Swimbaits and Underspins - All The Info (Winter Fishing)

Underspins and Finesse Swimbaits are both proven baits in Winter. Their fish catching ability is beyond question... but how do you know which one to throw? What makes a finesse swimbait get more bites one day and an underspin work so much better the next? Do you know when to use each style to consistently catch cold water bass?
Swimbaits do an amazing job of imitating baitfish. Their natural presentation lures bites from cold water and warm water bass alike. When nothing else seems to be working, the swimbait can still get bit. However, its effectiveness is reliant on visibility. Understanding when its time to switch size, color, or abandon it in favor of the underspin is the trick.
Underspins get their effectiveness from the flash and vibration the blade provides. Its that extra element that helps fish locate the bait in off colored water. It also helps them locate your lure amongst natural baitfish. However, it has its drawbacks. As water color changes its effectiveness can stop in the blink of an eye. Again, the key is knowing when to switch.
Below is a breakdown of the baits and heads Matt discussed in the video. He included 3 sizes of swimbait head and 3 sizes of underspin as well as a variety of swimbaits. We hope you take the information in this video and fish with confidence the next time you're on the water!
Swimbait Heads...
-Matt Allen Swimbait Head 1/2 oz: bit.ly/29RrTYN
-TacticalBassin Finesse Swimbait Head 3/8 oz: bit.ly/2Pqrq3n
-Dirty Jigs Guppy Head 1/8 oz: bit.ly/2nyUJRS
Underspins...
-Blade Runner Spintrix Head 1/2 oz: bit.ly/29UVegz
-Hog Farmer War Pig 3/8 oz: bit.ly/2pcQnRP
-Cool Baits Down Under 3/16 oz: bit.ly/2boS7QA
Swim Jigs...
-California Swim Jig 1/2 oz: bit.ly/2auXfmx
Swimbaits...
-Keitech Fat Swing Impact: bit.ly/2ab7s8v
-River2Sea D Walker: bit.ly/2NwqBmz
-XZone Lures Swammer: bit.ly/2PogV0q
-Jackall Rhythm Wave: bit.ly/2m78LM9
Great Finesse Swimbait Combo...
Rod- Shimano Expride 6'10" Medium: bit.ly/2nTq9FL
Reel- Aldebaran 50 MGL HG: bit.ly/2uQ4oH8
Line- Sunline Assassin 10 lb Fluorocarbon: bit.ly/2h4LNjm
Budget All-Around Swimbait Combo...
Rod- Shimano Intenza 7'2" Medium Heavy: bit.ly/2QADLTq
Reel- Shimano SLX 150 XT HG: bit.ly/2BRTYL8
Line- 40 lb Power Pro Maxcuatro Braid: bit.ly/2clBRiQ
Leader- 12 lb Maxima Ultragreen: bit.ly/2ae97J9
_________________________________________________________________
What we wear...
Sun Mask: bit.ly/2JcA8xi
Sun Shirt w/ Hood: bit.ly/2vgTOst
Light Fishing Pants: bit.ly/2foDx10
Reaper Hoodie (Hoodie with Warm Face Cover built in): bit.ly/2yRURSd
Horizon Sweater (Water resistant, great for layering): bit.ly/2gTC1oB
_________________________________________________________________
Equipment We Recommend...
Minn Kota Ultrex Trolling Motor: bit.ly/2vFQypW
Humminbird Solix 15 Electronics: bit.ly/2Hazsej
Minn Kota Talons: bit.ly/2F0QBSP
Hot Foot Throttle Control: bit.ly/2ob4kgO
Loc-R-Bar Boat Security: bit.ly/2CMF1NP
Favorite Storage Box: bit.ly/2fvjcFB
Favorite Pliers: bit.ly/2tfxFvw
Favorite Split Ring Pliers: bit.ly/2fT4Qw0
Favorite Wire Cutters: bit.ly/2soB34k
Favorite life jacket: bit.ly/2odXXIP
Favorite sunglasses: bit.ly/2glE3eN
Hero8 Camera: bit.ly/37hVTX4
ElectroSamson Scale: bit.ly/2f7QgQ9
Frabill Net: bit.ly/2FNdnQr
Lure Retriever: bit.ly/2TLTJc6
________________________________________________________________
If you plan to do any shopping, using our links before doing your shopping at Tackle Warehouse is the single greatest way to support us! You won't be able to even see a difference but they'll know you're one of us!

[@KeanuRevan]

When you've only fished a handful in your life but want to get into it because nobody ever truly showed you...you come here, thanks for doing what you do, you've sparked my interest in fishing!

[@wesharris6982]

True this is a great channel

[@wsonphan80]

This channel is gold! Just follow the tips that Matt and Tim give you and you’ll be catching fish! And giants too!

[@gpb29]

Welcome to the party! Get ready to empty your wallet...just sayin'.

[@HBeretta]

The encyclopedia of bass fishing on youtube.

[@markbuckallew4689]

I'd give almost anything to have Tim or Matt standing behind me, telling me what to do and why? After 40+ years of bassin'.... I still can't put two and two together and come up with a "pattern or a solution" to catch more fish when I'm on the water! Still just an old "bank banger"..... Thanks for all of your hard work and dedication to helping me (and many others) learn how to "look at" different situations, how/what you see, interpret the data and then what to start with, why and constantly tweak your pattern....... I could go on for hours...

[@FishingwithSteveD]

Mark if I can help just let me know as we have some awesome new lures releasing soon that will help you catch more fish. If you have any question ask away?

[@markbuckallew4689]

@@FishingwithSteveD and Wow....thank you very much Steve....that's very nice of you. The bass fishing community is still filled with great people!

[@charlessanders4586]

Hey man I'm a bank banger too, and u can still put together a pattern, all you have to do is think, how, why, when where.

[@markbuckallew4689]

@@charlessanders4586 I got lost when you said " think "!! LMAO.

[@markbuckallew4689]

@@charlessanders4586 I wanted to apologise to you for my sarcastic sense of humor. I meant no disrespect.....trying to be funny at the wrong time. You're right of course, I can put some small patterns together, like okay, shade & rock....they seem to like it hopped, not slow dragging, etcetera. I don't know what to start with or where to start fishing - I came up fishing worms & jigs, so I pretty much just start with that? Thanks for taking the time to give me some encouragement.

[@beardedbassprojekt6639]

Keeping in mind that I live in eastern Canada (Qc), I'm iced in for a while. What many fail to understand about me watching all this ''winter fishing'' information is that I can and do apply it to my late fall and early spring fishing. The winter patterns are a gold mine to me and I'll stand by it and have the results to prove it. Thanks for giving all those infos and making my winter less a mess than it is. Tight lines guys!

[@sherrywilliams808]

I would go stir crazy up there i hate the cold weather i feel for you bro

[@chaz1387]

I live in NorCal and your tips work great!!! I’m only 13 and I know more than the ones that taught me how to fish. In fact I can out fish them. And it’s all because of you guys. Thank you guys!!

[@AlexPerez-ps5jy]

Haha same I know more than my brother who I look up to in fishing😂 I’m from southern Cali tho so we’re like neighbors

[@zekereed5990]

As soon as the ice melts...LOL. winter in eastern Nevada sucks. Thanks again gentlemen for learning me. Enjoy your coffee.

[@jamesf1525]

These comments speak for themselves, from across the USA. Matt and Tim not only know the what, how, why, where and when, but can communicate that information very well to anglers of all ages and levels. Since I'm still trying to unravel the mystery of the spotted bass here in GA, any tips are welcome and nearly every video adds a bit more to my information base. Many thanks for passing on your experience and knowledge to those of us who love the sport and want to improve their skills.

[@timothyherr9658]

The only time I'm glad I stayed up until 3am! The only time insomnia had a use! Awesome videos!

[@mrtilley66]

TacticalBassin and Fish the moment only 2 youtube channels you need for bass fishing.

[@markgiardina8648]

Two best

[@chrismorgan8101]

Just wanted to say I am so thankful for you guys getting mega bass baits in at fish tales in Cleveland.

[@erniesanders3724]

As usual another great video from the best bass fishermen on the internet. Tactical Rocks. God Bless from Western Kentucky.

[@hayabusaspeedify]

Another great video. Nothing else like it on KZbin. You guys are so down to earth. I can't stand the paid for spokespersons that try to act like real people on KZbin trying to push their products. About as natural as Elizabeth Warren drinking a beer. Now you guys are real down to earth people I could enjoy a beer with..... Keep up the phenomenal videos. And everyone else watching please remember to smash the like button like setting the hook on a big bass...

[@springermike9846]

Besides myself on all the great info I get from you guys. Always appreciate your knowledge that you pass to us. Thank you

[@stevevoelker2733]

Excellent detail. Thanks Matt.

[@geomardomingo1672]

Really giving off that Squirrely Dan look in this video.

[@vincentcarrube4494]

Great video! Made it very clear how and when to use either bait. Thanks a lot Matt!

[@stevencaldwell838]

Great video... loving the beard Matt! 🏄🏼‍♂️🎣

[@opinionatedviewer7730]

Even here in metro Detroit michigan your tips do help out, thank you Matt for doing what you doing what you do! 👊

[@johnsuarez4412]

I’ve been waiting for a video like this, thanks for the explanation on these baits! Always a of these videos !

[@lstaples007]

👍 Matt Allen as always quality descriptive breakdown of what where when and why. Thx sir!

[@gpb29]

I love that Expride/Curado DC combo you've got there, Matt. My Expride came this week and now sports a DC as well. Life is good!!

[@johnparrish5681]

I’ve been avoiding underspins for a while now, but now that I’m resting due to my cancer procedure, I’m gonna have to really give it a go

[@cloakoffeathers7217]

This channel is why I love keitechs.

[@lucasteneyck8577]

Keitechs are why I love keitechs

[@rodneygreen9968]

Thanks Bro. Listening to you will help me to be a better cold water fisherman. I usually struggle to catch Bass in the Winter & Summer. I don't prefer to key in on the Spawning Fish. I want them to go ahead & spawn for the Future brood. Thanks Again for sharing your experience & videos.

[@tommcmurtry1206]

Thank you Matt, great tip's. See you on the water if you come to Oregon.

[@kenmccarthyfishing]

Awesome job Matt 👍👍

[@WaterandIceOutdoors]

This and finesse swimbaits are a goal of mine for this season.....Nice video!

[@jamesmeyer7034]

All your stuff is great, but I really needed this break down. THANKS

[@jakubzienkiewicz676]

Awesome technique. Just got into it these last 2 years. Always have them tied off. Been on the ice since mid November and no open water until April so it’ll be a minute before I toss them around again.

[@xyoojlegend]

Thanks for the confidence builder. I needed it.

[@PHFishingBiking]

😁👍I recently tried these with your Jigheads and they worked and the water I am fishing in is just on the verge of the surface freezing over.

[@EloyQ84]

Wow great information in the first 3 mintues!

[@davidsandoval2846]

Thanks again Matt and tim for your videos I would like to see you do a video about what to do on the lake how to establish a pattern on a given day because the fish move all the time one week I catch them in one place and next week there gone is a fish finder a must for beginners thank you

[@ATOUTDOORS]

KILLER BREAK DOWN, MY SWIM BAIT GAME IS WELL,REALLY DON'T HAVE ONE LOL. BUT THIS YEAR, I'M REALLY GONNA TRY AND START GETTING OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE AND USE SOME DIFFERENT THINGS. AGAIN HERE IN SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA, YOU CAN KINDA BE STUBBORN AND THROW THE OL RELIABLES AND CATCH FISH, BUT JUST SOMEBODY THROWING BIGGER SWIM BAITS FROM LIKE 6 INCHES AND UP,IS SOMETHING YA DON'T SEE HARDLY EVER, UNLESS SOMEONE IS MUSKY FISHING. BEST HOW TO CHANNEL OR REVIEW, FISHING, ETC,I KNOW OF. 👊👍✌

[@Fishingchanneltv]

great info

[@BudjetBassin]

Great information like always!Cant wait to get out on the water!

[@diychad7268]

looks like youve been eating GOOD here lately!!!!

[@rowdybroomstick1216]

I learned once from these videos that you shouldn't fish memories you should fish the conditions and the more I fish with a buddy that constantly reminds that the wind picked up the wind changed direction , the sun is gone , the sun came out, this water is dingy , this water is clearer, this water is warmer than that last spot and so on and so on, you start to realize that you pick up on those differences and adjust for it and that's when notice your consistently catching more fish. Something that seems so simple has taken me year's to remember to do.

[@generosen999]

Thanks for the info much needed

[@jordanspalding6446]

Awesome info!

[@dagarhart]

Another great video! Thx!

[@GeorgiaBassmaster]

Thanks for the video guys! Hopefully 2020 will be the year I can beat my PB of 11 pounds. With your guys advice I might just do it.

[@BudjetBassin]

Georgia Bassmasters,yeah the goal is 12lbs or bigger this year!Lets see if we can do it bro!I just caught a 6 pounder on Sunday on a 6 inch magdraft freestyle.Cant wait to get this video out there!

[@GeorgiaBassmaster]

@@BudjetBassinSounds like you started the year off right! I'll be looking forward to the video man, Usually around feb-march is when I get my biggest.

[@BudjetBassin]

Yeah my 10.10 came in February.I told myself that day that I’m not going fishing slow on the bottom.I wanted to see if there was any fish feeding up for the pre spawn so I started covering those flats where they stage up at usually.I was slow rolling that Magdraft through vegetation in about 10 to 15 ft and she came out and slammed it so hard!!!I needed that fish after a tough 2 months of catching dinks!

[@jefbrewer]

Another great video, bro!

[@TheWaterHopper]

Underspins became one of my best friends in 2019 with clear cold water. Straight killers with a keitech on the back

[@livinglife3230]

The WaterHopper what’s your fav size/color?

[@TheWaterHopper]

@@livinglife3230 3/8oz with a silver blade. Paired with a 3.8 fat swinging keitech in any translucent or white color. Or blue flakes

[@a_j_ramirez]

Appreciate all you guys do. Has helped me so much pushing my self to be a better angler. Helped me catch my PB! Any thoughts on the googan baits? I’m sure you guys may have gotten this question already. Some of of the stuff looks solid.

[@JoeWall157]

Hey TacticalBassin I got some of those mini underspins with 3.8 keitech for smallie fishing the small rivers in my area

[@buckeyestatefishing3604]

THANK YOU!! You guys convinced me to pick up a MegaBass Dark Sleeper and it's been killer!

[@dunnellsinthewild8290]

Nice!!

[@marcuspiera]

Rock that beard bro!!!

[@waynelagarde7956]

All I have to say is 2020 Shimano Mentanium mgl. Cant wait to get my paws on a few of them.

[@livinglife3230]

Wayne Lagarde me 2. One definitely going on my poison Adrena

[@smartOGstyle]

Great video but have you guys ever fished in Washington in the winter? It’s been pretty tough for me just curious if you have any tips in certain states for winter.

[@greenpighunter6930]

Nice

[@blakebell6720]

You guys really should give the mega bass spark Shad in 4in and 5in a real try almost exclusively what I fish also the Gary Yamamoto Swimbait tails on underspins

[@MrCrybaby95]

I’m wondering what will happen first. Either Matt will wear shorts or tactical basin will hit the hard water

[@bassinbilliards6279]

Best way driving to work.

[@live2fishofficial]

Thanks for another informative video. I’m just curious as to the reason why the underspins wouldn’t be good for clear water. Is the action of the blades too aggressive for the fish?

[@r.barefoot8386]

My understanding is that they can be good in clear water, they’re just trying to give us a starting point. There are always exceptions, but these videos have really helped me to get a start if nothing else and go from there to try to figure out a pattern.

[@funkymojo111]

@ 4:17 It's easier to see the hook size comparisons against the blue sky.

[@tonytwoshoes14]

What kind of swimbait/swim jig would you guys recommend for a lake with no shad but a lot of rainbow trout and a good population of bluegill and small perch?

[@bassjunkie4881]

Been killing it with jerk baits

[@scottmaudlin7354]

I use a lot of the strike King rage swimmer swim baits. Just wondering what you guys think about them vs the kietech

[@jell-oputin8036]

Grizzled Matt 🧔🏻

[@grhodes3536]

Getting a lot of snags dragging on the bottom slow. It works but losing a lot of gear. Do you guys have a weedless option for the MA heads?

[@upstateangler9575]

So I fishing upstate New York and I'm starting to notice more and more perch as being a viable food source for these fish. Yes we have alwives bluegill Sunfish but what would you use for a good perch imitator?

[@duanetheimer7215]

Dye the tails for murky water. Scent is as important as vibration and flash.

[@backwoodzbassin44]

Matt I'm in middle Ga the water is 56 degrees and the fish are not biting great I've caught them shallow on silent squarebills and deep on belly blades with 4 inch swims but it's like 1 fish per 4 hours any tips ? Plus lots of rain amd its choco milk right now

[@Cslayer121]

Love ya

[@garrettjohnson3458]

Best color opinions for muddy water for the swim jig?

[@mcaetano2000]

I tried underspins a couple times but no bites. A few days ago I fished an s-waver 168 like you say to fish it most times (4 to 6 reel handle turns, but slower than I do in warmer weather, and then twitch-twitch) and caught my first bass this year: a nice 3.38lb bass. I caught it on a wind blown bank. It's not the first bass I catch in winter on the s-waver. I love it for both winter and summer. Caught fish with a size near my PB in both seasons.

[@ryanwillis6194]

Marco Caetano did yu have 2 buy a special rod for the 168? What did yu throw it on?

[@JoeWall157]

Yes, what rod did you use? I have a stiff med heavy that could be considered heavy, so I’m wondering if that would work

[@AnimeNfish]

does the down under only come with one ? why so expensive for one underspin?

[@TXpondking]

today i broke my 7lb 3oz pb with a 7lb 12oz fish. first bass on an 8in hudd. fished it painfully slow. if it wasnt for you guys getting me addicted to swimbaits i probably would have never caught that fish

[@junebug7361]

4/0 tour blade spin jig head and 4.75 paddle tail swimmer is that a good match?

[@charleslindsay4308]

63 degrees in East Tn today, been warm winter so far. Fish don’t know what to do.

[@r.barefoot8386]

Been crazy here in north TX too. It gets tough when the temps are all over the board. On the upside, I’ve enjoyed getting in some topwater action in December and January lol

[@DeezlOutdoors]

My local lake has massive alewife herring. 30lb lake trout eat them up

[@CBALLZ666]

What size swimbait heads and/or hooks do you guys use for the 5.8/6.8/7.8 Keitechs??

[@nolanrides7480]

BASS SLAYIN' NOOB 86 1/2-3/4 oz Matt Allen head 6.8 and up is on the 3/4 oz head. He talked about side to side roll and head size and he mentioned this question in another video

[@jjhanson8205]

For the guppy heads in the 1/8oz size what size hook do you get? The 1/0 or 3/0?

[@tacticalbassin]

1/0 👍

[@jjhanson8205]

Awesome, thank you for the quick response!

[@mtgs_calcifer]

And then there is the swimbait hooks, Owner flashy just for example and all regular swimbait hooks you can screw in blades on the swimbait itself, and those are just as deadly

[@foreignbeggar3783]

i’ve been catching them on a 3/4oz dark sleeper and a small 3.25” rage swimmer on a swimbait head. but they just will not eat the under spin. I don’t know why, but they want absolutely nothing to do with it.

[@sherrywilliams808]

Do you have very clear water

[@mr.skeptical3071]

Tried underspin with a kietech today. They suck, blade hardly ever spins!

[@dylandegruise4099]

Like the beard going on; but trim it to when the beard is round not all messy. Fact: when I grow I beard it itches and my face breaks out!

[@dylandegruise4099]

Note: the messages are not to make fun of you it’s just a statement and fact.

[@johnseward8818]

I'm second

[@dylandegruise4099]

I think the beard looks ok but the young women want a clean shave not a beard that makes you look like the caveman from the Geico Commercials