How To Catch Bigger Smallmouth (And Largemouth) - Everything You Need To Know - Finesse Bass Fishing
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- Опубліковано 17 жов 2024
- Smallmouth are amazing! They're aggressive, even in cold water. They're willing to migrate huge distances for food. When you set the hook they give you a ride that is unrivaled by the other bass. There is little wonder why so many anglers love Smallmouth bass fishing. Targeting these predators requires a finesse touch and some unique gear that is often overlooked for the other bass species.
While you can catch a smallmouth on virtually anything, the fish tend to favor clearer water and a true finesse touch will increase your odds dramatically. In today's video Tim dives into his favorite finesse tactics and equipment for consistently targeting these bronze backs.
Below is a breakdown of the gear he discussed in order of appearance. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.
Finesse Swimbaits...
-Keitech Fat Swing Impact 4.3 and 3.8: bit.ly/2ab7s8v
Colors: Chartreuse Blue, Crystal Shad, Goby, Smallmouth Magic
-Tactical Finesse Swimbait Head 3/8 oz: bit.ly/2Pqrq3n
-2.8 keitech Fat Swing Impact: bit.ly/2ab7s8v
Colors: Electric Shad, Pro Blue Red Pearl, Tennessee Shad
-Dirty Jigs 1/8 oz Guppy Head 1/0: bit.ly/2nyUJRS
-Megabass 3" Spark Shad: bit.ly/2XcLZk4
Colors: Purple Haze, Real, Silver Shad
-Megabass 1/16 oz Okashira Head: bit.ly/2EpluSA
-Megabass Dark Sleeper 2.4" and 3": bit.ly/2TyR1GT
Colors: Donko, Haze, Hanahaze Wakasagi
Spy Baits...
-Duo Realis Spin Bait 80: bit.ly/2oeVG1m
Colors: Ghost SX Shad, BK Ayu, Ghost Minnow
-Duo Realis Spin Bait 90: bit.ly/2nhw56N
Colors: Ghost Minnow, Purple Reign AM, Shiner AM
Hair Jigs...
-Outkast Tackle Feider Fly 3/32 (Black): bit.ly/2G7TBwj
Dropshot Worms...
-Big Bite Baits Smallie Smasher: bit.ly/2ZpCOCY
Colors: Chick Magnet, Green Pump Purp, Smoke Purp Flake
-Strike King Half Shell: bit.ly/2iR9awm
Colors: Morning Dawn, Magic, TW Green Pumpkin
Dropshot Rigging...
Light Wire Hook- Owner Mosquito Light (Size 1, 2): bit.ly/2zQVKx3
Medium Wire Hook- Trokar Dropshot (Size 1, 2): bit.ly/2ahxJOr
Tungsten Tie-On Weight- Swagger Tear Drop (3/16): bit.ly/37AVcrx
Tungsten Dropshot Weight- Swagger Tear Drop (3/16): bit.ly/2V2B63h
Tubes...
-Dry Creek Tournament Tube 3.5": bit.ly/2cJwI6r
Colors: Old Ugly, Mocha Copper Pepper, Crazy Eddie
-Big Bite Tour Tube 3.5": bit.ly/32e23VR
Colors: Tilapia, Green Pumpkin Purple Copper Flk
Tube Heads...
-Bite me 60 degree Flat Eye Head (3/16): bit.ly/2diyVXK
-Provider Tackle 90 degree (3/16): bit.ly/2OAvYRv
Z Man Ned Rig Baits...
-Z Man Finesse TRD: bit.ly/2hs4RtR
Colors: Green Pumpkin Goby, Canada Craw, Mud Bug
-Z Man TRD BugZ: bit.ly/2oiavEE
Colors: Green Pumpkin, Mud Bug, Hot Snakes
-Z Man TRD TicklerZ: bit.ly/2mGyDAC
Colors: Green Pumpkin Goby, Canada Craw, Mud Bug
Other Ned Rig Worms...
-Xzone Ned Zone stick Bait 3": bit.ly/2mRiYhF
Colors: 309, Green Pump Purple, Minnow Magic
-Roboworm Ned Worm 3": bit.ly/2j9F0Xy
Colors: Desert Craw, TW Black Blue Pumpkin
-Missile Baits Ned Bomb: bit.ly/2XCOGwd
Colors: Super Bug, Bluetonium Green Pumpkin Core
Ned Heads...
Tungsten- Swagger Flanders Head 1/6 oz: bit.ly/2KcIB6M
Lead- Z Man Ned LockZ HD Head: bit.ly/2kIgRYK
Stick Baits...
-5" Yamamoto Senko: bit.ly/2axAmNS
Colors: Baby Bass, Crushed Goby, Electric Worm
-5" Yum Dinger: bit.ly/2J8nMrF
Colors: Elders Magic, Green Pumpkin, Ozark Smoke
Stick Bait Rigging...
-G7 O-Rings 7MM: bit.ly/2PWEkUs
-G7 O Ring Tool: bit.ly/2PRMNrG
-Owner Jungle Wacky Weedless Hook: bit.ly/2VKZl9U
-Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap Hook: bit.ly/2aKGmHM
Tim's Favorite Keitech Combo...
Rod- G Loomis GLX 853C JWR: bit.ly/2gqziwT
Reel- Shimano Chronarch MGL HG: bit.ly/2n8DghB
Line- Sunline Sniper 12 lb Fluorocarbon: bit.ly/2p7fxju
Tim's Favorite Ultra-Finesse Combo...
Rod- Shimano Conquest 902S SJR: bit.ly/2BiGUNi
Reel- Shimano Exsence 3000: bit.ly/2iMtscV
Line- Sunline SX1 Braid 10 lb: bit.ly/2tn8EzQ
Leader- Sunline Sniper 6 lb Fluorocarbon: bit.ly/2p7fxju
Tim's Feider Combo...
Rod- Daiwa Tatula Elite AGS 7'6" ML: bit.ly/2QHupT9
Reel- Shimano Stradic CI4+ 2500: bit.ly/2gu84t7
Line- Sunline 6 lb Sniper Fluorocarbon: bit.ly/2p7fxju
NEW Tactical Bassin Apparel...
TacticalBassin Reaper Hoodie: bit.ly/2TwBWs7
TacticalBassin Shadow Hoodie: bit.ly/2FVD9Rs
TacticalBassin Sun Shirt: bit.ly/2TvFMBD
TacticalBassin Hooded Sun Shirt: bit.ly/38cVi9G
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!
#smallmouth #bassfishing #beginner
This is the best channel for learning how to use and fish with different lures. I’ve learned so much! Thank you for the content!
Hands down
For those of us that watch/follow UA-cam fishing channels, I always find your into music to be unmistakable. Not to mention that the content is always informative and helpful without acting like your “poop doesn’t stink”. Great work! Another great person to watch is Captain C.A. Richardson with Mirrolure. Although his videos are normally specific to Mirrolure tackle, he has a great demeanor and he shows you every detail of his retrieve style.
My only wish is that when you describe lures like the Okashira head, you talk about things such as where in the lake you fish it (deep, shallow,!around cover, etc.) your retrieve rate, do you let it sink some or start immediately retrieval, and when it may not be a good choice of lures. I fish an Okashira here is Texas, once there is moss, forget the Okashira, lol. But for rocky lakes, works great.
Excellent work and Tight Lines!
Thanks for the kind words. Most of the baits or techniques we talk about we usually have specific in depth videos that talk about the stuff you mentioned. Sometimes they are hard to find on UA-cam. If you go to our website and use the seach bar you will have better luck finding specific videos.
Tim: "Hang in there guys, almost done." Really? I could listen to you could talk smallies all day! Thank you! In WI here, and river smallies in particularly are especially strong and mean, and what's nice is the water is so dark in WI River, you can go straight braid. Neds, Keitechs are a must all season. BTW that was me calling on your phone!
Time to send TackleWarehouse more of my money. 👍👍👍
yes!
I grew and lived from a couple of miles to 1/2 mile from Lake Erie here in Ohio and fished since I was a little kid until illness stopped about 15 years ago. Smallies were always a blast to catch! Caught a lot of them in the 4 - 6 pound range.
Tim, I'm an avid smallyholic as well, but I don't view them as mean, rather a worthy adversary. You are spot on about they are sight feeders. As such they watch everything. I believe this causes them to become very subjective and aware of their surroundings. They will tolerate something a little out of normal if it might be lunch but, more than a little and the flag is raised! Their affinity for current builds them into great swimmers that will not tolerate being forced against their will. Just what we want in a sport fish. Always good to see your vids. Cheers!
My pb smallmouth (5lbs 3oz) came on a weightless, waky senko. Love your videos! Most informative content out there!
Just found this channel and I gotta' say...its fantastic stuff. While I enjoy the UA-cam fishing community, pretty much every channel just gives you the enjoyment of watching somone catch a fish. This channel on the other hand really focuses on information...technique/tactics, equipment, the WHY and HOW these fish are caught within the parameters of the video. It's great and keep it up, while I'm an avid angler, I don't pretend to have pro quality knowledge like sooooo many people do and Ive learned so muchfrom these videos.
I am so happy you made this specialized smallmouth video. My favorite bass species as well. The water temp in northern NY is still in the low to mid 40s, so it is frustrating. But things should pick up in 2 weeks. And the soothing sound of wind chimes in the background bumped this video up to the next level!
Glad you enjoyed it! The wind was ripping so I mic'd up. Didnt expect the chimes to be so loud lol.
Decided to try a river today and caught a 2.5 pound smally on a chartreuse and blue Keitech swimbait with a bottom weighted hook. Your tips work!
Dark Sleeper is SO VERSATILE it's unreel... : )
That was INCREDIBLE,and please don't apologize for the long video because the more you teach the more we learn 🤙🤙👊
Thank you Ken!
Great job Tim. Full of information as always. This is why Tactical Bassin is the place for fishermen in the know, to come to for tips and tricks on how to catch more, and bigger bass. Thanks Matt and Tim.
Well said Kyle....TB cuts to the chase and shares the best information on the what, when, why and where! Thanks so much for teaching me new techniques Tim & Matt!
Thank you Guys!
Yes!!!! Just what I needed!! I wanna break my weak smallie pb of 2.2lbs this year it’s one of my fishing resolutions! Thanks guys!
Literally exact same with me
When I am learning stuff about fishing, no video from you guys is too long. Ned Rig and Tube finesse fishing have fast become my favorite!
My type of video! Thanks Tim. Thats my water you showed. 30-40ft visibility. Indeed the Keitechs!
You should come up to Canada for some smallie fishing! They’re all over the place here and are incredibly tough!!
RassiOutdoors any spots near Toronto?
@@tejl8506 Lake Ontario
Southern British Columbia and Victoria Island Canada has monster Smallie’s and Largie’s
RassiOutdoors op pi our
this is perfect timing as i just got 8 Spro Phat Flies in today in 1/16th and 1/8th as this year i’m going back to my roots and mastering finesse and then mastering big swimbaits. I been fishing a T Rig for 3 years non stop it feels like and i’m not catching many fish and they aren’t big enough for me lol so i’m trying something new
That's what it's all about brother...
Mark Buckallew hell yeah!
Tim,
I'm an Iowa native, dirty pond fishing, from the bank or plastic boat. I scored access to a private, clear water, rock quarry. I was fishing it the other day, from shore, while using a Deeper Pro Plus, for fish finding and mapping. The fish were suspended out far enough i couldn't cast a lure out to them, but I could cast the Deeper out to them. They were suspended at 14'-18' in 28' of water. I remember thinking, if I were in a boat, and the fish were at 26' in 28'of water, the drop shot would be awesome. My question: since the fish were at 14'-18' in 28' of water, how would a person fish a drop shot or drop shot replacement to catch those bass? Maybe a a drop shot can't be used, due to the fish depth, but I thought I'd ask, how you'd fish them. Hope that question makes sense.
Thanks
Heavier Tokyo rig with a longer dripper wire might be worth a look.
Dont make it to complicated man. Use your front graph, get right over top of the fish to where the arches turn into long lines. Turn your refresh speed up on your graph. Play with your sensitivity settings. The hard part is getting your graph set up to video game fish. Once its right just drop down on em, if there suspended wind your drop shot up to your Mark's on graph.
Flukes, jerkbaits, swimbaits, anything that can be counted down really. Just depends on how active they are and if you can get a reaction bite out of them or not.
@@treyferguson7943 I've never dropshotted before, but I get your point. I was over thinking it. In my mind, the weight had to remain on the bottom. Aaaaaand I kinda feel like an idiot now, but I see the light. Thanks.
@@danthompson25 Ryan Epps fishing and fish the moment and Jacob wheeler all have great videos on video game fishing. Ryan Epps has a killer video on settings for video game fishing. And Johnny on fish the moment has a great video on it too. Grew actually shows marking fish winding up to marks and catching the fish. Awesome video. And Jacob wheeler has one or 2 I'm pretty sure, dont hold me to it but I think Jacob wheeler done the video im thinking about. Anyway. Yeah it works better for us if the weight is on bottom, because we normally can't see our bait on bottom so we have to feel where we're at and what bait is doing. Well if you get your traditional sonar set right you can see the fish and your bait so you know what's going on. You can see it on your graph. Fish don't care weight ain't on bottom as mutch as we do. Hope you have good luck with it man. Wear em out
Those xzone Ned baits are amazing. Added them to my arsenal this year.
TIM! WHAT ARE YOU DOING LMAO! YOU JUST GAVE AWAY EVERY SECRET FOR EVERY BAIT USED UP NORTH FOR SMALLYS! Lol. Awesome bro! You just nailed every go to bait for smallys up here in Upstate NY! Very very very good video man! Like I said, this is right up my ally. Perfect, everything you need to know for smallys.
Cant get enough of a good swimbait bite! smallies are absolutely insane!
the topic of large bass on light line an small baits ,I like clear water 6 ,8,10 # line makings for an exciting day of testing our skills on fish handling in heavy cover, they say don,t bring a knife to a gun fight, unless you have the skills. Great subject one I love .keep up the good work.
great video who does not love smallmouth forgot the curly tail grub .
An awesome video! Honestly I don't think I've caught a smallmouth bass since I was a kid. Hope I'll have so luck using some of these tips.
Smallmouth have always been my favorite. They fight so well and once you catch a good one even if it's smaller than a bass you know. My personal best is just over 2lbs from Lake Sonoma.
Smalls are my favorite to catch. Lake George in upper NY State, gin-clear mineral spring fed water. Jerkbait and Senkos. Amazing fight and when you see 2-3 other fish chasing the one you're reeling in....it's one heck of a day.
Got some Dark Sleepers in a bunch of sizes for this season of up-north bronzebacks. Pumped to try 'em out. Seems like the right mix between a jig and a swimbait.
5 minutes in and I've spent $48.71. Cool.
Too true!!
😂😂😂 🤦🏼♂️ I think that’s most of us.
Lmao wtf 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Wish DJ made a tactical Nojack swimbait head with an extra large hook, would love that for pike and musky fishing here in minnesota
and there goes my money, straight to tackle warehouse
The Salty Boat every damn week
I've watched hundreds of hours of videos from you guys and others about what to throw, when, where, why and how to throw it based on time of year, available structure/cover, water temp/clarity etc. I've been out 5 times in the past 6 weeks. The water temp ranged from 48-50 the first time out to 60-62 yesterday. The clarity and available structure/cover varied depending on the weather and the lake. So far I've caught 2 fish that were separated by 3 casts and about 20 feet. This fishing stuff is really frustrating....
Doug,
That's why it's called fishing AND not catching!!
@@markbuckallew4689 🤣🤣🤣 that always cracks me up
Tim, thanks for the great content as always. I wanted to ask your thoughts on the Tatula Elite vs the Destroyer Addermine for hair jigs and lighter finesse applications. I'm really hung up choosing between the two.
Cut a Zman TRD bugz in half the long ways and you now have a very good finesse drop shot bait that is the double the amount of what originally came in the pack. Looks very similar to the Strike King half shell also
You and Matt always have great content. So well organized and articulate. Thanks!
We appreciate that! Thank you!
I discovered smallmouth in the CA Delta. Not the biggest, but awesome topwater blow ups. They’re aggressive no matter how small they are. My favorite species to fish!
Learned the hair jig art from Brett Alexander! Caught my PB 5 pound smallie on it, and I just caught a 3.5 pound pre spawn largie on it!
Still the best youtube channel. Keep grinding them out! Fish Lake Champlain this year too!!
Hey Tim, ditto on the trd bugz. Has become my favorite this spring during the spawn!!
My biggest and most beautiful Sally was caught on a magnum superfluke on a 7 ought superline gamakatsu worm hook. The 7 fits it so well, was worried about the size but the fish handled it fine no problem.
I love those Guppy heads. I catch different species on them. Last week I caught a 4' 10lb (just a guess I never got to weigh it) Longnose Gar on the Guppy with a 2.8 Keitech. It was insane.
I love the look of the Ned bomb I just haven’t had a single bite yet on it. I’ll keep working it though. Roboworm ned rig is awesome!
This channel has helped me SO MUCH!! Thank you!
You are so welcome!
Good morning tactical family i hope everyone had an awesome weekend.
which head would you recommend for easy shiner ! i love them as much as fat impact , you should try them for smallmouth . Here up north in canada they did really well for me .
Smacked 27 smallies on a local river the other day with the tube while others anglers couldn't buy a bite! I now have a tube dedicated rod! Works amazing on largemouth also, just a different presentation that always gets bit it seems!
Hey guys just wanted to say that okashira screw lock combined with the use of the spark shad or the hazedongshad have been $$ for me catching big Kanawha Smallmouth.soft spybait action
Great Video Tim! Looking forward to throwing these baits on Dale Hollow.
Lots of these techniques you mentioned were good for clear water. My fishery in Oregon has really stained water, 1 to 3 feet of visibility at most. There are nice smallmouth in the lake, so how would you specifically target smallmouth with that kind of water clarity? Thanks!
You guys are the best teachers
why do you prefer the ghost or transparent lures? and thank you for the very informative videos
Thanks for the smallmouth content. I fish the super smallmouth waters of Minnesota.
Tim, excellent video. Love the Keitech. Caught my PB last fall on the 2.8" Ayu.
That is awesome!
Man, I sure would like to see you guys come to Portland to do some fishing since your so close. I wanna see how you guys tackle the Columbia and Willamette.
Really loving tube fishing lately. Gets me bites when nothing else will
Tacticalbassin you should come up to rainy lake/rainy river MN/Ontario to do some fishing, we have some monster smallies up here in northern MN. Awsome video.
The dark sleeper in the pink/clear color is smallmouth gold!
Caught limits of speckled trout and flounder out here in Texas on that megabass dark sleeper. One lure lasted all day with them toothy fish. Just bought 7 more on tackle warehouse.
I’m up here in Iowa and a couple weeks ago I was at a shallow pond and there was a bass not even a foot off of the shore that would chase off bluegills. I tried literally everything in my tackle box and he was there the rest of the week. Yet to catch a bass this year and I saw him so much that we named him George and he never bit anything or went for anything. Ideas for what to throw or just go for something else?
Nice a video right up my ally. YES!
When are you guys gonna go to Lake Amanor? This month is the month for giants!!!! See you guys up there!!!
Great video will have to try technique letting seniors sit before reeling it in
Do you or Matt know if Shasta has sculpin in it? I was hammering the Spots(and a few smallies) in the Pit Arm the other day and would have sworn I saw some Sculpin near the bottom in 8’ of water or so (visibility was about 20’).
Wish you would come out with a 1oz tactical finesse head!! For Crystal clear water that has heavy current!
Hmmmmm.... Interesting :)
Very informative video. Thanks
Love that Old Glory is flying in the video.
Great video Tim
You guys gotta fish the Susquehana River here in PA for some great smallie fishing.
Amazing content!! Question: Can you dropshot horizontally? From shore? I've never really tried dropshot before.
Yes with a swimbait. Works Great
Small what? Love, Florida.
Oof, fax bro!
Smallmouth bass, u prolly dont know cuz u r down south
Oh you know only the 1lb for 1lb hardest fighting freshwater fish ,you will learn what a real fight is some day lil feller,or you will keep tugging up logs(lmb) your loss either way
Do you have any issues getting the dark sleeper snagged? I find it sticks to wood and rocks still.
Great video! Love those smalljaws. I do have a question regarding your setup for the Keitech smaller swimbaits. When you use a spinning outfit which rod do you prefer? I saw you listed a casting rod under the equipment. What size line do you typically use? Thanks in advance for your response.
Totally depends on your budget. I like to use a 7'4" - 7'6" rod. The longer rod cast the lighter baits well and really plays the fish.
Can you guys do a video talking about how you choose what weight to use when you get to a body of water. I feel like 9 times out of 10 I'm throwing the wrong weight and I don't know it, I just know that I'm not catching fish
Somehow, not much people talk about it but mid-strolling is a killer...
I usually do it with gamakatsu 211 1/16oz and gambler shaky shad (cuz I cant get the stud)
The fishing has been really tough in maryland lately, plus we’re suppose to only fish for food which is nuts cuz how’s that preventing the spread? we all fish alone mostly , make it no fishing for fun on a boat with friends leave us freshwater guys alone
weird I know a lot of people who fish the flats and are smashing them.
Tom Egan if i had a boat i’m sure i would be crushing them on the flats in Havre De Grace as well....
but i live in pasadena and fish ponds
Beautiful deck bud awesome scenic view too! And is that wind chimes I hear in the background?
Thank you! The old deck needed some work. Lol yeah it was super windy so I put on a mic. I didn’t think it would pick up the sound and much as it did.
Yamamoto Hula grub on a shaky head is also great for smallmouth!
For smallmouth my go-to bait is a weightless Zoom Super Fluke in albino, glimmer blue or smokin shad. Throw that thing out and work it jus like a jerkbait. The smallmouth here in the New River in SW Va tear up a weightless fluke, my PB smallie is 6lbs 8oz
You guys ever been to Idaho to fish smallies? Many great lakes up here!
Any suggestions on other swimbait heads because they are not in stock until august 16
Favorite fish to target in New York!
Not even lying I caught my biggest smallmouth (6.3) on a Rebel Cricket Popper and I wasn’t even fishing it yet it was just sitting in the water. It’s a topwater panfish lure hahahaha
Awesome, i caught a 3 12 large on a rebel bumble bug with stock hooks and split rings.
I wonder if we could get a night time smallmouth video? The other night videos seem to focus largemouth.
Looking for a dedicated tube rod, what do you suggest from Loomis?
Don't sleep on the dark sleeper! Its a best seller for a reason. My lake is full of jagged rocks that snag basically everything. The dark sleepers slip right through almost everything and get bit! Large and smallmouth love em.
Hey tim is there a wind chime near you while recording? Either i hear one or its time for a CAT scan...
4:20 Fishing 😆😆😆😆😆😆
LOL! Yes The wind was ripping so I mic'd up. I didnt expect the windchime to be so prevalent in the video.
@@tacticalbassin its not annoying, it's actually quite nice. Kinda like a subtle bg music hahaha. I just wasnt sure if i was actually hearing it from the video
You guys ever try Bait Finesse System “BFS”? Adds another layer of fun to finesse fishing.
They haven't really. Generally leaning on the end that is borderline BFS without going into it, the lightest casting reel they have is an Aldy 30MGL with the lightest rod being the 852 NRX or 842 Conquest.
Tim. Why the change from braids to flouro leader?
Which of these techniques would be recommended for river smallies?
Swimbait on a heavier head
Been on the hunt for a New PB smallie!
Any tips for us is the Dakotas where the water temp is still 40-50 degrees
Are you guys going to sell the hats TacticalBassin you wear. Look awesome
Tim what weight should I use for the dark sleeper
Diggin the beard
Thanks for sharing
What do you think about googan baits like an honest opinion
If you really love a soft tube, I am a smallmouth fanatic that’s all I fish for if I have the choice and fish finesse 95% of the time, check out cabin creek tubes they are hands down the best I’ve used you can even find them in 25 packs, and previously 100 packs but they quit carrying those I believe but they are awesome and if you call them I have been told they will do custom orders if you decide you want a large enough quantity if you decide you want a custom color etc.. can’t brag on this company enough they are the only tube I pick up anymore and very easy to work with I gave them a call the other day explained I wanted 100 each of two different colors and the guy even gave me 15% off my order because of the amount I wanted
Have you tried the duo realis 72 Alfa
Holy crap you're growing a beard, Tim! So proud lol
LOL! This whole "shelter in place" stuff is getting to me
Ned rig hula stick is a smalkies killer....mepps agillia numb.4. ..twister tails....all produce.
Smallmouth are awesome!