| Cold water slows a bass’s metabolism, which means they simply do not need to eat as often as they do in warmer months. Instead of feeding throughout the day, bass tend to bite during short, specific windows. These feeding periods may only last a brief time, so being on the water during the right moment is important. Pay attention to warming periods, light changes, or calm conditions that can trigger activity. A slow, precise presentation with soft plastics like worms, beetles, or craw-styled baits helps match their reduced energy levels. Bass are more likely to react to something that comes close to them rather than chase a fast-moving target. Success in winter often comes down to patience and making the most of those short feeding opportunities. Staying in high-percentage areas during these windows greatly increases your chances of getting bites. Focus on locations where bass can conserve energy, such as deeper structure or vertical cover. Make repeated casts to productive spots rather than constantly moving. A slow, methodical approach helps keep your bait in the strike zone longer. Even a single feeding window can produce multiple fish if you are positioned correctly. Consistency in timing and location often matters more than covering large amounts of water in winter.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 slight color variations across the bait further enhance its appeal, mimicking the natural color shifts found in live prey. Each 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 is not one consistent period, and bass behavior changes as the season progresses. Early winter often follows the fall transition, and fish may still be adjusting to dropping temperatures. In the middle of winter, bass usually settle into stable areas and become less influenced by daily weather changes. Late winter is different because warming trends can begin to trigger pre-spawn movement. During this time, bass may shift closer to staging areas and feed more aggressively. Adjusting your approach as winter progresses helps keep presentations effective. Matching your soft plastic choices, such as lizards, insect larvae, or worms, to these seasonal shifts can increase your chances of consistent bites. Water temperature trends often matter more than the calendar when identifying each phase. Pay attention to where bass position themselves in relation to deeper water and nearby structure. In early winter, they may still be spread out, but by mid-winter they tend to group more tightly. Late-winter fish often position along routes leading toward spawning areas. Understanding these movements helps you stay around active fish throughout the season. Adapting your location and presentation speed to each phase leads to more success.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 Alabama, Midnight, and HellaMite Fun Pack, which is loaded with 18 HellaMite baits in all six proven colors, plus it comes with three Owner Block Head Ned Jigs. This kit has everything you need to stay rigged and ready year-round. Grab our newest Lil Bass, Hot Sauce, 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 a nice catch, thanks to its superior performance and versatility of the HellaMite. |
| A slower fall is one of the most important elements of winter fishing success. Bass that are conserving energy prefer an easy meal that moves naturally through the water. Using lighter weights allows soft plastics like worms, beetles, or craw-styled baits to descend more slowly. This gives suspended or inactive fish extra time to notice and react. A natural fall also looks more realistic, especially in clear or cold water. Heavier weights may drop too quickly and move out of the strike zone before bass can commit. Slowing down the fall rate often results in more bites during cold conditions. Lighter setups also help the bait glide and drift more naturally as it sinks. This subtle movement can trigger fish that would ignore a fast, straight drop. In many situations, the fall itself is what convinces a bass to bite. A slower descent keeps the bait in front of suspended fish longer. It also allows you to maintain better feel and control during the presentation. Paying close attention to fall rate adjustments can make a major difference in cold-water success.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. |
| In winter, many bass strike as the bait is falling rather than after it reaches the bottom. This is because suspended or inactive fish are waiting for something to come directly to them. A soft plastic that falls naturally into their strike zone is easier for them to intercept. Pay close attention to your line as the bait descends, since strikes can be very subtle. Any unusual movement, hesitation, or slack in the line could signal a bite. Being ready to react quickly increases your hook-up ratio. Treat every initial fall as the most important part of the presentation. Make controlled, quiet casts that allow the bait to enter the water naturally. Avoid excessive rod movement while the bait is falling, since this can pull it away from the strike zone. Let the soft plastic sink on a semi-slack line so it can move freely. Keep your eyes on the line where it meets the water for the earliest sign of a bite. Many winter strikes feel like nothing more than added weight. Developing the habit of reacting to these subtle signals will help you land more fish in cold conditions.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! |
| Winter bass typically respond better to subtle movement than aggressive action. High-action presentations can look unnatural when fish are sluggish and less willing to chase. Soft plastics that glide gently through the water are more convincing. Worms, insect larvae, and craw-styled baits provide a natural, understated appearance. This type of movement matches the slow pace of cold-water environments. A subtle presentation also stays in the strike zone longer. In tough conditions, less action often leads to more bites. Baits that fall smoothly without excessive vibration appear easier for bass to capture. This is especially important when fish are conserving energy in cold water. A quiet, natural descent often triggers reaction bites from suspended fish. Subtle shapes also imitate the small prey bass commonly feed on during winter. Slowing down and simplifying your presentation can make a big difference in tough conditions. Focusing on natural movement rather than flash or speed helps produce more consistent winter bites.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 restocked Charmeleon Worms and Brown Worms, which are some of our most popular colors. We also recently added Midnight, Glow, and Ghost Worms, along with Electric Chicken Worm and Goby Wan Worms! If you’re fast enough, you might be able to grab them before they’re completely sold out. Or you could experience our new wacky rigging kit while it’s still ON SALE! The WACKY Pack offers our most popular colors and essential tools for wacky rigging. 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 to different colors under the light. |
| During winter, bass often suspend instead of holding tight to the bottom. They commonly position themselves near steep drops, deep cover, or areas close to future spawning grounds. These locations allow them to conserve energy while staying near seasonal migration routes. Suspended fish are usually waiting for prey to move close enough to strike. Targeting these areas with slow-falling soft plastics increases your chances of success. Worms, beetles, and craw-styled baits are especially effective when presented near vertical structure. Focusing on these key locations helps you stay around active fish. Steep banks, bluff walls, and deep dock posts are common places where bass suspend in winter. Standing timber and brush near drop-offs can also hold fish throughout the colder months. These areas give bass quick access to both shallow and deep water. A slow, vertical presentation keeps your soft plastic in their strike zone longer. Make repeated casts to the same piece of cover before moving on. Concentrating on these high-percentage areas can lead to more consistent winter success.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 with a hyperactive ribbed design, ensuring irresistible mouth-watering action for those trophy bass. Get your hands on our most popular color before it’s too late! We just restocked the Charmeleon MagDingo, but supply is limited. The 10-count packs are available in a variety of 7 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. |
| As late winter approaches, slight increases in water temperature can energize bass. These warming trends often signal the start of pre-spawn behavior. Fish may begin moving toward staging areas and feeding more aggressively. During this period, slightly larger soft plastics like bulky craw-styled baits or lizards can trigger bigger bites. A slightly faster presentation can also help cover more water and locate active fish. Focus on areas with nearby deep water and access to spawning zones. Late winter can produce some of the biggest bass of the year when conditions begin to warm. Even a two- or three-degree increase can make a noticeable difference in activity levels. Bass often move onto steeper banks, channel swings, and transition areas during these warming periods. These spots allow them to feed while staying close to deeper water for safety. A slightly heavier weight can help you work these areas more efficiently. Make repeated pitches to staging cover where multiple fish may gather. Timing these warming trends correctly can lead to some of the most productive days of the entire season. We have a wide variety of terminal tackle to choose from, but for fast Texas rigging, we use the Bullet-Type Rig which has an attached weight saving you precious time when fishing cover. 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. All Purpose Hooks are built with an extra-wide gap and are made to accommodate a wide range of soft plastics. Owner Mosquito Hooks work for dropshotting and perfectly accommodates a wide range of soft plastics. The 4x Jungle Flippin Hook, which is designed for big fish and the toughest conditions. WEEDLESS Block Head Jigs feature 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. 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 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’ve also 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 swaps. Shakey Ultraheads 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. 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. |
