My Preferred Texas Rig Plastics! Here Is Why You Should Be Using Them!

Don’t let picking the correct flipping bait for Texas rigs overwhelm you. Use these baits and it will make your decision easy for you!
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LINKS TO BAITS DISCUSSED IN THIS VIDEO:
1) Berkley Powerbait Pit Boss - www.tackleware...
2) Berkley Maxscent Creature Hawg - www.tackleware...
3) Berkley Powerbait Chigger Craw - www.tackleware...
4) Reaction innovations Smallie Beaver - www.tackleware...
5) Zoom Brush Hog - www.tackleware...
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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.

[@chrishampton8842]

Pit Boss has been my favorite for many years

[@MattStefanFishing]

I love it

[@memikecraig]

I had to look in my bait bag before posting to see if I was right, but I also only throw 5 different baits when flipping a Texas Rig. A few of them you turned me onto. Berkley Pit Boss 3" and 4" OSP Dolive Beaver 3.5" and 4" Reaction Innovation Man Bear Pig (I prefer this over the Brush Hog by a long shot) Raid Egu Chunk 4" Reaction Innovations Smallie Beaver If you have not thrown the Egu Chunk, the 4" size on a 3/0 hook is killer. Those flappers FLAP!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Very cool

[@MoMan.88]

I like the Strike King Rage Bug and the Googan Baits Bandito Bug on the Ozark Rig

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks!

[@dong8307]

The Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog is an excellent soft plastic flippin bait.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for watching

[@RickWebb-nn6hy]

I like Berkley Chigger craw , I use it as a trailer on Chatter Baits as well so for simplicity mostly . Love the scent as well

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good one

[@scottemory72]

My favorite Berkley flipping bait is the 3” Pit Boss in Junebug hands down. My overall favorite company is Zoom for soft plastics but I will say the Netbait Paca Slim has snuck into my rotation. As far as colors I’m a black/blue mix, green pumpkin, and junebug kind of guy. I keep it pretty simple. My “If I could have only one” do or die bait would be a Junebug Zoom Baby Brushhog.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for sharing!

[@hometownguy7184]

I fell in love with a flippin tube 25 yrs ago. Also that chigger craw is fire

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good ones

[@wolverinex4243]

I will pick Panarama minus the acetone fume, The new Banjo.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks

[@TheGellyzoo]

I love the Beast Coast Flippin’ Delight in 3 Colors (Pumpkin Gill, Dirty Bug, & Dirtbag)

[@GaryAnderson87]

Dirtbag is such a productive color for me in stained and muddy water

[@MattStefanFishing]

Haha

[@ronrzadzki9460]

My favorites are the Z hog and Z craw

[@MattStefanFishing]

Solid!

[@edwardwicht5271]

Agree with all of yours. Grateful you put me on the Pit Boss. One that was killer for me all last year and will get heavy use again this year is the Megabass Bottle Shrimp (in GP). It’s just a little different than most flipping baits. Gets lots of bites and big bites in clear/stained water on Gammy 2/0 ringed superline hook that you recommended. The OSP Dolive Beaver is also really good. Good enough for Rapala to rip it off. Don’t tell anyone else tho!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for watching

[@RickyCarter-ro8fr]

D-bomb, Destroyer, Utra vibe speed craw -- all in both sizes

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good one

[@heinrichkellogg7563]

🍺Life long Yamamoto supporter. The new owners have not ruined the baits yet🤠. The Yamamoto fat baby craw in green pumpkin black flake is all you need period. I believe in them so much that I just purchased 60 more packs from your link and I have 100’s of bags in storage😊. TW is currently having a Yamamoto flash sale 30%-40% off. 🤑 $150 or more you can get free TW shirts and $5 clothes/hats which I always give away as a “ random act of kindness” to those in need.🤠

[@MattStefanFishing]

I’ll give them a try

[@Pierrepadda]

thanks for what you do, I wonder if you guys in the US fish extreme colors like lime green or strong yellow lures. in Sweden, when we fish for perch and zander, these colors usually work very well, especially in dark colored waters.

[@Cornelius798]

During spring, I'll throw a Merthiolate color floating worm.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Sometimes

[@raybrenneman7240]

Good video! You were the one that started me using the pit boss a couple of years ago and I use it for lots of applications besides flipping. I’m anxious to use your ozark hooks this season for my Texas rig applications and in place of a weighted ewg swimming presentation. I suggest to anyone who is Texas rigging with an ewg; straight shank; or offset worm hook to give Gamakatsu g-finesse hybrid worm hook. It has become my favorite since its introduction. I almost never lose a fish and they seem to grab the jaw farther back in the jaw thus not tearing out. I suspect I’ll see similar results with the ozark penetrating the roof of the mouth

[@MattStefanFishing]

Awesome

[@PigSticker151]

My favorite is a Big Bite Fighting Frog on either a swing head, texas rig or it glides great on Ozark rig. I catch a lot of big fish this time of year with the swing head

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for sharing!

[@dong8307]

Great video and explanation of the different baits and applications/conditions. 👍

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks! 👍

[@davehuggins5777]

I like these. The D-Bomb and Rage Craw have been my go-tos lately. In Florida's tannic water, i do like the Gambler Dagger, too. Something about their junebug color works better than others here.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for sharing!

[@peterhing3608]

Great video and can't wait to do more focused pitching and flipping this season. I am a big fan of X Zone lures as well as The Berkley Pit Boss and will have them tied on for both smallies and largemouth for sure. I really want to also try using a finesse free rig as well as a heavier Free rig to gdt even more natural fall and action vs dropping straight with a Texas rig.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for sharing!

[@kentbrown5369]

If I am not pitching to thick cover the Geecrack bellows shad or gill in the 2.8 or the 3.8 are automatic. The Osp Dolive beaver is another amazing bait to pitch and flip around

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for watching

[@normanwiggins1320]

Berkley Pit Boss and creature Hawg for sure. Used to throw the Berkley Hawk Hawg on the river but ran out and havent tried the replacement. For a change up for pressured bass try the Yamamoto fat ika. My go to

[@MattStefanFishing]

Very cool

[@Triple87]

I’m a strike king / max scent guy. I like the rage bug, and rage craw. Also the max scent creature hog is big for me. I do try other baits, but when I want to catch bass, I turn to those baits. In the fall of 23, I was really throwing around the yamatanuki. That thing catches to many fish to not use it.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for watching

[@williamfaragher3671]

Another helpful video. Well done ! A heads up for your viewers. The In Fisherman 2024 Bass Guide is out. It is always full of insight into bass behavior, latest techniques and tackle. If you need a break from KZbin, this great issue is drama free ! There is a Bridgford ad with Randy. If you trigger easily .you have been warned...

[@MattStefanFishing]

Haha

[@Cornelius798]

I have luck throwing the Baby Brush Hogs, Smallie Beavers T rigged. Last winter, I ordered Chigger Craws, and I'm anxious to try them.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good stuff

[@toddg.2638]

I always have a jig on my flippin stick, that I might change to a 10" power worm or downsize to a gambler craw. I'll usually punch with a 6" worm or craw. I've never been big into creature baits, but I have a lot of them.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks

[@arthurwilkerson3274]

I like to flip the pit boss but on my home lake there are a lot of rock bass and they bite the flappers off a lot.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Bummer

[@ryanvarner6520]

Nothing to add, Matt! You nailed it!!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for watching

[@gordonkerr5421]

Hey Matt, love the channel , appreciate all the info you put out, your videos get an instant like from me, if you haven't yet please try the Googan baits bandito bug, green pumpkin purple has been the best for me, but overall a great bait.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for sharing!

[@DanielBoone337]

I bounce back and forth between a Strikeking rage bug or structure bug and the Googan Baits bandito bug as being my favorite all around flipping bait. I like flipping the Reaction Innovations sweet beaver a bunch and the one i use when i just need to get a bite is the Zoom baby brushhog. I do like other stuff to but for the most part its going to be one of those plastics i use 95% of the time.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good stuff!

[@terrytresemer2864]

Glad to see we're in agreement with the Pitt boss, Beaver baits and Chigger Craw. Now late in the season you'll find me reaching for the max scent craw.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for watching

[@willperryman4559]

Being a bait junky, I have similar baits in different brands, but I like ZMAN products because they are buoyant and Missle baits DBomb and Destroyer regulars and baby size are great, and XZone Adrenaline Craw or Jr the plastics are semi buoyant ( not like elaztech ) and tails float. Zoom ZCraw,or ultra speed craw, and all of these work well for jig trailers,but, I love the MaxScent creatures and craws for trailers, mostly for the max scent…( Baitfuel works too)🤷🏻‍♂️🍀🎣🍀

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good ones

[@abelinfante5834]

I use 6th Sense Congo Craw. I've had great success with this one.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for watching

[@bassnerd4918]

My favorite flipping/pitching bait is max sent general.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Solid!

[@derrickgatz9795]

Biffle Bug for me. Its great on the wobble head and its great for pitching/flipping. It generates a bigger bite also.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Yep

[@farrzmd3038]

I’ve kinda settled into zman hella crawz, goat, and gremlin as my every day go tos. When I want to throw something different it’s the RI smallie / sweet beaver, BBB yo daddy, and Raid battle hog.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for sharing!

[@DewRods]

Googan bandito bug. It also looks great on your ozark rig 🔥

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks 👍

[@caseysaunders2137]

The Yum Christie Critter is a good one. Cheap too. 30 pack available for $11 on TW. Or 100 pack for $29.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Solid price

[@caseysaunders2137]

@@MattStefanFishing The Yum Dinger (senko) also priced great versus the leading brand. I got a 100 pack of green pumpkin for $25 on Amazon. TW 100 pack of 5" is currently $29.

[@hughroberts1002]

By the way the Ozark rig is great with rage craw thanks !

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good to know!

[@guessguess8406]

does anyone “cast” a worm anymore? It doesn’t need a lot of instruction but I rarely see anybody talk about casting a Texas rig worm.

[@normanwiggins1320]

For sure Berkley Power Worm green pumpkin or red shad

[@MattStefanFishing]

I do

[@Cornelius798]

Yep, Berkley Power Worm. Black, Red Shad, and Warermelon Red Glitter.

[@mikelembke5121]

Many pros do at Ocochobee

[@karlhicks1838]

Great information Matt do you peg your weight when you are flipping thanks

[@MattStefanFishing]

Sometimes

[@mikeeller557]

Thanks Matt

[@MattStefanFishing]

You bet

[@dreb3497]

Reaction Innovations Man. Bear. Pig - Besides having a cool name, its a cross between beaver style and brush hog.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for sharing!

[@mattmiller7447]

That chigger craw is a staple for me

[@MattStefanFishing]

Solid!

[@itllkeal]

prespawn , bedding and post spawn bass are all different types of bites. I've always struggled with bedding bass but I know it's about time for the top water. What's your opinion on bedding bass baits and please don't say white swimbaits

[@MattStefanFishing]

These are all good bed baits

[@itllkeal]

​@MattStefanFishing Thanks a bunch. I always used shad or shiner patterns with some success. Do a modern straight retrieve video for those of us who are trying to get our kids into it

[@robertbrost7777]

No Strike King Rage Bug? That has to be in there.

[@MattStefanFishing]

I’ll give it a try

[@johnnyweaver1300]

👍

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks

[@erniebrightfishing]

I've not tried the creature hawg but I have a ton of the bunker hawg powerbait they're fairly similar right? Besides the size of the tentacles? The bunker hawg has less wide appendages

[@MattStefanFishing]

Yep

[@donmcfarlin2339]

Do you use extra scent on your power baits ?

[@MattStefanFishing]

Nope

[@cerebraltackle]

Speed Craw, Crazy Flapper & Speed Worm. 😁

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good ones

[@cerebraltackle]

I guess an honorable mention is a Berkeley tube. Twitching that thing like a jerkbait gets the most violent strikes!

[@williamknight5142]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks!

[@siryarwammowray3445]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for watching

[@johnowens7435]

Have you tried the new Rapala cleanup crawl or the bronco bug?

[@MattStefanFishing]

Nope

[@johnowens7435]

@@MattStefanFishing you should try it. The bass seem to love the impregnated scent 😉

[@somewhereinsd362]

Pit boss, crazy flapper, chiggers craw and game hog..

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good ones

[@arthurpol78]

D-bomb

[@MattStefanFishing]

Solid!

[@kevingerrish7859]

Great videos Matt. I enjoy watching and learning from your channel. Let me know if you want to trade xr50 baits. We might be able to help eachother out with colors.

[@MattStefanFishing]

I’m keeping mine haha

[@neiltomarchio]

Brush hog

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good one

[@MrTonySweatpants]

Aw bummer. I was hoping it wasn’t gonna be a plug for sponsorship when I saw the thumbnail. but literally, every company makes a style of each one of those.

[@MattStefanFishing]

It’s not a plug when those are what i use

[@MrTonySweatpants]

@@MattStefanFishing i’m assuming you’re familiar with exzone adrenaline craw?