are moving the bait...you dont want to move this rig.

[@Oldbasshole]

Definitely a technique I need to try !

[@MattStefanFishing]

Go for it!