| Winter cold fronts often feel brutal to anglers, but bass are already operating in a low-metabolism state during cold water periods. When water temperatures fall into the upper 30s and low 40s, bass are not reacting strongly to additional air temperature changes. Their feeding behavior and positioning are already slowed and stabilized for winter conditions. Many anglers lose confidence during cold fronts and assume fishing will be poor. That mindset leads to rushed decisions and abandoned patterns. Staying mentally disciplined is often the biggest challenge during winter fronts. Anglers who remain patient are more likely to recognize subtle patterns that others overlook. Winter bass tend to reward consistency rather than constant adjustment. Small changes in depth or presentation often matter more than dramatic location shifts. Confidence allows anglers to fish slower and more deliberately, which aligns with how bass behave in cold water. Treating winter fronts as a mental challenge instead of a fishing setback leads to more consistent success. Trusting seasonal behavior rather than short-term weather changes keeps anglers focused on the right areas. A calm, methodical approach often separates productive winter days from frustrating ones.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 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, 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. |
| Bass respond very differently to cold fronts in winter compared to spring. In spring, bass are transitioning toward spawning and sudden temperature drops can drastically interrupt their movement and behavior. During winter, bass are not preparing for major seasonal shifts. Their metabolism is already suppressed and their daily movements are limited. Because of this, winter cold fronts rarely force bass into dramatic relocations. Understanding this difference helps anglers avoid overcorrecting their approach. Instead of abandoning productive areas, anglers should focus on making subtle adjustments within the same zones. Bass are far more likely to hold nearby than relocate long distances during winter. This means successful patterns can remain effective before, during, and after a front. Overreacting to weather changes often removes anglers from fish that are still present. A steady, measured approach aligns best with how bass behave in cold water conditions. Patience and observation help anglers recognize when fish have shifted only slightly rather than completely moved out. Letting winter conditions dictate restraint leads to more consistent results.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 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! |
| During winter, bass instinctively seek out areas that offer even slight temperature advantages. Rock banks, hard bottom areas, and submerged cover can absorb and retain heat from available sunlight. These locations provide consistent comfort without requiring bass to expend much energy. Bass often hold close to these areas rather than roaming widely. Soft plastics like worms, craw-styled baits, or insect-style profiles can be worked slowly through these zones. Targeting these heat-holding structures is far more important than chasing water temperature changes. Even a small increase in warmth can make these areas more appealing than surrounding water. Bass will often position on the down-current or shaded edges of these structures to conserve energy. Precise casting and controlled presentations help keep soft plastics in the strike zone longer. Patience is critical, as winter bites are often subtle and easy to miss. Focusing on these high-percentage areas improves efficiency when conditions are at their coldest. Spending more time thoroughly working these areas often produces better results than covering water quickly. Winter success is often times built more on efficiency, not constant movement.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. |
| Cloud cover allows bass to remain shallower because light penetration is reduced. After a cold front passes, bass may move shallow briefly when clouds linger or early sunlight is limited. Once bright skies dominate, bass become more sensitive to intense light. This causes them to slide off banks and reposition slightly deeper. They do not always move far, but they do seek more comfortable lighting. Paying close attention to light is often more important than focusing on air temperature. Bass often respond to increasing light by tightening their positioning around nearby cover. Even subtle changes in brightness can influence how aggressively they feed. Early and late daylight windows tend to produce the best shallow opportunities after a front. As the sun climbs higher, depth adjustments become more important than location changes. Reading light conditions throughout the day helps anglers stay aligned with bass movement. Successful winter anglers treat light as a moving variable rather than a fixed condition. Tracking how bass respond to changing brightness throughout the day leads to better positioning.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! |
| Many anglers struggle most on the second clear day following a cold front. This happens because bass have already adjusted to increased light levels and repositioned. Anglers often keep fishing the same shallow water that worked during cloudy conditions. Bass may still be nearby, but they are holding deeper or tighter to cover. Small depth adjustments can make a major difference. Slowing down soft plastics such as beetles, lizards, or worms becomes especially important during this phase. Bass are often less willing to chase during this period and rely on ambush opportunities. Presentations that stay close to cover tend to draw more consistent bites. Long pauses and minimal movement help trigger strikes from inactive fish. Anglers who resist the urge to move constantly are more likely to stay on fish. This phase rewards patience over speed or experimentation. Committing to slower, more deliberate presentations keeps baits in the strike zone longer. Success during this phase comes from discipline rather than searching for new water. Trusting subtle adjustments instead of wholesale changes helps maintain contact with inactive fish. Staying this way turns a hard day into a productive one.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. |
| Water clarity plays a major role in how bass react after a winter cold front. In stained or off-color water, bass may only move a foot or two deeper. In clear water, bass can retreat significantly to avoid light penetration. This can mean suspending off structure or sliding into deeper zones nearby. Bass are rarely far away, but they are often less visible and harder to reach. Matching depth changes to water clarity helps anglers stay connected to fish. Clearer water forces bass to be more cautious and light-sensitive. This often results in tighter positioning and reduced movement. In darker water, bass can remain more relaxed and slightly more aggressive. Understanding these differences helps anglers avoid fishing above or below the strike zone. Depth control becomes a primary factor for success during post-frontal conditions. Adjusting presentation depth precisely can be more important than changing lure style. Paying attention to visibility helps anglers make smarter decisions in cold, post-frontal conditions. Small depth changes can often trigger bites when nothing else seems to work. Awareness of water clarity keeps anglers aligned with how bass actually respond.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 water alone dictates lure speed during winter fishing, regardless of weather changes. Bass feed slowly and deliberately when water temperatures are low. Speeding up after a front often reduces bite opportunities. Soft plastics such as craw-styled baits, worms, insect larvae, and lizards excel when moved patiently along the bottom. Smaller movements and long pauses allow bass time to commit. Consistency and patience outperform constant adjustments during winter conditions. Winter strikes are often light and easy to overlook without focus. Maintaining bottom contact helps keep presentations in front of inactive fish. Short hops, gentle drags, and controlled pauses increase effectiveness. Letting the bait sit still can be just as productive as moving it. Success in winter often comes from doing less, not more. Staying focused helps anglers detect subtle pressure changes or slight line movement. Winter bass rarely strike aggressively, so attention to detail becomes critical. A calm, deliberate approach consistently produces better results in cold water. Slowing down mentally is just as important as slowing down the presentation. Winter success favors anglers who stay patient, observant, and intentional with every cast. 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. |