The Matt Walsh Show – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Bass Fishing 101

Date: September 1, 2025
Host: Matt Walsh (The Daily Wire)

Overview

In a refreshing departure from his usual commentary on politics and culture, Matt Walsh dedicates this episode to his lifelong dream: creating a fishing tutorial. This hands-on “Bass Fishing 101” is equal parts practical guide, personal reflection, and invitation to enjoy a classic pastime—perfect for beginners, dads, and anyone curious about fishing.

Key Topics and Insights

1. Intro: Why a Fishing Episode?

• Matt shares his long-time desire to make a fishing video, admitting, “I don’t know if it’ll be exciting for anyone else... But I’m interested in it, and that’s what’s really important.”
• He frames the episode for newcomers, parents teaching kids, and anyone who only knows fishing as “going out with a worm and a bobber.”
  • [03:00]

2. Gear Basics: Rods and Reels

• Types of Reels:
  • Spinning reels: Most common and recommended for beginners.
  • Spin casters (“push button”): For kids, not adults.
  • Baitcasters: For more advanced anglers—“a little bit more complicated... if you’ve been doing it for a little bit.”
• Rod Selection:
  • “For bass fishing, you want to be about 6ft to 8ft at the absolute most.”
  • Heavy saltwater rods are unnecessary for bass.
• Rod Action:
  • Matt prefers a very light, bendable rod for sensitivity: “You can tell when you have a fish on.”
  • [05:30]

3. Hooks and Weights

• Hook sizes labeled as “aught” (1/0, 2/0, etc.); Matt prefers a 4/0, which is “kind of a bigger hook” for bass.
• Weight selection based on water conditions: heavier weights for breezy days and current, “I want that bait to go vertical.”
  • Usually uses 1/8oz or 1/16oz, but today opts for a bigger quarter-ounce weight due to breeze/current.
  • [08:00]

4. Fishing Line and Knot-Tying

• Advocates fluorocarbon line for bass, recommending 6–10 lb. test (“Unless you’re very ambitious, you don’t need to go above ten pounds”).
• Knots can be overwhelming; recommends the “palomar knot” as most reliable and beginner-friendly.
  • “Look this up on YouTube... very reliable, you’re not going to have a lot of fish breaking off.”
  • [10:40]

5. Lures and Bait: Keep It Simple

• Thousands of bait choices can overwhelm beginners.
• Top Pick: Plastic worm (“stick worm” or “ribbon tail worm”).
• Explains action (“that ribbon tail... is going to attract the fish”) and color selection:
  • Clear water (like today): natural colors, especially “green pumpkin” (“probably the most popular color”).
  • Murky/low visibility: black or very dark blue for a silhouette, or “chartreuse yellow, pink.”
• On lure logic: “This [brush hog] does not look like anything a fish would actually eat, but... fish are very stupid and they’re instinctive and they’re reacting to color and movement.”
  • [13:30]
• “Texas rig” demo: Shows weedless setup for fishing through heavy vegetation.

6. Essential Accessories

• Must-haves:
  • Something to cut line (pocket knife, scissors, or nail clippers).
  • Pliers for hook removal: “If you don’t have pliers... you gotta cut the line and throw the fish back with the hook caught in its guts, and it’ll die. And we don’t want to do that. We don’t want to kill the fish for no reason.”
  • [17:20]

7. On the Water: Finding Fish

• “90% of the fish will be in 10% of the lake” — look for likely spots, not just open water.
  • “Fish like to relate to certain areas... they like structure in the water—docks, logs, rocks, anything like that.”
• Isolated structure (a lone stick or stump): likely to hold fish.
• Vegetation: brings bugs, smaller fish, oxygenates water, and creates shade.
  • Research topographical maps to find underwater features if you want to go deep.
  • [19:40]

8. Casting, Techniques, and Reading Bites

• Step-by-step on spinning reel use and casting.
• Distinguishing a fish bite vs. snag:
  • “You’re going to feel not just a tug, but something taking the line and moving it.”
  • On the technique to set the hook: “You’re going to bring the rod up to about 12 o’clock position. That’s the fun part.”
• Reeling in:
  • Don’t just crank the reel (“you’ll lose a lot of fish that way”); instead, “reel down the slack and pull.”
  • [26:30]

9. Problem Solving: No Bites, Changing Spots

• If not catching, either “wrong kind of bait” or “you’re in the wrong spot.”
• Confidence in bait leads him to change location rather than lure.
• Excuses for not catching fish are essential—Matt jokes, “For me right now, the excuse that I’m landing on is time of day... and also location.”
  • [33:10]

10. Understanding Fish Behavior & Bites

• Reaction bites vs. defensive bites vs. hunger.
• Fish bite out of curiosity; “they don’t have hands, so they’re exploring the world.”
  • [30:50]

11. Why Fish? Reflections on Hobbies and Family

• The act is the point: “Not everything you do has to bring about some immediate, tangible benefit.”
• Connection to human civilization: “One of the reasons why we have human civilization is fishing... We wouldn’t have human civilization without it.”
• As a father:
  • Teaching his children to fish—“All my kids know how to fish... My 12-year-old daughter... is the best in the family, aside from me.”
  • Advocates for hobbies outside screens: “If you don’t have a hobby, then... all your free time you’re sitting around staring at a screen. And I don’t want that kind of life.”
  • [35:20]

12. Prime Time for Bass Fishing

• “Early in the morning, especially in the summer, from sunup until about two hours from then.”
• Evening also prime, especially when things cool down: “That’s where I’ve caught my biggest fish.”
  • [38:00]

13. Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Matt’s deadpan wit:
  • On questionable lures: “If you actually saw this in the lake, then that means that there’s been some sort of radioactive spill.” [14:45]
  • “I like the big hooks. I cannot lie.” [06:50]
  • “Fish don’t have eyelids, so they can’t squint.” [21:00]
• On not catching on camera:
  • “What’s going to happen is we’re going to finish up filming and then I’m going to keep fishing and then I’m going to catch one. That’s what’s going to happen.” [41:20]
  • As predicted, he finally catches a largemouth bass after filming ends: “Not a big one... but we did catch one on the brush hog in the kayak, so it still sort of counts. And there it is. And we’ll put them back.” [42:30]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:00] – Matt explains why he’s doing a fishing episode
• [05:30] – Explains rods, reels, and tackle
• [10:40] – Choosing line and tying a palomar knot
• [13:30] – Bait and lure selection strategies
• [19:40] – Where to find fish (structure, shade, vegetation)
• [26:30] – Detecting bites and reeling technique
• [30:50] – Types of fish bites and behavior
• [33:10] – Adapting when not catching fish
• [35:20] – Hobbies, family, and life lessons
• [38:00] – Best times of day for bass fishing
• [42:30] – Finally catching a bass (after filming)

Conclusion

Matt’s “Bass Fishing 101” is a mix of actionable basics, self-aware humor, and philosophical reflection on what makes fishing worth it. From the right rod and bait to the right mindset, he offers an accessible entry point for newcomers—and a bit of encouragement to get offline, get outside, and maybe catch a fish (or at least a good excuse for not catching one).

Notable Quote:

“Not everything you do has to bring about some immediate, tangible benefit. The point is the act itself. That’s what I like about it.”
— Matt Walsh [35:30]