Small Swimbaits In The Winter.

[BASSclary]

Hey guys, well its starting to get pretty cold up here in Nova and was wondering how the swimbait bite fairs? Bust bought a few packs of bass sized hollowbodies to try and get into them.

I bought 3packs of netbait paddletails, two packs of 5" and a pack of 4" in bluegill and another fairly shad like color.

Where should I be looking to throw these? Keep in mind I am shore bound, so places that are accessible are certainly a plus.

Also, what type of hooks do you like? I have some 5/0 swimbait hooks but fear they may be too small

[BenBassmaster]

Well since your stuck on the bank I'd throw them along the shoreline diagonal and close to timber, but not on top of the cover. 5/0 should be fine, I'm not a big swimbait guy, but I'm looking to get into it. I'm gonna read what some of the other guys say.

[Crestliner2008]

Since you are shorebound, your options, as to where to throw, are limited. However, wherever you have had success previously, I would work those areas thoroughly. Fan cast the area with a slow roll retrieve along the bottom.

[bkohlman]

When I throw them (from the shore like you) I have good luck combining the fan pattern with varying speeds.

[KevO]

You should also try the 3" big hammer swimbaits with a 1/4oz head. Great winter swimbait.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

"Where" would be the same places you have caught fish before this time of year. Deeper dropoffs, edges of structure/breaks with access to deep water, tops of flats that butt up against deeper water.

The "How" would be more important this time of year. If you are fishing "slow" then you aren't fishing slow enough in most cases from this point going forward. It's not a 100% rule all the time as you may have some warming days where they will move for a bait but for the most part you gotta make it easy for them.

[Bluebasser86]

I fish them slowly along the bottom by pumping the rod like slow rolling a spinnerbait or rattle trap, works great around the last weeds of the year.