mikeybalzzfishing

Grass roots fishing adventures with my rescue pitbull Bog. Fishing tips, the latest lures, and big bass all on video - no BS.

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Pink has quietly become one of the most dominant colors in bass tournaments this year — from Morning Dawn plastics to the ultra-rare Z-Man Morning Dawn JackHammer, this color is showing up in top 10 finishes everywhere. In this video, I take inspiration from a viewer who sent me a custom jig photo and build my own custom pink FFS drop jig designed specifically for forward-facing sonar. The ironic twist? It’s built on the jig head created by the biggest FFS critic on YouTube — Randy Blaukat. I walk through how to tie it, how to tweak the skirt, how to pair the right minnow-style trailers, and why this custom color might be the next unstoppable tournament bait. If you’re fishing with FFS or want a jig nobody else has… this is it.

bassfishing #tournament #pink #fishingtips #custom

CPL Rand Blaukat Finesse Jig https://bit.ly/4nZknvW

Boss O rings https://bit.ly/36I6uNK

Skirt Material https://bit.ly/48FZm2W

Z Man Morning Dawn Chatterbait https://bit.ly/2un2YV4

Stick Bait Worm in Pink https://bit.ly/3vNXIKX

Retro MB Hoodie https://bit.ly/48Xg0wg

Sportsman Gear Beanie https://bit.ly/43M6iu2

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Most anglers throw a chatterbait, but very few actually fish it the right way — especially in tournaments. In this video, I sit down with a local tournament hammer Kevin Atkinson who consistently wins on a Z-Man JackHammer, even during winter tournaments when most anglers put it down. We break down the most common chatterbait mistakes anglers don’t even realize they’re making, the retrieve changes that trigger bites, how he fishes pressure, and why this bladed jig continues to dominate local tournaments year after year. If you want to fish a chatterbait with confidence, catch more bass, and actually compete at the tournament level, this breakdown will completely change how you throw one.

tournament #fishing #bassfishing #winter #fishingtips

Z Man Jack Hammer Chatterbait https://bit.ly/2un2YV4

Follow Kevin https://bit.ly/3XQlsLk

Rapala Crush City Free Loader https://bit.ly/3OZW2Hr

HogFarmer Spunk Shad Fluke https://bit.ly/3e7ytaJ

Red Label Flourocarbon https://bit.ly/2Fsx0gk

My chatterbait rod and reel:
Halo 7 2 MH KS II https://bit.ly/2yARYbM

Shimano SLX Casting Reel https://bit.ly/3logztn

Start an MB Tackle Subscription for 2026 https://bit.ly/4fIsdp3

My Power Pole Move Trolling Motor https://bit.ly/3MsasRC

Best way to store chatterbaits Bass Mafia Bud Bag https://bit.ly/4klaYgP

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The Alabama Rig might be banned in most major tournaments, but when the water gets cold and bass stop eating chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, jigs, and worms… this thing becomes an absolute cheat code. In today’s video I break down exactly how to fish an A-Rig — including the Stealth A-Rig, one of the most natural-looking and subtle umbrella rigs on the market — and why it continues to crush when nothing else gets bit. I show how to rig it, the best swimbaits to pair with it, the right rod and reel setup, and the key retrieves that fire up winter bass. If you’re fishing from late fall into early winter and struggling to get bites, the Alabama Rig is still the deadliest tool you can legally throw… even if the pros can’t.

bassfishing #fishingtips #tournament #bassnation #fishing

Cast Prodigy Finesse Swimbait https://bit.ly/3Xe8HrT

My Alabama Rig
Halo KS II 7 5 MH https://bit.ly/2yARYbM
Shimano SLX https://bit.ly/3logztn

GOAT Locked Up Shad Head Jig https://bit.ly/2NcZq1h

Nebait Sonix Shad https://bit.ly/4olZYS9

Grab a MonsterBass Hat https://bit.ly/4gZTkgH

Stealth Rig https://bit.ly/4a77iL8

Best way to store finesse swimbaits https://bit.ly/4oeqVqN

Picasso Schoolie Rig https://bit.ly/2PedZCZ

Keitech Swimbait https://bit.ly/2NOs0qG

Picasso Schoolie Rig JR https://bit.ly/2FC2YG6

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I’ll be honest — this might be the most personal video I’ve ever made. A few weeks ago, I had a serious health issue that sent me straight to the hospital for surgery… and for a while, I thought that might be the end of this channel. In this video, I open up about what happened, what it made me realize about life, fishing, and creating content — and how close I came to losing it all.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like behind the camera, the grind of creating fishing videos, or the toll chasing your passion can take, this is the truth. I’m beyond grateful for the support you guys have shown — and I’m not done yet. The comeback starts now.

youtubejourney #youtuber #bassfishing #comeback #motivation #tournament #bfsfishing

Cast BFS Braided Fishing Line https://bit.ly/3WwHxxV

MonsterBass Lunkerstick BFS Rod https://bit.ly/4oquzy2

Ark Gravity BFS Casting Reel https://bit.ly/3LEyQz3

Cast Echo Jerkbait https://bit.ly/3wfRTsu

Grab an MB Largie Smalls T Shirt https://bit.ly/4kMKMKY

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This might be the biggest leap forward in finesse swimbait fishing we’ve seen in years. In this video, I put some new NetBait finesse swimbaits to the test against the classics — the Keitech and Cast Prodigy — to see which truly performs best in cold water during the late fall and winter bite.

We test these baits underwater, breaking down how their unique tail actions move differently and how that subtle change in movement can make all the difference when bass are pressured or lethargic. Whether you’re fishing deep structure, suspended fish, or dragging a slow presentation, these finesse swimbaits could change how you fish this season.

bassfishing #tournament #winter #nature #underwater #fishingtips #bassnation

Cast Prodigy Swimbait https://bit.ly/3Xe8HrT

Netbait Sonix Glide https://bit.ly/49ytI9D

Netbait Sonix Shad Swimbait https://bit.ly/4olZYS9

Keitech Swimbait https://bit.ly/2NOs0qG

Grab an MB hat and shirt https://bit.ly/4gZTkgH
Use code MikeyLikesIt to save 25%

Ball Head Jig for finesse swimbaits https://bit.ly/2QdLar8

Bass Mafia Bag for storing small swimbaits https://bit.ly/4oeqVqN

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Randy Blaukat, one of the loudest critics of forward-facing sonar, designed a jig that might be one of the BEST forward-facing jigs ever made. In this video, I put the Randy Blaukat Jig to the test and break down why it’s a deadly weapon for late summer and fall bass fishing. It’s basically open-water flipping — dropping a custom jig on fish you see in real time with forward-facing sonar. I’ll show you exactly how to fish it, the rod and reel setup I use, and underwater footage of the jig in action so you can see what makes it different. Whether you love or hate LiveScope, this jig technique is catching bass and making waves in tournaments right now.

#bassfishing #tournament #fishingtips #bassmaster

My Lowrance Active Target https://bit.ly/43xHsfm

Randy Blaukat Finesse Jig http://bit.ly/4nZknvW

Halo BB Casting Rods 7′ MH https://bit.ly/42d0Uja

Grab an MB hat and shirt or check out my top picks https://bit.ly/4cn381M
Use code MikeyLikesIt to save 25%

Abu Garcia Xenon Casting Reel https://bit.ly/48yVmD6

Ace stick worm for jig trailer https://bit.ly/2HMeYqU

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Bass fishing is changing fast, and younger anglers might just have the edge – and we just saw it in the Ultimate Angler Championship where Tucker Smith won one of the biggest tournaments ever on Lake Guntersville. In this video, we break down whether young anglers are actually better at fishing, or if it’s simply that the sport has evolved. From college and high school tournaments to Bassmaster and Major League Fishing, the next generation is growing up with forward-facing sonar, finesse rigs, and new techniques that veteran pros had to adapt to later in their careers. But does that make them better—or just different? I’ll share my perspective from years on the water, why young anglers are excelling, and how experience and old-school knowledge still play a massive role in winning tournaments.

bassfishing #college #fishingtips #tournament #bassmaster #bassnation

Grab an MB Shirt and Hat https://bit.ly/4gZTkgH

My Precision Sonar graph mounts https://bit.ly/3CVPAty

Lowrance Active Target 2 https://bit.ly/43xHsfm

Hydrilla Gear Power Pole Mods https://bit.ly/401TEEm

New Tackle Each month from the MonsterBass Tackle Subscription https://bit.ly/4fIsdp3

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I finally got my hands on the new 2026 Nitro Z20 XL and I’m already running into a big decision that could be a huge mistake if I get it wrong. In this video, I walk through the tournament rigging options I’m looking at — from custom boat colors to flooring choices (carpet vs foam) and the all-important trolling motor debate (Minn Kota Ultrex Quest, Power Pole Move, or Lowrance Ghost). I break down the pros and cons of each, but here’s the thing… I need YOUR help to decide. This boat is going to be with me in every tournament and every video next season, so your input is going to help me build the ultimate rig.

boat #boating #tournament #bassmaster #boats #fishingboat

Hydrilla Gear Power Pole Accessories https://bit.ly/401TEEm

Create a custom color Z20 bass boat https://bit.ly/3oZJhOS

Precision Sonar Mounts, Lithiums, and The Leash https://bit.ly/3CVPAty

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The Ultimate Angler World Championship is coming to Lake Guntersville with over $1 million in payouts, a $500,000 first-place prize, and a bold ban on forward-facing sonar—making it the biggest tournament in bass fishing history. In this video, I break down how the qualification process works, why grass fishing and old-school techniques will dominate, and what this event means for Bassmaster, Major League Fishing, and the future of tournament fishing.

tournament #fishingtips #lakeguntersville

Grab an MB hat https://bit.ly/4gZTkgH

Get monthly baits for each season https://bit.ly/4fIsdp3
Use code MikeyLikesIt to save 25%

Zoo Dag https://bit.ly/4mrs2S5

Walking Frog https://bit.ly/46KSDoA

Stinger Creature Bait https://bit.ly/2Gd3fzk