Bass fishing in May can be amazing, here's what you need to know! The bass are in transition and we're going to show you how to catch them. Most lakes have bass in every phase of the spawn by now, there are still lingering spawners but there are also a lot of post spawn fish. Some fish go deep while others stay around shallow cover. No matter how you like to fish, we've got tips to help you do it better!
There are a lot of great baits for targeting fish during the post spawn to early Summer transition, but we have some very clear favorites. Whether you're going deep or shallow, these are baits you can rely on to catch fish throughout the entire transition. And don't forget that early in the month the shad spawn is a major deal!
Below you'll find links to the baits discussed in the video. We've listed them in the order they appeared and included our favorite sizes and colors for each. We've also included a couple budget combos to help you consistently land the fish that bite. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.
SPINNERBAITS...
•Damiki TOT Spinnerbait: bit.ly/368VED0
Size: 3/8 oz
Color: Smelt Shad, Snow Shad
•Megabass SV-3 Spinnerbait: bit.ly/3lk1SD0
Size: 1/2 oz
Color: Hasu, Wakasagi
•Nichols Pulsator Spinnerbait: bit.ly/2Sttxpc
Size: 1/2 oz
Color: JT's Chartreuse Shad, Bombshell Bass
CHATTERBAITS...
•Zman JackHammer 1/2 oz: bit.ly/2popvj6
Colors: Blueback Herring, Green Pumpkin Shad
•ZMan Elite Evo 1/2 oz: bit.ly/3OAGB8y
Colors: Electric Shad, Spot Remover
•Missile Baits 4.5 Spunk Shad: bit.ly/3CA8BCG
Color: Frosted Purple, Green Pumpkin Delight
•Hog Farmer 4.5 Spunk Shad: bit.ly/2UFkCD7
Colors: Electric Shad, Ghost Minnow
SWIMBAITS...
•River2Sea S Waver 168: bit.ly/2aiu8Sh
Colors: Abalone Shad, Warden Hitch, Light Trout
•Baitsanity Antidote: bit.ly/2ztUk9z
Colors: Summer Shad, TW Gizzard Shad
•Bucca's Bacca Burrito: bit.ly/3p5SkiW
Colors: Tactical Gizzard Shad, Tactical Chartreuse Shad
•Megabass 6" Magdraft: bit.ly/2CANTU7
Colors: White Back Shad, Borealis Shad
UNDERSPIN...
•Tactical Bassin Underspin: bit.ly/4bKgVQf
Size: 3/8 oz
•Xzone 4" Swammer: bit.ly/2PogV0q
Color: Electric Shad, Pro Blue Red Pearl
SHALLOW CRANKBAITS...
•Damiki BTC 50: bit.ly/3OVb3Lc
Colors: Ghost Minnow, Mossy Shad
•Nomad Atlas 55: bit.ly/3UOkjU5
Colors: Threadfin Shad, Tennessee Shad
•River2Sea Biggie Poppa: bit.ly/2ahCzvo
Colors: Gizzard Shad, Abalone Shad
DEEP CRANKBAITS...
•River2Sea Tactical DD 75: bit.ly/37dclbX
Colors: Summer Minnow, Metallic Shad
•Rapala DT 16: bit.ly/42ITxNr
Colors: Green Gizzard Shad, Helsinki Shad
•Strike King 6XD: bit.ly/2ery44M
Colors: Sexy Shad, Chartreuse Blue Back Herring
TOPWATER...
•Shimano World Pop 69F: bit.ly/3sSjJpI
Colors: T Smelt, N Smelt
•Megabass Pop Max: bit.ly/2qqfmm1
Colors: Mat Shad
•Whopper Plopper 110: bit.ly/2bsPbQV
Colors: Phantom Shad
FROGS...
•Jackall Kaera: bit.ly/2Fz6SA3
Colors: Glitter Hasu, Glitter Bluegill
•Jackall Gavacho Frog: bit.ly/2L7KsWS
Colors: Chart Strike Gill
THE SENKO...
•Yamamoto 5" Senko: bit.ly/2axAmNS
Colors: Electric Shad, Green Pumpkin Black Flake
Hook- Hayabusa Weedless Wacky: bit.ly/3UjDZx0
Size: 1/0
SHAKEY HEAD...
•Missile Baits 6" Magic Worm: bit.ly/3T7dHgB
Colors: Missile Morning, Junebug Dream
•Netbait T Mac: bit.ly/2jndwj9
Colors: Bama Bug, Junebug
Head- Dirty Jigs Canterbury: bit.ly/2aFOs0V
Size: 3/16 oz
THE KARASHI...
Megabass Karashi: bit.ly/3LwMGS7
Colors: Kasumi Ito KS, HT Setsuki Chiayu
ALL AROUND BUDGET CASTING COMBO...
Rod- Fenwick Eagle: bit.ly/4b25LGh
Models: 7'1" Medium
Reel- Abu Garcia Max Pro: bit.ly/3QKCQOG
Line- Sufix 832 (40 lb): bit.ly/2ae93Ji
Leader- Seaguar Blue Label (15 lb): bit.ly/48EP2Hz
ALL AROUND BUDGET SPINNING COMBO...
Rod- Daiwa Tatula XT: bit.ly/3n6Ojvx
Models: 7' Medium Fast
Reel- Daiwa Legalis LT: bit.ly/3Y0kDh3
Size: 2500 D-XH
Line- Sunline Super FC (8 lb): bit.ly/2p7fxju
BUDGET FROG FISHING COMBO...
Rod- Shimano SLX A: bit.ly/2L3wppO
Models: 7'2" heavy
Reel- Shimano SLX A: bit.ly/2NfdOnk
Speed: HG
Line- Power Pro Braid (50 lb): bit.ly/2aFg46b
TACTICALBASSIN LURE DESIGNS (AND APPAREL)
We have a variety of custom lure designs and apparel available! Everything from Swimbaits and crankbaits, to hats and hoodies! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here...
TacticalBassin Lure Designs: bit.ly/38YpPIz
If you plan to do any shopping, using our links before doing your shopping at Tackle Warehouse is a great way to support us! You won't see a difference but they'll know you're one of us!
#fishing #bassfishing #May
Dude crushed my new pb on a 6th sense trace this past saturday, and it was one of the coolest bites ever not to mention my first "big" swimbait bite
That's a fish you'll remember I still remember my first big swimbait bass on the gratt sneaky pete
@@marcusgreen6331 hell yeah, dude just the way she hit it, i was slow rolling close to the surface then i burned it super fast and killed it right where it was and the trace when you do that has a tendency to want to turn around on itself and immediately after killing it i see this GIANT wake not even a swirl but a wake, and then SLAM it was 1000% an unforgettable bite and definitely a huge confidence booster when throwing big baits
Congrats
duuuude i just hooked a 5lb which would’ve been a PB on the 6th sense flow glider and it shook the hook at the bank. so heartbroken. glad you got your pb 🤙🏼
@@smoochumsmcgee at least you know they eat it, I have a flow glider and I did that mod that Milliken shows on his channel and it truly made that bait come alive! I have several production and custom but that flow glider is still one of my favorites. You should check out this guy on the internet called Zorba Baits he has resin glides for $50 and they are sick
Excellent presentation and list of best baits for May. Thank you.
The weather in CA has been rough! Up, down, up , down....... great info as always!
You guys talked me into the Bill Lewis ATV crankbaits. I finally got the chance to throw one yesterday in muddy, debris filled water. It was the 1.5 in threadfin shad and outfished my 2 buddies 3-1. It jumped to being my favorite crankbait already.
They stole that style from the evoke in my opinion
@@dirtyfisherman9188Awesome! Bought 2 because of that comment its nearly impossible to get my hands on the evoke 1.8 in the right colors.
I bought 2 of them too. I was burning them in the rock shallows and both bills broke off in 2 different sessions. I know they were smashing into rocks but I’ve never had squarebills go that quick.
@@audetgab hookup tackle can help you with that
Thanks Tim, nice job.
Its finally spring and the bite is on! Thanks for the content!
Guess it depends on where you are. I got skunked this weekend and last weekend.....
@xDx0xUxGx Keep trying man. These back 2 back cold fronts made them picky! They will start biting well again after a few stable days
May is finally here!!!
Surprised wakebaits weren't on the list...a big wakebait can get some big bites in may...another underrated may bait...floating jerkbait...a silver bomber long A twitched just under the surface can get some really cool strikes....going through my lure inventory, ive broken it down to my top 38 baits in May
Great information thank you I have never had any luck with a spinnerbait but like trying to catch something with it
Zappu bredy underspin is the best bfs weedless option ever 🙌
Great informative video!
That new Berkley Powerblade is an awesome spinnerbait I like how the hook sets back farther on it
I love Berkley’s spinner baits. They have the best hook and the best keeper in the game if you ask me. I can’t afford a lot of these $12-15 spinner baits. I use a lot of berkleys for that reason.
Thanks!
Thanks for the vids. Spring in NC has been pretty good but somehow I have not caught a fish on and underspin yet, it is almost unbelievable. Bites are there but for some weird reason I have not thrown it to a fish yet.
Nice where you are. Cold cloudy raining BS still in the Pacific Northwest
I use the Hybrid Hunter is the 4x4 of crank baits, that thing goes through anything and is a fish catching machine!
Caught a trout with the 2nd cast on that ATV 1.0 in the guacamole color. That afternoon caught LMBs on the Lucky Craft silent 1.5 in the MS American Shad color; both TB recommendations.
Shimano Flash Boost in that clown color has gotten me insane blow ups since early March. Spend the money. They are worth it!!
Welcome back
Went to Lake Amador on the 1st week of April. I threw a frog and it got a couple blow up in the afternoon. Went to Franks Tract a few weekends ago & threw a pop r & got a few. It’s time for sure.
Absolutely awesome video Tim, thank you 👏👏👏❤️
Man I've been waiting on this one!!! Excited for May 🔥🔥🔥
Y’all should try the DOA CAL Shad as a swim jig trailer. It’s a saltwater swimbait, but it’s far stiffer than most on the freshwater market. It’ll give you hella secondary action
Shad spawn is a blast. They start doing their thing around midnight and taper off into the morning. Best time of the year to get out at night and catch everything in the lake!
Yo Tim thanks for all the input! Im sooo ready to throw topwater finally! One question ... are you and matt still swearing by the Eye Surrender ESE glasses... wondering cuz i saw a lot of peeling lenses reviews??
Can you do a video on fishing from shore? Live for rivers ? Just curious what people would use outside of live bait .
Wish yall did a special "florida folks only" segment. I've been nailing them on a frog in inches of water for a month now.
New models in the P5 destroyer Lineup have been dropped on the market. Zangetsu Gravel code Monstreus Super 7-11 Bearing Down extreme And a kirisame something 😅😅 The monstreus and Zangetsu are the most popular models i guess 😎🎣👍
Here in MO, they have been crushing the wopper when you bring it into the shade like and pause it. Also, BFS poppers.
Great video . Upgrade hooks for karashi?
Its cold here yet had 25 deg over night yet a week ago. Finally got some rain
Can you use the 5 inch on a medium heavy power casting rod
When do you know to go with the Glidebait over the Magdraft and vise versa? I have both but I have trouble knowing when to use one over the other
Big wakebaits can be good too
When do you guys throw the medium sink rate Burrito? And do you guys throw the Nacho?
Here in central Florida we’re past the spawn so what should we be throwing in May
Do you use a snap on the Karashi?
Please help you guys say we must use Slx 610 medium but when you follow the link it takes you to a medium light is that because the medium light is actually a medium or is it because the medium light is a moderate rod
LETS GOOOO
Best tiny farm pond bait??
No one talks about the Mann's 1 - Minus 🤷♂ .......Spring time CRUSHER.
im early! good morning fishing gang! hope you all snag some fat lips this may
Here in the north the water is still low 40s
Holy shit that’s sucks dude
I’m up ab as far north in ny as u can get and surface temp jus hit 50. Had one of my best days ever yesterday. Who cares if it’s still low 40s go out and fish bruh
@@nathaniel4254 I am dude the smallmouth have barely started moving shallower. I don't have a boat so it makes it harder.
Yeah but I got a bass fishing for crappie
@@gunadoo fair. Even with a boat I didn’t catch shi until the last couple trips out. They’ve jus started pre spawn where I’m at so action is finally getting going. GL, they call it fishing not catching for a reason brotha🙏.
Caught my pb bluegill on a rapala dt6 today 1.6 pounds
💪🏼
I can’t believe the lunker hunt pocket frog never gets discussed. I figured by now with as much as you guys love bfs, the pocket frog would be a must have top water.
Bc it's trash 🗑️
Spent all weekend fishing and just couldnt find a fish. Caught 2 bass on a drop shot early in the day and nothing else would bite. I just cant seem to locate any of the fish
If you are out late at 7:30? I guess only in fishing is 7:30 late.
I've been rained out and water is all dirty.
🐸🐸🐸He said FROG. I will have a frog tied on from now until the end of year. Nothing I like more.
Hey guys. Gimme a top 5 fishing spots to fish at my lake 😂
Find grass
@@BassFishingNEB yessir! Grass is the only place I find em on my lake.. occasionally wood.. my lake is basically 70% standing timber in 25,000 acres Was a only a joke to pull their leg 😀
Top 5 to stay alive
Surprised wakebaits weren't on the list...a big wakebait can get some big bites in may...another underrated may bait...floating jerkbait...a silver bomber long A twitched just under the surface can get some really cool strikes....going through my lure inventory, ive broken it down to my top 38 baits in May
Surprised wakebaits weren't on the list...a big wakebait can get some big bites in may...another underrated may bait...floating jerkbait...a silver bomber long A twitched just under the surface can get some really cool strikes....going through my lure inventory, ive broken it down to my top 38 baits in May
Straight retrieving a wake-bait has quickly become one of my confidence plays. If there isn't structure, it's my first choice for topwater.
@@noahalonge ever heard of an MS Slammer? That big wakebait got me hooked on big baits
@@andybales7318 noted! Only used Yozuri and StrikeKing so far