My Secret Smallmouth Bait! Nobody does this!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ต.ค. 2024
- Here is one of my secret smallmouth baits that nobody uses as far as I know. I’ve been doing this for years and have won a lot of money on this!
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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 six MLF Championships and won roughly a half million in tournament winnings at the professional level. - กีฬา
Matt, dude, hands down,, you are one of the best fishing instructors on the web! Thanks for all of the videos!
Thanks for the compliment!
I do something similar, I tie 1/8 or 1/4 max marabou in lower end of my fluorocarbon leader and 1/4 bullet style sinker on the top of the leader with beet and swivel (Carolina Rig), I so happy with the results, I am in Great Lakes area by the way . Thank you for sharing your idea and I am going to try it.
Go for it!
You ought to take up fly fishing and fly tying. Super fun!
Id love it!
I just stumbled onto your channel and thus is the 1st video. Thank you for sharing and giving back to the fishing community. I'm new to fishing smallmouths and I need to learn a lot about fishing smallies. My previous fishing state was mostly largemouths. Also I am a bank fisherman so I hope you have some videos for us guys too. I subscribed too.
glad you like it!
Oh no! ...there you did it Matt! Not sure why you put this out there! I was tying those 15 yrs ago, for smallies on Erie and St. Clair! ....use an 01412 Gami worm hook , and tied a few strands of 3" bucktail in the middle, then maribou on top at the head like yours ....worked great!
Yeah this is a sleeper!
Mr. Stefan, You are now touching on the most productive fly for all species in the history of fly fishing- the Wooly Bugger. This method allows the bait caster a means to utilize this bait. With its elongated body, palmered with hackle it is a fantastic fish catching leach imitation responsible for countless bass, trout and steelhead ( the latter especially with an egg tied in front of it). Based on decades of success you should try a black or olive bugger tied on a number six streamer hook available at any fly shop or easily tied yourself.
I'm an inveterate fly fisherman so I will leave this to you.
Best of luck,.
Thanks for the great information! So much to be learned from fly fisherman and something I need to do more of!
@@MattStefanFishing White marabou with a bit of flashabou makes a great minnow imitation as well.
I do that! Great way to fish! Spanish love it in smaller size!
Good to know!
As a fly fisherman tying my own lures but now starting to bass fish also from my kayak this is awesome. Maribou had caught me plenty of steelhead trout but never thought of it catching bass! Niceeeee
Good stuff
12:30 PM 1/22/24 Thanks so much for all your tips and advice, Matt. Your videos are helping me a lot with my fishing and this Drop Shot/Maribou tip is great 👍 😊
In addition to keeping the jig the right distance off the bottom, the drop shot set up will also get it to the bottom quicker and you'll feel when it hits the bottom. Brilliant tip and I can understand why you were hesitant to share this one. Thanks for sharing, I fish in Michigan and I'm sure I'll be trying this soon.
Thanks!
I bought some dry flies from Amazon a year ago because I thought they looked cool, however, I’m not a fly fisherman. Then one day it occurred to me that I could drop shot these and they might be deadly on smallmouth. I still haven’t tried it but I’m definitely going to now. Thanks for giving me the confidence to go out and just do it. Cheers Matt.
Right on!
Matt, you vids are the best. You are easy to understand and your tips are uncluttered by ego and advertising.(although it is clear your faves on tackle, it comes across as very informative, a better way to sell in IMHO!) You have become my favorite by a long shot. Keep up the good work sir!
Awesome! thanks for the kind words!
The Marabou jig is phenomenal on a drop shot
it is!
I go the other way, I'm from Hawaii we use a 1/2 oz to 3 oz plastic clear bubbles and have the bait suspended or trailed behind the bubble, this premise is like fish are feeding top water when retrieved fast its called "Whipping" it's a fast retrieve and lots of splashing like fish feeding in a frenzy.
You can fill the clear bubble full to no water as well to control the depth, a slow retrieve, and slow retrievewill keep it suspended and no weight to dispurb anthing on the bottom.
I'll try your idea as well this spring.
Thanks for sharing
Word. Wise words. Nothing beats experience. Same applies to any industry.
thanks!
Man that's a brilliant idea
thanks!
I'm headed up to WI in a few days. I'll have to give this a try. Esp the Malibu dropshot.
Its crushing them right now with this cold weather!
I’ve been thinking of doing this for awhile now. I’m definitely gonna try it now that you confirmed it. I fish with guys that are very reluctant to try new things.
Go for it!
Tied my first drop shot baits this way in 2001. Scent is easy to add. But started with store bought sculpin and woolly bugger patterns. if needed spun them on the hook so the hook was up.
very cool!
Holy crap bro! I'm gonna try that! Thanks for sharing again!
No problem!
Great tip!! There are a lot of great fly fishing flies that work great on spinning gear. Muddler minnows, Wooly Buggers, clousers. Just gotta come up with creative ways of rigging them so you can cast 'em.
agreed!
Can you please do a ‘how to tie a marabou jig or Dropshot hook’?
one of my first videos ever th-cam.com/video/muxv8gVrRSc/w-d-xo.html
I’ve been doing it myself since three years haven’t seen anybody doing it until I watched your video excellent tip it does catches fish 💯 keep up the good work
Great to hear!
Love it, I shop the reel shot all the time. GREAT GREAT store!
awesome
With temps dropping I would definitely try this
Go for it!
At this day and time nothings a secret very long, I appreciate your willingness to share look Forward to your videos 🙏
Thanks for watching!
you give more tips than anyone on youtube thank you. i don't know where i would find that without weight i have looked
Thanks!
Randy Blaukaut recently put out some videos about doing this with a swimbait. I would have never thought to do this with marabou. Great tip
Glad I could help
Great tip. I'm thinking spotted bass will go for it too.
Go for it!
Huh! I’m going to have to try that! 🤔
yep!
Great idea. I will definitely try this. Will also try with a heavy maribou jig as the drop shot weight to double up on the attraction.
Great idea!
Glad you think so!
I am a huge user of maribu jigs for small mouth . They work great and this tip is going to be a killer. Thanks for sharing
it is killer!
You come up with the best rigs. Nicely done
Thanks 👍
I started this a couple of years ago myself. I thought I was the only one doing it. I really appreciate your channel for the tricks I learn; the trade off is that some of my secrets is now out. It is a give and take. The tips in your channel is second to none. Thank you for your help.
Thanks for watching!
Wow what a video,being a fly guy and spinning tackle fisherman you just opened both tackle boxes great stuff!
Thanks! I love thinking out of the tackle box! Haha
Now I see why my jig tier included two small hooks with black Maribou skirts!
Nice!
Mixing baits with different rigging weight techniques is an amazing idea, much obliged for sharing your experience learned over the years, ty very much.
Glad it was helpful!
Man that's awesome I started tying these last year to give them something different to look at. I love throwing marabou for smallies. I didnt know anyone else was doing it till now 👌🏻
they work great!
Thanks alot for this! I am going to try it, my normal smallmouth go-to is the jerkbait and I kinda made it a goal this year to step out of my comfort zone and this fits the bill!
Try it!
New subscriber……. Love the channel ….. going to make some of these this winter for my trips to St Clair and Erie ……. Thanks for sharing
Welcome aboard!
That looks deadly thanks Matt!
You bet!
Have you ever tipped that Maribou hook with a small drop shot worm? It’s got the wheels turning in my head 😅
yep and it oes work!
I have just really started fishing and am so grateful for all the tips and tricks you share as well as any others! It's not easy to figure out what to do when to do it or how to use it...
Glad to help!
I'm definitely one of those guys that can follow advice, word for word, and not catch anything... I'll try this tip too.
Good luck!
This is definitely a great fish catcher! I use a few different hooks, but the best I have found for this specifically. Is the stand out drop shot hook. You definitely let the cat out of the bag on this one. Hopefully none of my competition sees this!
Sorry about that
I fish hair jigs in below 40 degree water. I'm all over rivers in W.V. we fish it on bottom very slow it's a smallie killer for sure. I'll look in to it. I tie mine with some purple on the back. Give that purple a try smallmouth love purple an black. Good luck bud!! Fish on
Good tip! My buddy Jeff Gussy Gustafson always puts a little purple in his as well!
Love this, I've been doing something similar with a wooly bugger out in colorado for winter trout (water doesn't freeze completely where I'm at :) ) Definitely gunna have to get me some maribou to tie on to some dropshot hooks for both smallies and trout. Thanks man, love your channel, especially being born and raised in Wisconsin 👍🏼.
Awesome! thanks for watching!
Great idea. Thanks Maw bass.
You bet!
Great share!! Man makes my wheels start spinning! Think through all these other techniques and how I might be able to blend them. I do have one example that I probably shouldn’t share but you motivated me by sharing this video. Ever wanted to fish a small profile squarebill at deeper depths? Try putting it on a Carolina rig! It allows you to fish a smaller profile crankbait in deeper water!
Love it!
Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge. Love your tips.
No problem!
I agree wholeheartedly. You can tell us the baits, rigging, etc., but you can’t put us on the fish. That is the equalizer!
Yep!
Thanks Matt, awesome info!
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for the bait share. I fish where smallmouth live, I still struggle getting them to bite 🤷🏼♂️.
No problem 👍
@@MattStefanFishing yeah, my buddies whackin SM all over the lake, I couldn’t catch one with a gill net 🤷🏼♂️ I have a custom jig maker making me some 1/2 oz jigs with Maribou and rubber. Going to give those a try.
If you can’t get smallmouth to bite, try a NED rig, it puts more smallmouth in the boat for me year after year, that and a drop shot. Use a finesse TRD on the NED with a drop of super glue, you can catch 20 on one bait.
Thanks Matt great tips as always
My pleasure!
That's freaking awesome 👍
thanks!
Thank you for sharing this is an awesome idea! I have never tried it but I will have to soon. I hope you are doin well!
Thanks!
Haven't ever caught a small mouth but would love to I bet it would work on large and spots definitely thanks will remember this for the future
Yep! White marabou works well on spots!
Awesome tip
Glad you liked it
@@MattStefanFishing I live in Maine and we have some great smallmouth fishing and mixing a hair jig with the drop shot will be great. Awesome tip like I said. Just wish I had thought of that years ago. Thanks again
I've tried this myself a few years back, and yeah it really does come with all the benefits listed in this video. One thing though has made this a "break glass" technique for me. The darn marabou gets fouled on the main line SUPER easy. Have you, or anyone else on here, found a way to mitigate this? The only think is been able to come up with is applying a cement or resin to the body, sort of like one of Popovic's hollow flies. I did a couple up like this using softex on the body, and while it DID help with the fouling issue, it definitely hampered the action of the marabou. Any thoughts?
I really didnt have that issue with it fouling on the line
🤯🤯 way to think outside the box 💪💪
THanks!
Matt thank you, for the great information when you finish the memorable jig do you ever run a trailer on it? Do you use any other colors?
I like black but will use purple, brown and green pumpkin as well. I will use a small chunk of plastic on the hook shank to add weight for casting distance but nothing sticks out of the marabout
Lol don't tell em all the secrets now hoss. Lmao naw man that's a good one there y'all should check out tying some up in olive as well as black. I also like a coffee brown color. Depending on how you build your jig you can use it for bottom dragging or swimming. That's on you
Thanks!
I've never shared that I drop shot my dark colored Wolly Bugger steelhead flies for smallies. Well Matt, that cat is out of the bag! 🤦🏼🤦🏼♂️🤯😁
Sorry!
This is awesome i have Marabou...what size hook would you recommend.
1/0
Thanks Matt. Is it just a spring thing or does it come into play in the fall.
better in the spring but works year round
Wow great stuff...what is your go to knot for tying the jig to the drop shot? Thank you have a great and safe weekend.
I like the fisherman’s knot
Now thats a nice tip.
Thanks
Matt - Do you know of any shops that sell drop shot hooks with marabou hair?
nope...i tie all my own
I tie marabou jigs, and fish them with a marabou dropper above. 😉
Nice!
Good stuff Matt
Thanks!
Super sneaky.😊
works so good!
@@MattStefanFishing I can't wait to try it. Thanks for sharing.
You can cast a drop shot better than a weighted hair jig? I’d buy you a beer
Yep
Is this suitable for winter smallmouth fishing?
Yea
There’s at least two people doing this 😎
I tie as a small side business and this is a well kept secret for sure. I’ve had success with Spots and LM as well, you?
It works for everything, but its candy to smallmouth! I'm sure there are guys doing it. I've just never met or heard of anyone. It makes to much sense not to.
Matt, Thank you for these videos and the work you do. Question; will this work in the fall? I am fishing a tournament on a clear water lake in the fall and was wondering if this would work. Once again thank you and keep up the great work.
yep!
Awesome!,
thanks!
Ha...hah...... sneaky bugger you are.... Great tip.
Thanks!
Hey do you think that the marabou jig drop shot would work on small mouth bass in Tennessee like up north
i know it does. cumberland smallmouth love it!
Thanks Matt: I have always had the maribo jigs in my boat, but have been hesitant to use them due to hanging up on the bottom. The drop shot seems to me to be an excellenty alternative. I'm heading up to Sturgeon Bay soon and intend to try them both.
It catches the fire out of them there!
Hey Matt would they same setup work on Kentucky lake during spawn?….would it work for both largies and snallies?
Thx
Really like your yt channel
thanks it will catch them everywhere
The marabou jigs is also a favorite. This is very interesting. So, with an increase in casting length, how long of a leader do you find is best to keep it up off the bottom in the strike zone? And I'm assuming weight depends on depth of water? And that weight dragging behind doesn't seem to make the fish leary? Sorry, too many questions.
i generally go with a longer leader 24-36"
You can buy marabou for dirt cheap at craft stores.
yep!
Wow, awesome tip your giving away here, so thankful there are pros like you willing to share these tips. One question, I live in Missouri and was wondering if you think this set up would work at Table Rock lake and is it only for pre spawn fish or could you use post spawn through summer? Thanks again.
I haven't used it on table rock but I've caught smallies all over on it including Lake Mead in Nevada so my guess is it will work just fine. Its definitely better prespawn but I catch smallies year round on marabou.
@@MattStefanFishing Thanks so much
I'm all the way here in Florida and even though it's strictly largemouth, I do use small mouth baits to trick finicky ones to bite. 🤓
They catch largemouth too!
@@MattStefanFishing you are the man! Hands down I love the videos brother. My best friend who I fish with for salt water species and bass is from Wisconsin 💪 maybe one day you can come down and we'll take you shark fishing! 😉 or maybe a snook! They are the salt water version of a largemouth bass lol.
Thanks Matt this is why I watch your videos learning something every day . Also smash walleye with it to from Ohio
Thanks!
What Ned bait is that on the top left? It looks sort of like a tube but i don’t think it is.
biwaa armor craw 3"
Good job👍👍👍
Thanks!
Thank you for this excellent seminar.
I have no tying equipment. Do you know a source where I can purchase the tied maribu hook?
Unfortunately not. I tie all my own. All you need is a thread bobbin and marabou and you can make it work...it’s a mess but you can do it
BPS and Cabela's have the Marabou jigs in a bunch of different colours. I've found them at a couple of other local shops in my area too (Canada).
You can buy Black Wooly Boogers and Leeches at most fly shops or online. Get larger sizes, obviously.
What size drop shot hook do you recommend? I’m new to smallmouth fishing.
depends on the bait but i like size 1
Hi Matt, was that a Fusion 19 drop shot hook size #1 or 1/0 you use
I use the size 1/0
Hi Matt, looks like there are different selections for marabou, like blood quills, select plumes, strung blood quills, strung pin feathers, etc. Does it matter which?
Less quill and more feather is what you want. All will work but the softer/finer stuff is the best
@@MattStefanFishing Thank you very much. Thank you very much for the timely response. It looks to me like you respond to every question on your channel that is very cool!
I just looked again and saw that you answered every question? Kudos! Your channel has just become number one for me! Have a great day!
Great stuff.... 🔥
Thanks!
What about drop shoting a marabow jig
the weight on the head doesnt work nearly as well
Matt great job on explaining and showing fishermen new and different ways to catch fish thanks have a great Day and holidays
Is the a spring time only technique or would it work in the late summer too?
Works year round
Would this work with an 1/8 oz marabou jig? My dad died a few years ago and I found 3 store display racks of them in his tackle box. He was terrible at fishing, and I have no idea why he bought so many black 1/8 Oz marabou jigs, so I thought it would be nice to catch a bunch of smallies with them. Would the weight cause a problem with the technique?
it wouldnt work as well but im sure it could work in some situations. only one way to find out.
Great tip! Do you have a preferred hook size?
1/0 or 2/0. you can hide a decent hook in the marabou fluff
Do you ship fishing tackle to Canada?
No, sorry
What size dropshot weight do you like for this? 10-20 feet of water
1/4
I have a dumb question. I've just started using a batecaster so I'm really new at it. So my question is what's the best type of line to use for a batecaster? No mater what type of line I use I seam to end up with a lot of back lashes. I braided line because it want brake and don't tangle at all. Or could it just be me. I'm thinking batecaster just ain't for me.
Braid is probably the easiest to use with a baitcasters in my opinion.
@@MattStefanFishing thanks
Unfortunately Travis Manson let this out of the bag a few years ago and some people mad over it . It was a well kept Secret for a long time .
yes it has been...most people still dont know about it
@@MattStefanFishing oh Travis should have just kept that one quiet 🤫.. lol