Why couldn't I throw this in the winter effectively?

[Luke Barnes]

I got thinking when people talk about winter bass fishing a few techniques get talked about alot. Alot of times its jigs, jerkbait, drop shot, etc...  So it got me thinking, instead of slowly dragging a jig why not drag a texas rig? Smaller package and more weedless but still has that soft plastic that you are using as a trailer, excluding chunks. Chunks are do nothing like a ned rig. So why not slow drag a ned? Just like the t rig with no skirt and smaller package. I tend to downsize alot because I fish pressured ponds and small has worked for me. 

 

So instead of a hard jerkbait why not a fluke type? I get the suspending aspect it and also the rattle to draw them from a bit farther but could they be just as effective? 

 

I get there really isn't replacing the drop shot. But am I limiting myself to what I am throwing because of the "standard"?

[Catt]

I don't have winter lures, spring lures, summer lures, or fall lures...I have bass fishing lures.

 

Instead of throwing jigs in the winter like everyone else I'll throw Texas Rigged craw worms. 

 

Instead of throwing lipless crankbaits just in fall & spring I throw em year round.

 

FYI don't think there's not a topwater bite in the winter.

[FishinBuck07]

17 minutes ago, Catt said:

I don't have winter lures, spring lures, summer lures, or fall lures...I have bass fishing lures.

 

Instead of throwing jigs in the winter like everyone else I'll throw Texas Rigged craw worms. 

 

Instead of throwing lipless crankbaits just in fall & spring I throw em year round.

 

FYI don't think there's not a topwater bite in the winter.

Top water bite gets a little difficult in the winter in these parts!?

[T-Billy]

1 minute ago, FishinBuck07 said:

Top water bite gets a little difficult in the winter in these parts!?

Everything is a topwater right now.

 

19 minutes ago, Catt said:

FYI don't think there's not a topwater bite in the winter.

I've seen smallies destroying schools of shad on top in 40 degree water. Of course my topwater box was at home that day. It never stays home since.

[Bankbeater]

Most of my winter fishing is done from the bank, and most of the time I am pitching in and around cover, not in open water.  I'll use a t-rig creature or craw to get down into a brushpile or down through wood. 

I'll fish with a fluke or a senko in more open water and just deadstick them on the bottom.  Usually I can pick up a bass or two once I figure out if they are in open water or holding tight to cover.

[Mike L]

OP

3 times you asked “why not”

My response is..Why wouldn’t you?

 

The biggest mistake a lot of folks make is getting caught up in the..

”usual”,  

“always done it”

”I read somewhere”

or believing some self serving you tube video site that says..“this is what you need”, and “this is how to do it”

 

You’re limiting yourself by doubting if you should or not. 

Read @Catt response again. 

 

 

Mike

[LrgmouthShad]

I believe the coldest water I’ve caught a bass in was about 37 degrees and I caught it dragging a zoom brush hog

 

 

[ajschn06]

7 hours ago, Luke Barnes said:

I got thinking when people talk about winter bass fishing a few techniques get talked about alot. Alot of times its jigs, jerkbait, drop shot, etc...  So it got me thinking, instead of slowly dragging a jig why not drag a texas rig? Smaller package and more weedless but still has that soft plastic that you are using as a trailer, excluding chunks. Chunks are do nothing like a ned rig. So why not slow drag a ned? Just like the t rig with no skirt and smaller package. I tend to downsize alot because I fish pressured ponds and small has worked for me. 

 

So instead of a hard jerkbait why not a fluke type? I get the suspending aspect it and also the rattle to draw them from a bit farther but could they be just as effective? 

 

I get there really isn't replacing the drop shot. But am I limiting myself to what I am throwing because of the "standard"?

 

 

I'm having trouble following this.  Who said you shouldn't drag a texas rig in the winter?  Who said ned rigs or flukes wouldn't work in the winter?  No soft jerkbaits?

 

It's -10 here today but if it was like 40 and I was going fishing, I'd be taking 4 poles and 3 of them would probably be a T-Rig, Ned, and soft jerkbait....

[Darth-Baiter]

It’s cold here.  I think I’m gonna try slow dragging a lizard on a c-rig. Messing with the bass brain. 

[Deleted account]

8 hours ago, Luke Barnes said:

I got thinking when people talk about winter bass fishing a few techniques get talked about alot. Alot of times its jigs, jerkbait, drop shot, etc...  So it got me thinking, instead of slowly dragging a jig why not drag a texas rig? Smaller package and more weedless but still has that soft plastic that you are using as a trailer, excluding chunks. Chunks are do nothing like a ned rig. So why not slow drag a ned? Just like the t rig with no skirt and smaller package. I tend to downsize alot because I fish pressured ponds and small has worked for me. 

 

So instead of a hard jerkbait why not a fluke type? I get the suspending aspect it and also the rattle to draw them from a bit farther but could they be just as effective? 

 

I get there really isn't replacing the drop shot. But am I limiting myself to what I am throwing because of the "standard"?

Most of the things you describe above will work. A Ned and a tiny T-rig are not all that different. Soft JBs are not as good as hard ones because in the real cold water, bass will often just bump or slash at a bait, and you will get some or most of those with a JB, and nearly none with a fluke. Once I find fish in really cold water, I'm either barely lifting a blade bait, or dead sticking a marabou jig if they are near the bottom, and working a JB if they are higher and more active.

[FishinBuck07]

49 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

It’s cold here.  I think I’m gonna try slow dragging a lizard on a c-rig. Messing with the bass brain. 

It's cold there????

[Darth-Baiter]

1 hour ago, FishinBuck07 said:

It's cold there????

It’s crazy. I’m wearing a hoodie!

 

 

[FishinBuck07]

1 hour ago, Darth-Baiter said:

It’s crazy. I’m wearing a hoodie!

 

 

That isn't cold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  haha

[Luke Barnes]

3 hours ago, Deleted account said:

Most of the things you describe above will work. A Ned and a tiny T-rig are not all that different. Soft JBs are not as good as hard ones because in the real cold water, bass will often just bump or slash at a bait, and you will get some or most of those with a JB, and nearly none with a fluke. Once I find fish in really cold water, I'm either barely lifting a blade bait, or dead sticking a marabou jig if they are near the bottom, and working a JB if they are higher and more active.

Ok I can sed that about the jerk baits. Two or three trebles is better if they bump or swipe at it than a hook inside of plastic. But would a fluke not trigger them to bite the same as a hard jerkbait? Just terrible hook up ratio? 

 

Im really trying to get out of the "only throw this lure in this season" or " such and such only works during the spawn or spring or fall" Plus I still dont understand how dragging a senko on a shakey head is any different than dragging a senko on a t rig. It's a stick bait!! Why switch hooks and jig head if I can do the same thing with a weedless t rig?

[Deleted account]

24 minutes ago, Luke Barnes said:

Ok I can sed that about the jerk baits. Two or three trebles is better if they bump or swipe at it than a hook inside of plastic. But would a fluke not trigger them to bite the same as a hard jerkbait? Just terrible hook up ratio? 

 

Im really trying to get out of the "only throw this lure in this season" or " such and such only works during the spawn or spring or fall" Plus I still dont understand how dragging a senko on a shakey head is any different than dragging a senko on a t rig. It's a stick bait!! Why switch hooks and jig head if I can do the same thing with a weedless t rig?

Hard JB is just a better bait than a fluke, it just is. I think we do beginners a disfavor somewhat equating these two baits, they are different. Could you get bites with soft plastic in really cold water, yeah, but a tiny swimbait doing something like what LMB guys are calling tight lining (I think) is a better approach. If you want to experiment, making something that barely sinks, let it go to a level, then barely turn the handle, like a swimbait might be a thing to do.

As far as using different things at different times, yeah, bass don't read articles or watch videos, so situationally, they can be caught with all sort of things at different times. Experiment, and what works works.

[cyclops2]

O K

I have fished thru chunks of ice drifting slowly.  With MEAT. Caught a little of some types in pools.. Very inactive fight by the fish.

[RDB]

14 hours ago, Luke Barnes said:

But am I limiting myself to what I am throwing because of the "standard"?

Pretty much any bait can catch fish any time of the year under the right conditions.  When people refer to “winter” baits, they are typically talking about baits & techniques that will best match the most likely mood of the fish.  Because bass feed less frequently in the winter, more often you will need to coax them into biting.  While there will be active periods, typically bass will spend the majority of the time in a neutral or negative mood and you are less likely to draw from a distance.  It’s about odds, not about absolutes.  Don’t think in terms of jig v. worm.  Think in terms of presentation type needed to match the mood of the fish.

 

EDIT:  Regarding your jerkbait v. fluke question, we often have some winter shad die-off and casting a weightless fluke and letting it slowly float to the bottom and letting it soak between twitches has been productive on numerous occasions.  If you focus on matching the mood, you will find many more opportunities for bait applications.

[TnRiver46]

I slowly drag worms all winter long. If you slowly drag a ned rig on bottom, you will lose it 

[PressuredFishing]

I'm sure you can throw a Texas rig in the winter,  I just like the jig because of the skirt, and it's secondary action. I can't always throw a jig year round in my fisheries due to excessive grass, so I like to use the in the winter and spring, summer and fall they are just a grass magnet unless I'm dredging through it with a swimjig or something.

[BlakeMolone]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

I slowly drag worms all winter long. If you slowly drag a ned rig on bottom, you will lose it 

And pick up leaves, moss, and muck almost immediately in my experience but just gliding it near the bottom avoids all that.

[jbsoonerfan]

I have NEVER and I mean NEVER went fishing and NOT threw a T-Rig at some point during the trip. I couldn't do it. LOL

[Luke Barnes]

13 hours ago, jbsoonerfan said:

I have NEVER and I mean NEVER went fishing and NOT threw a T-Rig at some point during the trip. I couldn't do it. LOL

Yesterday I put new flourocarbon on my t rig rod and tied on my first tungsten bullet weight so it's going to get used alot. I bought a t rig setup because it works and I am not leaving home without it this year. 

[Deleted account]

On 1/28/2022 at 7:01 AM, FishinBuck07 said:

Top water bite gets a little difficult in the winter in these parts!?

I've been spending so much "quality time" with the wife lately, she's shopping for augers, and asking me "are you sure it's iced up" in the morning...

[FishinBuck07]

Just now, Deleted account said:

I've been spending so much "quality time" with the wife lately, she's shopping for augers, and asking me "are you sure it's iced up" in the morning...

I hear ya man!  My wife is tired of me also, I have a brand new boat sitting in the garage that I have to look at every time I walk outside.  It is bad this winter, even worse than all other years!  Haha.  She said can't wait till the ice is gone! ??

[Deleted account]

25 minutes ago, FishinBuck07 said:

I hear ya man!  My wife is tired of me also, I have a brand new boat sitting in the garage that I have to look at every time I walk outside.  It is bad this winter, even worse than all other years!  Haha.  She said can't wait till the ice is gone! ??

Yeah, it's been quite a few years since we've had ice this long, it's been almost 3 weeks. Fishing was good right before then. We have a running joke, if one of us kills the other, do the exact opposite of whatever that crazy kid did in Wisconsin, watching a lot of court tv in addition to binging a lot of things. Cabin fever to the max.