The minimalist appearance of a senko worm is nonintrusive yet enticing to bass. His author website is kenschultz.com. This time of year is not a numbers game, but the bites you get tend to be big. In literal terms, the bait is basically a soft stick of plastic. “When the water gets clear in the winter months, the fish lounge a little deeper, especially on sunny days,” Christie explained. The former two styles are especially useful in ponds and shallower areas of lakes. Shallow, mid-depth, and deep divers are all worth using depending on the type of water you’re fishing. They are … Retrieve slowly, and try making occasional pauses. Models that don’t hang on wood and timber, and suspending versions, are especially productive. Various brands react differently in cold water. Shaky Head Jig – The weather has less of an influence on the shaky head jig, therefore it works very well when fishing pressured areas, or during winter. I am glad you asked. Also try spinnerbaits late in the day around shallow warm cover. Winter bass fishing lures. Late winter bass fishing prospects improve everywhere as waters warm. The more northerly you are and the colder the winter gets, the less chances you have to do it and the more you may be inhibited by frozen conditions. Lips crankbaits Temperatures are generally cooler which has had an impact on the water and ultimately the fish. Grub and curl-tail jigs are excellent for smaller fish and for smallmouths in particular. In this bass fishing tips video I show you how to catch more bass this winter. Sort of a cross between a spinnerbait and a jig, this lure style creates a lot of vibration, which is especially good in dirty water. Use the glue to piece them back together and help them stay on the jighead longer. The best lures. A soft-plastic worm worked very slowly can be one of the most effective winter bass fishing techniques. Soft-plastic baits fished slowly on a drop-shot rig are another top choice in the winter. There are hard and soft jerkbaits. One winter favorite is the “yo-yo” retrieve, in which the lure is pulled up about 3 feet with a sweep of the rod, then allowed to flutter back towards bottom on an almost-slack line. ¡No hay problema! However, this begs the question, “what are the best baits to downsize in the winter for bass?”. Depending on where you live, the water can be anywhere from cold to dangerously frigid. It is a 3.5″ fish-catching machine that is durable yet super soft. In winter, the tube is best when fished on a light (3/16 or 1/4 oz) tube head and dragged at a snail’s pace along the bottom near or on rocks or other hard bottom areas. Blade Baits. Some models suspend, which makes a pull-pause retrieve worthwhile. Best Lure Colors To Catch Bass This Winter We've covered bass location and lure selection but without the right colors, Winter fishing can be downright frustrating. The late winter period, in my experience, is one of the best times of the year to catch a true trophy bass. The largemouth bass is the most popular freshwater game fish in the U.S. Try a spinnerbait with a big single Indiana blade for large fish and deeper water use. It’s a tool some pros use year-round, but it can be extremely effective during cold-weather months. Bass anglers should consider two key factors when picking out lures for wintertime fishing in Florida. A 3/8-ounce Crock-O-Gator Zapper Jig in green, brown or black hues tipped with Crock … “The bass don’t eat as often then, but they will take bigger meals when the opportunity is there.” The deeper running jerkbait is a must during cold water periods. How you approach winter bass fishing depends a lot on where you live. Probably my favorite bait to fish in cold water, a squarebill catches big ones. The more southerly you are, the more chances you have to do it, given that air and water temperatures are relatively mild. Depending on size and trailer it may be fished slower than a spinnerbait, and with a yo-yo retrieve. Anything deeper than that, your best bet is the 1/4 oz size. ¿No hay bote? A blade bait is a dynamite lure for stair-stepping down steep 45 degree banks into the zones bass are holding. Top 3 wintertime bass baits Andy Crawford Bass Fishing , Field Notes Bassmaster Elite Series pro Keith Combs said a topwater frog is a great all-around lure for shallow wintertime bass. Please complete the following fields to subscribe to our newsletter. It’s a super durable jig that can be long-casted in nearly any depth range. However, it’s simplicity is what makes it so deadly. All tubes, no matter how tough, will eventually split or break. The hard metal often outperforms everything else when the water is cold. These are generally all worked on or close to the bottom, and with a slow retrieve. Select a state to find fishing and boating information: Get started fishing today, purchase your fishing license online, check regulations and more. None have been more productive over time than flat sided crank baits, and nothing you can choose will catch more bass in the cold of winter than flat sided crank baits. To get the most out of each bait, carry a bottle of super glue in the boat. Ken Schultz was a longtime staff writer for Field & Stream magazine and is the former Fishing Editor of ESPNoutdoors.com. They do a great job of imitating dying baitfish and are a key way to catch winter bass. It is a 3.5″ fish-catching machine that is durable yet super soft. A bass fishing video blog dedicated to teaching and helping bass fisherman grow. However, its tantalizing tentacles (say that five times fast) shine when water temperatures drop below 60 degrees and fish are finicky. Jerkbaits. Arguably the ultimate “go to” cold water bass lures are jerkbaits. Suspending jerkbaits can coax a languid bass into striking. Where a spoon derives its action after the hop or pull as it flutters on the fall, a blade bait attracts on the actual rip and drop. Be the first to rate this post. Here are the 7 best lures and techniques to catch monster bass this time of year! Retrieve slowly. Learn new fishing skills, boating resources, fishing etiquette, conservation and more. Jerkbaits - The key to fishing jerkbaits when winter bass fishing is to not jerk them! He’s written and photographed nineteen books on sportfishing topics, plus an annual fishing tips calendar., and his writing has appeared on various websites for nearly two decades. ⚠ Before you head to the water check the latest COVID-19 updates. Fishing First Aid: What You Need To Know And What You Need To Bring, How To Find Winter Largemouth Bass In Open Water, Mystery Tackle Pro Box Unboxing (Multi-Species January 2021), Mystery Tackle Box Bass Elite Unboxing (January 2021), Mystery Tackle Box Bass Unboxing (January 2021). First, many spoons are meant to imitate a dying baitfish, so you’ll want to play along with that. The bait generally comes in a standard 5″ length. Cast it, reel down to its max... Jig and Pig - is hard to beat when the water drops to 40° Spinnerbaits - are best when fished shallow with a slow roll retrieve. Winter bass fishing offers a great shot at BIG bass! In this guide, we’re going to pair those tips up with some of the best lure choices for winter. Some of the worst conditions you can face. As a rule, winter bass fishing action will likely be better where it’s warm and bass are more active, tougher and less predictable where it’s cold and bass are less active. Lures to Use. Rattling lipless bait. Mid- to late winter is a prime time for catching large bass, especially in warmer southerly locations. However, in the winter, a finesse style jig is your best bet for getting bit. Now these lures aren’t put in any particular order because it really depends on what … One of our favorites is the Terminator Finesse Jig because it features a quality VMC hook, single wire weed guard, and a low profile. Try a spinnerbait with a big single Indiana blade for large fish and deeper water use. Spoons and blades are a great choice when fishing for bass in the winter for a few different reasons. You will have a lot of success in cold water in the winter using a chatter bait, spinnerbait, and other types of tight vibrating lures. Frontal systems often adversely impact winter bass fishing, so pick your times if you can. Squarebill crankbait. Try Karl’s Amazing Baits Snacc Tube. Target warmth-hoarding pieces of cover like laydowns, rip rap and docks with a slow steady retrieve. Fish the 2.75″ Shad Rap on light fluorocarbon line on either spinning or baitcasting tackle and watch the magic happen. In winter, the tube is best when fished on a light (3/16 or 1/4 oz) tube head and dragged at a snail’s pace along the bottom near or on rocks or other hard bottom areas. Here are the 7 best lures and techniques to catch monster bass this time of year! This is a good time to focus on that. If you have the best winter bass fishing lures, you’ll have no problem catching bass even if you have to shovel the boat launch off yourself.. Get fishing tips and tricks and read personal stories from anglers who live and breathe fishing and boating. We encourage you to follow CDC recommendations. Should take along lures that can be fun but hard at the same time,! Article, it is a 3.5″ fish-catching machine that is durable yet super soft no excuse to get down... Try spinnerbaits late in the U.S it can be extremely effective during cold-weather.. 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