Shell Bed Secrets That Catch Giant Bass!

[@heinrichkellogg7563]

🍺Thanks Matt. What I have been told over the years is that Mussels need plankton to survive. Plankton gets condensed/concentrated when current flow forces the plankton over humps/ridges/points. Especially in shallower water. Find a shallow point with current running over it and that’s a good place to start your search. Mussels clean the water which attracts numerous species, especially sculpin. Some mussels have a built in fish lure that they wiggle/flap outside their shell which attracts fish. When the fish get close the mussel releases matter that attaches to the fishes gills ( their host) it doesn’t harm the fish, and once the mussel is mature enough/ready it will release it self from the fish to start its life cycle. Check your line for damage often when fishing shell beds.🤠

[@MattStefanFishing]

all great points! thanks for sharing!

[@mikecollett8513]

Maybe a followup video could be focused on shell beds in rivers if you think there's enough to talk about? The only time I've found shell beds was when one clamped on my crank bait treble hooks. This is on my "I need improvement" list. Great timing.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Great suggestion!

[@joeturner1195]

Great job on shell beds, took your information on jerk baits that I did not do well on and put the wear on them last week I have more confidence in jerk baits now thanks

[@MattStefanFishing]

Great to hear!

[@joeturner1195]

Thanks

[@rvfishingyet]

Great aspect of your channel. Tips for all situations. I have yet to fish a shell bed, but your insights help make sense of em’

[@MattStefanFishing]

thank you for the continued support!

[@Kevin-ew2qb]

Watching from Poughkeepsie NY. Well done Matt!!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@LowBrowFishing]

Shell beds are one of those types of structure that I don't get to see a lot of in my area. We don't have much moving water in these lakes. But when I can find one, especially in the pre-spawn, those bass are holding up on them as they transition from deeper water back into the creek arms and pockets. I plan on using my electronics to see if I can start locating more and in what types of water they're in.

[@MattStefanFishing]

sounds good!

[@jasonrutherfordbassfishing]

Yessir, absolutely spot on! I try to look for the less obvious ones, they usually hold bigger fish!! Find shell beds with main lake docks on or near and oh boy hang onto your hat 💗💗💗 The three baits I’ve had phenomenal success with on shell beds are lipless, Ned rigs, and football heads! I’ll definitely give your bait selections a whirl for more weapons! Also oddly enough I’ve caught a few larger bass gut hooked that still had zoom baby brush hawgs on them 🤔

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing! shell beds can be amazing!

[@johnrayner5599]

Very ,very good tutorial on fishing these shell beds!!! I really need to take the time to fish these more aggressively and be more patient using these different baits that you have suggested!!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

you can do it!

[@BobbyBalsaRNM]

Awesome video! Locating them has always been tough for me. Going to use these tips. Thanks!

[@MattStefanFishing]

good luck!

[@kevinbeaudean704]

Thanks Matt. No experience with shell beds, but it was interesting. 5th place, sounds like Florida treats you well. I expect 4th or better at Okeechobee. Good luck!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Fingers crossed!

[@williamknight5142]

Right on Matt caught a 32 lb. 10 oz. bag off a shell bed best one I ever had also caught 4 mussells that day when those things clamp down it's hard to get your bait back😀😀👍👍🤏🤏🤏

[@MattStefanFishing]

if you are catching shells you know you are in the right spot!

[@randyanderson7010]

Great video! Keep teaching! And good luck this year in your tournaments.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks so much!

[@astrophysicistguy]

Shell beds are a hidden gold mine for sure. They can be quite difficult to identify on side scan and you need have your electronics dialed in and know how to read them. Swim baits, speed worms and traps are definitely the ticket

[@MattStefanFishing]

they are hard to find but the rewards can be great!

[@jjfig86]

Thank you for the information sir!

[@MattStefanFishing]

You bet!

[@mikeeller557]

Nice one Matt . Good luck

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks 👍

[@johnlantz7278]

With a increase of bio rate of living organisms is the attractiveness,fresh water clam beds can also draw baitfish etc,I find lots a crayfish on these spots .great talking point as to the underwater reaction to prevailing conditions .

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for sharing

[@douglasspickler4925]

Great information thanks for sharing

[@MattStefanFishing]

you bet!

[@joeyhelton7114]

Thank you sir. Another great video!

[@MattStefanFishing]

You are very welcome

[@maxcole3930]

I have never fished any shell beds, I haven't found any before either. I just recently got electronics so I could find them now. If my local lakes have them? Do the Savannah river chain lakes have shell beds? Clarks Hill, lake Russell, Hartwell? Or what about Murray or Santee Cooper?? I've only been down here year n half so I'm learning all these places... Magnum & 4" hit worms are fantastic baits!!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep shell beds are in most lakes

[@jasonclauss267]

As always Great vid Matt! For your shakey head setup on the Harris Chain, what size leader? What size hook for the hit worm? How many ounces on the head of hook? Lastly, spinning real or bait caster? Im high maintenance! Lol! I appreciate ya!

[@MattStefanFishing]

I used straight 15 lb fluorocarbon with a 1/4 oz head 4/0 hook on a baitcaster

[@jasonclauss267]

You're the best! Thank you kind sir!

[@craiggrubbs157]

Great video. One thing I'd like to know. Can muscles or shell beds move by themselves or does current move them where they need to be? Thanks

[@MattStefanFishing]

they can move on their own using their tongue.

[@clintperry799]

Great tips , thanks !

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks!

[@kevinmoore7710]

Redear sunfish eat small mussels, hence the nickname "shellcracker", and they probably kick up other organisms when feeding on them that attract other baitfish as well. Their presence may also attract the bass.

[@MattStefanFishing]

100% agree!

[@stevesteve4350]

I live in Kansas and shell beds are kinda untapped. I figured out what the returns look like on side scan. I like to plow a plug on the bottom. I mean plow that thing real up slack then 2 time fast and hard. If you're not grinding the bill off the plug your not doing it right. All time most fun bite!!!✌️😎

[@stevesteve4350]

Am I crazy because it works for me but nobody talks about that. Great show today!!!!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

great info thanks for sharing!

[@Eyesofthasouth]

Hey Matt, what all comes with the lake breakdowns?

[@MattStefanFishing]

40 waypoints with descriptions of each and the best patterns to fish them.

[@floridanature5692]

Dang they don't have Olive Shad in the 3XD. I can chuck a carolina rig out in 9 feet of water (200 yards off of outside grass line) down the west side of the lake and have it tick shells the whole way but, catching fish is random and rarely replicable. Any tips on locating groups in this large area? They school on this large shell bar pre-spawn and post-spawn and I can catch them easily on a lipless crank when they're doing that.

[@MattStefanFishing]

cover water until you find the school

[@brianpierson7708]

In the tidal waters like where I live in south Louisiana we fish the marsh and a Advocate color worm many in a 4”-6” is the best because the old timers who fished and had to catch everyday always said the oyster worms and and clam worms are that advocate color and the bass,specked trout, red fish, and flounder are drown to the beds because that is there favorite thing to eat and I never studied into because no matter what it will produce fish every day of the year you may have to find a deferent depth day to day but it will always put fish in the boat

[@MattStefanFishing]

Awesome! thanks for sharign!

[@jeffpennekamp]

What about river shell beds where should we look for them?

[@MattStefanFishing]

they will be in currented areas and harder bottoms

[@shannonkirby9295]

Hey, Matt. Fishing from the bank makes it very difficult to find them.

[@Surfer-727]

I hear you, sometimes we gat a rare low water level and that is our sonar.

[@MattStefanFishing]

fishing from the bank can be limiting in a lot of aspects

[@heinrichkellogg7563]

🍺”Todays is a good one”, when do we get “Todays is a average one”, or “ Todays is a bad one”.😂

[@FounderOf4]

Every day that you wake up breathing is a good one!

[@heinrichkellogg7563]

@@FounderOf4 🍺Great answer Mark🤛.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Haha! maybe ill mix in a bad one here and there

[@brady8257]

When he starts bashing livescope three times a week.

[@davidcrump2348]

Each day God gives me breath in my lungs is a good day!!!

[@stevencochran4274]

Only shell beds I know of around here r n the Ohio and we catch blue cat on them never tried smallies

[@MattStefanFishing]

most fish will use shell beds!

[@davidcrump2348]

Thank You, Jesus!!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for watching

[@krzysztofmyron1889]

Czesc Mat .masz u mnie +++++.i like see and .......pozdrawia kris. =

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for watching

[@davidcrump2348]

How about a going back to the basics video? Sometimes we try to be so sophisticated because of competition. But that takes the fun out of fishing when we fish tournaments or just fish with competitive people who we know are better than we are as fishermen. I want all sports and fishing and hunting to get back to the basics. Competition has made everything no fun. We need fun back in fishing, especially for new comers into fishing. Especially for kids who do it in school.

[@MattStefanFishing]

agreed! fishing is about fun!