I retired a few years ago and got hooked on fishing. Your channel provides excellent info on a variety of topics, especially for upper Midwest anglers. Keep up the great work
Matt thanks for this video. I had asked you a while ago about using an Ozark with a speed worm and you said at that time it would be great. I fished that exact set up in my league team tournament this past Sunday. It worked great. I caught all of my fish with a Zoom UV speed worm on an Ozark rig. Love the Ozark
Awesome video Matt!! Thanks for passing on those tips on how to fish the Ozark Rig!!!! Now to put the lesson to work!!! Best to you on the James River!!!! Stay Safe & God Bless!!! 🤠👍
ordered some more sizes recently and have been dedicating a lot of my fishing time gaining confidence in the Ozark Rig. Having a lot of fun fishing this rig. Small shapes and the stroke have been my most successful retrieves.
Finally got to go throw the Ozark again this evening. Refining my rigging of the bait and using a Pit Boss instead of the Reaction Spicy Beaver took care of the issue I had with the bait sliding up the line, off of the hook shank/eye. Only got to throw it from the bank for maybe 20 minutes before dark and didn’t catch anything. Had what felt like a few bluegill tapping the appendages of the Pit Boss. But refining how I rigged the bait totally made it a pleasure to work. Zero grass and weeds between the bait and hook, and it never separated from the rig. It was definitely a me problem the first time I tried it. 😎👍
Matt, The Ozark Rig is flat out catching bass for me. I fish from a 17' BassTracker boat. I use 10 rod & reels, 3 of the 10 have the Ozark Rig tied on. I'm using the 1/8oz. 4/0 for all of these baits. My best bait is the 6" BPS Stick-O (GP blue flake), BBB 5" Jerk Minnow (SMF pearl belly) & Jackall Rhythm Wag 4.5" (SS shad). You need to try this last one. I'm fishing main lake points 3' to 10' deep. When you think you have caught all of them with other methods, I throw the Ozark Rig and start catching them again, and it might be the biggest bass in the school. MB (NE KS - NW MO area)
I love the BPS Stick-O. When things slow down, they usually will take some more fish. When I tell other fishermen about Stick-Os they usually think I’m kidding. That’s their loss.
I had mentioned this before , that head is very similar to the Weed Edge. But it has a screw for the bait which I like the Looks of the Core better . I’m a Free Rig guy when I fish plastic . But this Ozark rig has my attention . Looks like I’m going to have to dig out my worming rod & reel. I’ll have to order up some Ozarks and give them a shot. Cool video …
I have some googan rattlin chunk craws arriving today and I’m going to try them on the ozark rig 1/8 2/0. But I’m thinking your creature hawg would look and glide better but maybe a glass rattle inserted may help make your combo even better. Going to try it out soon.
Excellent explanation of the Ozark rig use. Lure has been a bit difficult to use; however, many rigs in my tackle box. Can you share what line and weight you use with the Ozark rig? Thank you again.
Flip a 3/16/w a pit boss and a creature hawg in a pool and watch the action. The glide radius was twice that of the hawg. Therefore allowing for a nice STROKE off the bottom.
I'm going on a smallmouth trip to Traverse Bay with my nephew in late July. He has been to Sturgeon Bay across the lake several times and had good success there. Could we expect the fishing to be similar (depths, lures used, etc.) at Traverse?
Good Vid Matt . I must be one of the 10% 😂 . Have a bunch of rigs and couple new sizes on their way through TW . Creature works well as a bait and rigging a General too , give a nice Wag to the tail on the drop . Pool tested 😎 😂👍
I have been using the Ozark rig all year in every size i use them like the first one i cast it out there let it hit the bottom i snapped the rod and let it just glade right down there has not been a fishing day i have not caught fish on them
Matt, brother I trust you so much that I should be sponsored by core tackle. 😂 I buy every item you guys make. And multiple sizes of those items. I have yet to buy any of the swim jigs but..... It's on a list. I'm currently restoring an old astroglass bass boat so I'm low on funds. Lol.
Matt I know the champion bass boat are great restoration boats… couple of my friends and a cousin restored some… also the tactical bassin guys have restored a couple of them. Very stable and reliable bass boats… thinking about finding one to do myself..
@@MattStefanFishing Randy don't even have a boat. 😂. Apparently it's a sponsor problem with him. He thinks he is better than everyone on everything. I have 12 year olds I Coach that have better sportsmanship and knowledge
LMAO, "hate mail" about....fishing. Society's winners announcing their presence. OMG, you fish leftie. Does that mean I have to reverse everything you say? LOL
I retired a few years ago and got hooked on fishing. Your channel provides excellent info on a variety of topics, especially for upper Midwest anglers. Keep up the great work
Awesome, thank you!
Matt thanks for this video. I had asked you a while ago about using an Ozark with a speed worm and you said at that time it would be great. I fished that exact set up in my league team tournament this past Sunday. It worked great. I caught all of my fish with a Zoom UV speed worm on an Ozark rig. Love the Ozark
Glad to help!
Awesome video Matt!! Thanks for passing on those tips on how to fish the Ozark Rig!!!! Now to put the lesson to work!!! Best to you on the James River!!!! Stay Safe & God Bless!!! 🤠👍
You bet!
ordered some more sizes recently and have been dedicating a lot of my fishing time gaining confidence in the Ozark Rig. Having a lot of fun fishing this rig. Small shapes and the stroke have been my most successful retrieves.
snaps not shapes
Awesome!
Video couldn't have come at a better time! Just received my Ozark hooks from Tackle Warehouse. Thanks Matt
Good luck!
Finally got to go throw the Ozark again this evening. Refining my rigging of the bait and using a Pit Boss instead of the Reaction Spicy Beaver took care of the issue I had with the bait sliding up the line, off of the hook shank/eye.
Only got to throw it from the bank for maybe 20 minutes before dark and didn’t catch anything. Had what felt like a few bluegill tapping the appendages of the Pit Boss.
But refining how I rigged the bait totally made it a pleasure to work. Zero grass and weeds between the bait and hook, and it never separated from the rig. It was definitely a me problem the first time I tried it. 😎👍
thanks for following up
I will be taking the Ozark rig with me to Florida in a couple weeks. First Christmas in Florida.
You will love it!
Matt, The Ozark Rig is flat out catching bass for me. I fish from a 17' BassTracker boat. I use 10 rod & reels, 3 of the 10 have the Ozark Rig tied on. I'm using the 1/8oz. 4/0 for all of these baits. My best bait is the 6" BPS Stick-O (GP blue flake), BBB 5" Jerk Minnow (SMF pearl belly) & Jackall Rhythm Wag 4.5" (SS shad). You need to try this last one. I'm fishing main lake points 3' to 10' deep. When you think you have caught all of them with other methods, I throw the Ozark Rig and start catching them again, and it might be the biggest bass in the school. MB (NE KS - NW MO area)
the Ozark Is so good!
I love the BPS Stick-O. When things slow down, they usually will take some more fish. When I tell other fishermen about Stick-Os they usually think I’m kidding. That’s their loss.
Thanks Matt for your presentation of fishing retrieves.
I know that larger bass prefer a slower retrieve because they are smarter & not as aggressive.
You bet!
Great information thanks Matt
Any time!
The 3/16 oz with the Zman Fattyz has been a good combination for me , I appreciate the retrieve video.
Awesome!
I had mentioned this before , that head is very similar to the Weed Edge. But it has a screw for the bait which I like the Looks of the Core better . I’m a Free Rig guy when I fish plastic . But this Ozark rig has my attention . Looks like I’m going to have to dig out my worming rod & reel. I’ll have to order up some Ozarks and give them a shot. Cool video …
give it a try!
I have everything that Core Tackle offers, including all the jigs. They are in my rotation of lures for sure.
Nice!
I have some googan rattlin chunk craws arriving today and I’m going to try them on the ozark rig 1/8 2/0. But I’m thinking your creature hawg would look and glide better but maybe a glass rattle inserted may help make your combo even better. Going to try it out soon.
give it a try!
Thanks Matt, and yes in my box
Nice!
Good video Matt, great tips 👍
Thanks 👍
Excellent explanation of the Ozark rig use. Lure has been a bit difficult to use; however, many rigs in my tackle box.
Can you share what line and weight you use with the Ozark rig?
Thank you again.
I like 15 lb fluorocarbon
Thank you so much for taking time to respond Matt.
Thanks Matt
Thanks for watching
Thank you
You're welcome
Going to pick up some Ozark rigs today. How do you think it would do in lily pads?
Works great
Matt, l want to get some of the Ozark Rigs soon. Is there a particular hook size you would recommend for your standard worms and creature baits?👍👍👍
4/0 hook 3/16 oz weight
I got mine, love them
awesome!
Flip a 3/16/w a pit boss and a creature hawg in a pool and watch the action. The glide radius was twice that of the hawg. Therefore allowing for a nice STROKE off the bottom.
Yep!
Sooo… are there going to be tungsten versions? Maybe? Hopefully?
I hope so in the future
Can you use a spinning-rods with the ozark rig?
Yes
I'm going on a smallmouth trip to Traverse Bay with my nephew in late July. He has been to Sturgeon Bay across the lake several times and had good success there. Could we expect the fishing to be similar (depths, lures used, etc.) at Traverse?
yep!
Good Vid Matt . I must be one of the 10% 😂 . Have a bunch of rigs and couple new sizes on their way through TW . Creature works well as a bait and rigging a General too , give a nice Wag to the tail on the drop . Pool tested 😎 😂👍
Right on!
what bait would you use on the potomac river
chigger craw or creature hawg
@@MattStefanFishing thank you
Hey Matt will you make one for dropshot? Btw im one off those in the 90% working toward the 10%
maybe in the future
I have been using the Ozark rig all year in every size i use them like the first one i cast it out there let it hit the bottom i snapped the rod and let it just glade right down there has not been a fishing day i have not caught fish on them
Good stuff
Are you using a 5/0 or a 4/0 hook with that creature bait?
4/0
Appreciate it
Matt, brother I trust you so much that I should be sponsored by core tackle. 😂 I buy every item you guys make. And multiple sizes of those items. I have yet to buy any of the swim jigs but..... It's on a list. I'm currently restoring an old astroglass bass boat so I'm low on funds. Lol.
I'm the same way. I actually live in the same town as Johnny, but I don't think I fish good enough to get a sponsorship yet.😅
@@Nate_Higgins😅
Id like to restore a boat at some point!
@@MattStefanFishing it's a fun project. And when finished it's going to be amazing. Just how I wanted it to be.
Matt I know the champion bass boat are great restoration boats… couple of my friends and a cousin restored some… also the tactical bassin guys have restored a couple of them. Very stable and reliable bass boats… thinking about finding one to do myself..
I’ve noticed you sometimes use a left handed retrieve reel and sometimes a right handed retrieve
Is there a specific reason for this
yep i prefer some techniques with specific hands but at this point can use either equally as well
The ozark rig jig hook is okay; i still prefer "Free Rig" any day
I respectfully disagree
I have them on my box
Sounds good
👍👍👍👍👍
Thanks for watching!
I don't have any.
you should get some!
Why are you and Randy always at 90
its the name of the series
@@MattStefanFishing Randy don't even have a boat. 😂. Apparently it's a sponsor problem with him. He thinks he is better than everyone on everything. I have 12 year olds I Coach that have better sportsmanship and knowledge
LMAO, "hate mail" about....fishing. Society's winners announcing their presence. OMG, you fish leftie. Does that mean I have to reverse everything you say? LOL
haha