This Jig Trend Is Catching On!

[@bryandavismoviefan]

This is the latest ive ever fished in northern Wisconsin for smallmouth. Weird fall though. They didn't follow typical seasonal trends like ive experienced before. Fished into December. That's crazy for Wisconsin. And I'm pretty sure I know that lake! It has some tanks for sure. You helped me learn the lake through a lake breakdown pretty sure.

[@MattStefanFishing]

went from warm to frozen

[@muskybites505]

What your fishing are spent coal piles from back in the day…one of my fav things to look for up north. The old timers knew to bring their spent coal and pile it on the ice to form artificial rock structures when the ice would melt and it would drop down. Pretty cool. When sidescan first came out I used it to find, mark, and catch fish that others had to get lucky to find. The 2000’s were a bonanza for me like livescope is now lol

[@MattStefanFishing]

thats crazy! thanks for sharing the info!

[@coachmatt6735]

The word you're looking for is slag. Slag is a byproduct of ore smelting, and coal combustion when the coal is impure. Up in Wisconsin, I imagine that it's more likely a mining/smelting byproduct that was dumped either for convenience or as fish habitat. Slag is what remains when molten rock cools and rehardens.

[@BassHead1322]

Maybe even catch a two headed fish. Does that count as a double?

[@normanwiggins1320]

Excellent video on dragging a jig for smallies. Really thought you would had a brown jig tied on

[@MattStefanFishing]

I've had some success with browns, but not as much lately.

[@michaeljones338]

Another awesome video! Would it be possible for you to show us how you found those rock seems. Maybe the other stuff like humps, saddles or channel swing banks . Please. Thanks Matt!

[@MattStefanFishing]

good video suggestion. thanks

[@caseysaunders2137]

I recently picked up a dedicated jig rod. 3rd cast on a point new rod caught a 2.5 lb spot. I love jigs. They get bit all year long especically winter

[@MattStefanFishing]

That’s awesome!

[@squonto47]

Bassdope makes the best finesse jigs around. Lake, pond, river, nothing beats them.

[@MattStefanFishing]

ill check them out

[@willperryman4559]

Picasso has outstanding jigs, and especially those tungsten jigs, and not better than “brailling” the bottom finding rock ,or pea gravel, which you can just tell from the ticks and contacting the bottom and then 😮thump 😮 you’ve got a good bite.🎉 love how you have your boat setup 💯👍😎🍀🎣🍀

[@MattStefanFishing]

the tungsten just provides such better feel in a compact design

[@richardbossman9875]

All silliness aside, I like throwing football style jigs when dragging across mud and silt because it kicks up the most stuff and for small stick it crawls over it pretty realistically looking.

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome

[@MarcusSpjut]

100% with ya on the feel. lead vs tungsten for me it is like my 20$ ul rod vs my expride 4-12g. Both do the job but even an amature can feel the diffrence., It's that big.

[@MattStefanFishing]

agreed

[@brandonsmith606]

Matt, I hate to tell you but you're already up north lol. Having said that our temps are similar 😊

[@MattStefanFishing]

haha kinda but not really

[@oldschoolfishing4194]

Glad you got to fish. Great vid!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for watching!

[@paulbunyan9241]

That is some amazing coloration, beautiful smallies.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks 👍

[@jimmyjackson2361]

Great video! Full of good information.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks, I appreciate it!

[@ryanvarner6520]

Great info! When would you go to a wobble head jig vs a standard football jig??

[@MattStefanFishing]

they are pretty interchangeable, but i prefer wobble heads on big flats with a straight retrieve and a football jig around cover

[@michaelsheppard4227]

Love dragging a football jig especially this time of year.

[@MattStefanFishing]

me too

[@comfortablynumb9342]

I really need to try bass jigs in the saltwater. I think flounder and redfish should eat them and maybe trout and stripers. And the ones made for cover might not get stuck in the rocks all the time. I like to fish for flounder up against rocks but I lose lots of jigs that way. Maybe bass jigs would help.

[@richardbossman9875]

Make sure to rinse them before storing them after, bass jigs don’t have plates hooks that resist rusting like saltwater jigs would.

[@MattStefanFishing]

That's a great idea!

[@rpredl]

Old school fishing, nice.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Some things never go out of style.

[@DAVE_WHITE]

When in doubt, get the JIG out!!!! anytime, any place, any weather, any time of year.

[@MattStefanFishing]

That's a great motto!

[@scottkessler9602]

It worked for Denny Brauer and Tommy Biffel.

[@GMarshfishing]

That’s my favorite football jig!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Awesome

[@itllkeal]

It's amazing how fat a smallmouth can get. I caught several big ones this year, but 1 little 17 or 18incher amazed me because it was like a football. I'd love to see an end year collage of your favorite fish catches. Anyways. Thanks Matt

[@MattStefanFishing]

I agree! Some of them are just chubby.

[@dennisederer3594]

I’m here in Az running around in shorts and T shirt. Surely wish we had a better smallie population in our lakes.

[@dontnonowuno9953]

Go to the river..

[@dennisederer3594]

@@dontnonowuno9953 , no thank you. I fish from a small kayak.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thaanks for watching

[@richardbossman9875]

The Salt river reservoirs are your best bet, I loved Apache as a kid.

[@mikeeller557]

Thanks matt

[@MattStefanFishing]

You bet

[@michaeltrible3630]

Good for you to get out! Ah to be younger again! What do you think of a 13 concept Z slide reel? I just heard of them. Take care. Mic

[@MattStefanFishing]

i havent tried one so i cant give an opinion

[@FishHuntFreedom]

Do you have a video or can you make a short one on how to compete in tournaments without FFS? Thanks

[@MattStefanFishing]

good idea!

[@FishHuntFreedom]

@ that would be appreciated. I fish the kayak series in Northern CA and am getting destroyed by FFS. I can’t afford it at the moment but am saving for one but until then, your help would be much appreciated. Thanks

[@samuelschult985]

So you took the boat to the lake after you had winterized it 😂😂😂

[@MattStefanFishing]

haha i wish. i filmed this a week before i winterized it

[@PistolPete3322]

@@MattStefanFishing your iced in now right? Thx for the on the water action!

[@rodneygreen9968]

Thanks for for the great video. I have never caught a small mouth bass. What are your top 3 lskes in Wisconsin to fish for trophy size Small Mouth Bass? Please let me know your opinion. Thanks.

[@MattStefanFishing]

pretty much every lake in the northern half of wisconsin has the change for big smallmouth. the Door county peninsula would be the best location

[@garyplowman5838]

Great video Matt thank you sir 👍🏻. Matt have you ever gone ice fishing on the water? Just wondering if you have gone since you live in Wisconsin brrrr

[@MattStefanFishing]

i do a couple a year

[@PistolPete3322]

Tightrope firework won’t hang up. 😂 But not the feel of tungsten.

[@MattStefanFishing]

The tightrope is a good one

[@PistolPete3322]

@@MattStefanFishing thanks for hooking me up on that one!

[@ADKyakman]

Hey Matt. Great video man. Nothing like catching giant smallies on casting gear… on JIGS. My kinda fishin’. I have the Mohawk River which produces trophy caliber smallmouth like the Great Lakes because of the goby population, and the craw abundance is through the roof. I was wondering if you had a good jig rod you’d be kind enough to sell me at a decent price I need something for the upcoming season as I’m trying to run the EKF circuit again and costs are high and I’ve been out of work from injury the last 8 months being stay at home dad. I throw 1/4-3/4ths nothing higher really.. I love your genuine nature in your content and I figured you’d be a good person to ask for help. Tight lines Matt. I follow you on insta under the same handle

[@MattStefanFishing]

unfortunately I don't sell any of the rods I build. Id recommend a MHX - NSJ-874 if you can find someone to build it for you

[@ADKyakman]

@@MattStefanFishingI actually do. And I’ve been fishing for blanks for about 4 months to do a custom build. How do you order those blanks? Thanks Matt sorry for coming to you asking to purchase a rod 😂 .. I just thought it’d be sweet to own a rod you built being a smallmouth dominant northern angler I feel like you might atleast have some good advice. I need a fineese jig rod- something that can throw a 1/4oz minimax but also something for shakey heads and finesse football jigs, even smaller swimjigs. Something around 6’10-6’11- mediumish heavyish with a mod/fast taper. I feel like I have to go very high end to get something with the sensitivity I’m looking for.. so if you could recommend blanks instead.. it’d save me on having to buy something without ever picking it up and feeling it.

[@ADKyakman]

@@MattStefanFishingalso- I wish you would. If you retire, can you remember me and just send me one lol. Most people would put it on their wall- I’d be catching trophy bronze bass on it til I retire lol. Then I’d hang her up . I was just watching your most recent video about line tie angles. It got me thinking of these new Neko hooks and just how exactly you run them up some of the hooks to the “keepers” ..I saw Ty Berger using a vmc neko as a drop shot hook, it didn’t have the floro wire guard, but it had the floro keeper. Which makes me think is it supposed to be rigged like a hitchhiker rig? With the line tie angled up ,so your line isn’t near the bottom of the bait going thru the grass and structure. Know anything about that? Can you do a video on Neko rig(S*) and how to rig some of the hooks they have out, also one last thing, does the OZARK rig impede the action of back glide baits because of the weight placement? Or does it help them get down faster and not impede the backglide

[@jamesmiracle2818]

Very good me gettin some them jigs😊

[@MattStefanFishing]

give them a try!

[@michaelluce7111]

Does that include large mouth bass ?

[@MattStefanFishing]

It can

[@TBstr8nsty]

What boat brand and model are you in for this video?

[@MattStefanFishing]

War Eagle 648 DV

[@TBstr8nsty]

@MattStefanFishing thanks! I can't wait to get a smaller tiller aluminum boat for when I don't want or can't bring my bullet. I'm trying to really see what all is out there.

[@richardbossman9875]

I wonder if depleted uranium jigheads will ever come out, I want to count the age rings on a tree as I drag a 1/16oz jig over it in 100 feet of water😂

[@MattStefanFishing]

That’s a funny way to put it! 😂

[@haroldrogers6566]

😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣

[@jkoz470]

I understand the Yamaha hat but those colors on that hat look way too close to the Lions colors. 😂😂😂😂

[@MattStefanFishing]

hahaha

[@martincaron7709]

No electronics... 🤔 Is it by choice and/or for the challenge ?

[@MattStefanFishing]

I sold the with my tournament boat…

[@WorldsOkayestBusDriver]

Is this a river flowage?

[@MattStefanFishing]

no it has water inflow but is not a major river

[@ADKyakman]

Ahh.. someone who gets to experience what I do daily. 5lb 18.5” river smallies.

[@MattStefanFishing]

CHUNKS!

[@dantwaites7097]

Im in ne iowa and most everything is froze up. Im kinda jealous matt lol

[@MattStefanFishing]

we are froze here now too

[@wolverinex4243]

Where can I get a Denali?

[@MattStefanFishing]

here! www.avantlink.com/click.php?tt=cl&merchant_id=770c28fe-5a8c-46f3-acab-5dc176d4f23c&website_id=8a299942-1f4e-4559-8dd7-44abebc0c842&url=https%3A%2F%2Fstrikerbrands.com%2Fcollections%2Fmens-rain-suits%2Fproducts%2Fdenali-insulated-rain-jacket-phase-terrain%3F_pos%3D2%26_fid%3Da34ab193b%26_ss%3Dc

[@williamknight5142]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for watching

[@seanodell5133]

👍👍...

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for watching

[@BeckhamHomeLoans]

Why no graphs?

[@MattStefanFishing]

sold them with the tournament boat

[@BeckhamHomeLoans]

Ahh ... makes sense

[@craigpeters3165]

Where are your graphs?

[@MattStefanFishing]

sold them with my tournament boat