The majority of anglers fish a crankbait wrong. Use these retrieves to increase your success on the water and catch more big bass!
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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 seven MLF Championships and won over a half million in tournament winnings at the professional level.
One of the best advice I heard some years ago was "You cannot reel faster than a fish can swim." and I'm always thinking about it. Those crankbait retrieves will for sure be put to good use! Especially the dragging part, feels like the jig will take a break for a little bit hehe..!
absolutely right. if the fish want it they will be able to get it
@@MattStefanFishing Depends on how badly they want it. If it's hot or cold, if they're full or empty, if there's easier, slower bait around them, if there's not. A fish is no different than any other creature; the more difficult you make it for them, the less likely they are to chase down their food. Just like you don't have to be faster than the chasing bear, you just have to be faster than the slowest man in the group. Your lure doesn't have to be slower than the bass but has to be slower than the bait around it.
@@partner348 Paying attention to what type of bait is around and how energetic/lethargic they are was the best advice anyone ever gave me. But it is certainly still true that the fish can swim faster than you can reel. Can and will are different things though.
@@partner348 or faster fish don't get a good look at yer bait or have time to think about eatin it they just do its called a reaction bite
@@partner348 No one will ever beat your arguments, however it would be even stronger the way I read it " Just like you don't won't be chasing the beer!"
I'm glad you suggested these were summertime retrieves. I've had some epic size and numbers days, using an incredibly slow and steady retrieve, prespawn. Thanks for the video. Keep up the good work.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Matt. I do those and a couple more. I of my favorites is letting a crank float a little after contact and sweeping the rod hard. Works for me. Good luck on your next tournament.
Great tip!
Genius Matt. Ive watched hundreds of fishing videos and ive never seen anyone do those last 2 retrieves. Im a big squarebill fan so cant wait to try these. The bite is finally good here now.
Awesome!
Quality info Matt! I may have missed this type of info on other channels, but I for one have never seen these specific tips (with an actual demonstration) before. Thanks!
you bet!
@@MattStefanFishing I go up every year for two weeks mid July. About 5 miles from springstead. I don’t know where your tournaments are next month but if you’re in the area and need a steak and and old fashioned to get those batteries recharged. Don’t hesitate. I live in central Wisconsin. Good luck and cash some checks. 💪🏼💲
Nailed it Matt. Number two is one I’ve used for lockjaw bass. A DD22 or 6XD In 12-15 feet of water off a current break has been a summer time killer. Thanks for the videos. Godspeed
Thanks for sharing!
Man I really appreciate your tips. I am trying to get into crankbait fishing this year. I honestly always used the steady reel retreave and your right you catch a few here and there but not as often as you would your way I'm definitely gonna give it a try a huge thanks!!
thanks for the support!
I am really loving your "retrieves" series. As someone still trying to learn bass fishing and up my game to a new level this is one of the main things I need to learn. Please keep going with this series. I would also like you to put these "retrieve" videos in a "How To Retrieve" playlist because I will be going back and rewatching them until I get the retrieves down. Great job & thanks!
Glad you like them!
@@MattStefanFishing If I was going to fish for reaction strike I would definitely use a spinner
Thanks Matt. I was doing the stop start this past year on fish located on flats...catching them good...my partner thought I was crazy...till a couple of the bites nearly tore the rod out of my hand! Another great video!
They hit it so hard!
Will definitely be using these techniques, need to up my crank bait knowledge and techniques as I don't have much knowledge in that area yet. Thank you for the great hands on tutorial
you bet!
This is a great demonstration video and you are right, these do really work! I was fortunate enough to get to know someone who fished tournaments and he told me about stuff like this. Thanks for this great video and I hope that you do well in your upcoming tournament!! :)
Glad it was helpful!
I haven’t been fishing yet this year but going to start back soon. I’ve watched a lot of your retrieve videos before but recently have been watching them again to refresh my memory. Can’t wait to get back out fishing again. Thanks for these videos they’re great!
Awesome
Matt, I appreciate the video a lot. I have tried in the past to remember to vary my retrieve but your video really brought it home today. Especially the first retrieve mentioned. I have often said I think I reel to slow and today prove it to me. After watching your video I loaded up my 3 favorite KVD 1.5's and hit Grand Lake with the mission to "speed crank" Nailed a good limit of fish quickly. Just for extra reinforcement of the skill I purposely slowed to my natural retrieve after catching the 5 and didnt get another bite for an hour. First cast after going back to your "rip/pause" retrieve I nailed another one. Thank you Man, really helped me to grab a new skill today.
Thats fantastic! it really makes a difference!
Cranks really turn my crank!! Man I have been a hard core crank bait aficionado for over 30 years and if I could give people advice that’s made me successful is don’t be a sucker and get over fancy paying tons for fancy cranks. My first crank bait ever was a Rapala floating minnow I got in my Easter basket when I was maybe 8 or 9 and that’s where it began and after over 30 years of buying all kinds of every brand for me at the end of the day my confidence baits are simply Rapala right out of the package. Varied retrieves, speed cranking and dredging has landed me some real quality bass! Great vid always appreciate your willingness to share your extensive knowledge!
all very good advice!
Couple years ago my partner and I fished a tournament on Pool 13 in Savanna IL in late summer and used aggressive snaps winding a squarebill through fallen timber. They absolutely crushed the baits. Great video and tips.
Very cool!
That was so very helpful. I took up fishing and never have had anyone to help me and share knowledge like this with me, so thank you very much for sharing.
Glad it helped!
Great video Matt! I just started to regularly use crank baits and after watching your video a few days ago I did the fast reel, stop, fast reel technique today and caught 3 bass at the end of my morning outing. I would not have caught these had it not been for your video. Tight lines, thanks so much.
thanks for watching
Awesome video Matt! Just got back into Bass fishing this year, popped in a flat bill yesterday, 4th cast of the day using one of these techniques and I bagged a nice sized small mouth! Keep up the great content!
Awesome!
Best cranking instructional video, EVER! Keep 'em coming!
Thanks, will do!
Great video!! I've always sucked at using crankbaits; I'll have to give it another shot now! I don't think I've ever used one correctly. Thanks for the tips!
Give them another try!
I discovered this by trial and error on my first time kayak fishing and using a crankbait. I recognized it will dive when I really crank it - and bass would HIT it immediately. It was thrilling. I’ll def try some of these other techniques!!! Thanks for making this!
awesome!
Great video. I do the first 2 retrieves already, but I’m definitely gonna try the third one now. Thanks for the tips Matt.
give it a try!
Outstanding tips! I will definitely try these my next time out. Here on Lake Murray, SC I am desperately trying to learn to be more successful with fishing off shore especially during the summer.
Good luck!
Great info..thanks for the great info! Definitely going to try them your way. Cranks are definitely my weakest and less confident lure to use.
Once you get confidence in them they become a go to
Some of the best content for bass fishing on KZhead. Thanks for making a awesome channel
I appreciate that!
Keep them coming Matt, I love the visual training. Thank you.
More to come!
@@MattStefanFishing I'm about to go where their ass out!!
Awesome, I’m going to give these a try here soon. Thanks for the visual demonstration!
You bet!
Today was bright and sunny in Kentucky. Nothing was biting in the afternoon. I put on a rattling bait and executed two of your tips... the swoop and pause... and the bottom grind... each netted one largemouth, the second one being a 2 pounder. New subscriber!
I live in KY also. Near cave Run Lake
I never did anyone of those techniques. Thank you for showing them to us all.
Give them a try!
Love your videos my man! Def one of my favorite and best channels! Keep killin it!
I appreciate that!
Wow!. Your going to get a hit put on you by other pros dude if you keep this up. This is the juice that separates us regular guys and pros. ALL your videos are straight 🔥 . After watching one of your videos like this I feel like I owe you money lol. Thank you so much for sharing this stuff. For years I've felt like I hit a wall and kept telling myself to just keep going it will eventually click. If I keep casting one day I'll make the cast that breaks the wall down. Truth is though I can only teach myself so much. I can't quite put it into words but THANK YOU for sharing this stuff. This is the little things that changes 13lb bags into 20lb bags. You my friend are helping us regular guys in a way no one else has ever attempted to do. I can't thank you enough.
thanks so much for the support. just happy to be sharing my experience
Thank you for the visual training Matt! I am fairly new to bass fishing and am guilty of the straight, slow retrieve. I will be applying some of your teaching this weekend.
Give these a try!
I’ll have to try that last one. The burn pause is my go to, especially with a squarebill. Great video!
awesome!
Thanks, Matt! I love videos that show different retrieves!
More to come!
I'm guilty of just cranking it back to the bankside. Thank you for this information. I'll be doing these 3 retrieves from now on ! Subscribed and liked this video . Cant wait to see more ! Thanks and God bless 🙏
Awesome! thanks so much!
I watched this video the night before I was going fishing this week,then next morning went fishing,1st cast with a small squarebill (using the rod sweep reel in the slack retrieve) caught 1.5lb largemouth bass.Thank you!
That is awesome!
Definitely going to apply this! Great advice and tips as always.
thanks! give it a try!
Great tutorial! I will definitely give those retrieves a try.
Please do!
Thanks very much,I been doing this my self taught way wish hasn,t yeilded many fish,I am going fishing tomorrow and going to try out your retrieving technics,I will update later,thanks a bunch
best of luck
BruH Two videos and I’m a new lifer. Thx brothaH. Having seen thousands of vids…my goodness. .you are as clear as rain. 🌵🧀🎣, from Az. 🤙🎼
Wow! thanks for the positive feedback!
Thank you. Very informative. I am one of those 90% anglers. I am gonna check out your other retrieve series.
Glad it was helpful!
That was a badass and informative video. Thanks big time. Did not know any of these techniques. Keep up the great videos.
Glad it was helpful!
Great video Matt very helpful! My pb was caught using a RK55 burning and sweeping it in late February!
Nice!!
Great tips Matt. That second one, I remember David Fritts showing this at a BASS seminar he did at PACE University. near where I live many years ago back in the '90s.
Awesome! He’s a master!
@@MattStefanFishing True but your not to shabby yourself! You always give us solid tips and tricks. One of the top 5 KZhead channels.
Crank baits are one of my go to baits, thanks for the different techniques.
Glad you like them!
Very helpful! I’ve always maintained you need to check out places at low tide. We have two side canals down out way. At high tide, they are spectacular. Low tide? Lots and lots and lots of mud. They advertise “waterfront” and they are- about half the time. As Gomer Pyle liked to say, “Surprise, surprise!” But this is not limited to surf fishing or buying a lot/house. When you first encounter new water, make sure you go at low tide early on so you know where you can go and where you can’t.
good tips! thanks for sharing!
Thanks for this. Crankbaits and me don't get along now I have something to try to see if I can start to get along with crankbaits
these work!
Nice, I’ve been using these 3 techniques for about 8 years, using very expensive baits and gear and I got only 1 fish. At first I thought it was the gear, so I upgraded. Then I thought it was my technique. It probably is, but your showing exactly what I’m doing. And now I think our local fish are either too smart or too scared.
Id say the location needs to be changed
Man I watched this video and thought there’s no way these methods help that much. Ended up going fishing shortly afterwards and nothing was biting so I threw on a crankbait. I said screw it and tried the 2nd method from this video and landed my personal best on 1st or 2nd cast. (I haven’t caught anything on crankbait this year up until now) Needless to say, I’m subscribing😁
awesome! glad to hear they worked for you!
This was great. I'm going to practice this tomorrow! Thanks.
Good luck!
you are absolutely right unless it's full of brush or timber. Feeling the bottom is key plus that pause on the drag creates the strike that they just cant resist hitting it. I caught a nice 7 lb. large mouth and my buddy a double digit.....epic day and we were only there a hour.
An hour!!! thats good fishing!
Thank you for the info and the demonstration. Greatly appreciate it.
you bet! thanks for watching!
Great stuff Matt. Really helpful content. 🎣👍🏻
Glad it was helpful!
These tips are money. I rode as a marshal on KY Lake in 2009 with both Iaconelli and Skeet Reese, and have used these three retrieves on a crankbait ever since.
The pros are doing it!
First time watching, like how you break everything down. Good shit bro 👏 keep them coming
thanks very much!
I liked watching your hands - it teaches me how you make it happen. Thank you
Glad you enjoy it!
Solid tips for crankbait retrieves. I like that rod you are using in the video.
Thanks! 👍
Lots of fishing channels on KZhead, but no videos have helped me catch more fish than the ones where you show the proper techniques to use.Thanks for all the info."
Wow, thanks!
Love the video caught some bass using the the grinder watched other videos be trying those to thinks for the tips
you bet!
Thank you for these techniques!
you bet!
Super helpful demonstration video, thanks!!
Thanks!
Great info. Thanks for sharing 🎣 Good luck with your events 👍
thanks!
Great video with awesome explanation and demonstration! Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Greetings from NY!... Saltwater angler transitioning to freshwater and I really like retrieve #3 ...great video !!!
awesome!
Thank you sir for the 3 tips, crank-baits have become my favorite hard lures.
Glad you like them! Thanks for watching!
Good stuff right there.Going to do some river fishing Sat.shoal bass thanks for the video. Canoe swimming keep them retrieves in memory blank.
I’m still waiting to catch my first shoal bass
I've found that there are two things to consider when making retrieves: 1) Covering the maximum area to find fish 2) Keeping the lure in front of the fish, in the strike zone I really like Senkos, Sluggos, and jerkbaits because I can cast to cover, where the bass are hunting, then twitch the bait, keeping it in the strike zone. Even with a crankbait, like you said in your video, once it's in the strike zone, keep it moving slow.
thanks for sharing!
Great tip!!!👊🏻 Use mostly 1 & 2. Will have to try #3. Stay Safe & God Bless!!!
Go for it!
@@MattStefanFishing
It is guys like this that make fishing a blessing.
Very nice! thanks!
Holy crap I was doing these methods today my first time with them just cause it felt right! Thanks for the video it’s boost my confidence 100%!
Great to hear!
Very helpful, thank you for sharing this video
Glad it was helpful!
very good video, I appreciated the on the water demonstration
thanks!
Thank you! Very informative!
Glad it was helpful!
Hi from Belgium!Seen the video,learned the moves,catched nice zanders...Thank you!
Fantastic!
Yes sir! Rip it as the last resort. If I can't trigger them in the other retrieves trigger the bit with they're reflexes.
agreed
Living in a van, Down by the River….😂😂. Great vid!
Glad you enjoyed it
This was very helpful. I will try that sweep one from the bank.
Good luck!
Changing the direction of your sweep's can curve the retrieve and generate more strike's. Good video!
agreed!
Yea this video I can confirm is solid advice, from doing these techniques myself.
Thank you Will try that here in Florida
Please do!
That pause and go works really good in the spring when your fishing prespawn smallies
Smallies love that
Another good video. I use the first two retrieves but not the last one. Something to try.
Cool, thanks
Well done champion, a pleasure to watch.
thanks!
I'm a huge fan of the burn/pause retrieve. I can't tell you how many fish I've caught doing that. It doesn't matter what type of crankbait I'm using, either - lipless all the way to a 10 XD. I think my poor old Abu Garcia Silver Max is about to bite the dust soon because of how much I've done that.
it definitely beats up on equipment
Thank you very much! I had no idea you could do that!
Glad I could help!
Definitely going to try these thanks
go for it!
Great info! Love the down by the river videos
Glad you like them!
Thank You , Matt !! I really appreciate you showing us those retrieve techniques !! I know that will benefit me greatly , as I love crankbait fishing a lot !!
glad to help!
Funny, that 2nd retrieve (pulling with the rod) I first learned from an ozarks guy...called it "worming a wart". That was how I was told to fish a wiggle wart on Table Rock. Probably my favorite retrieve.
Very cool!
Fishing a local smaller river system that's also really low right now. I don't think I've fished a spot deeper than about 6ft. I really like the dragging technique and I actually started doing it myself without realizing it was something a lot of guys already did. I know a main forage of smallmouth in many bodies is crayfish and so trying to mimic that prey item made sense. I think if I tried that last technique though it'd be a very frustrating day for myself and my wallet without the amount of rock fish I'd catch.
thanks for sharing
You have a new suscriptor from Spain!!!!!!!
Great video, thanks for the three tips.
you bet!
Thanks for the tips I use an Abu winch I think that slower speed gets me more bites
It allows you to feather it through the structure similar to the sweep retrieve #2
I’ve ground down a bunch of crank baits at a really stony bottom lake we fish and it works great. Thanks for the tips
nice!
I grew up in tomahawk and oconto areas my whole life now i live in depere right next to the fox river i love seeing other Wisconsin fisherman rippin lips 🤘
so many good places to fish in this state!
@@MattStefanFishing yesss 14,000 lakes
Never been much on cranks for lack of success, this is probably why 😂😂 Appreciate you !!!
thanks for the support!
Thank you Matt. My bass game was not good lol. I can always land a trout but never a bass and this is literally what's wrong.
im glad i can help!
Thanks for sharing. Subbed!
Thanks for the sub!
I have the best squarebill, so I just need to pump it down initially. As for deep cranks, there are techniques. I use a very effective retrieve much like the pull retrieve. Most of these techniques are a variation of one or two. It's basically a stop-and-go...
Thanks for sharing
Try this with Jerk baits: Cast, crank down to desired depth, then use rod for straight pull and stop keeping tension on bait. Pull twice straight and level and stop again holding tension. Once a bass nails it, you will know the technique. It's a a killer technique! STUART
Thanks for sharing