Man just like bell bottoms and mullets, black lures are the "new" hottest trend. Talk to your Bridgford colleague Blaukat. This was a thing back in the mid to late 80's. Seems I a recall Gary Klein quote, yep back in the Reagan era, about fishing any color jig as long as it was black, back when flipping was the new trend. Probably another urban legend? Looking to pick up a Vixen this year, probably should go black :) The dot of orange or chartreuse on the head of the baits is a gem. What an Ah ha moment when you dropped that nugget. All the best.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

thanks for watching

I have gone to throwing almost exclusively black topwaters. I might switch to bone if it's especially calm and clear or those bass just don't seem to want black, but that's about all I'm throwing now.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

Nice!

I have always done well with a black buzz bait at Lake of the Ozarks for some reason, morning, mid day, into the evening it works, great tip !!!

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

nice!

Doggone it Matt, first it was the tube on a buzzbait and now the black topwater. I am the only guy I know around here using these...well, until your video anyhow. I got a couple guys in my local bass club watching your videos now. Your killin me smalls.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

thanks for spreading the word!

Thanks for the video, Matt. All very relatable to muskies as well. Shoutout to Central Wisconsin!

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

yep!

Matt just found your channel really like your content. I am from Northwest Tennessee between KY lake and Miss River. Keep up the good work Thanks

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

awesome!

Very good article in MLF BASS magazine this month you were in. Thanks for the great tip I use a black top water a lot.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

thanks!

A black Zara Spook with a white bone pattern on the sides was a popular color for a long time. And black top waters have always been good for saltwater fish at night. It makes sense that it's popular now.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

Nice!

I like the tip about painting the top nose of the top water to make it easier to track when it goes down. I'll have to try that. Thanks.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

you bet!

A black frog did me right this passed weekend. Thanks Matt.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

awesome!

Good info, old, but good 😂 Using a black jitterbug at night back in the mid 70's, I landed a 5lb largemouth and a 5lb smallmouth from either side of a pine tree blow down in Vermont!! Lol!!

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

Nice!

Black is the only top water color I've used since 1988. In very clear water I go to a smaller or quieter topwater. When I find discounted Spooks in clear or some shad color, I use Testors brand flat black to coat it. Flat doesn't reflect light and create that shiny spot where the light is reflecting off the lure. An orange or chartreuse dot on its forehead shows me which way it's facing from a distance

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

thanks for sharing

Matt, 40 years ago I fished in several bass clubs an one was a smallmouth club. Most of our smallmouth club tournaments we fished at night. At the time I loved Bagley's Deep Diving Killer B II. Caught tons of fish on them. Bagley didn't have a black Killer B so I painted one black with a blood red spot on the belly. That thing was a absolute Killer 😂 for night fishing. End of the year I won first place, biggest smallmouth, and biggest largemouth caught during the year. Largemouth didn't count in the tournaments but if you caught a big one you could weight it for end of year trophy.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

thanks for sharing!

Thanks for another great video!

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

My pleasure!

Interesting. Been throwing a black (Loon) color Choppo but not a black walking bait. Thanks for the juice. 👍

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

give them a try!

Around here (RI) a top water lure, black, dark blue, dark purple is/was good for stripers....in the dark. I've never tried it in the daylight or for little bass species. It's counterintuitive.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

thanks for watching!

I just got my Core Tackle "Tush" swim bait hooks in the mail! That was quicker than expected. Looking forward to trying them, and the hover rig hooks, sometime in the not too distant future. It's pretty dang hot out there now in central Texas, especially on the bank.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

Nice!

I painted my Cultiva Zip n Ziggy black years ago... had to repaint it a few times 👍🏼

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

awesome

Topwater is my favorite style of bass fishing, and I really like and do well with walking baits. Good tip for some color on top for visibility. My most productive walking bait has been a chrome Sexy Dawg Jr.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

thanks for sharing!

Excellent tips. A white frog works really good right before dark. Contrast.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

Good to know!

I'm lazy so I almost exclusively use a whopper plopper. I went with the black version because it was 4 bucks cheaper on Amazon at the time. They do work very well. I never understood people caring about the pattern on a top water. A fish only see's the bottom of the lure. White or black seems to be the way to go.

@brady8257

Жыл бұрын

Don’t forget clear and transparent colors. A clear spook can kill ‘em when they’re feeding on small shad.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

thanks for watching

Since the 60s my Father always went black topwater. I have since done the same, adding some color occasionally.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

thanks for sharing!

Thanks for the tips, good video

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

Any time!

I can see both sides: Any color works because they all look black to the bass. When you are looking under at an object with the sun behind it, all you see is the silhouette (black). However, I believe some color does matter. Especially on overcast days and sunrise sunset. Bass key in on their prey when they close in about to strike. If something seems a little off with the bait, they will pull off. Ive seen in myself numerous times where they chase it with a huge wake behind them, mouth open about to swallow, then at the last moment something doesn't seem right to them and they pull off a d swim away. This leads me to believe that realistic patterns on your bait DO matter. If they didn't, then pros in tournaments wouldn't be switching up colors and patterns throughout the day they'd all be throwing black. Black crankbaits, black spinners, black jigs. I mean they do throw those, but certainly not exclusively.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

thanks for sharing

@Chootempaw

Жыл бұрын

Something I'd add is that color is more important in the middle of the water column. Like with spinnerbaits, jigs, square bills, etc. Light penetration only goes so deep. Here in Midwest there is a lot of silt runoff so there is high turbidity in most lakes. Ive found that color doesn't matter much below 15 ft, every color looks dark to a bass. So darker colors are better to use to create a better silhouette in deep water. So for summertime here in NE, dark colored top water, cranks and worms, and for 5-15ft where there's still light my go-to is fire tiger. ³

I love a black buzzbait but haven’t had great luck with black walking baits . Might have to give them another shot

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

go for it!

Check out the black magic color by 6 sense fishing. Several of their topwaters are made in that color it’s black with blue stripes and green eyes. Reminds me of that little bit of flash you were talking about. And I can personally vouch that they smash

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

will do

I throw black every thing spinner baits have been the color that really produces for me in the last few years Oklahoma blade especially, whopper plooper is been on fire for years

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

sounds good!

I think most know black has been the best color for top water, the jitterbug as you mentioned had the redwing black bird color which is similar to the loon plopper.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

thanks for sharing

Great one ! Sweet hat and outfit matches the theme of video, you go Matt

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much!

I’ve been using a black Deps Buzzjet for years with exceptional results! The black Deps Spiral Minnow is killer too.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

awesome!

Muskie fishermen have been throwing black top water for decades. You are right that dark profiles work well in low light. A lot of Muskie baits have a white or bright spot on top so you can see the bait. We have been fishing this way for years.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

yep!

Years ago, Black spooks, walking baits and chugger type tops were all Lake Amistad and Lake Falcon in South Texas, would eat. Giants!!! I never understood it, but I had a full top water box full of em. And proved it worked… Thanks for the reminder. Maybe like an old tie? Just hang on to long enough and it will eventually become popular AGAIN. LOL😂

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

thanks for sharing

Great video! But don't stop there, early in the mornings when top water is working it's best and there is an option to use. Spinner bait, on my bluegill color spinnerbaits, I have a few that I have changed out the chrome blades to black blades for early and late sundown times.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

thanks for watching

What do you use to paint your hard baits? Spike-It marker pen, fingernail polish? Thanks.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

all of the above!

Black bone Evergreen Shower Blows has been slaying smallmouth for me the last couple of seasons. Even in clear water on sunny days they will destroy that bait. Haven't really tried any other topwater baits in black except a black magic 6th sense speed wake, thats another killer!! You should try that speed wake if you haven't yet, awesome bait!!

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

Nice!

May I ask the black lures is that for fresh and salt water fishing I have been surfcasting for over 20 years and I done very well with dark lures

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

i think it both

Mix black paint with a touch of gold/silver/copper/bronze/all.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

sounds ood!

Humm Thank you , will be adding them

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

Nice!

🍺Thanks Matt.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

yep!

For sure my favorite color for top water is black. I'm not saying I don't have top water in just about every color but black is what I throw 90% of the time

@MattStefanFishing

10 ай бұрын

Nice!

I use glow in the dark fingernail polish on my pompadour's. You can also put the polish on the tips of the wings!

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

nice!

I love a black buzz bait, and i mostly throw black frog and black whopper plopped, also, black buzz bait at night time is rad

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

thansk fo sharing!

I have other colored buzzbaits but mainly throw black lol. I use black frogs but I need to get a black walking bait

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

nice!

Been throwing a black frog and black buzzbait for decades with success even on sunny days.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

sounds good!

Matt. Unrelated to this video, can you tell me what type of knot you use with fluorocarbon when you are rigging for drop shot? Thanks

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

miller knot

@chuckstuckey9450

Жыл бұрын

Thx

Here in florida we do a ton of frog fishing … I only have 2 frogs … all white & you guessed it -- all black. Never have seen the need to use any other

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

i love a black frog

I was at St.Clair this week seen a truck with Bridgford logo all over it I was wondering if that was you pre fishing 👍👍

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

nope luke clausen

Great info

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Black frogs worked today , Thanks Matt

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

Nice!

Well, I do use the ghost black as my favorite in my favorite Nipponese topwater. I use it during daytime only. Schooled too many great fishers. They don't gots to know. The KVD chr head color on black, not necessarily the Sexy Dawg is money not so much for bass but stripers. You got this covered in the dots. But I wrap so you know I don't need dots. Green head, blk bod like the one with the dog paw logo. That's fire. Aye, yall gonna have to wait for the best to show up on the Tube.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

thanks for sharing!

Funny I didn’t know about this trend but I’ve been using a black crawling top water and I’ve been killing it

@cerebraltackle

Жыл бұрын

Pompadour....mmmmm? 😁 (me too)

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

nice!

Everyone just now figure this out lol? Been throwing black for a couple decades. It works

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

sounds good

i wish the pompadour still worked good like the first year it came out. i slayed 6 pounders all night and day. now its fizzled out just like a chatterbait. least on my lakes i fish

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

thanks for sharing

It's definitely in my arsenal for quite a while now. I still pack other patterns as well, but black is a go-to.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

awesome!

Grew up throwing black Jitterbugs at night. Tons of bass, pickerel, pike HAHA even bluegills & rockbass.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

nice!

I make spook style baits in black with small orange/salmon side fins. they catch fish.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

awesome!

black has always been my first choice in topwater baits.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

awesome!

Black is my favorite color to throw, but I catch lots of fish on greens and yellows, too. In my mind, it's easier for the fish to see black. But idk if that's actually how it works. It might only be a mental thing.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

sounds good

I've had too many issues with water getting into plastic baits, both top water and crank baits. I prefer to have something where I can see inside the bait.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

bummer

You were absolutely correct on using black color lures. I have a Zarra Spook black with white stripes, and it's been a great search lure. Best wishes.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

thanks

My number one producer for over 40 years. Early morning and evening for sure. I black out everything on my baits

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

awesome!

I take all of my topwaters and paint them matte black if they don’t already come in it. I also paint the top front of the bait either fluorescent orange, pink, or chartreuse so I can see the bait better.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

sounds good!

Gene the fishing machine talked about this a while back. Thank you Matt.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

interesting

Jackall Pompadour Jr in Black Bone. It's money!

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

nice!

All my top water are black only fish a green frog occasionally. All I can say is put some red on it around the gill area and lose the feather treble. That my friend is money!

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

thanks for sharign

Been doing good on black top water baits no kidding.Found some baits that were mess ups they are working good .They don't have a name except Yum yum get you some. Appreciate.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

sounds good!

Been using black Spooks since the beginning of time!

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

awesome!

Always taught white til summer then black til the fall run.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

interesting

Muskie fishing I use black almost exclusively

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

yep!

🍺MLF BPT…..Becker, Connell, Ebare, Evers, J Lee, Neil, Shuffield, KVD, Wheeler…..KVD,Shuffield both gained some confidence last tournament which may carry over to this tournament.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

on a roll!

I been using black Choppo , black spook , and buzz bait for last year and it seems to do better

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

sounds good

The black frogs work well also.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

yep!

I ordered a Blackstock right before I saw this video 😆

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

sounds good!

This has been going on since the early 80’s. Both grandma and grandpa swore by one particular devils horse. Black base with yellow and black striped top. Fish are white bellied to be avoided from underneath, only land animals, insects, non aquatics that are vulnerable are black on the base.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

thanks for sharing

Think about it most frogs have evolved white bellies to hide themselves from underwater predators. We may not see the same as fish but put on a mask and get in the water and look up at your top water lure you definitely see a black silleutte better. But I get alot of day fish on white as well. One of the biggest Largemouth I have caught was late afternoon sunny on a black jointed jitterbug. But I've caught big Walleye using a white Spook on a cloudy day in muddy water bass fishing? Carry both and let the fish decide! At Night definitely black spinner baits that thump and top waters.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

interesting!

I’ve tried black on and off for years...not a fan, I’ve seen less strikes using black vs. chrome ...I will say I like a black wake bait at night for striper

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

sounds good!

I was ahead of the curve.I throw black top water almost exclusively for about two years now.Dont sleep on a black wakebait either

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

sounds good

black and chrome are the only topwater colors I've thrown for the last 3 years, 75% black 25% chrome, is this really a something new?

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

awesome!

Same deal with hot solid orange, try it, you be the judge

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

thanks for sharing

Didn't know I was a few decades ahead of the curve on this one 😂

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

haha

I asked @toddcastledinefishing5924 this exact question on one of his vids where he was throwing a black choppo and a spook at Choke Canyon

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

awesome

Love me some black top Waters

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

me too!

Black topwater is the new hotness…. again ;)

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

thanks!

I hate the internet for this. once upon a time a guy could go out and hit or miss. especially growing up. now it the hottest trend for 2 weeks leaked all over the internet and by the time you get to it, its beaten to death. dang it man.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

sorry

@danielwood5510

Жыл бұрын

@@MattStefanFishing nah its okay man, way of the times, its just taken all the mystery and excitement of how it was growing up as kid and your dad takes you on that bug fishing trip you've been stoked about.. you know?

I catch just as many fish on a clear lure blank, as I do on any other color I may paint it. It just doesn't matter.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

thanks for sharing!

Henry Ford would have loved this clip. . . Any color, as long as it's black.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

haha

Lord they took this to a whole other level

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

haha

Leisure Way use a color black newer is because when the sun is out they can see it better than any other color I'm not saying anything about rid crankbaits dworshak colors

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

thanks for sharing

Black and purple black have always had pole position in my topwater arsenal. Feel silhouette holds importance over most other factors. Recently just begun freshwater angling again. Been in the Palegic Topwater game full bore over the past three decades. From Giant Travali, Spanish Mackerel, Blue Fin Tuna, Cubera Snapper,and Rooster Fish to name a mere few. Have caught the Smallmouth Bass craze again,

@MattStefanFishing

11 ай бұрын

Thanks!

Been throwing a black scum frog for years. Catch more on it than any other color

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

nice!

Lol for smallmouth guys this is nothing new. My topwater box is 80% all black baits. Regardless the time of day black topwaters will always produce smallies. Only time I switch up is blue bird skies, I'll tie on a chrome, and spawn I go Chartreuse.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

yep

Speaking of top water action, Bring your frogs to the Potomac !

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

i did

I fish five colors depending on the situation. Black, White, Bone, Chrome, Clear. But Black is my go to. I have had success with Chrome on bright sunny days. I have to say that on a night that I literally couldnt see my hand in front of my face I had an epic night throwing a white spinnerbait and a white buzzbait.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

thanks for sharing!

Yes black is definitely one of the hottest top water bass I kill it with a black top

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

yep!

👍👍👍👍👍

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

THanks for watching!

I’m often ashamed to be a bass fisherman due to the tendency of most to be straight up sheeple

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

i dont even know how to respond to this

My fishing lives and dies by the top water bite. Black has always been a night time color for me the last 45+ years. White has work well for me this season in the day light hours. Now Bone I can’t buy a bite … Go Figure

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

thanks for sharing

I’ll bet you $50, you’re not throwing that black vixen! My guess is you’ve prob got a couple Matt Stefan rattle can specials. Am I wrong? 😊

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

i use the vixens

@CA-sl2xw

Жыл бұрын

@@MattStefanFishing I’ll Venmo….

I’m fish really clear water in northern Ohio , black and blue Colors arnt that good here, I use white pink and chartreuse also red

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

stick with what works for you

All I know is the lakes where I'm at in pa * The top water bite has gotten worse the last 3-4 years * From limits to nothing ! Why ! Why !

@MrHabitat009

Жыл бұрын

Because more topwater lures have been available in the last few years and more people throw them more than ever.

@MattStefanFishing

Жыл бұрын

bummer