WINTER TIME BAITS

[dvdrd423]

NEED HELP ON WINTER TIME BAITS.TENNESSEE WATER TEMPATURE IS 48. THANKS FOR ANY ADVICE.

[CJ]

Well jigs, tubes, and jerkbaits are a few. More info about the water you are fishing would help.

[Catt]

For suspended bass I use the following; Cotton Cordell's C.C. Spoons & Gay Blades, Hopkins Shorty Spoon, & Bomber Slab Spoons  

For bass either on the bottom or in close proximity to the bottom I use a Texas Rigged Craw Worm or a Jig-N-Pig

[RobbyZ5001]

I have found that dynamite usually works best this time of year.

[Peter E.]

I gotta admit that my lure types dont change very much. What does change is the size and speed that I work the lure in the water collumn. I normally use a large crankbait like a DT18 and work it slowly, bumping off the bottom, or a jig and pig with a little more bulk and a slower fall. I have been using 4 inch tubes texas rigged on 1/8th oz bullet weights around sunny protected areas with a sandy bottom, jerk baits work well there too. Slow rolling big single spin spinner baits is a good choice too.

All in all what you use doesnt change much for me, I just keep in mind that the fishes strike zone is smaller and that they are going to try to expend the least energy for the most food. To keep things natural, remember that the forage is sluggish in the cold, more so than the bass.

Good luck, and enjoy your fishing.

Peter E.

[booneangler]

the best winter time bait is Float N Fly but that is my opinion.

[WV Bass]

Silver Buddy.  Take a few extra, like most spoon style baits they have a tendancy to hang-up.

[mrbassky]

Come on guys your better than that

Silver buddys-Use on pts especially, cast and hop them down structure or vertically jig them. Cut the bottom hook off the front treble and you will hang up far less. Fish them on a mh rod.

Small Jigs-Hair or rubber both work. Hair work great for smallies or spots and in the coldest water. Fish slow use a short rod and feed line to keep bottom contact while fishing down the contour. Work great till water gets in 45 degree range but worth a shot anytime. 3/8oz is most popular followed by 3/16 or 1/4.

Float and Fly-Works at temps below 50 when fish are suspended. Works on Bluffs, Points, Pockets, anywhere fish might suspend. Catches all 3 species.

Jigging spoons-Usually fished vertically in the coldest water. Look for suspended baitfish in hollows.

Suspending jerkbaits-Can be fished on any stucture that might hold suspended fish. Dont get deep enough sometimes. Better when temp is over 45.

If you get a warm spell add Crankbaits and Spinnerbaits.

And if the water is murky fish will be shallow enough for Crankbaits and Spinnerbaits. But you have to fish slow. Our lakes in Kentucky are small and murky in Dec-Feb. We catch fish on crankbaits and spinnerbaits all winter if the temp is over 45 sometimes lower. But the key is its murky so the fish are shallow. The only thing that matters in winter is FOOD. Fish will relate to baitfish or crayfish (till it too cold). Fish tend to go deeper than Crankbaits and Spinnebaits can be fished in clearer waters and they arent effective alot of times anyway fished slow in clear water. Hope this helps.

[roadwarrior]

The Tennessee River and Kentucky Lake are neither

small  nor murky in the winter. This is the best time

of year to target smallmouth. I didn't have a lot of luck

with artificails last Saturday, but we have been doing

alright drifting minnows on a split-shot rig.

More generally, jigs and soft plastics work for largemouth

year-around on my local ponds. I think they work everywhere

if the water's not hard.

8-)

[mrbassky]

The Tennessee River and Kentucky Lake are neither

small nor murky in the winter. This is the best time

of year to target smallmouth. I didn't have a lot of luck

with artificails last Saturday, but we have been doing

alright drifting minnows on a split-shot rig.

More generally, jigs and soft plastics work for largemouth

year-around on my local ponds. I think they work everywhere

if the water's not hard.

8-)

The small has to do with the murky. After drawdown a little rain keeps our lakes murky. Most in eastern Ky I fish are smaller usually 1,000 acres or less. If they arent murky I wouldnt use spinnerbaits or cranks unless its a warm spell and its definately not a warm spell in Winchester, KY now. Id say jigs or Float and Fly now if I was fishing.

[spotaholic]

These are the baits that I will use all winter long.

#1 Buckeye 1/2 Brown Jig w/ super chunk

#2 Weightless Fluke

#3 #5 Shad Rap

#4 Buckeye Su Spin Blade/Fluke

#5 TD Minnow

[BassFishingMachine]

This year I haven't been doing much winter fishing for largemouth, as I get too frustrated. Mainly because jerkbaits are one of my least favorite baits to fish, and I can't stand working them dead slow.

Anyway, the only bait I've ever done well with in the winter are jerkbaits, mainly small jerkbaits as I believe the metabolism of the fish slows down, thus the fish is going to be targeting smaller meals (just my opinion). I find fishing the bait "dead slow" is the best bet, what I mean by dead slow, is "jerk..jerk 10-12sec pause..jerk 10-12sec pause". You have to watch the line for any sudden twitches, this indicates the hit. As for the jerkbaits I do well with in the winter, I like 2 1/4inch rapala huskyjerks.

I'll probably make a few outings come febuary, due to my cabin fever driving me ballistic. But all in all, I despise winter > :'(.