Late Fall – Early Winter Bass Fishing Using Suspending Jerkbaits

Many anglers have been throwing minnow baits (now commonly called jerkbaits) such as Rebels and Rapalas since their early days of bass fishing.  Though originally designed as either a floating or sinking bait, astute bass fishermen quickly determine a little modification to these minnow baits provides a lure that can be more effectively fished at intermediate depths.

Once modified, the altered minnow bait would then either rise much more slowly or sometimes suspend at depth (of lucky enough to get the weight balance right).

Even though is provided an answer to the intermediate depth problem, it was less than a perfect solution. The modification process was by trial and error and sometimes the jerkbait minnow lure was rendered useless during alteration.  Usually a costly effort in both and money!

Are Suspending Jerkbaits Really Special?

Late Fall to Early Winter Bass Transition

At a time when many anglers hang up there rods and winterize their boats, the hardiest of the breed of bass anglers keep their heads in the game despite the cooler weather …

I came across a video earlier today where Pro bass angler Gerald Swindle talks bass fishing tactics and strategies for approaching the late Fall to early Winter transition.  Swindle films the video on Logan Martin Lake on the Coosa River in Alabama after the water temperatures have fallen into the low to mid 40s.

During the video, “G-man” as his fans call him, notes that although 30-plus bass per day outings are rare this time of year, patience and persistence will often pay off with quality …

Watch the video and see what I mean 

Good luck with your late fall/early winter bassin’

Beginning of the End: The Late Fall Period

Regretfully, the opening part of the title is true for may bass anglers!

Even so, the waning part of the fall season can be one of the best big bass periods of any given year…

When the late fall period starts, the migration patterns of the early and mid fall periods are reversed as both baitfish and bass move back out from the creek arms and bays into the main lake area.

Bass will still be actively feeding; they are more prone to be feeding later in the day when surface water temperatures are warmest. This response is related to the actions of the baitfish whose activity is closely tied to the activity of phytoplankton in the open water environment.

During the latter mid to late parts of the day when the Sun is highest, phytoplankton activity increases in the upper portion of the water column drawing the baitfish up as well.

The concentration of baitfish near the surface again creates a situation the bass can capitalize on since the water surface becomes a barrier the bass can use to corral the baitfish making feeding more effective. During the late fall, it is quite common to see pods of baitfish suddenly busting on the surface in the main lake area as the bass are basically herding them against the surface.

Versatility of Bucktail or Hair Jigs

One of the oldest fishing lures known to man is the natural hair (bucktail) jigs. One of its better attributes is in its versatility and it is definitely a great lure for winter bass fishing opportunities.

Watch and listen to Doug Hannon (ESPN) (R.I.P. Doug) conduct a “show n tell” demonstrating why the bucktail (or hair) jig is a great all around bass fishing and catching bait (especially during the cold winter months):

Definitely some great insight into fishing one of the main-stay bass lure families.

The best part … bucktail and hair jigs aren’t just great winter bass catching baits, they also excel when used during early spring and summer bass fishing seasons as well!

More Quick Bass Tips

In today’s fast-paced world where articles and videos are popping up everywhere, it’s easy to fall prey to information overload. There are times most of us would much prefer to get some friendly advice in the form of a short tip rather than a several hundred word article!

So here is the second of a series of quick bass tips to help lessen burden of the information avalanche surrounding us…

1. Best times to use “noisy” baits are when fishing dirty water, heavy cover, dense weed mats or trying for a reaction bite…
2. Some of the noisest lures include lipless crankbaits, buzzbaits, poppers & chuggers, prop baits and crankbaits with rattles…
3. Best times to use quiet lures are when fishing in clear water, on high traffic lakes, during cold fronts & when bass are short-striking…
4. Personally I don’t like to eat F/W bass but I do respect others right to practice selective harvest and take a few home for the table…
5. Some of the quietest baits on the market include soft plastics & swimbaits on jigheads, Texas-rigged plastics, & rattleless spinnerbaits…
6. Change your line often to avoid catastrophe when the “fish of a lifetime” hits…