Winter Bass Fishing When Water < 40 Degrees

Even when you are fortunate to live in parts of the country where the water doesn't freeze during the winter, bass fishing when the water is below 40 degrees is usually tough. 

That doesn't mean you can't have great days of bassin' during the winter but more often than not the bite is slow and days with 0 to a few bass crossing the gunwale are more the rule than the exception.

Take a moment and watch as 2022 Bassmaster Classic winner Jason Christie details his approach when fishing a new lake and water temps don't even make the 40 degree mark!

Definitely not a great day but one thing's certain; even on the days when the catching is almost nil there's still lessons to be learned to make future trips more productive :)

How to Select a Football Jig

Football jigs are a popular choice among anglers for catching bass, especially in deeper waters or areas with rocky bottoms, especially where crawfish is a prevalent forage. 

Here are some tips on how to choose the right football jig for your next bass fishing trip:

Weight: Choose a football jig that is heavy enough to get to the bottom quickly, but not so heavy that it gets snagged easily. Typically, a 1/2 to 3/4-ounce jig is a good starting point for deep water applications whereas 1/8 to 3/8-ounce jigs are great in the shallows .

Color: The color of the jig should mimic the color of the baitfish in the area you are fishing. Darker colors like black and brown work well in muddy waters, while lighter colors like green pumpkin and watermelon work well in clearer waters.

Skirt: The skirt of the jig should be made of silicone or living rubber, which provides a more natural movement in the water than synthetic materials. You can also choose a skirt with contrasting colors to make the jig stand out more in the water.

Trailer: Choose a soft plastic trailer that matches the color and size of the baitfish in the area. Crawfish, worms, and grubs are popular trailer options for football jigs.

Hook: Make sure the hook on your football jig is sharp and strong enough to handle the size of the bass in the area. Selecting a jig with a wide gap hook will also help improve your hook-up ratio.

Take a moment and watch as Pete from Omnia Fishing discusses his thoughts on things to consider when purchasing football jigs:

Are You Searching For Lake Contour Maps?

Ever wonder how to get hold of fishing maps for the lakes and ponds around your area? 

In the today's web-centric age, there are a couple of different map sources available; 

• Sites/apps like those maintained by fish and wildlife agencies usually providing access to simple contour maps downloadable as PDF or image files and 
• Sites/apps providing access to online interactive maps with lake contour options.

A wide variety of web site sources can be readily identified by entering a keyword phrase like "online lake contour sites" into your favorite search engine. Just click on the linked phrase and see what I mean :)

Since one of the tasks of state fish and wildlife agencies is the compilation and dissemination of useful information to anglers and hunters. 

As a result, fisheries agencies often created lake contour or bathymetric maps for many lakes and ponds in their state. Typically those maps are provided as PDF files showing the water body and basic bathymetry contours depicting the general shape of the lake/pond's bottom. In some cases, the agency may provide additional information like the fish present, possible presence of vegetation, type of lake, access point & type, etc. too.

As examples of the types of information/formats available from different fishery agencies, several links are provided below:

New Hampshire

Maine

Massachusetts

New York

Wisconsin

Texas (limited list)

Nebraska

Michigan

Iowa

Idaho

Generally speaking these map packets have general information with low resolution contour maps but can be a great place to start when researching new bodies of water.

Other Online Lake Map Options…

Fishing Frogs In Natural Lakes

Nothing is more exciting than working a topwater lure over grass mats and suddenly the cover explodes with water flying everywhere then your bait vanishes as a big ole bass inhales it. 

What's the best bait for triggering explosive strikes from bass holding beneath vegetated canopies? 

The hollow body frog of course!

Take a moment and listen as one of the best ever bass anglers, Kevin VanDam (KVD) describes his approach to fishing densely vegetated natural lakes and ponds throughout his home state of Michigan...

KVD mentioned that heavier frogs that make more of a disturbance are often key to triggering strikes when fishing dense canopies. 

One "enhancement" to your frog when fishing dense surface cover; place a few BBs inside the frogs hollow body. It not only adds weight so the frog presses into the cover more but also adds another noise source many bass have not been exposed to!

Looking to upgrade your froggin' gear?

Click the following link to see the great selection available from Omnia Fishing!

Frog Fishing Gear

How To Fish Jigging Minnows

When most bass anglers see jigging minnows like Rapala's Jigging Rap, the thought of ice-covered lakes and ice jigging rods pops into their minds.

Truth be told however, baits like the Jigging Rap are deadly open water baits as well especially when bass are relating to vertical cover, they're suspended or lethargic due to extreme water temperatures.

Take a moment and watch as Joe Ponessa of the Omnia Fishing pro staff describes his tips for getting more bites when fishing the Jigging Rap in open water situations...

Dead the Ned for Winter Bass

Ever since its widespread introduction to the bassin' world about a decade ago, the Ned rig has become one of the "go-to" finesse baits for most savvy bass anglers. 

Despite the growing varieties of soft plastic baits and jig head styles available today, the Ned presentation system is one of the simplest techniques for catching numerous bass of all sizes throughout the calendar year, especially on highly pressured waters.

The ultra subtle appearance of the light, flat-bottomed jig head and stubby 2 3/4" soft stickbait trailer makes the Ned rig bait a highly productive bait during the cold water period during late fall, winter and very early spring. 

Dead the Ned!

Although any of the standard Ned rig retrieves may work during the cold water period, "deading the Ned" by using a dead-stick and super slow drag presentation is often the best option when the water is cold (low 40s or colder)!

Winter Jig Trailer Tips

A jig and trailer is one of the most versatile bass fishing baits in most people have in their tackle boxes. Because it's virtually snagless, a jig can be fished through almost any type of cover and structure allowing anglers to probe areas where most baits get hung-up. 

Add in the seemingly endless types and styles of trailers, the jig can be fished during any season. It's especially effective when using extremely slow retrieves in cold water situations.

There is little doubt the jig and trailer is often a "go-to" bait for most bass anglers during the winter months; it's just a matter of using the right type of trailer as bass pro Gerald "G-man" Swindle explains in this video from the folks as Mossy Oak...

Paddletail Swimbaits for Late Fall/Early Winter Bass

Despite the season, if you take a simple jig head, add a 4" paddletail swimbait, you create one of the most productive, easiest to fish bass lures around: the paddletail swimbit. 

Even in the late fall and early winter, paddletail swimbaits mimic many different types of bait fish; a favorite forage of the smallmouth bass as they feed up before settling into their winter haunts.

Rigging and presentation of paddletails is very straight forward as pro fishing guide Tony Roach details in this video produced by the folks at W2F. Enjoy!

My choice regarding gear used for fishing paddletail swimbaits (live links):

Rod: Daiwa Tatula XT Spinning Rod (7' M)

Reel: Daiwa Revros LT 3000 Spin Reel

Line: 10 lb P-Line Floroclear

Paddletail Swimbait: Storm Lago Shad (4")

Jig Head: VMC Hybrid Swimbait Jig Head (5/16 oz)

Soft Stickbaits as Chatterbait Trailers?

Most bass anglers use some style of soft plastic lure as a chatterbait trailer including fluke-style baits, split-tail spinnerbait trailers, twin tail grubs, blade style minnow baits, and in some cases even paddletail swimbaits.

Some folks, like bass pro Matt Stefan, believe that trailers with few moving appendages work best since they do not interfere with the chatterbait's natural side-to-side, erratic hunting action that helps trigger strikes.

But does it make sense to use a soft stickbait, one of the most subtle action soft plastic baits on the market, as a chatterbait trailer?

Matt sure thinks so and describes why in the following video on his preferences when selecting a chatterbait trailer...

Interesting points though I still believe a small, thin-profile paddletail like the Swim Senko or Yum Swim'n Dinger work well with limited impact to the chatterbait's hunting action.

Small Crankbaits Can Trigger Big Fall Bass Strikes

No bass angler questions the effectiveness of crankbaits to cover water and trigger fall bass into striking. If you look at the rods rigged on the decks of fall anglers, you're likely to find a variety of squarebill, flat-sided and sometimes even deep running crankbaits among the mix.

But there's one type/style of crankbaits many bass anglers leave out of their fall arsenal; the micro to small sized baits that offer many different advantages over traditional crankbaits especially in highly pressured situations.

Take a moment and listen as Bassmaster Elite Series pro John Crews spills the beans on his approach when fishing small crankbaits for big fall bass...

And by the way, John Crews isn't the only fan of ultra small crankbaits. 

Bass fishing OG Rick Clunn has been a propenent of micro-sized crankbaits dating back several decades including in some of his early career tournament success!

Fishing Natural Ponds Using Jerkbaits In Late Fall

After fishing Cape Cod's natural ponds for a number of years and I can attest; fishing with jerkbaits from early spring through late fall (as well as a lot of other baits) can be phenomenal.

In this video, two avid Cape bass anglers seem to have more of a pickerel than bass bite happening even though they were targeting late fall bass. Looks like they're on a Cape pond I am very fond of (Santuit Pond in Mashpee) which can be great anytime of year.

Skipping Tubes

Like many bass anglers, I love fishing shallow anytime I can successfully catch the bass living there. Since most shallow water bass are cover oriented, bass anglers often target bass hanging around docks, laydowns, anchored boats and overhanging brush. 

Whenever the available cover creates a canopy (docks, overhanging brush, pontoon boats, etc.) bass hide beneath, the ability to skip a bait back under that canopy is key to consistently catching bass living there. 

Though there are a number of baits and rigging methods that can be skipped under overhanging cover, a simple 3" to 4" tube is a great skipping bait that many bass living in those areas seldom see.

Where to Catch Big Bass in Winter

Bass anglers living south of the winter "iced-in" region of the north country have the opportunity to continue their pursuit of open water bass throughout the winter's cold water period. 

Novice winter open water bass chasers focus on deep water areas since many bass gravitate to basin holding areas during the winter months. Knowledgable bass anglers understand that many times, bass including some big bass temporarily migrate to shallow flats during the winter months to feed.

Take a moment and listen as bass pro Mark Menendez describes one of his favorite times to fish for bass, the winter's cold water period...

Cranking Super Shallow Cover

If you love fishing shallow cover like me and many other bass anglers, you might be interested in a new crankbait developed by the folks at Strike King.

Though most of us probe shallow cover with baits like jigs, Texas-rigged soft plastics, spinnerbaits and hollow-bellied frogs, we often shy away from throwing baits adorning treble hooks due to the "snag factor".

According to SK pro Kevin VanDam, the company's Hybrid Hunter Shallow JR is designed to run erratically in a depth range of 0' to <2' and is still amazingly snag resistant. A perfect combination of features making it an ideal treble-adorned bait for working shallow cover.

Take a moment and watch as KVD demonstrates how effective the Hybrid Hunter Shallow JR is when fishing super shallow cover in muddy water conditions...

How Would You Approach This Fishing Situation?

I’m one of those people who not only loves to bass fish but is also thinking about it when I am not…

Anytime I pass a water body or see an image of one, I instantly start to think about the types of bass-holding cover and how I would go about fishing it…

I also like to prompt other land-locked anglers into analyzing potential fishing opportunities by sharing images of different cover situations by posting images of “fishy spots” via my Twitter feed.

Recently I posted the following image of a pad-field, dock and shoreline brush in fairly shallow water ( < 5 feet) with the question…

What would you be throwing?

Several of my Twitter followers decided to chime in and here’s a look at the baits and presentations they suggested…

Ryan @clark300… swimbait on the edges and in thinner veg, Koppers Livetarget frog on the rest.

chance weaver @GHdreamweaver… flip a horny toad or a Spro frog with about 30 pound braid

Belmonte Bassin @BelmonteBassin… I’d flip a rage tail hawg with a slither jig weight and skirt

thomas jordan @bigmumbles52… I would throw a frog with thirty pound braid

Caden August @Caden_16… top water

Alvin Hatley @rebalal98… pic.twitter.com/lqKkz0XbEY (image of soft-body popping frog) & but in a brite pink, yellow, or orange pic.twitter.com/WlEjesOFPA (wacky rigged stick bait)

Mr Cricket @mund… without a doubt a Spro frog…

bryan stuart @BASHEM1… a buzz frog in the edge and Texas rigged plastic or jig in the heavy stuff

Mike @gtrmke… frogs!!!

Mark Easterling @lapbass … Big topwaters into openings and along edges!

Fish Catchmore @Catch_more_fish… KVD hollow body frog, white belly.

Tyler Crawford @NotoriousMTC… Stanley ribbit, spinnerbait, or a rage tail eeliminator

Looks like the most popular bait named was some type of frog with jigs coming in second…

Given the dominance of pads in the image I guess that’s not surprise 

How would I approach the area you ask?

• Wacky & Texas-rigged weightless stick bait (casting edges, openings and skipping)
• Chatterbait w/ swimbait trailer (casting edges, openings and pitching)
• Texas-rigged tube (casting edges, openings and pitching)
• Buzzbait (casting edges and openings)
• Shallow running crankbait (casting edges and openings)

Each to their own I guess 

Are Plopping-Style Topwaters Just Summertime Baits?

Ever since the introduction of River2Sea's Whopper Plopper, the popularity of plopping style topwaters skyrocketed. 

Though nothing is more exciting than a bass exploding on a topwater, the action of plopping topwaters draws some of the most eruptive blow-ups many anglers experience elevating the thrill to new heights!

One issue many anglers have with this type of topwater is the misbelief that they are only effective during the warmest months of the year. 

Truth be told, if the bass are up in the shallows searching for something to eat, plopping topwaters like the WP or Berkley Choppo can still trigger some fantastic topwater action throughout the year.

Take a moment and listen as MLF pro Gary Klein describes how he fishes the Choppo for year-round bass catching success:

Looking to add a few plopping or prop baits to your topwater arsenal?

Check out the variety offered by the folks at Omnia Fishing by clicking on the following link:

Great Plopping & Prop Bait Selection

Is This Cape Cod’s Hidden Bass Fishing Secret?

There is a place on the sandy plains of Cape Cod that many local bass angler’s try and keep secret.  It isn’t one of those nearly pristine kettle ponds with crystal clear water harboring nice mixed populations of largemouth and smallmouth bass.

Actually, it is quite the opposite; an older constructed pond, dammed many years ago by local cranberry growers as a water supply for the numerous bogs surrounding its shores.

Add in the relatively shallow water depth (greatest depth is ~ 9 feet), very fertile water (both with respect to nutrient content and baitfish) and dense beds of pond lilies, pondweed and coontail, Mashpee’s Santuit Pond is definitely atypical compared to most other lakes and ponds on Cape Cod.

So what makes Santuit Pond so special?

An absolutely fantastic population of largemouth bass, not just in numbers (which are great) but more importantly in size.  Santuit Pond is one of the many freshwater systems throughout the Cape connected by a stream (Santuit River) to the ocean (Vineyard Sound actually) a few miles to the south.

The significance of the ocean-pond connection relates to the fact that the river serves as a migration path for alewives (an anadromous fish) where they access their freshwater breeding grounds (the pond).  This provides an abundant food source for Santuit’s bass through the Summer and into the early Fall when the herring/alewives abandon their summertime home for the ocean.

Float n Fly System for Lethargic Bass

There are certain days and times of the year when bass and other gamefish move away from structure and cover to suspend mid-depth in the water column especially when the water is very cold, very hot or when the lake is highly pressured.

Over the decades, savvy anglers have developed a presentation system that harkens us back to the early days of fishing when we were kids using a float and bait to lure fish into biting; the float n fly system. 

At first glance the basic setup appears fairly straightforward but in reality there are a number of nuances that come into play to fish the system successfully.

Take a moment and watch as the guys from Tactical Bassin' explain their modifications to the float n fly system making it simpler than many early appraoches to the technique...

Best Bass Baits When Fishing Dirty Water

During each fishing season, bass anglers encounter bass relating to shallow cover when the water is dark and heavily stained. 

The question is what baits do you rig up to draw strikes from bass under these conditions?

Take a few moments and listen as MLF bass pro Cliff Crochet talks about his favorite baits when trying to trick bass holding in shallow, dirty water...

Two additional topwater baits I would add to Cliff's favorites are a buzzbait and a plopper-style topwater such as the Whopper Plopper (#110) or similar sized Berkley Choppo. 

I always love the shot at a great topwater strike no matter what the water color...

Tips for Fishing in the Wind

Like many bass anglers, I used to go out of my way to avoid fishing windy areas especially when floating in "human powered" crafts. 

One of the best decisions I ever made was taking the time and learning how to fish in the wind plus use it to my advantage. Using the right baits and learning how bass position around wind-blown cover has yielded many fantastic days of catching ever since.

There are some key tips that will help maximize success when fishing in the wind as explained by bass guru Kevin VanDam (KVD) in the following video from King of Bass TV...

Just like KVD, spinnerbaits are definitely one of my go to baits when fishing in the wind as are chatterbaits, lipless crankbaits and even blade baits. Proper boat position and bait presentation to wind blown cover is key!

Four Blade Bait Retrieves for Year Road Success

When most bass anglers see a blade bait, a few things usually spring into their mind:

• Winter or cold water fishing
• Deep water fishing
• Vertical fishing structure or schools of fish

Savvy anglers, however know the blade bait is far more versatile and when the proper retrieve is used, it can be used to successfully through out the year to increase your catching success.

Take a few minutes and watch as Bassmaster Elite pro Mike "Ike" Iaconelli discusses in this video from the folks at Bass Angler Magazine:

Are All Blade Baits the Same?

What do you get when you take a this sheet of metal cut into the shape of a baitfish, add hooks, color and tabs of lead for weight? 

The simplest cold water baits on the market, a blade bait!

One of the first blade baits introduced to the market is the Heddon Sonar (circa 1959) followed a couple of decades later by the Silver Buddy; both still in production and highly popular today. Since that time many tackle manufacturers have introduced their own version of the blade back by tweaking the components and design to add their own twist to the bait.

Even though the various baits have different shapes, hooks, tie-eye and weight placement on the thin metal body, do they all act or vibrate the same way in the water?

Absolutely not as the folks from Omnia fishing explain in this short video on their favorite blade baits for cold water bassin'

Check out the variety of blade baits available from Omnia fishing by clicking on the following link to start your blade bait collection:

Blade Baits @ Omnia Fishing

Be Smart, Be Safe, Practice Ice Safety

It’s that time of year again and many of our northern friends will be venturing out on the solid surface of their favorite waters for a little winter fishing.

Even though there may be safe ice in the middle of winter in many places, there are certain times and conditions where thin ice may persist and danger awaits…

Take a moment and check out the following video created by the safety folks in MN and distributed via the AnglingBuzz YouTube channel!

You may be glad you did!

Here’s another helpful graphic from the folks at MN DNR showing ice thickness conditions for certain modes of travel…

Take care out there and enjoy every moment you safely spend on the ice pursuing your favorite gamefish 

Picking the Right Reel Gear Ratio

Given the numerous companies manufacturing fishing reels, it's confusing enough for a new angler trying to buy a baitcasting reel. 

Add in the variety of gear ratios for many models, it's almost overwhelming and knowing which gear ratio works best with each presentation is a big factor in fish catching success!

Take a moment and watch as MLF bass pro Stephen Browning provides key insight in how different gear ratios impact retrieves and how to select the best gear ratios for the baits you intend to fish with the reel you're purchasing...

Looking for a new baitcasting reel?

Check out the great selection of baitcasters available at Omnia Fishing by clicking on the following link:

Baitcasting Reels @ Omnia Fishing

Bump Board Ready for Many CPR Tournaments

Anyone planning on fishing small boat tournaments is likely to learn most use “Catch, Photo, Release” a.k.a. CPR as the preferred fish registration method. Bass tournament events based on CPR takes fish conservation to the next level since the bass is quickly released to the water with far less stress than traditional live release events.

As I learned more about CPR events and noticed many target small boat anglers, I decided to get re-involved with CPR bass tournaments this season. The more I looked at different tournament trails, the more I learned a specific type of measuring board was often required; Hagen’s Hawg Trough.

It’s easy to understand why the Hawg Trough was selected but there are two deficiencies in the original design that needs to be addressed before use in most events. These two deficiencies are remedied in an enhanced Hawg Trough model offered by one online vendor as described in this short video:

Yes, anyone can make the adjustments with a couple of simple tweaks but why bother when a “ready to go” enhanced Hawg Trough is available from the folks at Fishing Online?

Until next time…

Tight lines and many gunwale crossings 

Fishing River Current for Bass

Fishing in river current can be challenging, but it's also a great way to test your skills as an angler. By understanding how the current affects the behavior of the fish and adapting your techniques accordingly, you can increase your chances of success and make the most of your time on the water.

Following are several tips for fishing river current for bass:

Locate the current breaks: Bass are usually found near areas where the current is flowing. Look for areas where the water is moving faster, such as around rocks, logs, or other structures that create eddies, current seams, or other forms of turbulence. These areas can create pockets of slower-moving or stagnant water conditions where bass will congregate and stage to feed.

Use the right presentation: When fishing in river currents, it's essential to use the right technique. The most effective technique is to cast upstream and let the lure drift downstream naturally. Maintain contact with the lure and be ready for a strike at any moment. Try to vary the speed and action of the retrieve until you find the right retrieve combination.

Select the right bait: Depending on the conditions, different types of bait can be effective for fishing in river current. Soft plastic lures, such as worms or grubs, can be rigged to drift naturally with the current in low flow situations. On the other hand, reaction baits like crankbaits or spinnerbaits can also be effective in faster-moving water.

Be alert: When fishing in river current, you need to stay alert at all times. River current can be unpredictable, so be prepared to adjust your technique as needed. Watch for changes in the water flow or any signs of fish activity such as breaking bait or feeding birds.

Stay safe: Finally, always prioritize safety when fishing in river current. Wear a life jacket, stay aware of your surroundings, and be careful when wading in the water.

Take a few moments and watch the following video as bass pro Patrick Walters discusses his approach to fishing in current:

Lure Selections For Winter Bass

If you are fortunate enough to live in southern areas of the US and your local waters do not freeze over during the winter, piling on the clothing and hitting the water for a little bass fishing helps reduce cabin fever.

Even though a fair number of hearty souls brave the cold winter chill and head out for a little winter bass fishing, many struggle with the “catching” part of the success equation.

One question instantly springs into mind …

Are you using the right lures when searching for those elusive winter bass?

Key Winter Bass Fishing Lure Selections …

Fishing Algae-stained Lakes with KVD

Fishing a new lake always presents numerous questions when an angler hits the water for the first time. 

Add in a complication of an ongoing algae bloom turning the water color the pea soup green and breaking down the lake cover for an effective day on the water becomes even more challenging.

In this next video, bass pro Kevin VanDam (KVD) explains his apporach to fishing lakes underoging an algae bloon and why a swim jig is often his bait of choice when he finds the bass holding near shallow cover...

Making Crankbaits Suspend

When most anglers hear the term suspending baits they likely think of the most common suspending lure type, the jerkbait. 

But many savvy bass anglers realize there are limitations to what can be accomplished with a standard minnow-style jerkbait and have modified different types on billed crankbaits to suspend as well.

The most common floating to suspending crankbait modification is usually performed on one of the best cool/cold water crankbaits on the market, the Rapala Shad Rap (<== post link).

Some of those same methods can be applied to other diving crankbaits as bass pro Matt Stefan illustrates in this insightful video:

In additon to the methods Matt discusses in the video, the addition of Storm's Suspend Strips or Dots also helps with crankbait modifications as well.

It definitely provides some food for thought when out trying to entice cold water bass into biting!

Need additional components to modify baits or make your own fishing lures? 

Check out the wide variety of bait making and modifying items available at Lure Parts Online by clicking on the following image!

Fall Flipping Tips

Many anglers feel fishing in the fall can be one of the most rewarding yet frustrating seasons during the year.

Why?

Because the bass tend to be scattered from shallow to deep as they transition from their summer patterns. 

One thing for sure however, there will always be some of the bass around shallow cover and a great presentation when fishing shallow... flipping!

Given the wide range of flipping bait sizes and styles, selecting the right combinations is often critical for triggering strikes. 

Take a moment and watch as 2022 Bassmaster Classic champ Jason Christie explains his approach to flipping in the fall.

Hook Sets Are Free

Forty-some years ago I had the pleasure to watch a documentary film created by legendary underwater videographer Glen Lau on the life cycle of the largemouth bass ... "Bigmouth". 

Though there were many informative clips throughout the film, one of the most memorable was watching another legend in the outdoor sports world, Homer Circle work his double treble hook crankbait by some logs holding huge bass and entice a strike...

Enticing a strike from a huge bass was cool but what happened next became etched in my mind since I first witnessed it as shown in this short video excerpt...

Selecting Line Sizes When Fishing Crankbaits

When fishing a moving bait like crankbaits, new crankbait anglers often miss the subtlities of gear selection to maximize the performance of the bait. 

Beyond the fact that different types of crankbaits (squarebills, medium diving crankbaits, deep diving baits) present the first mystery to decipher when trying to master crankbaits, line selection also plays a key roll on how each crankbait performs during the retrieve.

Take a moment and listen as bass pro Chris Zaldain explains his approach to optimize crankbait performance by selecting the right type and size line to match the conditions being fished...

The two main points Chris makes in his video:

• Fluorocarbon line is preferred when fishing crankbaits
• Use heavier lines when fishing shallow running baits and decrease line size when fishing deeper running crankbaits especially in clear water

Making Your Own Custom Vibrating Jigs

Are you one of those DIY folks that loves creating baits and catching bass on them? Are you looking to make your own chatterbaits with the blades connected directly to the jighead with quality components and save some $$$?

Then take a moment and watch the following video that describes the molds and materials you need to start making your own custom chatterbaits at home...

Catching bass is always great but catching them on baits you've created and customized takes the exhiliration to a whole new level.

New to the idea of making your own lures like those shown in the chatterbait tutorial above, all of the stuff you need from molds, pre-poured jig heads, blades, skirts, split rings and snaps is available via the Lure Parts Online web store. 

Click on the image below and see what they have to offer!

Have fun and as always, tight lines especially with your new DIY custom chatterbaits!

Modifying Jerkbaits

Throughout the open water bassin' season, jerkbaits can be one of the most effective pressentations for catching bass especially when they are scattered, chasing bait or suspended.

Although most bass anglers always have a few jerkbaits in the box, what happens if the bass are triggering on baits running at specific depths; that suspend, rise or fall a certain way or suspend in a certain orientation and the baits you have don't cut it? 

Are you out of luck oon a great jerkbait bite?

Thoughts on Frog Selection

Watching a bass blow up on a hollow belly frog worked through cover is one on the most exhilarating moments bass anglers experience. It's little wonder why frog fishing is so popular in the bass fishing world!

One issue many new frog fisherman have is the variety of hollow belly frog body styles, sizes and colors usually leaves us perplexed about which frog to use to match the conditions on the water (water clarity, cover type, fishing pressure, etc.).

Fortunately 2022 Bassmaster Classic winner Jason Christie took the time to provide his approach to selecting the right frog to match the conditions encountered when on the water. Take a few minutes and watch as he explains his system in the following short video...

Need to add a frog oor two to your collection? Click on the following link to see the frog selection offered at Omnia Fishing:

Hollow Belly Frog Selection