Speaking of small baits for smallmouth. I went to a lake that the dnr said had abundant smb. I caught my first smb on a finesse tush (2/0 1/8) with a big bites bait 2.8 swimbait. He was 20 inches long and somewhere in the 4lb range. I got the swimbait idea from you. Thank you Matt and thankyou for core tackle!
My favorite Berkley flipping bait is the 3” Pit Boss in Junebug hands down. My overall favorite company is Zoom for soft plastics but I will say the Netbait Paca Slim has snuck into my rotation. As far as colors I’m a black/blue mix, green pumpkin, and junebug kind of guy. I keep it pretty simple. My “If I could have only one” do or die bait would be a Junebug Zoom Baby Brushhog.
I had to look in my bait bag before posting to see if I was right, but I also only throw 5 different baits when flipping a Texas Rig. A few of them you turned me onto. Berkley Pit Boss 3" and 4" OSP Dolive Beaver 3.5" and 4" Reaction Innovation Man Bear Pig (I prefer this over the Brush Hog by a long shot) Raid Egu Chunk 4" Reaction Innovations Smallie Beaver If you have not thrown the Egu Chunk, the 4" size on a 3/0 hook is killer. Those flappers FLAP!
thanks for what you do, I wonder if you guys in the US fish extreme colors like lime green or strong yellow lures. in Sweden, when we fish for perch and zander, these colors usually work very well, especially in dark colored waters.
Good video! You were the one that started me using the pit boss a couple of years ago and I use it for lots of applications besides flipping. I’m anxious to use your ozark hooks this season for my Texas rig applications and in place of a weighted ewg swimming presentation. I suggest to anyone who is Texas rigging with an ewg; straight shank; or offset worm hook to give Gamakatsu g-finesse hybrid worm hook. It has become my favorite since its introduction. I almost never lose a fish and they seem to grab the jaw farther back in the jaw thus not tearing out. I suspect I’ll see similar results with the ozark penetrating the roof of the mouth
Great video and can't wait to do more focused pitching and flipping this season. I am a big fan of X Zone lures as well as The Berkley Pit Boss and will have them tied on for both smallies and largemouth for sure. I really want to also try using a finesse free rig as well as a heavier Free rig to gdt even more natural fall and action vs dropping straight with a Texas rig.
My favorite is a Big Bite Fighting Frog on either a swing head, texas rig or it glides great on Ozark rig. I catch a lot of big fish this time of year with the swing head
Agree with all of yours. Grateful you put me on the Pit Boss. One that was killer for me all last year and will get heavy use again this year is the Megabass Bottle Shrimp (in GP). It’s just a little different than most flipping baits. Gets lots of bites and big bites in clear/stained water on Gammy 2/0 ringed superline hook that you recommended. The OSP Dolive Beaver is also really good. Good enough for Rapala to rip it off. Don’t tell anyone else tho!
I like these. The D-Bomb and Rage Craw have been my go-tos lately. In Florida's tannic water, i do like the Gambler Dagger, too. Something about their junebug color works better than others here.
If I am not pitching to thick cover the Geecrack bellows shad or gill in the 2.8 or the 3.8 are automatic. The Osp Dolive beaver is another amazing bait to pitch and flip around
Berkley Pit Boss and creature Hawg for sure. Used to throw the Berkley Hawk Hawg on the river but ran out and havent tried the replacement. For a change up for pressured bass try the Yamamoto fat ika. My go to
I’m a strike king / max scent guy. I like the rage bug, and rage craw. Also the max scent creature hog is big for me. I do try other baits, but when I want to catch bass, I turn to those baits. In the fall of 23, I was really throwing around the yamatanuki. That thing catches to many fish to not use it.
I've not tried the creature hawg but I have a ton of the bunker hawg powerbait they're fairly similar right? Besides the size of the tentacles? The bunker hawg has less wide appendages
I always have a jig on my flippin stick, that I might change to a 10" power worm or downsize to a gambler craw. I'll usually punch with a 6" worm or craw. I've never been big into creature baits, but I have a lot of them.
I bounce back and forth between a Strikeking rage bug or structure bug and the Googan Baits bandito bug as being my favorite all around flipping bait. I like flipping the Reaction Innovations sweet beaver a bunch and the one i use when i just need to get a bite is the Zoom baby brushhog. I do like other stuff to but for the most part its going to be one of those plastics i use 95% of the time.
Being a bait junky, I have similar baits in different brands, but I like ZMAN products because they are buoyant and Missle baits DBomb and Destroyer regulars and baby size are great, and XZone Adrenaline Craw or Jr the plastics are semi buoyant ( not like elaztech ) and tails float. Zoom ZCraw,or ultra speed craw, and all of these work well for jig trailers,but, I love the MaxScent creatures and craws for trailers, mostly for the max scent…( Baitfuel works too)🤷🏻♂️🍀🎣🍀
Another helpful video. Well done ! A heads up for your viewers. The In Fisherman 2024 Bass Guide is out. It is always full of insight into bass behavior, latest techniques and tackle. If you need a break from UA-cam, this great issue is drama free ! There is a Bridgford ad with Randy. If you trigger easily .you have been warned...
I’ve kinda settled into zman hella crawz, goat, and gremlin as my every day go tos. When I want to throw something different it’s the RI smallie / sweet beaver, BBB yo daddy, and Raid battle hog.
@@MattStefanFishing The Yum Dinger (senko) also priced great versus the leading brand. I got a 100 pack of green pumpkin for $25 on Amazon. TW 100 pack of 5" is currently $29.
Hey Matt, love the channel , appreciate all the info you put out, your videos get an instant like from me, if you haven't yet please try the Googan baits bandito bug, green pumpkin purple has been the best for me, but overall a great bait.
🍺Life long Yamamoto supporter. The new owners have not ruined the baits yet🤠. The Yamamoto fat baby craw in green pumpkin black flake is all you need period. I believe in them so much that I just purchased 60 more packs from your link and I have 100’s of bags in storage😊. TW is currently having a Yamamoto flash sale 30%-40% off. 🤑 $150 or more you can get free TW shirts and $5 clothes/hats which I always give away as a “ random act of kindness” to those in need.🤠
prespawn , bedding and post spawn bass are all different types of bites. I've always struggled with bedding bass but I know it's about time for the top water. What's your opinion on bedding bass baits and please don't say white swimbaits
@MattStefanFishing Thanks a bunch. I always used shad or shiner patterns with some success. Do a modern straight retrieve video for those of us who are trying to get our kids into it
Glad to see we're in agreement with the Pitt boss, Beaver baits and Chigger Craw. Now late in the season you'll find me reaching for the max scent craw.
Great videos Matt. I enjoy watching and learning from your channel. Let me know if you want to trade xr50 baits. We might be able to help eachother out with colors.
Speaking of small baits for smallmouth. I went to a lake that the dnr said had abundant smb. I caught my first smb on a finesse tush (2/0 1/8) with a big bites bait 2.8 swimbait. He was 20 inches long and somewhere in the 4lb range. I got the swimbait idea from you. Thank you Matt and thankyou for core tackle!
Love this!!
My favorite Berkley flipping bait is the 3” Pit Boss in Junebug hands down. My overall favorite company is Zoom for soft plastics but I will say the Netbait Paca Slim has snuck into my rotation. As far as colors I’m a black/blue mix, green pumpkin, and junebug kind of guy. I keep it pretty simple. My “If I could have only one” do or die bait would be a Junebug Zoom Baby Brushhog.
Thanks for sharing!
I had to look in my bait bag before posting to see if I was right, but I also only throw 5 different baits when flipping a Texas Rig. A few of them you turned me onto.
Berkley Pit Boss 3" and 4"
OSP Dolive Beaver 3.5" and 4"
Reaction Innovation Man Bear Pig (I prefer this over the Brush Hog by a long shot)
Raid Egu Chunk 4"
Reaction Innovations Smallie Beaver
If you have not thrown the Egu Chunk, the 4" size on a 3/0 hook is killer. Those flappers FLAP!
Very cool
Pit Boss has been my favorite for many years
I love it
I have had good luck with your creature hog tip. Before that i used strike king rage bug and i still carry both as they both work well.
Glad to help
thanks for what you do, I wonder if you guys in the US fish extreme colors like lime green or strong yellow lures. in Sweden, when we fish for perch and zander, these colors usually work very well, especially in dark colored waters.
During spring, I'll throw a Merthiolate color floating worm.
Sometimes
The Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog is an excellent soft plastic flippin bait.
Thanks for watching
I like Berkley Chigger craw , I use it as a trailer on Chatter Baits as well so for simplicity mostly . Love
the scent as well
Good one
Good video! You were the one that started me using the pit boss a couple of years ago and I use it for lots of applications besides flipping. I’m anxious to use your ozark hooks this season for my Texas rig applications and in place of a weighted ewg swimming presentation. I suggest to anyone who is Texas rigging with an ewg; straight shank; or offset worm hook to give Gamakatsu g-finesse hybrid worm hook. It has become my favorite since its introduction. I almost never lose a fish and they seem to grab the jaw farther back in the jaw thus not tearing out. I suspect I’ll see similar results with the ozark penetrating the roof of the mouth
Awesome
Great video and can't wait to do more focused pitching and flipping this season. I am a big fan of X Zone lures as well as The Berkley Pit Boss and will have them tied on for both smallies and largemouth for sure. I really want to also try using a finesse free rig as well as a heavier Free rig to gdt even more natural fall and action vs dropping straight with a Texas rig.
Thanks for sharing!
My favorite is a Big Bite Fighting Frog on either a swing head, texas rig or it glides great on Ozark rig. I catch a lot of big fish this time of year with the swing head
Thanks for sharing!
Agree with all of yours. Grateful you put me on the Pit Boss. One that was killer for me all last year and will get heavy use again this year is the Megabass Bottle Shrimp (in GP). It’s just a little different than most flipping baits. Gets lots of bites and big bites in clear/stained water on Gammy 2/0 ringed superline hook that you recommended. The OSP Dolive Beaver is also really good. Good enough for Rapala to rip it off. Don’t tell anyone else tho!
Thanks for watching
I fell in love with a flippin tube 25 yrs ago. Also that chigger craw is fire
Good ones
Great video and explanation of the different baits and applications/conditions. 👍
Thanks! 👍
I like these. The D-Bomb and Rage Craw have been my go-tos lately. In Florida's tannic water, i do like the Gambler Dagger, too. Something about their junebug color works better than others here.
Thanks for sharing!
If I am not pitching to thick cover the Geecrack bellows shad or gill in the 2.8 or the 3.8 are automatic. The Osp Dolive beaver is another amazing bait to pitch and flip around
Thanks for watching
Berkley Pit Boss and creature Hawg for sure. Used to throw the Berkley Hawk Hawg on the river but ran out and havent tried the replacement. For a change up for pressured bass try the Yamamoto fat ika. My go to
Very cool
I like to flip the pit boss but on my home lake there are a lot of rock bass and they bite the flappers off a lot.
Bummer
I have luck throwing the Baby Brush Hogs, Smallie Beavers T rigged. Last winter, I ordered Chigger Craws, and I'm anxious to try them.
Good stuff
Great information Matt do you peg your weight when you are flipping thanks
Sometimes
I’m a strike king / max scent guy. I like the rage bug, and rage craw. Also the max scent creature hog is big for me. I do try other baits, but when I want to catch bass, I turn to those baits. In the fall of 23, I was really throwing around the yamatanuki. That thing catches to many fish to not use it.
Thanks for watching
I've not tried the creature hawg but I have a ton of the bunker hawg powerbait they're fairly similar right? Besides the size of the tentacles? The bunker hawg has less wide appendages
Yep
I love the Beast Coast Flippin’ Delight in 3 Colors (Pumpkin Gill, Dirty Bug, & Dirtbag)
Dirtbag is such a productive color for me in stained and muddy water
Haha
I always have a jig on my flippin stick, that I might change to a 10" power worm or downsize to a gambler craw. I'll usually punch with a 6" worm or craw. I've never been big into creature baits, but I have a lot of them.
Thanks
I use 6th Sense Congo Craw. I've had great success with this one.
Thanks for watching
My favorites are the Z hog and Z craw
Solid!
I bounce back and forth between a Strikeking rage bug or structure bug and the Googan Baits bandito bug as being my favorite all around flipping bait. I like flipping the Reaction Innovations sweet beaver a bunch and the one i use when i just need to get a bite is the Zoom baby brushhog. I do like other stuff to but for the most part its going to be one of those plastics i use 95% of the time.
Good stuff!
Being a bait junky, I have similar baits in different brands, but I like ZMAN products because they are buoyant and Missle baits DBomb and Destroyer regulars and baby size are great, and XZone Adrenaline Craw or Jr the plastics are semi buoyant ( not like elaztech ) and tails float. Zoom ZCraw,or ultra speed craw, and all of these work well for jig trailers,but, I love the MaxScent creatures and craws for trailers, mostly for the max scent…( Baitfuel works too)🤷🏻♂️🍀🎣🍀
Good ones
Do you use extra scent on your power baits ?
Nope
Nothing to add, Matt! You nailed it!!!
Thanks for watching
Biffle Bug for me. Its great on the wobble head and its great for pitching/flipping. It generates a bigger bite also.
Yep
Googan bandito bug. It also looks great on your ozark rig 🔥
Thanks 👍
D-bomb, Destroyer, Utra vibe speed craw -- all in both sizes
Good one
Another helpful video. Well done ! A heads up for your viewers. The In Fisherman 2024 Bass Guide is out. It is always full of insight into bass behavior, latest techniques and tackle. If you need a break from UA-cam, this great issue is drama free ! There is a Bridgford ad with Randy. If you trigger easily .you have been warned...
Haha
My favorite flipping/pitching bait is max sent general.
Solid!
I like the Strike King Rage Bug and the Googan Baits Bandito Bug on the Ozark Rig
Thanks!
Have you tried the new Rapala cleanup crawl or the bronco bug?
Nope
@@MattStefanFishing you should try it. The bass seem to love the impregnated scent 😉
I’ve kinda settled into zman hella crawz, goat, and gremlin as my every day go tos. When I want to throw something different it’s the RI smallie / sweet beaver, BBB yo daddy, and Raid battle hog.
Thanks for sharing!
I will pick Panarama minus the acetone fume, The new Banjo.
Thanks
By the way the Ozark rig is great with rage craw thanks !
Good to know!
The Yum Christie Critter is a good one. Cheap too. 30 pack available for $11 on TW. Or 100 pack for $29.
Solid price
@@MattStefanFishing The Yum Dinger (senko) also priced great versus the leading brand. I got a 100 pack of green pumpkin for $25 on Amazon. TW 100 pack of 5" is currently $29.
Hey Matt, love the channel , appreciate all the info you put out, your videos get an instant like from me, if you haven't yet please try the Googan baits bandito bug, green pumpkin purple has been the best for me, but overall a great bait.
Thanks for sharing!
🍺Life long Yamamoto supporter. The new owners have not ruined the baits yet🤠. The Yamamoto fat baby craw in green pumpkin black flake is all you need period. I believe in them so much that I just purchased 60 more packs from your link and I have 100’s of bags in storage😊. TW is currently having a Yamamoto flash sale 30%-40% off. 🤑 $150 or more you can get free TW shirts and $5 clothes/hats which I always give away as a “ random act of kindness” to those in need.🤠
I’ll give them a try
Thanks Matt
You bet
does anyone “cast” a worm anymore? It doesn’t need a lot of instruction but I rarely see anybody talk about casting a Texas rig worm.
For sure Berkley Power Worm green pumpkin or red shad
I do
Yep, Berkley Power Worm. Black, Red Shad, and Warermelon Red Glitter.
Many pros do at Ocochobee
prespawn , bedding and post spawn bass are all different types of bites. I've always struggled with bedding bass but I know it's about time for the top water. What's your opinion on bedding bass baits and please don't say white swimbaits
These are all good bed baits
@MattStefanFishing Thanks a bunch. I always used shad or shiner patterns with some success. Do a modern straight retrieve video for those of us who are trying to get our kids into it
That chigger craw is a staple for me
Solid!
Glad to see we're in agreement with the Pitt boss, Beaver baits and Chigger Craw. Now late in the season you'll find me reaching for the max scent craw.
Thanks for watching
No Strike King Rage Bug? That has to be in there.
I’ll give it a try
Speed Craw, Crazy Flapper & Speed Worm. 😁
Good ones
I guess an honorable mention is a Berkeley tube. Twitching that thing like a jerkbait gets the most violent strikes!
Reaction Innovations Man. Bear. Pig - Besides having a cool name, its a cross between beaver style and brush hog.
Thanks for sharing!
👍
Thanks
👍👍👍👍👍
Thanks!
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks for watching
Pit boss, crazy flapper, chiggers craw and game hog..
Good ones
Great videos Matt. I enjoy watching and learning from your channel. Let me know if you want to trade xr50 baits. We might be able to help eachother out with colors.
I’m keeping mine haha
D-bomb
Solid!
Brush hog
Good one