These Soft Jerkbait Techniques Are Taking Over Bass Fishing!

Don’t miss out on these soft Jerkbait presentations. They are taking over bass fishing!
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LINKS TO BAITS DISCUSSED IN THIS VIDEO:
1) Core Tackle Hover Rig - www.tacklewarehouse.com/descp...
2) Jackall Rhythm Wag Soft Jerkbait - www.tacklewarehouse.com/Jacka...
3) Core Tackle TUSH - www.tacklewarehouse.com/Core_...
4) Berkley Powerbait Jerk Shad - www.tacklewarehouse.com/Berkl...
5) Keitech Shad Impact - www.tacklewarehouse.com/Keite...
6) Hog Farmer Spunk Shad - www.tacklewarehouse.com/Hog_F...
7) Strike King Caffeine Shad - www.tacklewarehouse.com/Strik...
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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.

[@comfortablynumb9342]

There's an old saltwater trout and snook trick you could try for bass with any of those baits. Tie on a 2 foot leader on the back of a popper and put a jig on the leader. The noise from the popper calls fish and they hit the soft plastic lots of times or they'll hit the popper itself. Your hover rig would be the perfect way to hook the trailing bait because it would stay horizontal. Jigs end up hanging funny and not very natural looking. I know it will work for salty places and I don't see why it wouldn't catch bass. With spots you might catch a fish on the popper and the soft plastic, it happens with trout and other aggressive fish. You could play with different topwater baits but I think poppers work because there's not much action to kill, they still go "bloop". People do the same thing with bobbers called popping corks in the saltwater a lot, but the corks get hit and they don't have hooks so I like the popper.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing!

[@bradleyrussell1973]

You could try that on a July, highly pressured lake for educated mid summer bass, but I’ll stick with the bass tactics. You chug a popper over a ball of shad right now, you will prob catch a small spot or maybe even two. But you will likely spook your shad after a few casts enough that they will stay sub surface.

[@johnlong2498]

Thanks buddy I enjoy your videos n tips good luck n have a Blessed Day 🇺🇸🙏

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks 👍

[@alejandrosantosjr3448]

Your videos are always very down to earth and informative. Great formula to have brother, thank you!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thabks!

[@user-vk5zf6id2q]

Matt, you should try the Big Bite Baits Jerk Minnow 5" on the hover rig 1/8oz. 3/0 hook. My best LM is 6lbs. to date. This bait has a great spiral & glide. They cast very well & are durable. Keep up the good work on the videos.

[@MattStefanFishing]

I'll check it out!

[@tdk3514]

Just love this channel he's that kind of teacher that explains every detail I really appreciate that great job as always

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks!

[@coleslaw1517]

I love to nose hook a stick bait. And do the triple pop and pause. It usually gets nailed on the fall. I feel most people don't look at fishing it like that. Works wonders because of being able to fish the whole water column

[@MattStefanFishing]

Sounds good

[@maxcole3930]

I like fishing them on weighted ewg hooks, like a belly weight swimbait hook. It's basically a weedless texas rig you can fish way faster & deeper. My 2 favorite's is zoom super flukes & caffeine shads

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for the tips!

[@mistertwister1816]

Good job as parents finding time to get those boys out. God bless.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks!

[@mikegardiner3934]

definitely agree, Matt! One technique that I used years ago, and it just started using again, is fluke Jr on a scrounger head.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing

[@robertmccorkle9656]

Hey Matt. I’ve been putting flukes and super flukes on chatterbaits for years. It still works just as good now as it did when I first tried it years ago.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good stuff

[@spencersmith6754]

We need core tackle decals!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

maybe soon!

[@kevindunn3883]

Congrats to Matt, Hank, and Duke on winning the Wednesday evening tournament! Mr. Stefan, if you ever want to know if you're reaching an audience, check out the availability of that Jackall Rhythm Wag Tail on TW. And the run started right after you and Jonny started video fishing them on the TUSH rig! Question, how often do you fish a "regular" drop shot vs. using that t-swivel you did the video on? Is current the primary factor?

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for th support! Current is the major factor

[@mikeeller557]

They for sure have their place . Thanks Matt

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep!

[@illecebris8709]

Great hover rig tutorial! Thanks for sharing Matt. Kind regards, Richie..

[@MattStefanFishing]

My pleasure!

[@basstex6703]

Thanks... Great content

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad you liked it!

[@chrisstewart6226]

I agree 100% I use all of those techniques and do produce a lot of fish big fish. Keep up the good work matt

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks!

[@robertbrost7777]

Matt, I put a Zoom Fluke on a 3/0 EWG Gama hook today and they killed it. Now, the conditions were right as a front was just about to pass through but, I definitely made the right choice! I Texas rig them weightlessly and, I go pretty far back into the bait with the hook point before bringing the point out and rotating. Going far back into the head makes the fluke sink horizontally and, I found that was what they wanted. Burying the hook point in only a little ways makes the fluke sink faster and with the nose down. With the water being shallow (3-6') I knew the horizontal presentation would be better. Cast it out, twitch the fluke maybe 2-3 times, let it sink, watch the line and hold on! They smashed it. The hit is just like with a hard jerkbait and, surprisingly, I didn't miss many. They really choked them! I'll have to give that drop shot presentation with a fluke a try! Good stuff.

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome!

[@CajunRobFishing]

Works well on a Carolina rig as well 👍

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep!

[@drock5404]

yamamoto shad shape worm. wish they'd make on around 4.25" with the OG Yama plastic though.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing!

[@bruceesterline3170]

I've been using the 3.5 inch lake fork swimming shad with my chatterbait for a while and it works like a charm also the Gary Yamamoto swimbait.i also use them on my swim jigs.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing!

[@douglasspickler4925]

Thanks for sharing your tips on the soft jerkbait.

[@MattStefanFishing]

You bet!

[@darrellgrant7615]

I like using flukes with a scrounger head. I’ve aso used them with an okashira screw head for a subtle swim bait in clear water.

[@MattStefanFishing]

nice!

[@SpookyRedz]

Loved it , thanks bro

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad you liked it

[@johns3292]

Love throwing soft swims and straight tails on the Hover Rig. Supposed to receive my TUSH order from Core this week. Eager to put it to these Idaho smallmouth. Thanks for growing the sport.

[@MattStefanFishing]

good luck!

[@johns3292]

@@MattStefanFishing would you rather us purchase the Core Tackle line from TW or direct from the Core site?

[@ronaldd932]

Keep up the good work, rooting for you to qualify for MLF.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Much appreciated!

[@NeilGraham.I.M.F]

Good stuff!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@stevesmith7164]

Good tips now I can add a few new rigs, thanks

[@MattStefanFishing]

You bet!

[@tc_lay]

My favorite at the moment is the Juggle minnow on the MiniMax chatterbait. Pinch the lil fork tail off and the tail of the soft plastic will keep perfect sync with the blade.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing!

[@jessieosborne3576]

After watching Johnny’s video I went with the 3.5 spunk Shad. Wrecked them today on KY lake. Best was 5lbs.

[@secretbassrigs]

I like how the Spunk Shad and Xzone Whiptails can have more swimming action than the swimbaits themselves.

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome!

[@Carolinafishingtales]

Enjoyed the video. Im new to the soft jerk baits. Gonna try some techniques and experiment.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good luck!

[@Carolinafishingtales]

Thanks Matt.

[@heinrichkellogg7563]

🍺Thanks Matt.

[@MattStefanFishing]

you bet!

[@douglascarr2991]

Matt I truly want to thank you for this video, I have been teaching young teens to fish these weightless jerkbaits now they know the tips I am teaching them are real pro tips that can win a tournament. Once they seen the same colors and and hook set up that I have been teaching them for the last two weeks. They are super excited to see that pro's win fishing tournaments with the tips l have shown them. Douglas Carr (Houston Parks Fishing).

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad to help!

[@douglascarr2991]

@@MattStefanFishing Thanks

[@LowBrowFishing]

I always have a few different packs of soft jerkbaits with me when I go out. Each brand and type has a specific task that I feel works best for me. The cheap, stiffer ones like Creme are the best bladed jig trailers, while the super soft ones like a Caffeine Shad are best on a Hover rig.

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome!

[@MrJohnB-qs6dp]

Excellent video Matt!!!Thanks for sharing those tips!!! First thing I thought about was the TUSH Rig. Will put it on this weekend & see what happens!! Congratulations to you & the boys!! I'm sure they were excited!!!!🏆🏆🏆Stay Safe & God Bless!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good Luck!

[@jeffyoung6231]

I order some TUSH and hover rigs already caught fish on the TUSH. Planning on ordering more. Was using paddle tails but the flukes look good. Will have to try.

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome!

[@FishnTheSouthOkanagan78]

Glad to see that you finally got some Hogfarmer pintail spunk shad soft plastics matt 👍🏻👍🏻

[@MattStefanFishing]

I love it!

[@heinrichkellogg7563]

🍺MLF BPT picks after day #1 for each group. Group A…..1st, 2nd, 5th, and 9th….Group “B”….1st, 6th, 14th, 18th, and 22nd. I hope all is well.

[@MattStefanFishing]

solid!

[@crowe1974]

I save all my used soft jerkbaits for ChatterBait trailers. I also usd them for a Carolina rig..

[@MattStefanFishing]

i like it!

[@55Dag]

wacky rig a small caffeine shad with a 1/16 oz weighted wacky jig hook.

[@MattStefanFishing]

sounds good!

[@johnnymassengale6275]

Don't forget about using the fluke as a Carolina Rig.

[@MattStefanFishing]

agred!

[@lanehensley3271]

Hey Matt, how about a video on how you hook up your graphs with multiple scanners. Thank you. Tight lines.

[@MattStefanFishing]

sounds good!

[@secretbassrigs]

Some hollow bellies are dynamite if rigged properly. Right now, particularly the shorter ones with a shad type pattern and hover rigged are doing well, as the shad are starting to form large schools. I'm also beginning to believe skirted chatter baits could potentially have too much secondary action sometimes. I'm using trailers designed for Chatter baits, but all by themselves without the skirts (naked) on shad head type jig hooks. I'm using the black/large Queen Tackle Switch Blades on them, and they are easy to work at a steady pace without startup issues.

[@secretbassrigs]

removing the clear layer of laminate on the hollow bellies is imperative. it allows 50%-100% improved swimming action. learned to do that from you Matt.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing!

[@rcandy4u]

When Fishing the Zoom super fluke on a Tex’s rig you will tend to get bit on the fall more often.

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep

[@billtiritilli5271]

Mr.Stefan I would like to Thank You for the videos and 2 of the lake breakdowns we did. I'm off the zero catch rate got my 1st tournament bass legal length yesterday June 24 and the backed it up with my 2nd in a Sunday tournament. 2 things how the heck do we fish underpasses with rock running down length of roadway lots of snags. 2nd being only 5ft 10ft would a 6ft 6 in rod be good for pitching and flipping suggestion power. Possible video. ideas. Sorry for length. Go get em at next tournament.

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome!

[@rousefire]

Put it one on a 1/8th oz jig head , let it sink to the bottom , lift a few feet then allow it to pendulum back

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing

[@troycrippen2629]

Do you have a video on how to fish the hover strolling rig?

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep lots of them heres a couple Hi Andy, kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4XGhKatqah0b9E kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zoqxq2aMfbJlq9U

[@xDx0xUxGx]

Not really a soft jerkbait, but I recently started started throwing a Trick ShotZ with the Hover Rig.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Nice!

[@dennishodson990]

Agree!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks!

[@jasonrutherfordbassfishing]

I use the heck out of them. They do catch piles of fish but I’ve never had anything of decent size take a bite. Probably just because I’m not around big ones?

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing!

[@kevinskovenski]

Hey Matt, for Wednesday night tournaments do you prepare any differently given the small window to fish? Assuming your tournaments are like ours in Madison 6-9pm.

[@MattStefanFishing]

i dont do anything special. in fact we fished tonight and we spent the first 15 minutes tying on baits haha

[@kevinskovenski]

@@MattStefanFishing haha ya, we’re in the same boat then. Also we’ve really enjoyed using the Hover rig, my go to has been with a Zman Fatty.

[@CoopOutdoorsy88]

Weightless and weighted jerk style, jig head-(weightless, weighted, and floating), weightless and weighted Texas rig, trailer on (chatterbait, spinnerbait, and buzzbait), hover rig, shakey head, swing head, tush swimbait head by core tackle, drop shot, sliding drop shot, maybe on a finesse jig or football jig or swim jig or flipping jig or finesse football jig or finesse swim jig, and maybe on scrounger jig head or on a scrounger head swim jig,

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing

[@rickrobinson5611]

What is a good rod and reel combo to use wit the Tush swim bait head for swim baits and paddle tails. Just order some Tush heads and are very excited to try them

[@MattStefanFishing]

i like a 7'3" Light Medium heavy

[@texasoutdoors9906]

For summer time I like to throw it on a 5/0 EWG 1/8oz belly weighted hook. You would be shocked how much deeper and faster you can fish that thing with that little 1/8oz of lead on the belly. Great for fishing rock because it does not hang up near as often as a Trig. For really windy days I will go up to some custom 1/4oz hooks I made but you really lose alot of the gliding action with that much weight. With the 1/8oz you give up very little in the way of natural action of the bait.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing!

[@jeffholder195]

Hey Matt I bought some of the TUSH heads and didn’t she a video on how to fish them properly. Thanks

[@MattStefanFishing]

Coming soon!

[@brkyq]

Elaztech make great topwater paired light wire hooks.

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome!

[@johnmcnally6450]

I like Carolina rigging medium fluke for spotted bass….

[@MattStefanFishing]

sounds good

[@jesseboyden3119]

I've been wanting to try hover rig but I'm worried my water isn't clear enough

[@MattStefanFishing]

its clear enough!

[@MrFishhook]

How would you fish hover rigs in Florida with all the hydrilla, pads , floating vegetation when there not weedless . I see that the bait has a 90 degree hook . We used to call weightless fluke fishing ( dead fluking ). But the fluke was weedless . Fish ignored this technique after awhile.

[@MattStefanFishing]

shell bars and weed edges

[@emoutdoors5661]

I love the looks and versatility of the soft jerk bait, only issue is, I don’t catch a thing on them for some reason. Drop shot, gliding, Texas rig, underspin, double fluke rig, you name it….. nuthin. 🤷‍♂️

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing!

[@mikegaston3170]

Matt said "Doo -Doo"...lol

[@MattStefanFishing]

haha

[@kryan318]

i hope they make the cush with a lighter style hook instead of that heavy flipping hook

[@MattStefanFishing]

maybe in the future

[@roberts.2413]

An old school method is to use it on a Carolina rig.

[@MattStefanFishing]

sounds good

[@jamesbarron1202]

You should start making a copy of the the old Phantom Phish Stik at Core tackle and send me some free packs for the idea😂 That’s the way it’s misspelled also. Not “Fish Stick”. It looks just like a soft Zera Spook and it was a killer. I can’t believe they went out of business. Phantom Tackle, was a local company out of Dallas Tx. They also made a killer ring worm. The Phish Stik is a soft subsurface spook. I still have a package of them. I’d send you some to mold if you’d make them.

[@MattStefanFishing]

i have no idea what that is haha

[@jamesbarron1202]

@@MattStefanFishing google it. Basically a soft plastic zera spook with a hook slot for an EWG

[@ph00z00]

a lot of good baits are opening my eyes up to ultralight fishing. less weight, lighter lines. that's finesse, but tourny fishing is heavy weight, less finesse.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Right on

[@timg185]

I know a guy that cuts the tails off his used flukes and Ned rigs them

[@MattStefanFishing]

interesting

[@ericc8790]

They skip really well… weightless Texas rig and then use it anytime/place that you would use a wacky rig.

[@MattStefanFishing]

yes they do!

[@williamknight5142]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for watching!

[@frankfoti7334]

Can you fish jerkbaits from the bank and how thank you for all the great vids

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep!

[@gregchilders7643]

Yes they are great for bank fisherman. With the zoom super fluke I use a 3/0 ewg hook weightless or tie a hook and 6to 8in leader with a swivel and slip sinker and fish along the bottom like a worm.i also use the 3in fluke except I use a 1/0 hook

[@frankfoti7334]

@@gregchilders7643 ty u pal

[@Roboworm99]

Neko rigged. And if rigged similar it acts like a lipless

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome!

[@Fareye100]

For the wheeler used, me i use jackall i shad with jig head but i put on nose jig head rig like drop shot. I see that in this video : kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4ipZ4WOZtmircU

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing