WINTER BASS FISHING BASICS

Slow down, slow down and then slow down. When water temperatures drop, bass activity does too. That doesn’t mean they don’t eat though. With the right approach you may be surprised on how hot wintertime bass fishing can be.

Electronics are key in the dead of winter. Bass tend to school up in deep water sanctuaries usually associated with structure. Once you are on top of the fish, you are ready to go. I like to start out on top of them with a vertical presentation because bass won’t go to far for their meals. Probably the most popular cold weather technique is spooning. Spoons come in a variety of size, shape, and color, but the desired action is basically universal. When dropped over a school of fish, the spoon will erratically flutter on down due to its flat, cupped design. Always pay attention to your line on the way down, because that is often where a bass will take your lure. Once you’ve reached bottom, take the slack out of your line and rip your pole upward from approximately eight o’clock to ten o’clock and let the spoon flutter back down. Experiment on all the variables from the time between rips to length of rips, to force of the rips to find the right presentation the bass desire. You can also experiment on the spoons size, color and shape until you get a strike. I have found that after you catch one on a spoon, you usually get on a roll.

Another approach to these schools is setting up on one side or the other and running a Texas or Carolina rigged bait slowly through the crowd. Cast well over the target and work back. If you think you are moving too slow, you probably could slow down even more. Remember the bass are quite lethargic now and don’t want to work too hard for their next meal. In fact I prefer baits that have little wiggle or action. Also try dead sticking. Sometimes stopping the bait in the school is all it will take to get a strike. You will need to pay close attention to your line because you often will not know they are there. A sensitive rod or even setting your finger on the line can sometimes give you extra feel, but more than not you will only feel a little pressure when you slightly move your bait. Pressure means one of two things: snag or fish. I say set the hook just in case. When Texas rigged you should downsize your weight also. A smaller weight means slower moving bait.

Probably my favorite winter tactic is the drop shot. This puts you in the zone and keeps you there. About the only adjustment you’ll need to make here is how high to tie the hook. I’ll often tie on two hooks, at two different heights to find the desired zone a little quicker. To learn more about the drop shot, go to the fishing archive section.

A lot of fishermen, and especially the jet-skiers, pack it in for the winter. This can be a very enjoyable time to be on the water. There is not near as much traffic and the potential for a big bass is definitely there.

KIP POLLAY (AZOD)