Top Lures for Winter Bass Fishing

Winter is often considered the off-season for bass fishing, but with the right approach and lures, you can still catch fish even when the bass feel like chunks of ice. 

Bass metabolism slows down in cold water, so they tend to be less active, feed less and move to deeper water. This means that you need to use lures and presentations to entice them into biting.

Here are some of the top lures for catching bass during the winter:

1. Hair Jigs: Hair jigs are a versatile and effective lure for winter bass fishing. They may or may not be tipped with a soft plastic trailer, particularly scented minnow imitations. The hair jig's slow fall and subtle movement are often irresistible to cold-water bass.

2. Blade Baits: Blade baits are a type of metal lure that resembles a thin, flat fish with two treble hooks on the bottom. They are typically made of steel, brass, or other metals and come in a variety of sizes and colors. When jigged or retrieved through the water, the blade creates a unique vibration that mimics the movements of injured baitfish attracting the attention of cold water bass.

3. Underspin Jigs: Underspins are a type of fishing lure that consists of a jig head and minnow-style trailer with a small blade attached underneath. The blade spins as the lure is retrieved, creating a flash that attracts fish. Underspins are especially effective for catching bass in cold water, since they can be fished slowly and still produce a lot of strike-triggering action.

4. Suspending Jerkbaits: Suspending jerkbaits are a good choice for winter bass fishing. They are minnow-shaped baits that can be fished at a slow speed with frequent pauses, which is what you need to trigger reactions in cold water.

5. Ned Rigs: Ned rigs are a popular finesse technique for catching bass, and they work well in the winter as well. They consist of a small jig head and a small soft plastic bait, such as a Z-Man TRD or Finesse Hula Stick. The Ned rig fished slowly and with a subtle shake can be deadly for enticing winter bass into striking.

Bass pro Brandon Cobb spends much of the winter period chasing largemouth and spotted bass on reservoirs across the southern U.S. Take a few minutes and watch as he highlights his favorite baits when trying to trick sluggish, winter bass tnto eating his bait...