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Whether its a tough summer bite and you grab for a drop shot or a post-frontal pre-spawn deal and you commit to the punching rod knowing thats the only bait you have any confidence in. Legendary Ozarks angler Randy Blaukat is that guy and shares his comprehensive system for catching bass using jerkbaits when water temps hover in the low 40s and even extending down into the upper 30-degree range.
The type of fish you pursue can make a difference too.
Bass fishing tips for cold water. If it is cloudy it needs to stay cloudy for a couple of days or if its sunny it needs to stay sunny. A cold front or a severe winter storm usually shuts down the fishing until the weather stabilizes again. Winter fishing also shuts down in cold murky water so you need to search for the clearest sections of a lake.
In fact Tennessee Bassmaster Elite pro Brandon Colter believes that big smallmouth come alive at 55. Heres how to catch bass in cold water. Switch to lighter line and try a small jig at the front of a 6-inch rubber worm.
Try to keep in contact with the bottom and give it slow little hops. In cold water fish tend to slow down and feed only at opportune times that wont require to much energy to consume. In other words burning baits across the top of the water wont cut it but these top 3 cold water fishing techniques will help you get more bass bites.
Proven Cold Water Crankbait Techniques. Cold Water Bass Fishing. The jerkbait is a staple of cold water fishing for smallmouth and largemouth anglers alike.
Baitfish will suspend in the water column during cold weather which makes a jerkbait a perfect choice for mimicking the forage bass are keying in on. These articles originally appeared in the January-February 2006 issue of FLW Bass Fishing Magazine though the tips provided for wintertime bass fishing are as relevant today. OK so you dont live in the Deep South and winter has not released its grip on your neighborhood.
The water is cold and most of your. Looking for whatever cover he can find Canterbury lets the Sunny B do what it does best. He doesnt employ a lot of action and instead slowly cranks the bait down and lets the subtle tight action of the bait do all the work.
This is essential when targeting bass in cold water as the cold-blooded animals are in a rather docile state. Especially for finicky bass in cold water. After all bass fishermen take pride in rigging their Texas-rigged plastic worms by threading the hook point through the head then out the side of the body rotating it 180 degrees and then inserting the point back into the body to make the rigged worm perfectly straight.
Where to start looking for Cold Water Bass. When fishing a jerkbait in cold water I always start by investigating the north banks. During the winter the suns rays hit with more direct intensity here.
If the water temperature is just a couple of degrees warmer. Force yourself to reel as slow as you can while still maintaining action with the paddle tail. If you want to expand your soft plastic lure selection for cold water bass try a white single tail grub.
Anglers in the Ozarks region of the country have been using single tail grubs to trick finicky winter bass for decades. When the surface freezes the upper layers are coldest and warmest water 40F is on the bottom due to 40F water being water at its most dense and bc the ground retains heat. However this is may not be the whole story as the water directly beneath the.
Fishing Cold Clear Water In The Winter During early and late winter a crankbait pattern takes plenty of bass bumping the lure along the bottom while keeping your boat parallel to a creek channel. A great crankbait for this pattern is a Storm Lures Wiggle Wart in crawfish colors. As anglers we each have a handful of cold water bass fishing baits to which we turn when the fishing gets really tough.
Maybe a half-dozen lures that we know we can count on to draw a strike. Whether its a tough summer bite and you grab for a drop shot or a post-frontal pre-spawn deal and you commit to the punching rod knowing thats the only bait you have any confidence in. Pro bass angler Randall Tharp gives a few essential tips for those die-ha.
Bass fishing in the cold water months can be both physically and mentally draining. Quite often cold weather fishing doesnt really get going until late morning or early afternoon. This is a switch from freshwater fishing during the prime early morning and evening hours in the summer months.
When cold weather comes through the bite often wont turn on until the air and water temperatures have increased a bit. In the North where bass are accustomed to lower temperatures fishing can be good in water temperatures above 45 degrees. The type of fish you pursue can make a difference too.
Largemouth tend to have a lower tolerance for cold water whereas smallmouth and spotted bass are more active in cold water. As cold nights set in and temperatures around the country drop bass begin acting in peculiar ways. Yes some of them continue to ambush baitfish in the shal.
Fishing tends to be slower during the winter months but this period can provide excellent bass fishing for the hardcore. Legendary Ozarks angler Randy Blaukat is that guy and shares his comprehensive system for catching bass using jerkbaits when water temps hover in the low 40s and even extending down into the upper 30-degree range. Personally I think metal baits like spoons and blades are the best choices for winter bass fishing.
The hard metal holds up well in the cold water and they help offer the appearance of a dying baitfish which is important during the winter. When the water is cold you dont want to present a challenge to the bass. Fishing Tips All Summer Fishing Fall Fishing Crappie Fishing.
This is essential when targeting bass in cold water as the cold-blooded animals are in a rather docile state. Still despite their attempt to sit still and conserve energy little finesse crankbaits like the Sunny B are often the perfect bait to unlock those jaws. Since it is cold the bass do not want to exert much energy to capture a meal.
So you fish slow and cast to all cover and structure you can find. Jerkbaits are good if the water is clear and the bass can see the jerkbaits. Fish the jerkbaits slow.
A bulky plastic or jig may work. Dont forget your hair jigs. They work well in cold water.
Whenever the precipitation is warmer than the water temperature look for shallow muddy areas that are several degrees warmer than the rest of the body of water. This will attract baitfish and bass looking to warm up from the cold water. The best spots will have with plenty of hard cover and access to sunlight.
Cold Water Bass Fishing Complete Guide with Steps. By Topy Adriel June 4 2021 June 4 2021. Coldwater isnt always a prime fishing location for many anglers.
Bass anglers on the other hand seek coldwater to target bass in a breathtaking experience. Its true bass slows down in colder weather but they still have to feed and its your.