Wintertime Fishing

[Missouribassman95]

I didn't get out this year much at all compared to other years, because of football. Well now that football is over I have alot more freedom so I'm thinking of heading out this winter to "catch up" alittle. Anyone here hardcore winter fisherman that could give me some tips? I know I need to slow down, and use much smaller lures but does anyone know of any specific ones that work for you? I'm think of going out after christmas cuz I'll have money to buy more lures that might work.

Thanks,

[Jig Man]

Never overlook a jigging spoon. Tubes and jigs are also good for me. How long before you get hard water up that way?

[Nitrofreak]

Spoons are good this time of year I have to agree and so are spinners, but my favorite is always and forever the jig.

The Texas rigged worm is also a good bait to use if you really,really slow it down.

[Fat-G]

"I know I need to slow down, and use much smaller lures"

Not necessarily true. I caught a fish yesterday burning back my jig on the top to make another cast. Water temp lower-mid 40's, air temp in the upper 30's to low 40's.

Today I was hopping a football jig tipped with a Rage Chunk (hung, not threaded) down rocky banks with timber nearby, and caught 4 little keepers. This was at a pond I seldom fish and overlook. Literally walking distance from my house, I just always thought of them as "not my kind of ponds".

While finesse baits do have their place in the winter, often times a jig with a big, action-packed trailer will get 'em too.

[Missouribassman95]

Never overlook a jigging spoon. Tubes and jigs are also good for me. How long before you get hard water up that way?

Well it never gets cold enough to completely freeze the lake I'm planning to fish at. Maybe little ares, but nothing extreme.

[Crestliner2008]

A texas rigged Paca Craw with a 1/8 oz. bullet sinker works well this time of the year. And yes, you have to slow down.

[Glenn]

Lot's winter fishing articles here: http://www.bassresource.com/seasonal-fishing-articles/ Enjoy!

[jeremyt]

I always have better luck (fall to spring) throwing a shallow crank. I generally fish rivers more so this time of year.

[Bluebasser86]

I do really well on small 4-6 inch finesse worms in natural colors on light shakeyheads. Just drag them slowly along the bottom. Small jerkbaits like a 65 pointer and jigging spoons along channel edges and vertical cover have also done well for me.

[BradH]

Like others have said, you don't have to go small. I only have a couple places I can fish during the winter unless I drill holes but I do best on jerkbaits, straight tail worms fished any way you like, cranks, spinnerbaits, rattle baits, senkos and jigs. Going slow is thew key most of the time but not always.

As for a specific lure that works for me my all time favorite is a glass perch husky jerk size 10, 12 or 14. I also like chompers 4" straight tail green pumpkin worms, any rapala DT or crankin' rap in helsinki shad or regal shad, any suspending or floating norman in SX shad. Those work on the bodies of water I fish, I'm not sure about where you are but I'd bet they would be a good start.

[BUZZKIDD]

I like a jig fished painfully slow but I've also caught winter fish slow rolling a small spinnerbait.

[Missouribassman95]

Okay thanks for the advice!

[StinkyBass]

dont forget suspending jerk baits! they are deadly on slow moving bass (match the hatch)

[Greed]

I mentioned it in another thread recently but I said it once and I'll say it again. Lipless Cranks and Jigs are a deadly duo during the winter time. You can substitute the crank and jig for any search/finesse combo, just as long as you have confidence in them.

see what I did there?

[NCFatBoy]

Jiggin Spoon, for me, an undressed Hopkins Shorty 5/8oz

[StinkyBass]

...Lipless Cranks...are a deadly...during the winter time. You can substitute the crank...for any search/finesse combo, just as long as you have confidence in them.

how do you fish a lipless crank in the winter? bass move slow in cold water... fast, slow, zigzag retrieve?

(Thanks Missouribassman95 for the good topic)

[CAdeltaLipRipper]

I too, have not fished that much recently because of football season.id always be too tired to go and have my mind set on football lmao u only have 4 years of hs football right?im excited to get back into my fishing swing. We're gonna be doing alot of drop shotting,which is really effective, and we're gonna throw some jigs. thats our main winter recipe

[CAdeltaLipRipper]

how do you fish a lipless crank in the winter? bass move slow in cold water... fast, slow, zigzag retrieve?

(Thanks Missouribassman95 for the good topic)

It depends what kinda of lake you're fishing. A lot of people think lipless crankbaits are more effective in winter. Shallower lakes you can rip them off of grass and stuff,but with a slower retrieve.you want contact with objects.Ive used them in the delta in the winter,but not in our deep motherload lakes.

[gobig]

how do you fish a lipless crank in the winter? bass move slow in cold water... fast, slow, zigzag retrieve?

If a Bass wants to eat your bait you can not reel it fast enough to get it away from him/her. Bass are extremely efficient predators and will move to get a bait even in cold water. It is true that slower is generally better in cold water but it is not always the case. In fact when I can get a reaction bite going in the cold months they are usually better fish then the ones ya get shaking a worm.

The most effective way I have fished a lipless in the winter is yo yoing. Cast out let the bait settle on the bottom, pop it off the bottom, letting it settle again. The strikes will come on the fall. Vary the intensity of how you work the bait to see what they want.

[StinkyBass]

The most effective way I have fished a lipless in the winter is yo yoing. Cast out let the bait settle on the bottom, pop it off the bottom, letting it settle again. The strikes will come on the fall. Vary the intensity of how you work the bait to see what they want.

First...Thanks to "Missouribassman95" for starting a great post

Second... Thanks to "gobig" for the above quoted advice.

Third... the results (see attached pict). Not a huge bass, but a bass at the end of my line on the 23rd of December will always produce a smile!

[Fishin45]

anytime the water goes below 50 you should always have a jerk/rip bait tied, drop shot and a big jig once the baitfish have gone super deep and as many have suggested a jigging spoon( not ideal from the bank). obviously slow and small is what everyone has told us works best but i have found that not to be all that true. remember the fish are slow and lethargic and do not want to commit to much exercise this time of year. if they can eat one big bait rather than several small baits they will do it. it takes a lot less energy to eat a big bait than to chase down several small baits. i would suggest a swimbait even up north and in farm ponds as well. they do not need to be 10 inches long and weigh 8 oz's, but the style of the tail does seem to matter. as it gets colder i suggest getting away from the paddle tail baits like the basstrix or money minnow and go with a tail style like you find on the huddlestons or even the rago baits.

i hope this helps a bit oh and look for banks where the channel swings in close, this time of year the fish prefer moving vertically to feed from my experiences.

[Bluebasser86]

Jerkbaits are always a good option in cold water. We landed almost 60 fish in less than 2 hours this new years day morning from a pond, all but 3 of them at some type of jerkbaits (1 on a worm, 1 on a tiny ika, 1 on a one knocker.) Almost all of them ate it on the pause and we were waiting 5-10 seconds between very soft twitches.Water was only 37 degrees after a very cold rain last night.

[Missouribassman95]

First...Thanks to "Missouribassman95" for starting a great post

Second... Thanks to "gobig" for the above quoted advice.

Third... the results (see attached pict). Not a huge bass, but a bass at the end of my line on the 23rd of December will always produce a smile!

Catch her on a lipless crankbait? I went out yesterday with one and just had a few bites. I think I'm gonna change up my retrieve though.

[Missouribassman95]

Jerkbaits are always a good option in cold water. We landed almost 60 fish in less than 2 hours this new years day morning from a pond, all but 3 of them at some type of jerkbaits (1 on a worm, 1 on a tiny ika, 1 on a one knocker.) Almost all of them ate it on the pause and we were waiting 5-10 seconds between very soft twitches.Water was only 37 degrees after a very cold rain last night.

Do you think a Zoom Superfluke would work?

[Missouribassman95]

anytime the water goes below 50 you should always have a jerk/rip bait tied, drop shot and a big jig once the baitfish have gone super deep and as many have suggested a jigging spoon( not ideal from the bank). obviously slow and small is what everyone has told us works best but i have found that not to be all that true. remember the fish are slow and lethargic and do not want to commit to much exercise this time of year. if they can eat one big bait rather than several small baits they will do it. it takes a lot less energy to eat a big bait than to chase down several small baits. i would suggest a swimbait even up north and in farm ponds as well. they do not need to be 10 inches long and weigh 8 oz's, but the style of the tail does seem to matter. as it gets colder i suggest getting away from the paddle tail baits like the basstrix or money minnow and go with a tail style like you find on the huddlestons or even the rago baits.

i hope this helps a bit oh and look for banks where the channel swings in close, this time of year the fish prefer moving vertically to feed from my experiences.

Okay thank you for the tips.