My favourite factor on this planet could also be pulling as much as a preferred boat ramp at 10:00 a.m. and being the one truck there. Normally, when that occurs, I’m wondering if everybody else is aware of one thing I don’t, like an impending twister or a large fish kill that I someway missed. However, within the wintertime, empty parking tons are the norm.
Regardless of what your mind tells you, empty ramps don’t imply there aren’t fish to be caught. Wintertime bass fishing might be phenomenal, and it feels nice to land a giant bag when everybody else has winterized their boats and given up for the season. Listed below are the highest bass lures and methods I take advantage of to capitalize on uncrowded fishing within the winter months.
The Greatest Bass Lures for Winter
The Alabama Rig
The A-Rig is considered one of my high producers within the chilly months. I imply, the factor obtained banned from skilled event trails — if that doesn’t make you wish to fish it, I don’t know what is going to. Whereas it’s forbidden professionally, it’s completely authorized for on a regular basis anglers to make use of. Nonetheless, verify your state laws on the variety of hooks allowed on one line.
For instance, in my dwelling state of Tennessee, you’re restricted to a few hooks per line. In states that restrict hooks, you possibly can make the most of hookless “dummy” baits in your A-rig connected to hitchhikers.
I order customized bass lures on-line as a lot as the subsequent man, however generally I fail to plan forward, so I like available baits that I can buy in-store close to me. I take advantage of two frequent choices within the A-rig class: the Yum Flash Mob Jr. and the sixth Sense Divine Umbrella Rig.
Each are respectable high quality, however I like to recommend buying the packages with simply the Umbrella Rig relatively than “kits.” The kitted variations are likely to have lower-quality jig heads and swimbaits. Decide your favourite ¼-ounce and ⅜-ounce swimbait heads to connect to the rig, and also you’ll be all set.
I fish Keitech Fats Swing Impacts within the 3.8 measurement for swimbaits and sixth Sense Divine Swimbaits in 3.2 and three.8. Within the winter, stick with pure shad colours or chartreuse.
I really like the A-rig as a result of I can gradual roll it on the underside in 20 toes of water or chase the few remaining shallow fish on the banks. The secret’s a gentle retrieve with intermittent rod pulses that trigger the rig to break down on itself after which broaden.
Crankbaits
Crankbaits are my favourite lure to make use of all through your entire yr, and winter isn’t any exception. Whereas the important thing to winter bass fishing is usually “low and gradual,” I do the polar reverse with crankbaits. I burn them extraordinarily quick to try to fireplace up torpid fish. Burning them after which pausing them over seemingly areas resembling ledges, fundamental lake factors, and channel swings can produce phenomenal outcomes.
This is a superb approach for a couple of causes. First, it is going to be a number of the most enjoyable fishing you’ll expertise when the fish are keen to commit. Second, it permits you to cowl tons of water shortly, which might be onerous to do within the winter.
Within the wintertime, you have to deal with tighter wobbling crankbaits. A few of my favorites are Rapala’s DT sequence and the Berkley Frittside. Each baits are available in many colours and totally different diving depths, permitting you to cowl shallow and deep water.
Jigs
Jigs are on my deck year-round and are recognized to catch huge fish. Within the chilly months, once I’ve tried faster-moving bass baits to no avail, jigs are assured to place some fish on the deck. Typically, I’m concentrating on winter bass on onerous constructions like chunk rock, bluff partitions, and rip-rap, so I stick with a traditional soccer jig.
One of the best soccer jigs I’ve used up to now are the Soiled Jigs Tour Degree Soccer Jigs. They’ve high-quality Gamakatsu hooks and nice colour choices. My two favourite colours within the winter are “Tremendous Matt Brown” and “Black and Purple.”
Trailers are easy in winter — you’re on the lookout for trailers with minimal motion. You’re chilly, the fish are chilly, the crawdads are chilly. Nothing strikes a lot within the chilly, so your jig trailer shouldn’t both. Go away the multi-appendage creature baits at dwelling and stick with easy trailers just like the Rapala Crush Metropolis Cleanup Craw and the Berkley Maxscent Meaty Chunk.
A fast phrase on Maxscent: I used to imagine scent didn’t make an enormous distinction when bass fishing. Then, I used Maxscent merchandise. If you happen to haven’t used them but, do your self a favor and purchase them now. Right here’s an annoying and overused however very correct description: gamechanger.
I drag jigs slowly on the underside throughout chilly months, with frequent pauses and occasional shakes. It ought to really feel grindingly gradual, however it can all repay while you land a PB.
Spoons and Blade Baits
Spoons and blade baits are very fashionable within the North, however I not often see anglers within the South or West utilizing them. That doesn’t imply they don’t work. Steel bass lures do a terrific job of imitating dying baitfish which are fluttering close to the underside, and cold-weather bass not often cross up on that simple of a meal.
These baits get down shortly in deeper water, and I take advantage of them to cowl depths of 15-40 toes, which is the place you’ll discover most bass within the winter. The easiest way to fish them is to both jig them immediately beneath you simply off the underside or forged them out and “yo-yo” retrieve them again to you. To do that, raise your rod tip to raise the bait off the underside, after which enable it to fall again down and reel within the extra slack.
The highest spoon for me has been the Reside Goal Flutter Shad. These ultra-realistic spoons come outfitted with feathers on the treble hook, giving the bait a contact extra life than a regular treble hook.
For blade baits, I take advantage of the Acme V-Rod Bladebait. Like most blade baits, it comes with three totally different line ties. Throughout colder months, I would like the bait to have a tighter wobble, so I make the most of the road tie nearest to the top of the bait.
Ned Rig
Yeah, I do know fishing a ned rig makes me seem like a newb. Yeah, I do know it’s what you’ve your toddler fish with on a “fairy stick.” However when all else fails, when I’ve tried every part and the lake appears devoid of life, the Ned rig will work.
Most individuals view the Ned rig as somewhat fish/numbers bait. The Ned will certainly catch small fish, however that’s as a result of it can catch each single fish, together with huge ones.
The Ned rig can’t attract huge fish from a distance like a jig or an A-Rig. Nonetheless, for those who put it proper in entrance of a giant fish, it can get eaten. Each month, I catch bass over 5 kilos on a Ned Rig. So set your delight apart and decide up a Ned this winter while you’re struggling to catch fish.
My favourite Ned Heads are the Strike King Tour Grade Weedless Ned Head. I don’t know why, however they have a tendency to snag on rock considerably lower than different heads, they usually maintain fish nicely. The lightest weight doable is my go-to for shallow fishing, and the heaviest weight doable is my alternative for fishing 10+ toes deep.
I additionally get on my Maxscent soapbox with regards to Ned rigs. Ninety % of the time, I fish the Maxscent Lil’ Basic. It has a way more subdued colour than different Ned baits and will get extra strikes. Nonetheless, for those who’re used to fishing the OG Z-Man TRD, you can see that the Lil’ Basic will not be practically as sturdy. Remember to top off on a number of packs.
Is Winter Bass Fishing Even Price It?
Winter bass fishing generally is a daunting however rewarding pursuit. Low fish exercise, frigid temps, and fish transferring out of their common lies can shortly frustrate anglers. Nonetheless, for those who head out onto your house waters armed with these bass lures, you’ve a leg up in fixing the puzzle that’s wintertime bass fishing.
On the very least, you’ll seemingly have the lake primarily to your self, and it positive beats sitting at dwelling watching a bass influencer on YouTube with ridiculous thumbnails.
