winter bass

[Whopper Stopper]

I've been itching to go fishing all week.

The only problem is that it's cold. It hasn't been over 40 in a week and a half and most of the lake is iced over.

What lures should I use? I thought maybe if I fished a worm or jig real slow that I might do some good. Are there any other baits I could use that would be productive.

I know I should be hunting this time of the year but I can't stop thinking about fishing. :-?

[Rattletrap]

At least you are getting consistent weather and the bass are used to that kind of weather up there. If we get that in south Georgia the bass migrate with the birds it seems. Just slow your presentation down and fish the NW side of the lake because it gets most of the sun and there will be warmer water there. Jig and Pigs work well. Make sure you use pork because you will not lose the action in the cold water like you would with plastic trailers. Go big on the the pork. Bigger makes the bass more willing to move and it gives the Jig a slower presentation. 1/2-3/4 oz Spinnerbaits with one big blade slowed rolled or hopped of the bottom works and Suspending jerkbaits are a dynomite way to go. Wear some warm clothes and buy some hand warmers. Good luck.  

[mcipinkie]

Here in MO, the weather is about the same. I live near KC and most of the local lakes are iced over, at least partially. I love to winter fish. There are very few people out on the water, and it seems like my fish size is bigger in winter.

I stick with four baits in cold water:

Jerk Bait: Find a good point or a flat with some wind blowing on it. Find an area where you can mark some bait on your depth finder. Get way out from the bank and fling that jerk bait out there. Jerk it down four of five times and leave it suspend as long as you can stand it. Some the real jerk bait experts up here wait 30 seconds or longer between pulls. You watch these guys fishing. Sometimes they're 200 - 300' from the bank deadsticking that jerk bait. I'm not that patient, but those quys catch some monsters doing that this time of year.

Hula Grub: Find some deep (15 - 30 feet) wood. Put a 5" Hula Grub on a 3/8 - 3/4 jig head with a good weed guard and work it through the wood. Bites will be few and far between, but if you can find some fish, often they will school up this time of year. A lot of people fish a skirted jig with a pork trailer on this pattern and do well, but I just like the Hula Grub.

Hair Jig: What ever reason, sometimes the fish just won't take a skirted jig, or Hula Grub, but will just devour a hair jig. I use a 1/4 oz. arctic fox jig from Cabela's because I bought a bunch of them a couple of years ago, but Punisher makes what is probably the best hair jig. Put an Uncle Josh 101 Spin Frog on for a trailer and fish like the Hula Grub.

Grub: I like a Yamamoto Super Grub, either smoke or watermelon. I rig on a 1/4 ounce light wire jig head and throw on a spinning rod with 30# Power-Pro and a 8' leader of 8# flourocarbon. I either fish in the deep wood similar to the Hula Grub or throw at steep banks and swim it out and down.

Keep in mind that a couple days of warming sun like we are forecast for late next week wlll move fish surprisingly shallow. If the the sun is bright, don't hesitate to try some shallow patterns for a while, particularly in the afternoon.

The main thing to remember is that fishing is going to be slow. You probably aren't going to get a lot of bites in 38 degree water, but they may be very good fish.

Dress warmly, fish slowly, keep up the concentration and most of all, when it quits being fun, go home.

[Nick_Barr]

In my area water temps are 38 degrees and i have heard and caught some fish slow rolling a small white spinnerbait, almost like a crappie sppinnerbait

[basspro48]

This time of year a really effective tchnique for me is to fish a deep-divng suspending cb in about 10-12ft. of water. I work it with a pull and pause retrieve. Also try using ZOOM Super-Flukes, finesse jigs, hair jigs, jighead worms, small tubes, and most of all suspending jerkbaits.

[Whopper Stopper]

Thanks for the info guys. My buddy thought I was crazy when I called to see if he wanted to go fishing. I think I'm going to go tomorrow, so I'll let you know if it works out.

[phisher_d]

Does a drop-shot rig work well in cold water?  Slow, subtle, suspended, scented... Seems like the perfect fit.  Anyone try this?

[basser89]

phisher_d,

I've been trying the dropshot for a few weeks now here in MD. No luck. I've tried it on a small pond that I was catching bass on regularly with senkos before the cold really set in here. Was out on the Potomac last weekend and gave it a try there too (just below a warm water discharge plant). Zippo again.  >   All the techniques I've used in the past have not even produced a nibble yet. I'm missing something, just haven't figured it out yet! When I do, I'll let ya know!

[Whopper Stopper]

Well I went to the lake sunday to give it a try. The only thing I caught was a sore throat and fever.

So now I'm back to reading about fishing until I get better. Oh well, I guess thats how it goes.

[Capt. George]

Any you guys fish deer hair aka bucktails....?

saddle hackle??? :-?

great place for all kinds tieing feathers hair etc

Terminal Tackle.com

lotsa stuff good prices    monkey, :-? monkey!

[AC_Doctor]

Hi gents!

Been lurking here for a while and getting some really good tips and advise.

I have been fighting the ice and cold weather here in a private 49 acre lake in far west KC metro area. I tried slow, slow retrieved jig and pigs and Carolina rigged worms with little luck. I have to bank fish so I bought one of those Humminbird Smart Cast portable sonars and located fish in 17-22 feet of water along some steep bluffs ( the fish were showing just right off the bottom). I rigged up a slip bobber set-up and put a small minnow down to around 15-18 feet and tried to keep my hands warm. One hour later I had caught 4 bass from 1 to 2.25 pounds. I usually fish plastics, but I am sold on this rig. It is kind of a pain to cast and deal with, but I caught more bass in one hour than I had in 6 previous attempts combined.

The weather is going to warm up into the high 50's by the end of the week and I am looking forward to tangling with a big cold water bass. I also would not mind coming across a big winter crappie also. This fall I caught one that was a little over 1.7 pounds with a length of a tad over 16".

Good luck fishing,

AC