My Secret Smallmouth Bass Bait

[@terrytresemer2864]

Oh, I like it! So much that it's now Feb 2023. Lake Erie and it's tributaries have goby thanks to Russia. And because of the goby the smallies are the biggest they have ever been. Up till the Dark Shadow I've put an oversized jig's in a tube. Now you've one more thing in my arsenal for the bottom. Further up I've the got the normal jerks, sm spinner baits, swim baits and spinner's.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing

[@kerryschallon8879]

Thanks for the tips Matt

[@MattStefanFishing]

You bet!

[@kevinbeaudean704]

Thanks Matt. No gobies where I fish but suckers and darters are around. Could work thanks.

[@MattStefanFishing]

give it a try!

[@lennymachowski5660]

very interesting flat worm color. looks like green pumpkin with blue and gold flake. dont remember that color being offered

[@MattStefanFishing]

it was a special run color berkley did...i hope they bring it back!

[@JamesBondDZero7Mi6]

Great topic for Goby baits. Not only do they catch smallmouth but they catch walleye feeding on gobies as well. I pair the football head with the Poor Boys Baits Erie Darter. If the fish are suspended off the bottom, I'll have a rod set up with a drop shot. Didn't know about the goby's bottom fin and missing air bladder. A better understanding of the goby helps to try and mimic them. Great tip!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for watching!

[@tedurbanik8074]

Matt, I used to think bridgford was charcoal for grills. Lol thanks to you Randy and Jonny for setting me straight. Goooood stuff.

[@MattStefanFishing]

anytime

[@rickmcfaul2551]

I knew this variation would come out eventually! It works great. I've also used some exposed hooks on wobble heads.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Excellent!

[@ernieowens742]

Good tip Matt

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad you liked it!

[@timkrouly6560]

I’ll definitely try it , thx

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome!

[@ramondiaz6937]

I'm in West Texas, and I fish in small pond, they're no big lakes around Fort Stockton, Texas

[@MattStefanFishing]

bummer

[@jansenodineal4172]

I've never used these two together but I've eat alot of that bridgeford beef jerky

[@waynesammyswingle6107]

This may be one of your best tips yet. I wasn't going to tell anyone. Although I have started u sing the Tokyo rig more now just to keep my line away from the zebra muscles. But as long as you are willing to retie often enough, the wobble head is one of if not the best ways to go. Damn good tip.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks!

[@shawnschell5053]

See! That’s why I get up every morning. Learned something today! 👍

[@josephhrnciar9376]

Great tip Matt....never thought of that. Use wobble heads a lot now a new trick!! Thanks as always for your expertise and knowledge!! Look forward to your videos!! Best of luck in the upcoming tournaments!!

[@HookLife]

It’s such a versatile piece of terminal tackle. It’s produces my biggest largemouth consistently last summer with a swimbait. I really like how the football head pushes more water. For me it’s deadly coming uphill around rock transitions or shell beds with a simple lift and drip retrieve. Now I just need to drive 2 hours to fish it on Lake Michigan for some smalljaws. Great video 🤜🏼🤛🏼

[@MattStefanFishing]

Great information! Thanks for sharing!

[@MrDeputy83]

Love your information! I’ve unsubscribes many of my other channels just to focus on your videos! Fish on Stephan

[@MrDeputy83]

Stefan

[@MattStefanFishing]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@whitebass16]

Ive been using wobble heads for years using craws. I never even thought about a swimbait until now..thanks for the tip. Im new to your page and i like how you explian in detail what your doing. Keep up the good work

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for watching!

[@stoneysdead689]

I've thrown this out of pure laziness- just didn't feel like re-rigging so I threw it on the wobblehead I already had on. Crazy thing is- even though I caught a couple- I assumed it was a fluke and never threw it again. Thanks or reminding me. I'll trade you one- you probably already know about it but- throw a swimbait on a Tokyo rig. Just let the weight tick the rocks as you retrieve it along bottom. Small mouth and spots seem to really respond well to it, no idea why. Largemouth may as well, I haven't really fished it much for them. Thanks Matt- you're quickly becoming my go to guy for advice and tips.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Great tip! Thanks for sharing. I’ll have to give it a try!

[@hardknoxs]

Definitely going to try this!! Im fairly new to bass fishing and loving all the tips and tricks!!! Thanks

[@MattStefanFishing]

I hope it helps!

[@alanmarshall4723]

Love a wobblehead for early ledge fishing

[@burdettehoeppner1062]

Another awesome keeper tip. I bought some wobble heads and swimbaits last week. Im looking forward to fishing it next year. Thanks and keep these tips coming. Great job in describing the technique.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good luck!

[@jeffniebanck6387]

I like it. Makes total sense.Thanks Matt!

[@codydulmes804]

After seeing another video with this pivot point jig, I am gonna have to definitely try it. We have Goby on the lakes in Upper MI by our cabin and this will be a smallmouth rig I am for surely gonna try. Thanks for sharing and also gonna try Dirty Jigs! Seen them at Fleet Farm, so gonna have to go back and get me some! Anything they don't have I will head over to TRS for.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good luck!

[@Choffa09]

Big fan of this technique! Kietech crazy flapper has produced from me as well

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing!

[@angleratlarge6787]

Great info. I will have try that in my deep clear lakes here in the Northeast.

[@MattStefanFishing]

It will catch’em!

[@toddwinegar7365]

I am always chasing smallmouth! IMO,there is no better place than here in east TN to do exactly that, however I am aware that there are other places that have great Bronzebacks and it is a dream of mine to get up there and fish Lake St. Clair, Green Bay or Big Bay De Noc, I hope to be able to do that the summer of 2022.

[@MattStefanFishing]

You’ll love all of those places!

[@markmpolizzi3605]

Great info! I use a 1/2 wobble head on a 6" lizard in spring when the shoreline rocks begin to absorb sunlight & warm along the shore. Throw it right up on shore and slowly drag it back. $$Money$$

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing!

[@coreydempski5119]

Great tips, just found your channel! I was not in the know but now that I SUBSCRIBED I’m in the know, thanks for sharing. Next level info on the gobies, who knew they had a suction fin?!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Awesome! Thanks for subscribing!

[@shawnwhalen8314]

I bet this would work for walleyes. I live in Metro Detroit... Michigan, we have the St. Clair river that connects Lake Huron to Lake St.Clair, it's clear and deep with a strong flow. Known for Walleyes and Smallmouth. Full of gobies. If I get a chance I'm gonna try it...I have the wobble heads.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Haha! Ive used it there and crushed the walleyes and the smallmouth in the St. Clair river! I love it on St. Clair as well!

[@julienchaput8396]

Love your videos man. Can you get into rod, reel and line pairings for these tutorials? Thanks for putting out your secrets!

[@MattStefanFishing]

I’ll try to incorporate more of that in the future. Thanks for the feedback! Much appreciated!

[@geraldbalciarjr651]

Thanks New subscriber.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for the sub!

[@Roboworm99]

Very underrated bait for sure

[@janosczovek8524]

Excellent video really enjoyed it thanks for the advice 😊

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad it was helpful!

[@glenndaugherity6187]

Great tips as always Matt !

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for watching!

[@joshuajadolon3591]

Thank you for sharing. This is a great tip!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad it was helpful!

[@shawn_r_schultzfishing4883]

I don't know why I never tried that combo, I tried almost everything else on a wobble head 🤦‍♂️ Well if I don't get spun out (overthinking) when I hit the lake I will give it a go, thanks!

[@MattStefanFishing]

It’s a killer!

[@jpecci1262]

How do these do in weedy bottoms. Fishing in Maine & Massachusetts. my closest smallmouth Maine lakes are really weedy. We generally texas or carolina rig to beat the weeds.

[@MattStefanFishing]

no great in weeds

[@craigpeters3165]

Gonna try it out here in Washington.

[@lakrabid]

lol me too. Lake Whatcom and Samish

[@scottkessler9602]

I was going to throw a fluke on a belly weighted swim bait hook, but this makes a little more sense.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Give it a try!

[@CaptPike-nm2jt]

Timely info. Heading to St. Claire tomorrow and will definitely try it.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Have fun! Me too!

[@CaptPike-nm2jt]

Any tips for fishing Lake St. Claire?

[@MattStefanFishing]

@@CaptPike-nm2jt cover water

[@FishnTheSouthOkanagan78]

Even better when you can make your own wobble/ Swinging football jighead like I do! I’ll definitely keep the swimbait idea in mind for the Western Canadian area where I am. What is your size limit for the swimbait plastic 3.8 or smaller?

[@MattStefanFishing]

very rewarding catching baits you make!

[@jamesschnell4919]

Awesome tip!

[@ramondiaz6937]

I, don't have a boat to fish from I only fish from the banks what can I use for fishing?

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for watching

[@allenpelts1809]

I know I shouldn’t say this. But another one I use is a Max scent flat worm on a wobble head. I’m sorry about the one that you probably was keeping a secret. Thanks for the tip about using a swim bait.

[@MattStefanFishing]

GOOD IDEA!

[@midwestfischerman]

Matt, do you like to use the Jika Rig? I feel it's like a wobble-head jig meets the Tokyo Rig.

[@MattStefanFishing]

I know what it is but have not used it yet.

[@midwestfischerman]

@@MattStefanFishing Hey Matt, check the Jika Rig out. In rocky areas where gobies live it's an effective rig to maintain bottom contact. To make a DIY Jika Rig all you need is your favorite hook, a split ring, and a cylinder or bell sinker. Works like a charm!

[@brianbordoni2168]

I never thought on using a swim bait on a wobble head .I’ve used them with craw style baits before and had good luck with them, but I’ll definitely have to try it thanks for the juice.

[@MattStefanFishing]

it can be deadly!

[@jackbass9673]

You know Megabass makes that dark sleeper that mimacs a gobie, but i have yet to catch a smalley on it here on pickwick, not even a bite.

[@jackbass9673]

We do have log perch here and their similiar to a gobie. They hop along the bottom and they are mostly brown and thedes a ton of them in the tailrace below wilson dam.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Ive used it a bunch but do not catch them as good as i would expect on it.

[@x--LeethaL--x]

Man i love sweet n spicy jerkey. I buy 2 or 3 bags a week!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Awesome!

[@blackhillsbassing6167]

Cool tip

[@johndeluca1614]

Thanks for another great tip! What color(s) do you recommend for the swimbait to imitate gobies in Sturgeon Bay? Green pumpkin?

[@MattStefanFishing]

I like the smallmouth magic on sturgeon bay.

[@johndeluca1614]

@@MattStefanFishing Thanks Matt. I appreciate you taking the time to reply. Much appreciated!

[@kentyler966]

I live in Milwaukee Wisconsin, 10 minutes from Lake Michigan. Is there a time of the year that Smallmouths are close enough that you don’t have to run miles off shore to find fish?

[@MattStefanFishing]

Spring

[@peteremerson4777]

What's the best size/color swimbait to mimic a goby on a wobble head on Champlain?

[@MattStefanFishing]

I like 3.3 in goby color

[@teamlopezbassn7609]

Great tip bud. But I’d rather keep this tip to myself than share it. Appreciate the info bud.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Haha! Still got to find them before you can catch them

[@teamlopezbassn7609]

@@MattStefanFishing true story lol

[@toptoad7149]

Is that the ticket on round lake in Hayward

[@MattStefanFishing]

It definitely works! They also really like red colors out there

[@toptoad7149]

Thanks

[@TheDruxlol]

are you ever throwing this up shallow?

[@MattStefanFishing]

absolutely

[@itllkeal]

😊

[@bigmikefishingchonicles9950]

thank you for the tip