| Suspending soft plastics, such as insects, lizards, or beetles, are excellent choices in winter as they mimic prey and can be worked at various depths. The key to success lies in slow, deliberate pauses during retrieval, sometimes lasting over a minute, which keeps the bait in the bass’s strike zone longer. Proper buoyancy is crucial, soft plastics can be rigged with weights or adjusted to hover naturally in cold water conditions. Winter bass often inspect lures closely, making it important to match the size of the bait to their natural forage. By maintaining patience and perfecting your pauses, you can trigger strikes even from sluggish bass in frigid waters. To ensure success, observe the water temperature and adjust your presentation accordingly, as colder waters may require even longer pauses. Positioning your bait near cover like submerged logs or rocks can increase your chances of enticing bites, as bass often gather in these areas for warmth and safety. Experimenting with different colors of soft plastics, such as natural greens or browns, can help match the forage and improve visibility in varying water conditions. Practicing a steady, minimal rod movement can keep the bait lifelike and prevent unnatural actions that may deter strikes. Remember that persistence is key in winter, often requiring trial and error to find what triggers bites on any given day.Our Fresh HellaMite is designed to imitate a major aquatic food source, delivering a realistic profile of an insect larva that fish can’t resist. Scented for complete and total attraction underwater along with being made in the USA by real fishermen just like you. Grab our newest Lil Bass, Hot Sauce, MidNight, Glow, 10w30 Synthetic, Slimer Green, and Barbie Pink HellaMite colors. Act quickly, these new colors won’t stay in stock for long. We also recently restocked our Ghost, Red Bug, Purple Rain, Brown Bug, Electric Chicken, and Goby Wan colors. The HellaMite’s solid body and hyperactive ribbed tail design produce a life-like quivering action with every twitch of the rod. Iits unique flat underbelly detail enables this bait to be fished as a drop shot, Ned rig, neko rig, and even a small Carolina-rig, making it the ideal bait in any condition year-round. When the water is clear, the fish can see the bait and look like real food, causing strikes. Each cast becomes an opportunity for an exhilarating catch, thanks to its superior performance and versatility. |
| Jigs with soft plastic trailers, such as cray-styled baits or worms, are effective year-round but require a much slower presentation during winter. In cold water, crawfish and similar prey move sluggishly, so your retrieve should reflect this. A Football Jig rigged with a minimal-action trailer is ideal for deeper, hard-bottom areas like rocks or ledges. Adjust the weight of the jig based on water conditions, using lighter jigs for calm water and heavier ones for windy or current-heavy environments. Keeping your presentation slow and natural while focusing on subtle movements is key to mimicking prey accurately and enticing bites. Use contrasting colors like black and blue or green and brown to ensure the jig remains visible in murky or deeper waters. As you fish, maintain bottom contact to imitate the natural movement of crawfish scurrying along the substrate. Experiment with different jig head designs, as options like flat-bottom or football-style heads can help adapt to varying terrains and avoid snagging. Pay close attention to your line tension, as winter bass often bite subtly, making it critical to detect even the slightest movements. Always focus on areas with nearby structure or cover, as these are prime spots where bass will congregate during colder months for warmth and food opportunities.We use our Fresh Scorpion because it closely imitates a crawfish. Our newest 10w30 Synthetic, Slimer Green, and Barbie Pink Scorpion colors work wonders. The Scorpion is a revolutionary new look to soft plastics. Its intricate detailing and texture mimic the nuances of a real crawfish, making it hard for bass to resist. Of course, water clarity always plays a role in color selection but in any season, you can’t miss using colors such as Green Pumpkin Seed, Brown Bark, Magneto. This bait not only appears natural to fish but gives them something to become curious about. The Scorpion paired with a stand-up jig is deadly because the jig actually sits the bait upright in a defensive stance. The subtle color variations across the bait further enhance its appeal, mimicking the natural color shifts found in live prey. Each Fresh Scorpion has a unique and exclusive 3-axis tail design that is engineered like no other soft plastic bait. Our Scorpions are made by anglers from high-grade non-salt plastic to provide superior life-like action-triggering strikes! |
| A vertical finesse rig using small soft plastics like insect larva or minnows rigged on a ball-head jig is an effective winter strategy. This method works best when fished vertically below the boat, either just above or below schools of baitfish. In cold water, minimal movement is essential to allow rocking motion of the boat or subtle currents to impart lifelike action to the bait. Bigger bass often position themselves beneath baitfish schools, waiting for easy prey that drifts down. By mimicking an injured or isolated baitfish, you can effectively target and catch bass even in deeper waters. To maximize success, use your electronics to locate schools of baitfish and identify where bass are most likely to be in relation to them. Maintaining the bait at the correct depth is critical, so adjust your presentation to keep it just outside the baitfish school, where bass are likely to ambush. Using smaller soft plastics, is effective during winter, as bass often target smaller, slower-moving prey. Experiment with your jig’s weight to ensure a controlled drop that mimics a natural descent without spooking fish. Patience is key, let the bait remain motionless for extended periods to mimic the behavior of lethargic, injured prey and trigger strikes from sluggish bass.The new FreshBaitz Lizards deliver a realistic profile that excels in both power and finesse techniques. Act fact, we just released new Hot Sauce, MidNight, Ghost and 10w30 Syntheic Lizard designs! The unique forward-facing leg design creates drag that holds it in the strike zone longer or produces wild flapping action with every pull of the rod. Additionally, its slightly ribbed solid body and large head hold your hook in place and provide much better weedless performance making it the ideal bait to use in any condition. Water clarity always plays a super big role in color selection but in any season year-round, you can’t miss when using colors such as Watermelon Red, Black & Blue, or Green Pumpkin. Its flexible tail design ensures added movement, tempting even the most cautious fish. The superior 5.5-inch profile stretches to a whole 7 inches which is perfect for predatory fish including bass year round. Made from long-lasting durable high-grade non-salted plastic for total and maximum attention-grabbing action underwater. |
| A drop shot rig with soft plastics, such as worms, lizards, or tubes, is perfect for targeting specific areas in winter. Look for bass near steep drop-offs, ledges, or cover like scattered rocks and submerged logs, as they often hug tightly to these structures. Use small, subtle baits to pick apart these areas methodically, keeping your movements minimal to match the slow behavior of prey during cold months. Let natural water currents or the gentle rocking of the rod action, avoiding aggressive rod movements that can make the presentation look unnatural. With patience, a drop shot rig can effectively tempt winter bass into biting. Focus on areas with consistent water temperatures, as bass will gravitate toward stable, comfortable environments during the winter. Adjust your leader length based on how high bass are suspended off the bottom, keeping the bait in their strike zone. Experiment with colors that match the natural forage in the area, such as muted greens or browns, to make your bait more appealing. The drop shot rig also allows you to fish vertically over deeper structure or hold your bait in one spot, making it ideal for lethargic fish unwilling to chase. Always pay attention to line tension, as bites and setting the hook quickly can be the difference between success and a missed opportunity.Our Fresh Beetle delivers ultimate versatility in a soft plastic bait. Its slim yet wide body design and four claws are engineered to naturally glide and wobble as it moves through the water. This design ensures they remain enticingly active longer than conventional baits. Its unique texture also provides a realistic feel, making bass hold on longer once they bite. Water clarity plays a big role in color selection but year-round you can’t miss when using go-to colors such as Chocolate Mint, Ox Blood, or 10w30 Synthetic beetles. The hyper-active swimming claws are designed thin with long-lasting durable non-salt plastic to make them come alive with the slightest movement. The Fresh Beetle offers an enticing 4-inch profile and is scented for complete and total attraction! You can rig these Beetles as a Jig/ Chatter Trailer, Flippin/ Punching, Texas Rig, Swing Jig, and Carolina Rig. Making the beetle beyond perfect in any weather condition year-round! |
| When bass are holding tight to the bottom in deeper water, soft plastics like beetles or cray-styled baits rigged with heavy jig heads can effectively mimic dying prey. Cast these baits near structure and use a lift-and-fall technique to create natural fluttering movements as the bait sinks. The pauses between movements are crucial experiment with pause durations to determine what triggers strikes, as bass in winter are often sluggish and selective. Compact, weighted setups help your bait reach deeper water quickly while maintaining control. By presenting a slow, realistic action, you can target bass that are otherwise difficult to entice during the colder months. Focus on areas like deep points, channel bends, or submerged ledges where bass tend to gather in cold water. Maintain constant contact with the bottom to mimic prey scurrying along or struggling near the substrate. Experiment with lighter lifts and controlled falls to avoid spooking fish or creating unnatural movements. The natural colors of soft plastics, like browns or greens, often perform well in clear or deep water where visibility is reduced. By paying attention to small details, such as bait size, depth, and speed, you can consistently get strikes.Using a stick-styled worm is the most tried and true ways to catch fish. We have a variety of 5-inch Worms to choose from but we just added new MidNight, Glow, and Ghost Worms! Our popular Wild Cherry Worms have been restocked as well. You can also experience our new wacky rigging kit while it’s ON SALE! The WACKY Pack offers our most popular colors and essential tools for wacky rigging. If you’re fast enough you might be able to grab the limited-release Pumpkin Spice Worm before it’s completely sold out along with some of our newest colors including the Brown Worm, Electic Chicken Worm, and Goby Wan Worm colors. The high-grade non-salt plastic they’re made from provides positive buoyancy and it even floats underwater! We also released new 6-inch Worms including Charmeleon, Rainbow TRT, Bone, Chocolate Mint, and Fire TGR are all available in 5 and 6-inch. We’ve also recently released new 8-count packs of worms available in Watermelon Red, Black & Blue, and Green Pumpkin. We also offer worms that have the unique ability to shift from one color to another. Scented for total attraction underwater. |
| In cold water, bass metabolism slows significantly, making them less active and more selective about what they eat. They often prefer smaller prey that moves slowly, so anglers should adjust their presentations to align with this behavior. Precision and patience are critical, focus on working specific areas thoroughly rather than covering large amounts of water. Subtle actions, like letting the bait pause or move gently with natural currents, are more effective than aggressive retrieves. By adapting to these changes in bass behavior, anglers can improve their success rate, even in challenging winter conditions. Bass typically gather near deep structure, such as ledges, drop-offs, or submerged cover, where they conserve energy and wait for food to come to them. Observing water temperature changes can also provide clues about where bass are holding, as they prefer stable, slightly warmer areas during winter. Downsizing baits and slowing down retrieves are key adjustments to match the lethargic nature of winter prey. Pay close attention to your surroundings and use electronics to identify where baitfish are concentrated, as bass often stay close to their food sources. With a methodical approach, you can turn those challenging winter day on the water into a productive one.Our newest FreshBaitz Mandingo Trick Worm is the ultimate game-changer for anglers with a passion! Engineered for the angler who knows SIZE does matter, this lure is designed to attract only the BIGGEST bass with a penchant for the larger bait. The Mandingo Trick Worm boasts a solid 7-inch body enhanced with a hyperactive ribbed design, ensuring irresistible mouth-watering action for those trophy bass. Officially available in a vibrant array of 8 colors. Each worm is made from durable, high-grade Non-Salted plastic for lifelike action and unparalleled durability. Perfectly balanced for a variety of rigging options and scented for total and maximum attraction, the Mandingo Trick Worm promises year-round effectiveness in lakes, rivers, and streams. Whether you’re rigging it on a Shakey Head, Drop Shot, Texas Rig, or Carolina Rig, these worms are your ticket to landing the big ones. Proudly made in the USA by real anglers to help elevate your fishing experience and catch more bass year-round! |
| Winter fishing requires having a variety of soft plastics in different sizes and actions to adapt to changing conditions. Smaller baits with minimal movement are usually more effective, as they closely resemble the slow-moving prey bass target in colder water. Use contrasting colors for deeper water to maintain visibility, and experiment with different rigging options to match the hatch. Keep in mind that bass behavior can vary daily, so adjusting your cadence, depth, and bait selection is critical. A flexible approach can make all the difference in catching bass during the toughest months of the year. Ensure your tackle includes different weights of jig heads to help you maintain control in varying depths and current conditions. Keep a selection of soft plastics in natural and contrasting colors to adapt to water clarity and light conditions. Invest in sensitive rods and lines that help detect subtle bites, as winter bass often strike with less aggression. Pay attention to weather patterns, as changes in temperature, wind, or pressure can drastically influence bass behavior and require immediate gear adjustments. Always double-check your gear before heading out to ensure you’re equipped with the right tools to meet the cold challenges.We have a wide variety of terminal tackle to choose from, but we’ve recently released new Nako Tungsten Tear Drop Shot Weights, crafted from 97% eco-friendly tungsten for stealth, durability, and vibration, with easy-to-read size stamps and a crimped swivel for quick changes. The new Haymaker EWG Worm Hooks are also now available, featuring an extra-wide gap for various soft plastics, a Z-lock shoulder bend for secure bait placement, and an angled-up super needle point for fast, powerful hooksets. For creature-styled baits, a more popular choice to use is the Stand-Up Jig because it sits the bait up-right in a defensive stance! Mosquito Hooks work for dropshotting and perfectly accommodates a wide range of soft plastics. The popular All Purpose Hooks are built with an extra-wide gap and are made to accommodate a wide range of soft plastics. The Block Head Jig is perfect for ned rigging the HellaMite with its mushroom-style head that seamlessly matches a wide variety of soft plastics. The Offset Block Head Jig, offers the same mushroom-style head with a unique offset hook, making it a go-to for weedless Ned Rig applications. The Shakey Ultrahead can permanently secure baits by inserting the pin in the center and screwing the twist lock coil spring for perfect rigging every time! The Ultrahead Wacky Jig features precise weight positioning and hook orientation for the ultimate wacky presentations. For fast Texas rigging, we use the Bullet-Type Rig which has an attached weight saving you pressure time when fishing cover. The 4x Jungle Flippin Hook is designed for big fish and the toughest conditions. The Range Roller Jig Head is crafted for precision with its high center axis design, perfect for hover-strolling and mid to bottom strolling with forward facing sonar, ensuring an enticing rolling action that triggers bites. |