Using the Shaky Head for Cold Water Bass

As winter tightens its icy grip, seasoned anglers know that bass behavior undergoes a significant change. With the cooling temperatures, bass tend to migrate towards deeper waters, congregating around funnels and pinch points where baitfish like shad and perch are concentrated. To capitalize on this winter bass pattern, one effective technique stands out - the shaky head jig and straight-tail worm combo.

Understanding the Strategy:

The shaky head jig and worm technique is a finesse approach that excels in enticing sluggish winter bass. The subtle movements of the shaky head mimic natural prey, triggering a predatory response from the lethargic bass. To maximize your success, it's crucial to know where and how to deploy this technique during the winter months.

Choosing the Right Gear:

Start by selecting a medium to medium-heavy spinning rod paired with a high-quality reel spooled with 8-12 lb fluorocarbon line. This setup provides the sensitivity needed for detecting subtle bites while offering the strength to handle winter bass in deeper water.

Selecting the Right Jig and Worm:

Opt for a finesse shaky head jig in the 1/4 to 1/2-ounce range depending on depth and weather conditions. Pair it with a 4 to 6-inch straight-tail worm in natural colors like green pumpkin, watermelon, or brown. This combination closely mimics the appearance of forage, enticing bass even in the coldest water.

Targeting the Sweet Spots:

1. Deeper Water Funnels: Identify key structures such as points, humps, creek channels and drop-offs in deeper water. These areas often serve as natural funnels, concentrating bass as they move between shallow and deep zones.

2. Pinch Points: Look for narrow passages or bottlenecks in the underwater topography. Bass tend to stack up in these pinch points, taking advantage of the concentrated baitfish movement.

3. Bluff Walls: Pay attention to bluffs, especially those adjacent to creek/river channels, where bass and baitfish often stage as they migrate. Bass are likely to hang out in these zones, enjoying the comfort of quick access to deeper water while awaiting an easy meal.

Technique and Presentation:

Cast the shaky head towards the targeted structure and let it sink to the desired depth. Once on the bottom, employ a slow, subtle dragging or hopping retrieve. Mimic the movements of injured baitfish, enticing the winter bass to strike.

Take a few moments and watch as bass pro Brandon Cobb describes his approach to using a shaky head to probe winter haunts and catch cold water bass:

Mastering the shaky head during the winter months can unlock the secrets of deep bass fishing and help put more chilled fish in the boat. 

By understanding their behavior and strategically targeting areas with concentrated baitfish, anglers can increase their chances of success even in the coldest of waters. So, gear up, head to those deeper water funnels, fire out your favorite shaky head rig and prepare for some exhilarating cold water bass action!

Fishing Brush Piles for Cold Water Bass

When the winter bass bite gets tough, one productive type of cover to target dormant largemouth and spotted bass is in brush piles. Using jigs is an effective technique to entice cold, winter bass that are usually holding tight to cover in deeper water or at least close to it.

The Ideal Brush Pile

Focus your efforts on brush piles located off main lake points, at the mouths of creeks, or along channel swings in major coves or suts. Submerged brush piles located in about 10-25 feet of water are considered prime winter habitat. The best piles have a mix of branches and occasional stumps or logs that bass can tuck into waiting to ambush unsuspecting forage.

Gearing Up Properly

A 7’ heavy power, fast action rod with a high speed reel spooled up with 15 to 25 lb test fluorocarbon line makes it easier to muscle bass out of thick woody cover. Tie on a 1⁄2 oz. or heavier bass jig in black blue, brown, or green pumpkins colors tipped with a chunk-style trailer. The combination of heavier jig and line makes it easier to saty in contact with the jig and also reduces snags in the brush.

Finessing Your Presentation

Position your boat upwind and make long casts past the edges of the brush pile. Let your jig sink to the depth of the cover and work with a slow, dragging retrieve mixing in occasional hops. Watch your line for any ticks indicating a strike. When you make contact with a branch, slowly pull and pop your jig free, letting it fall back to the strike zone. Concentrate on thoroughly working all parts of the brush pile.

Set the Hook!

The light tap of a bite can quickly change to the weight of a solid bass rapidly inhaling the jig. Be ready to set the hook quickly but not too aggressively to ensure a solid hook set and not pull the jigs away from lethargic bass. Use a heavy power, fact action rod to expertly guide the bass away from the snag filled pile.

North Carolina bass pro Brandon Card relies on his jig fishing system for enticing and extracting winter bass from offshore brush piles. Take a few moments and watch as Brandon explains his process to locating and catching sluggish winter bass from his favorite deep water tangles...

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...

Great Lures for Late Winter Bass

Many anglers do not fish throughout the winter months, epecially northern anglers where their favorite bass lakes are covered with ice. Once winter’s grip releases and ice out occurs however, it’s time to prep the bassin’ gear and set up a box wit the best baits for catching late winter bass.

When setting up your late winter specialty box, here are some of the best lures for late winter bass you should consider:

1) Jigs and pig or craw trailers: use a slow drag or drag n pause retrieve keeping the jig around the bottom;

2) Single and double blade spinnerbaits to be slow rolled over and around bottom cover;

3) Lipless or flat-sided squarebill crankbaits fished slowly while deflecting off bottom weeds or rocks;

Fishing Inline Spinners for Late Winter Bass

Fishing inline spinners is a popular and effective technique for catching late winter bass. Inline spinners are versatile lures that mimic the movement of a fleeing baitfish and trigger a predatory response from bass. They are available in various shapes, colors, and sizes, and are a go-to option for many anglers looking to target bass in late winter.

Late winter is a crucial time for bass, as they are starting to feed as they prepare for the spawning season. During this cold water period, bass tend to be sluggish and less active, making them a little harder to catch. However, fishing inline spinners can still be productive, as the subtle spinning action and vibration of the lure can attract bass when other baits fail.

A quality rod and reel combo is key to effectively fishing inline spinners. To start, you will need a 6.5' to 7' medium-light to medium power, fast action spinning rod and matching reel to balance the outfit. The reel should be spooled with 8- to 10-pound test braided main line, as it provides good sensitivity and casting distance. A fluorocarbon leader of 4- to 8-pound test is recommended, since it provides low visibility and abrasion resistance.

Inline spinners come in a variety of sizes, colors, and blade styles. For late winter bass, select inline spinners that mimic small baitfish or crawfish. Silver or gold blades are good starting choices for clear water, while copper, chartreuse or painted blades are better for stained or murky water. A size 1/8 to 3/8 oz inline spinner is a good starting point, as it allows you to fish at a variety of depths and retrieve speeds.

Fishing Lipless Crankbaits for Late Winter Bass

A highly effective bait when fishing for late winter bass is the lipless crankbaits. Lipless crankbaits are versatile lures that mimic the action and sound of a fleeing prey such as minnows and crayfish, thereby enticing bass to strike. 

Advantages of Lipless Crankbaits

Versatility: Lipless crankbaits can be fished in a variety of conditions, including clear and stained water, shallow or deep water, using different retrieve speeds and actions. This versatility makes them a great option for anglers who are unsure of what the conditions will be like on the water.

Attraction: Most lipless crankbaits emit a distinct vibration and rattling sound, attracting bass even in clear to low-visibility water. This makes lipless cranks an effective option when fishing in changing water clarities.

Sinking Ability: Unlike other crankbaits that float, most lipless crankbaits sink to the bottom when not being retrieved, making them ideal for fishing in deep water or reaching bass suspended in the water column.

Tips for Fishing Lipless Crankbaits During Late Winter

Location: Late winter is a time when bass move from deeper water towards the shallows, so focus on fishing breaks and flats near drop-offs, creek channels, weed lines, ledges, and other structures where bass are likely to be hanging.

Fishing Football Jigs in Winter

Fishing with a football jig in the winter can be a very effective way to target bass It's always important to understand bass behavior and to use the right tackle, techniques, as well as fishing the right types of structure. 

With a bit of experimentation and persistence, football jigs can help increase your chances of not only hooking a number of bass but also into a bonus big winter bass; possibly one of your biggest for the season.

Here are seven tips for finding bass and fishing football jigs effectively during the cold, winter months:

1) Football jigs, are named for their football-shaped head used when fishing in rock-laden cover to minimize snags. They are designed to mimic the appearance and movement of crayfish, a common forage for bass in the colder months especially around rocky cover.

2) To fish a football jig effectively in winter, it's important to understand the behavior of bass during the cold water months. As the water temperature drops, bass often move into deeper water in close proximity to shallow feeding areas where they can conserve energy. 

3) Dragging or hopping a football jig on a slow retrieve close to the bottom can be very effective. When the bass are nipping at or quickly dropping the jig after biting, stopping the retrieve and letting the jig sit for several seconds (dead-sticking) can help trigger finicky bass into eating the jig.

How to Fish Jigging Spoons for Winter Bass

Fishing for bass in the winter can be a challenge, but jigging spoons can be an effective way to target these fish during the cold water period. In this post, we'll go over some tips and techniques for fishing jigging spoons for bass during the winter months.

First, it's important to understand the behavior of bass in the winter. As the water temperature drops, bass will become less active and will often seek out deeper, more sheltered areas. These areas often include deeper basin areas adjacent to the ends of points, steeply dipping banks, ledges/buffs, or in the deeper rivers on the outside edge of channel bends. Therefore you'll need to adjust your fishing techniques to target these fish in their winter haunts. These areas will often hold concentrations of bass in the winter.

One of the most effective presentations to accomplish this is by using jigging spoons. These lures mimic the action of struggling or dying baitfish, and can be fished vertically, making them perfect for targeting bass in deep water.

When fishing with jigging spoons, it's important to pay attention to the weight of the spoon. In the winter, you'll want to use a heavier spoon to get the lure down to the deeper holding areas where the bass reside. A good rule of thumb is to use a spoon that is at least 1/4 ounce for every 10 feet of water being fished. Since common depth ranges for winter bass are in the 20 to 30 foot range, 1/2 oz and 3/4 oz jigging spoons are often used. The most common rod and reel combo for jigging spoons is a 7' M/H power, fast action baitcasting rod with 12 lb to 20 lb test fluorocarbon line.

A Different Approah to Fishing Alabama Rigs

Have you ever seen a person on the water and it looked as if they were fishng a chandelier with swimbaits and blades hanging all over the place? 

Welcome to the world of fishing the castable umbrella rig, also known as an Alabama or A-rig!

My personal experience with this type of bait started decades ago when trolling a similar type of weighted, multi-baited wire-form rig (referred to as an umbrella rig) off the northeast coast for striped bass and bluefish.

Many years later, folks in the southland adapted a lighter, more easily castable version of of this rig (then referred to as the Alabama rig or A-rig) with paddletail swimbaits or grubs for all species of black bass. 

Most bass anglers use long rods with heavy action and high test braided line to offset the bulky nature of the rig.

On the other hand, bass aficionado Jimmy Houston has a simpler approach to fishing the Alabama rig that many new A-rig anglers might find beneficial!

Take a few minutes and watch as Jimmy explains his set-ups and basic approach to casting and fishing the A-rig for bass...

Winter Finesse Fishing with Soft Plastics

Getting bass to bite when winter when water temps are approaching the freezing point is rarely easy. 

For many years the thought of using any type of soft plastic bait during the winter was not even considered by most cold weather bass anglers!

With advancements in the manufacturing techniques of soft plastics as well as the introduction of finesse presentations like the drop shot, neko and ned rigs that has all changed.

Take a few minutes and watch as Falcon Rod bass pro Luke Palmer demonstrates his favorite finesse fishing techniques to trigger strikes from lethargic winter bass...

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...

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 …

Four Tested Winter Baits

Winter bass can be finicky, sluggish and when they do decide to eat often focus on suspended schools of baitfish.

Though anglers fish a variety of baits when chasing sluggish winter bass, four tested baits that work under some of the toughest conditions include:

• the Damiki rig - great on suspended bass
• a jig and paddletail swimbait - one of the best all around bass baits
• a suspending jerkbait - can trigger even the most finicky bass as it hangs at depth when paused
• a jigging minnow - great option for mimicking scattered/struggling winter bait

Take a moment and listen to pro Cody Huff explain why he selects each of these baits when fishing for winter bass...

Finesse Worm Fishing for Winter Bass

Ask a group of bass anglers to list their favorite winter bass lures and typically you'll hear jerkbaits, blade baits, jigs often with pork trailers, flat sided and lipless crankbaits.

But there is another bass bait that can also shine in the winter months but often ignored by many bass folk, the finesse worm!

Watch the video below and see why and how bass pro Wes Logan rigs and uses finesse worms to trigger strikes from cold winter bass!

Rigging it as a drop shot bait can also be a killer winter presentation, just saying ;)

Favorite Winter Bass Baits

Winter bass fishing can be tough but often rewarding. 

When fishing non-frozen lakes, winter bass can be found at water depths ranging from a few feet to several tens of feet; holding tight to cover or suspended over it. 

Bait selection, therefore is key to your winter bass fishing success and often include lures like crankbaits, jerkbaits, swimbaits, jigs, lipless crankbaits, jig n worms, A-rigs just to name a few.

Take a moment and hear what bass pro Brandon Cobb picks when fishing for winter bass:

Good luck on your next winter bass fishing outing!

Winter Spinnerbaits for Big Bass

For those bass anglers fortunate enough to fish open water for bass in the winter, many rely on the staple baits for winter bassin' like

• jerkbaits
• blade baits
• jigs
• lipless crankbaits &
• A-rigs

But did you realize that a big spinnerbait can be just the ticket for winter BIG bass?

Absolutely!

So carve a little time out from your winter tackle prep and watch as bass pro Jason Christie gives an on the water winter spinnerbait fishing clinic with tips on selecting

• the right spinnerbait
• the proper retrieve
• the best trailer
• the best cover/structure
• the best rod/reel/line combo

Winter Tackle Project: Clean Your Baits for Next Season

Getting antsy for warmer weather and the new bass season?

Is all your gear prepped and ready to join you on the water when the weather breaks?

Most bass folks know enough to prep our rods n reels, as well as reorganize/replenish our bait boxes but have you also prepped your favorite hardbaits for the new season?

Take a moment and see how bass pro Miles "Sonar" Burghoff rehabs his favorite hardbaits so the are ready to help him slay bass during the upcoming season!

Selecting Wintertime Bass Baits

Confused about what lures to use when the water is cold and the bass’ metabolism is sluggish?

Do you tie on a crankbait, spinnerbait, jig or what??

Here are a few tips from bass pro Brandon Cobb on what he uses to catch wintertime bass and how to work them!