| Winter bass become noticeably less aggressive as water temperatures drop, and their slower metabolism demands a more patient approach. A jig works exceptionally well in these conditions because it can be fished slowly while still imitating natural forage on the bottom. Anglers who adjust their mindset to slower movements often see the biggest improvement in bites. Winter is also a time when bass conserve energy, so presenting something easy to catch is essential. Keeping your bait near the bottom and moving it methodically helps match the pace of cold-water bass behavior. This simple shift toward slower jig fishing can dramatically increase your success during the coldest months of the year. Soft-plastic trailers like craw-styled baits or insect larvae help add subtle movement without overpowering the presentation. Bass often feed in tighter windows during winter, so maintaining bottom contact increases your odds of intersecting those feeding periods. Even small changes in depth or structure can concentrate winter bass, making a slow, bottom-focused approach even more reliable. Because winter strikes can be subtle, staying fully connected to your jig helps you detect light pressure or unusual bottom resistance. With enough patience and deliberate pacing, winter jig fishing becomes one of the most dependable methods to catch quality bass in cold water.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. Each is scented for complete and total attraction underwater, along with being made in the USA by real fishermen. We recently restocked the HellaMite Pro Pack, which is loaded with 60 baits in all six proven colors, plus three Owner Block Head Ned Jigs and a handy storage bag. This kit has everything you need to stay rigged and ready year-round. Grab our newest Lil Bass, Hot Sauce, MidNight, Glow, 10w30 Synthetic, Slimer Green, and Barbie Pink HellaMite colors. We’ve also restocked our Green Pumpkin and Smoke Purple HellaMite. The HellaMite’s solid body and hyperactive ribbed tail design produce a life-like quivering action with every twitch of the rod. Its 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. |
| Deep, clear, rocky lakes become prime winter holding areas because bass use the structure for warmth, cover, and ambush points. A football-style jig is particularly effective in these environments because it stays upright and crawls naturally across a hard bottom. This makes it ideal for imitating craw-styled baits and beetle-like forage that bass target in winter. Fishing these areas thoroughly helps you locate groups of bass that gather on long points, channel edges, and steep drop-offs. In winter, these locations often hold multiple fish at once, especially in deeper water. By staying patient and working through rocky zones, you can uncover schools that many anglers overlook. The wide head design keeps your presentation from snagging easily, allowing you to maintain contact with the bottom where winter bass spend most of their time. Even small transitions, such as a shift from pea gravel to chunk rock, can concentrate bass, making slow, systematic coverage extremely important. Using soft-plastic trailers shaped like craws or insect larvae adds subtle movement that blends perfectly with rocky terrain. Many winter bites happen when the jig simply rolls over a rock or pauses between cracks, so maintaining bottom pressure is key. Once you locate bass in these deep, rocky zones, they often remain there for extended periods, allowing you to return and catch more fish throughout the season.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, and the 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 that triggers strikes! |
| Winter bass often bite very lightly, making soft, almost unnoticeable pressure the norm instead of hard strikes. A full weed guard can sometimes block the hook from penetrating during these softer bites. Thinning the guard or removing it in open water can help you connect with more fish without dramatically increasing snags. When thinning, cutting strands from the bottom rather than the top keeps the guard’s structure intact while reducing stiffness. This adjustment allows the hook to move more freely while still offering some protection. A small detail like this can make a major difference when fish barely commit to the bait. Because winter bites feel more like added weight than a clear tap, having fewer fibers between the hook and the fish improves landing percentages noticeably. A thinner guard also helps the jig compress more naturally when a bass mouths it, which is extremely important during cold conditions. Pairing the jig with soft plastics such as craw-styled baits or insect larvae adds realism without interfering with the streamlined hookup. In rocky or sparse cover, removing the guard entirely allows for maximum sensitivity and a more direct connection to the fish. Fine-tuning the weed guard to match the cover you’re fishing gives you the ideal balance between protection and hooking efficiency, especially in winter.The new FreshBaitz Lizards deliver a realistic profile that excels in both power and finesse techniques. Act fast, we’ve recently just released new Hot Sauce, MidNight, Ghost, and 10w30 Synthetic 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. |
| Winter jig fishing succeeds or fails based on cadence, meaning how you move the bait along the bottom. Some days bass only respond to a slow drag that never leaves bottom contact, while other days require short hops to trigger a reaction. There are also times when a slow swimming retrieve followed by letting the jig fall naturally produces the most strikes. Because winter bass vary in mood from day to day, testing different cadences early in your trip helps you identify what works. Once you find the rhythm they prefer, you can repeat it consistently to catch multiple fish from the same area. Understanding cadence is one of the most important skills an angler can develop for cold-water jig fishing. Even small changes like pausing longer between movements or reducing hop height can completely shift your success rate. Soft-plastic trailers such as craw-styled baits, beetles, or insect larvae help enhance these cadence adjustments without overwhelming. Winter bass often feed in short bursts, so dialing in cadence can quickly transform a slow day into a productive one. Repeating the same motion the exact same way after finding what works helps bass commit more reliably, especially when they’re lethargic. Treating cadence like a puzzle rather than a fixed routine keeps your approach flexible and aligned with that day.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! |
| Fishing in 30 to 40 feet of water requires line that sinks well and allows your bait to reach bottom quickly. Lighter fluorocarbon helps achieve this by reducing drag and offering a more natural fall. It also provides enough stretch so winter bass have time to fully take the bait before you set the hook. Without this slight give, you may pull the bait away from fish that bite softly. Downsizing line also enhances sensitivity in deep water, helping you detect subtle bottom changes that often concentrate winter bass. This small adjustment helps you maintain better contact at depth and improves your overall hookup rate. Thin line cuts through the water more efficiently, making it easier to keep soft-plastic trailers like craw-styled baits or insect larvae moving naturally across deep structure. It also helps maintain bottom contact on steep drops where heavier line might lift the bait too much. Deep-water strikes are often nothing more than added weight, and lighter line lets you feel these moments instead of missing them. Using a controlled, sweeping hookset works well with downsized line because it takes advantage of the built-in stretch while still driving the hook home. For winter anglers, adjusting line size becomes a simple but powerful way to reach fish others overlook in deeper zones.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 MidNight, Glow, and Ghost Worms! Our popular Watermelon Red 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, Electric 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 Restocked 6-inch Worms, including Watermelon Red, Green Pumpkin, Black & Blue, Fire TGR, Wild Berries, Bone, 10w30 Synthetic, Zombie Blood, and Chocolate MNT! — 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 winter, bass often avoid noise and pressure from boats positioned directly overhead. By staying farther back and making long, controlled casts, you present your bait more naturally and reduce the chance of spooking fish. This approach is especially effective in clear water where sound and shadows travel farther. Many anglers rely on vertical presentations like hovering or dropping baits directly onto fish, but winter bass can be less willing to chase in these situations. Fishing from a distance keeps your presence subtle and allows your jig or soft-plastic trailer such as craw-styled baits or insect larvae profiles, to move naturally across the bottom. This often results in more bites from fish that have grown cautious through cold conditions. Long casts also give your bait a longer travel path across key structure, increasing the odds of crossing a bass’s limited winter strike zone. Staying back helps you maintain bottom contact more effectively, since the bait approaches the fish at a natural angle rather than dropping straight down. It also allows fish to inspect the bait without sensing pressure or sudden movement from the boat. Using soft plastics such as worms or beetle-style baits becomes even more effective from a distance because their small movement blends into the bottom environment. Keeping your distance ultimately helps you and lets you fish slower, quieter, and more naturally.Introducing the Newest 8-Inch MagDingo Worms! These are the ultimate game-changer in bass fishing! Engineered for anglers who know SIZE does matter, this lure is designed to attract only the BIGGEST bass with a fixation for the larger bait. The MagDingo Worm boasts a solid 8-inch body enhanced with a hyperactive ribbed design, ensuring irresistible mouth-watering action for those trophy bass. The 10-count packs are now available in a variety of 6 crucial colors, including the 10w30 Synthetic, Black & Blue, Zombie Blood, Green Pumpkin, Wild Cherry, and Watermelon Red. Each worm is made in the USA from durable, high-grade Non-Salted plastic for lifelike action and unparalleled durability. Perfectly balanced for a variety of rigging options and scented for maximum attraction, the 8-inch MagDingo 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 trophy-sized smallmouth and largemouth bass. |
| Cold weather brings ice-covered rod guides, numb hands, and difficulty working fast-moving lures for long periods. A jig offers a slower, simplified approach that keeps your hands drier and reduces constant reeling. Because you’re working the bottom at a steady pace, you spend more time fishing and less time fighting frozen equipment. Winter bass respond well to these subtle bottom-contact techniques, especially when your jig is paired with soft plastics like worms, beetles, or craw-styled baits. This efficiency lets you cover prime areas thoroughly without tiring yourself out. For many anglers, winter becomes the season where jig fishing delivers their most rewarding days on the water. The slower pace also helps you detect small depth changes, transitions, and isolated cover that often go unnoticed with faster techniques. Winter jig fishing minimizes wasted movement, allowing you to keep your line tight and stay fully aware of bottom texture and subtle strikes. Because your bait stays down longer, you naturally fish each spot more thoroughly, increasing your chances of finding wintering fish. It’s also easier to maintain control of your presentation during cold fronts when bass become even more finicky. As a whole, this method provides consistency and comfort while still giving you access to quality bass that many anglers miss in winter. We have a wide variety of terminal tackle to choose from, but we’ve 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. Owner Mosquito Hooks work for dropshotting and perfectly accommodates a wide range of soft plastics. 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. The popular All Purpose Hooks are built with an extra-wide gap and are made to accommodate a wide range of soft plastics. 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! The WEEDLESS Block Head Jig features high-quality construction that helps increase your hook-up ratios and keep your bait clean from snagging rocks or vegetation. 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 precious 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. We also just released Keep’em Fresh Bait Bags! These bags are the ultimate solution for anglers who need their gear to perform. Built like a tank, this bag is 20x stronger than regular zip bags and offers 100% waterproof protection with a rock-solid double zipper seal. Whether it’s for soft plastics, snacks, or your smartphone, this reusable and versatile bag keeps everything safe from water, mud, and grime. It’s lightweight yet spacious, it fits snugly in your tackle box or backpack, making it perfect for your next adventure. |
