The First Taste of Winter:
Top Baits to Start With
Bruce Callis Jr
We have had our first snow here in Virginia and while the official start of winter is still in the future, the fishing is getting tough. The bass are feeding up and can be found both shallow and out deeper. But this also means they are moving and that can make it tough.
But if you find a bass, pay attention, because they can be part of a wolf pack roaming around, looking for and chasing baitfish.Making repeated casts to the same area is a high profile option. Don’t fly down the bank, stop and pick that area apart. Make multiple casts from different anglers. And don’t be afraid t try different baits.
There are going to be bass shallow, and if you find them, they will be eating. Early morning may be the coldest part of the day, but it can be very productive. Work the bank where the sun has started to warm up the water. Just a slight rise in the temperature can be magic.
For shallow, I prefer to throw a SPRO Fat John 60 or a Little John 50, both are great cold water bait and run around 5 feet depending on your line size. The bigger the line, the shallower they run. I usually run them on 10 pound Seaguar InvisX and use my rod tip to help adjust the running depth. I like a 7.3:1 reel ration, this allows me to speed up if needed and I can slow it down myself. I like a 7 foot medium action rod or a medium heavy with a fast tip. Not all rods are the same and the action will vary, the main thing is to not rip the bait out of the mouth of the bass.
I will also keep a Missile Baits Mini Flip jig or a Texas rigged Missile Baits D Stroyer or Baby D Stroyer handy to flip around laydowns and brush piles. I like a lighter weight to help slow the fall. The water is cold and everything slows down, so make your bait fall slow also. I prefer to use a 7 foot medium heavy rod, a 7.3:1 reel and spool it with 20 pound Seaguar AbraizX. I want to make sure I get them out of the cover quickly. And don’t be afraid to work the jig down and drop offs into deeper water.
The old “Ball and Chain” is another great bait in the winter. You can work it up shallow or out deeper. I like to use a Missile Baits D Stroyer and a 20 lb fluorocarbon leader. It is all about feeling the bite, or should I really say, knowing when a bass has picked it up. It may feel like pressure, like you could be hung, but usually it is in the mouth of the bass. Reel up the slack and set the hook with a sweeping action.
Another great bait is the Alabama Rig. This can be a big bait and learning to cast it is a must. It can and will catch bass, and multiple bass if you find a pack of them. I don’t throw it a lot, just because it can wear you out. But if it is what is working, you need to think about it. Just like a big swimbait. It takes dedication to throw it all day. And you have to believe in it. I won’t throw it all day, but I will mix it into a rotation of baits during the day.
And as we move off the shallows, a suspending jerkbait is a must use. I have a few options, depending on the water depth and where the fish are hanging. A SPRO McStick 110 is my go to choice. It runs 3-5 feet deep and can be worked from shallow to out deep. It will draw bass up from deeper water, but you need to be patient when throwing one. The pauses are the secret. And there is no secret length of time to pause.
I normally reel it down then pause for a couple seconds and start my retrieve. One twitch and a pause, 2 twitches and a pause then repeat. And no two days are the same, and it can change during the day. I’ve done a single jerk with a pause, then a single jerk again. You can pause from 5 seconds to a minute, depending on the bass. And you can vary the pause during the retrieve, 5 seconds, 10 seconds, then back to 5 again. Always do it on slack line so that the bait dances and never use the reel to move the bait.
I also love to use the SPRO McStick 110+1 when I want to get deeper. And I prefer the MMA Takedown Knockout Series 6’ 10’ Medium XF rod with a 7.3:1 reel and 10 pound Seaguar InvizX to achieve the best action in my bait, and maximum depth control. Being patient is a virtue when fishing a jerkbait.
Everyone says you must slow down, but that is not always the case. Winter is the perfect time for a moving bait, like a SPRO Aruku Shad or a bladed bait. I prefer a medium heavy rod with a fast tip. This allows the bait to work and also give some cushion when the bass hits. These baits are proven big bass catching lures all year round. There is no secret retrieve, but a variety of them to aide you in catching the bass.
The steady retrieve is the easiest straight out of the box. And it will catch bass. But there is so much more to this simple bait. You can let it fall to the bottom and a quick lift of the rod hop it off the bottom and slowly work it back just up off the bottom. The Yo-Yo is another method that works. Make a long cast and let it sink to the bottom on a slack line. Give it a quick snap to lift it off the bottom, then let it fail back to the bottom again. This mimics a baitfish struggling. Just be ready for a bass to slam it at any moment.
Winter can be a rough day on the water, but it can often lead to some of the biggest bass of the year. Dress warmly, wear your life jacket and be patient. These are some of my top baits. I have confidence in them and know they will work. That is something you need to have in what you throw. Think safety first, have fun, and live to fish another day!