Nobody Will Tell You They Use These!

[@Miketown-s1z]

This video reminded me how old I am. I throw #3, #4, and #5 Mepps in-line spinners year round. My sons poke fun of me for using "boomer lures"😅, but I usually catch bigger fish than anybody on the lake, especially in spring and early summer. Thank you for another interesting video.

[@johncarr4107]

beetle spins

[@MattStefanFishing]

they work to

[@jesseburgess1637]

I'll put a 3-inch grub on them and especially in the springtime fish catching machine. All species from bass to crappie to trout to catfish once in awhile

[@jonzimmerman798]

Same exact thought!

[@akmac7559]

You are full of crap. Beetle spins are out dated, old fashioned, don't catch fish. Building your own out of top of the line components would be a waste of time and money... (end sarcasm). I'll add one more to this- Road Runner

[@jesseburgess1637]

@@akmac7559 I have found that z-man actually makes a really good heavy duty one. You get the single blade spinner on an armed with a really high quality hook jig head. I think they are a little spendy though like five dollars

[@seanodell5133]

Dude are you Kidding me, lol..... Not a Meps but a 1/4 oz white Rooster Tail lives on my deck all summer long. It catches everything especially schooling White bass and Hybrids..... Great video as always.

[@PistolPete3322]

River smallies eat em too

[@MattStefanFishing]

inline spinners are so good!

[@rwhanks]

Caught more fish on that than anything

[@billschroeder3005]

Glad to see you mentioned the inline Mepps spinners. I've got tons of fish on these through the years, and pretty much any species will eat them!

[@MattStefanFishing]

They're the best!

[@kenjohnston2426]

Way back in the 80’s we had a retired Doctor in our club and all he fished was a pre rigged worm with a very slow retrieve on the bottom no matter the water depth. He finished in the top 5 in almost every tournament year after year. We all made fun of Doc but he just laughed and collected his check.

[@kenjohnston2426]

Oh, and yeah, Uncle Josh’s pork trailers for jigs.

[@MattStefanFishing]

ive won a bunch on pre-rigs!

[@tomstenbeck8265]

One suggestion on that good old rapala floating minnow. Try carolina rigging the minnow so that it is diving and then floating back up about 2 1/2 to 3 feet from bottom with every slow stroke of the retrieve.

[@MattStefanFishing]

YES SIR!

[@itllkeal]

Thanks, Matt. How many people would admit to getting worn out by someone using a rebel crawdad.

[@MattStefanFishing]

haha not many

[@jeffreymurphy5313]

Rapala floating minnow, WOW, an oldie but a goodie. My Grandpa got me using these 50 years ago. I inherited his tackle box when he passed and since the Rapala floating minnow was his favorite, I now have these baits in every color and many different sizes. I haven't used them in years but as soon as the ice melts, I'm going to try them again. I have lots of great memories involving the this bait. Thanks for the reminder.

[@MattStefanFishing]

I've always loved that bait

[@jkoz470]

When the fishing is tough, I always go deep in the box for the never used lures. Jig head and Mr twister always gets me out of a jam.

[@MattStefanFishing]

That's a great go-to!

[@bassmedic]

One you did not mention was the beetle spin. i used to have some of those creme pre-rigged worms. those thing would catch the fish.

[@seancline8130]

beetle spin rocks! fish on dude!

[@MattStefanFishing]

beetle spin is great

[@michaelgraham7316]

The Rapala minnow is what I learned how to jerkbait on. I have used it as a topwater just letting it sit and giving it a twitch at times. I have several sizes and colors in the boat now

[@MattStefanFishing]

its a good one!

[@back-corner-turnings]

With the exception of the tiny spinner bait I’ve used all of these at one point or another. Two of them I still use on a regular basis. I have two old balsa wood Rapala jointed minnows that a throw quite frequently. And I don’t get on the water without a variety of Mepps in-line spinners. Besides a lot of bass, my PB northern pike was caught on a #5 Mepps Anglia with a gold blade and natural buck tail skirt.

[@jonorech]

You just went through my 1982 tackle box. And I still use many of them! Mepps rock, and you're right, NO ONE acknowledges them. I still have Lazy Ikes, Cicada blade baits, Dardevles, and beetle Spins. But the one a break out that gets eye rolls is a Jitterbug. Black one. Still great.

[@MattStefanFishing]

still catching fish now!

[@brkyq]

Jig n pig has never been better. Caught the fire out of them in the 80’s and still hammering them today. BIG fish can’t resist.

[@kongdavis9487]

I always have a Rapala countdown minnow on a rod. Start with it 50% of the time. Covers a lot of water and depths.

[@MattStefanFishing]

they work great

[@formerIWUcoachDDD]

Went to one of my best ponds last summer, and didn't get a hit on my green pumpkin chatterbait, my blue/black swim jig, or my frog, which are typically my three most production lures at that location. Caught 6 bass from 2-4 lbs. on a small white Mepps spinner, and they wouldn't hit any other lure....

[@pondparadisedesignsinc.rob5313]

Yes the Mepps 👍I use the #4 and #5. I changed the hook from the treble to an offset hook and put a trailer.

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome!

[@edwardwicht5271]

The jointed Rapala was my favorite crankbait growing up.

[@MattStefanFishing]

i love them!

[@stevesmith7164]

Good video Matt 🤛, the old jitterbug , hula poppers, and torpedoes 😊

[@MattStefanFishing]

They work great!

[@striperswiper1]

Beatle spins! When I was 16 a poured jigs, at the time I had 1 mold. It was a 45 degree walking head. My friend poured Beatles spin bodies. We put the 2 together and caught smallmouth like crazy. It was 1980 and the ned rig and finesse fishing had nothing on us!

[@MattStefanFishing]

i do love beetle spins

[@DanielBoone337]

I can still remember watching Roland Martin throwing a weedless spoon with a pork chunk on the back of it catching giants while he was wade fishing one of the marshes in Florida... I was just a kid when that sbow aired but he's the reason I went out and bought some of those spoons and chunks to fish some of our marshes here in Louisiana and crushed on them. Water temps like they are now here in SW Louisiana/E Texas area is really the only time I use those pork chunks but I was flipping a jig on Toledo Bend with a pork chunck this last weekend. Great video as always keepem coming brother!!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

very cool!

[@Marcus-justice]

I modified the Bushwacker spinnerbait into a mini A-rig. I replaced the small Colorado blades with two larger willow-leaf blades on this hinged spinnerbait. Found three of them in a 40 year old tackle box at a yard sale. One was still on the cardboard original package.

[@DennisMorgan-ls8sc]

My favorite was the Johnson Silver Minnow spoon. Still a killer.

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep

[@samuelschult985]

I have several of the Rapala minnows in both styles jointed and straight and in several colors 👍

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome!

[@jesseburgess1637]

What about that rapala jointed crankbait. That is money on your Northern smallmouth lakes!

[@jwm2588]

I use the Rapala floating minnow, husky jerk, and x-raps a lot when fishing in rivers and at the local spillway. They catch a ton of fish year around. I caught around a 6lb largemouth this year, my personal best, on the F-5 vampire (always get them at Walmart). I've caught some really nice walleye with all three. They just catch anything and everything.

[@Stanley-p4k]

I have to agree with a couple of the other guys on here. The beetlespin is a great lure that the fish just don’t see anymore. It’s a great secret weapon when other lures just won’t even get a look. Another great little spinnerbait I use is the old H&H Spinnerbait. I like the white/black and yellow/black skirt combinations. The skirts are rubber and I remove them and put them on backwards to make the skirt billow out more. The beetlespin and H&H spinnerbait always has a small reserved spot in my tackle box.

[@MattStefanFishing]

some good ones right there!

[@davidbrown-55]

That rocket shad in white 1/4 is legit boss here in the three rivers,Pa. Ask Matt about it.

[@simplecircuit]

haha! I love the Rocket Shad. I bought a few of them back when they came out in the late 90s and throw them still from time to time. Totally works. Inlines work great too! Nothing like a rooster tail to just catch fish.

[@MattStefanFishing]

agreed

[@Scott-n5j]

Rocket shad, Rapala and Mepps are fish catching machines. I personally catch a ton of smallies on a Heddon torpedo

[@MattStefanFishing]

i love the torpedo as well

[@moe5809]

I've been fishing a 4 inch black Mister Twister since the 80's and it still crushes fish.

[@MattStefanFishing]

yes it does

[@gregorydoerfler7681]

I still use the IkCon prerigged worms and the small raps. Shad raps still work well 35 years later.

[@MattStefanFishing]

me too!

[@brandonhavis8526]

It fits in with the meps inlines but ya gotta keep a couple Hildebrandt Snagless Sally’s around. I grew up throwing them.

[@MattStefanFishing]

love the snagless sally, but try the picasso weedless inlines! so good!

[@brandonhavis8526]

@ will do, I’m gonna go find them and order me a couple right now. Thanks!

[@zacharyhubbard9200]

I keep an ultralight spinning setup in the boat. When the bass aren't cooperating, i pull it out with a strike king itsy pond crankbait. Guaranteed to catch something. Beats getting skunked.

[@MattStefanFishing]

i like that idea

[@jesseburgess1637]

Those little tiny compact spinnerbaits too. Like the quarter ounce of ones. Pretty much have to throw those on spinning tackle too

[@lwilliams55]

Who among us hasn’t used the crème 6” prerigged strait worm with the spinner in the front?

[@MattStefanFishing]

i have not but i know a bunch have!

[@lwilliams55]

Creme invented the Creme pre-rigged worm bait in 1949. Creme was a machinist in Akron, Ohio who was tired of digging for earthworms as bait. He experimented with different materials to create a fake worm and eventually settled on plastic.

[@mikebowen71]

Matt, I think you are just the right guy to teach the POWER of a floating minnow bait. I'm old school & have been throwing them before you were born. I use different baits for finesse & aggressive action. How I rate them from finesse to aggressive: Rapala Minnow #13, Bagley Bang-O 5", Rogue floater shallow 4-1/2" & Bomber Long A 4-1/2". I think you should do a on the water video on these. I know your are busy do not reply.

[@mattfleming86]

I have caught so many fish on the rapala and the long A over the years. Initially with the long A's we were slow rolling them at night, but eventually thew them in all conditions. Wake, subsurface, day and night, multi season. It is especially good on Alewife lakes!

[@MattStefanFishing]

ill do an on the water as soon as the 12 inches of ice melts...come on spring

[@donpanico7708]

I still throw the Mepps in-line spinner#5. Bass love them

[@MattStefanFishing]

its a winner

[@stevekeen7035]

Im 46, been tournament fishing for 38 years and I still use the rapala or AC shiner and also use pork every year in the prespawn. They still catch fish

[@Garminrules]

Never seen an 8 year old in a tournament anywhere...Im 68 been tournament fishing for 46 years.

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Hanks first tournament with me was when he was two...Hes probably fished 50 of them with me and hes only 8 now

[@erichildreth7562]

Mepps spinners are great! I do make my own version and they are all silver and I use solid metal beads and bodies and of course the french blade. I think that you would like these as to what I build, if you want some Matt please let me know.

[@chaddrumm6809]

Mann’s augertail worm! 👍🏻

[@MattStefanFishing]

good one!

[@MrJohnB-qs6dp]

Great video!!! I bought a few of the Rocket Shad last year after hearing someone say they were a good bait to use. Now hearing how you said to use them was not the way I was using them. Will tie them back on & give it another try. Also have some of the old Floating Rapala's. Stay Safe & God Bless!!! 🤠👍

[@normanwiggins1320]

Go to your favorite river where smallies and walleye live just before dusk. Tie on a jointed black jitterbug. Throw it above and below the rapids youll have fun for a few hours oh it also catches rock bass

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome!

[@JamesBondDZero7Mi6]

I never go out fishing without a curly-tailed grub, especially a white one. It only gets better on an underspin jig. Inline spinners are also with me 100% of the time.

[@MattStefanFishing]

they still work great!

[@ThumperSpinnerbaits]

A Johnson Silver Minnow spoon with a white Uncle Josh bass Strip. Absolutely killer in the grass.

[@MattStefanFishing]

yes it is!

[@mikegardiner3934]

old school rapalas and panther martin spinners….fav baits growing up. ❤👍

[@MattStefanFishing]

work great!

[@kyranbenko2485]

Love the rocket shad in Penticton, BC, Canada for smallmouth🤙🏾

[@perrycook711]

Still love the jitter bug

[@MattStefanFishing]

me too!

[@machoman5928]

Do a video on the pre-rig worms please

[@christopherascherl2411]

I can honestly say I never throw the Rapala jointed minnow in gold flourescent red (believe that is what Matt is holding up in his left hand) because my wife will be throwing it before I get a chance.

[@elcoach8931]

Handmade gliders and Berkley Jack, (ps rapala minnow jointed is still hot, easy to fish when tired and king of the shallows, ollllld school and top in the box}. Do like this off beat lure sessions, as there is pork frogs to discover for me!

[@MattStefanFishing]

pork frogs are so good

[@Marvld1]

I wish I could have some old Pork-O. Or Jig and eel. Again.. Best winter time baits ever. HEADON CRAZY CLAWER ,I get so. funny looks for that one.

[@MattStefanFishing]

solid choices

[@mikest4786]

Caught my PB largemouth on jig ang pig on Norris in March 73, only fish I caught all day. 7'4"😅

[@itllkeal]

Thanks for the reminder. I picked some of those old Uncle Josh pork from a 80 year old friend of mine, and they're some of those lizard pork trailers in the lot. I'll have to try them now.

[@itllkeal]

@mikest4786 I caught a 40-inch flathead on a hairjig and a glass jar metal lid Uncle Josh pork frog. I have a good assortment of colors of the old school pork trailers. They work.

[@stevesteve4350]

I thought you were going to pull out a grub. I sand down the bill on the Rapala but it's super touchy to do. Hot steel is the best color.

[@MattStefanFishing]

grubs are still great!

[@DennisMorgan-ls8sc]

What happened to the shyster in line spinner. Great lure but hooks were too small.

[@MattStefanFishing]

No clue

[@johnclinton9257]

Single tail grubs from one inch Mister Twisters to five inch Yamamoto grubs!

[@MattStefanFishing]

good ones!

[@joelelias2556]

I’ve never seen blades rust as fast as the ones on the Rocket Shad

[@MattStefanFishing]

really?

[@chrishall745]

Used a prerigged worm called the fish finder i think. It was a short french fry type worm with two small hooks . That thing would flat catch em. Had that dead fall action like a sinko. Think they came in a two pack. May have been a local to South Carolina thing... How about the manns jelly worm , purple with a fire tail was a killer back in the day.....

[@MattStefanFishing]

ill check it out if i can find it

[@WolverineXXXX]

Souther Pro is an absolute beast not just for crappie as it is intended for. They listen to inputs. They've alway kept their prices low and fair. They got my money. However, the elite casters know Kastmasters. They don't call it Kastmaster for no reason. Big Daddy's no joke too. Roosters rock in the right color. There are ocean rigs that will destroy any freshwater fishery.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing

[@caseysaunders2137]

I didn't know the name but have several rocket shads in my box. Used em for years on schooling white bass mainly.

[@MattStefanFishing]

they work!

[@ESOX2]

My favorite pre-rigged worms are from Wisey Worms. A good Wisconsin company.

[@MattStefanFishing]

nice!

[@warrencountybassnj9459]

How about the VMC gliding jig? Seems perfect for the scopers.

[@MattStefanFishing]

ill check it out

[@JeffreyStovall-m9o]

Still throw a inline spinner. Catch lots smallmouth on them.

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep!

[@RickyCarter-ro8fr]

Straight up correct and love the video !!!!!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks!

[@valentinloghin4004]

If you have a chance you have to try Rapala Crash City .

[@jesseburgess1637]

Panther martins for smallmouth don't be giving away all the secrets

[@MattStefanFishing]

so good!

[@Mjones8383]

Some of them probably work great on the northern fish, but our southern bass get hammered on year round and just don't bite them that good. Ponds and creeks they will though

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing

[@BòbSackreiter]

Yes I have all but the prerigged worm and they do catch fish

[@MattStefanFishing]

yes they do

[@raiderbass]

Bubble gum or a type of pink always seem to work good video. 👍👍

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks!

[@davidkaufman7979]

Beetle Spin and spoons 👍🏽

[@BenHolliday1]

Roostertails. I have a box just for them.

[@MattStefanFishing]

me too

[@davidboyd7909]

they were the first artificial lure my brother and i tied on. Caught tons of bluegill and bass

[@verngehlbach6897]

Rebel crawdad

[@MattStefanFishing]

haha i almost added it in to the video

[@flynnsjflynn]

I thought Uncle Josh was dead. Where can I get those?! They were a staple when I was a kid learning to fish in Missouri. I think they will work in Michigan today.

[@mattfleming86]

They fired back up but i've heard new production is nowhere near the quality of the old ones. I've yet to try them

[@MattStefanFishing]

link is in the video description

[@johnm2617]

HA HA MATT JUST BUSTED US ALL !🚔👀 😅😅😅

[@MattStefanFishing]

haha yep

[@mikeeller557]

Thanks Matt

[@MattStefanFishing]

agreed

[@Bassattitude1234]

We call it the old man rig AKA the float and fly. Flat out a money maker if you know what to do with it.

[@MattStefanFishing]

try a float n minnow!

[@karolbeachy5277]

The Stutzie worm made b 2:00 y an Amish guy in nappanee Indiana ,my son buys them by the dozen!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

ill check it out

[@oldschoolfishing4194]

Thanks! You probably don't have time but a great vid would be what you'll have rigged up for Rayburn.

[@MattStefanFishing]

im planning on doing it

[@danielhedrick9917]

How do u fish the rapalas... like a jerkbait or just straight retrieve

[@MattStefanFishing]

little bit of everything

[@mattfleming86]

If you are just getting started, use it during topwater periods. Pull and let it wiggle a little then float back to the surface. Pause, repeat.

[@mikebowen71]

I work it both ways (#13 floater). Calm water: cast let rings on water disappear, slight twitch of rod, let set a few seconds, then repeat. After a few times make new cast. I like the jerk method best: Make short sharp jerks then pause. Pre spawn LM like it. I like black-silver & chart-silver colors. Hope this helps.

[@ReelAZMatt]

What about a hula popper? lol!

[@MaggiGray]

Make and use inline spinners with great success. If I could only have 1 lure fir the rest of y life it wouldf be a #2 iine.

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome

[@jesseburgess1637]

Hey don't be talking about that rocket Chad

[@MattStefanFishing]

sorry

[@patricklambert5622]

Touchdown worms!

[@MattStefanFishing]

ive got some!

[@sapper3082]

Zoom speed worm in june bug

[@MattStefanFishing]

good one

[@brianparmenter3583]

I see every channel saying go old school.

[@MattStefanFishing]

i love old school

[@harryaterui2474]

Teeny Torpedo

[@MattStefanFishing]

good one!

[@williamknight5142]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing!

[@Southpawreb]

My aching bots.

[@MattStefanFishing]

haha

[@matthewhallman4358]

Lol lard folk I love these comments!!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

haha

[@matthewhallman4358]

@ ehhhh congratulations on the core tackle wackle ;) or maybe whackle

[@waynewilcox3108]

I never used any of these baits, I’m a jitter bug guy… you guys are missing out…

[@tomsmith9212]

Ned rig everyone thinks there to macho caught a 6 lbs spotted bass on old uncle ned and let me tell you it’s spotted bass candy

[@MattStefanFishing]

agreed

[@Strat642001]

So glad you mentioned the original Rapalas!! Ive seen quite a few guys throwing Jitterbugs and Hula Poppers again. Both on the Susquehanna and on the Finger Lakes.

[@MattStefanFishing]

they work

[@Strat642001]

Sure do!

[@tripleh8979]

Do you represent point or park ridge il. You're mlf bio is confusing.

[@MattStefanFishing]

haha stevens point for the past 15 years

[@Tom3013]

Can you just stop? Those are all lures I use all the time. Giving away my secrets!!!! Next you will be giving away my wacky rigged drop shot 4" senko!

[@craigbaugher3230]

1: KVD LOVES his jerkbaits. 2. A pork trailer is ABSOLUTELY killer because of how slow they fall on a light jig. 3: I too love in-line spinners 4: one of my favorite lure is my Special Rattle lipless. I have some with lead bbs, some with copper bbs, some with stainless steel bbs. Some with plastic BBs. And if you are a Smallie guy like me you figure out the rattle of the day and a 20lb plus bag is not out of the question. 5: for me, is one of my 5” stick bait early in white, chrome, the morning or dusk.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing!

[@friskthewaffle7672]

My secret color that i love to use here in Florida.... the yabby mudbug color. The bass love it on the 5 inch super fluke!! Also, another secret bait i always have with me.... the manns -1 in chrome/black back!

[@MattStefanFishing]

ill check it out

[@DavidBalll-md8np]

This video was made for no reason other than to insert a 3 minute commercial in a 9 minute video.

[@MattStefanFishing]

hahahahaha

[@DavidBalll-md8np]

@MattStefanFishing I know, I'm right huh?

[@FiciousCritik]

Heddon Torpedo frog pattern. Cheap and gets bit. shtty hooks.

[@MattStefanFishing]

hooks do need to be replaced