As winter season bears down on us, the serious bass fishermen will have no choice, but to take part in a little bit of wintertime bass angling. It’s clear that the winter months are some of the toughest times of the year for catching bass or any kind of fish. When the water temperature levels fall below fifty degrees the fishing can be incredibly difficult. One of the important things to remember throughout the winter is that bass will relocate into deeper water. Their ideal environment is access to a deep water structure located close to shallow flats. This provides shelter in the deep water, but also an opportunity in the afternoon once the sunlight has heated the water in the flats they can move in to eat bait fish.
Another key point to remember when fishing during winter months is that strikes will be much lighter compared to when water temperatures are warmer. Use lighter fishing line and lighter weight rods with more sensitivity to be able to feel the lighter lure strikes. Stack the odds in your favor with these three winter bass lures that are effective during the winter season.
Jigging Spoons
Jigging spoons over deep water structures during the winter season is a wonderful winter bass angling technique. Utilize your depth finder to find the exact location of bass hanging around deep water structures and you’ll have an advantage. Bass like to bite the spoon as it falls, so make sure to keep an eye on your line. Jigging spoons are a wonderful winter season bass fishing bait. 1/4-ounce Bomber Slab Spoons and Cotton Cordell CC Spoons are great choices to use for winter bass fishing.
Crank Lures
Shallow water brush and rocks will produce bass, however remember that you won’t get very many strikes. Bass are much slower at this time of year and typically feed less often. A crucial during any winter bass angling excursion is to make use of a crank bait that’s as natural-looking as possible. If the bait looks realistic and it is right in front of them, they are more likely to eat it. One of the best crankbait lures to use is a traditional 1/2-ounce Rat-L-Trap or Strike King KVD 1.5 Flat.
Plastic Worms
A plastic worm reeled in slowly can be a good wintertime bass angling bait. Stick with your favorite summer fishing holes that you are familiar with to present plastic worms in the winter. Often times stalling your worm and jigging will result in a strike. Try using big worms like black with blue fleck PowerBait® 10-inch Power® Worm with a 3/0 or 4/0 wide gap hook and if you don’t get any hits, then switch to a smaller 4 or 7 inch plastic worm to entice them to bite.
Even though fish are less active throughout the winter season, it doesn’t mean that wintertime bass angling cannot be effective. When fishing for bass during cold weather, these three bass baits should absolutely be in your tackle box and you can come home with your catch.
