In the winter, you’re much more likely to find bass hanging out near the shore for a couple of different reasons. The fish will migrate near river banks because they’re much more shallow and a little warmer.
What is the best bait for bass in December?
Some good examples of winter bass bait include a rapala shad rap, a hair jig, and soft plastic baitfish. If you use a hair jig, remember that you don’t need a trailer. A bit of deer hair will work just fine.
What happens to bass in the winter?
Once the temperature reaches 50 degrees, the bass start moving to deeper water where they’ll spend most of the winter. Although bass eat less in the winter, they still have to eat something occasionally. That’s why catching bass in the winter can be tough; but it’s not impossible.
How deep do bass go in winter?
“You can catch largemouth bass from 5 feet down to 35 feet deep in the winter,” Rojas says. “I look for wood and leftover sparse patches of grass. With lack of vegetation and the cold water temps, largemouth tend to be grouped up in small areas. Any cover near deep water can be good.
What colors do bass like in the winter?
Black/blue is the best color for this lure in off colored water. Considering off colored water is about the only color you’ll find this time of year with all the rain. Black and brown are excellent choices as well. Most anglers tie on this bait during a cold front when the bass have buried themselves in cover.
Do bass bite topwater when its cold?
Most topwater fishing for bass occurs in the summer, but it can also be very productive in spring and fall. Topwater lures are less productive when the water is cold and bass are less aggressive.
Where should I look for bass in the winter?
Often times the bass in Winter will pull off shore and lay in the lowest, deepest spot they can find off shore. If you’re on a small body of water this probably means the middle of the deepest coves. If you’re on a big body of water this could be the middle of a bay or even the center of the lake, miles offshore.
What lures to use for bass in winter?
5 Awesome Winter Cold Water Bass baits
- Blade Baits. Using a blade bait like a Steel Shad, Heddon, Damiki, and other blade bass lures has proven to be an effective tactic in frigid waters.
- Jigs. Black or blue jigs are the perfect colors for the lure in light-colored waters.
- Jerkbaits.
- Rubber Worm.
- Spinnerbait.
- Floating Rapala.
Where do bass go overnight?
At night, bass will leave their deepwater haunts to hunt in the shallows. The best night fishing locations are transitions where there is deep water close to shore. Bass follow those transitions as they move up to feed. Drop-offs, points, channel bends, and ditches are all excellent night fishing targets.
Where do bass hide in lakes?
Look for weed beds, docks, and bridges. Bass will hang out just outside the entrances to shallow coves if there’s a quick drop-off. Also look for any submerged trees, logs, rocks, etc. Once the water starts cooling in the fall, bass will aggressively chase down schools of baitfish.
What are bass eating in December?
In the winter bass eat baitfish like shad and minnows. It’s the same diet they have all year, they just eat less of it.
Do bass go shallow in winter?
Shallow water warms up faster in sunny conditions, which is the reason I love to fish shallow in cold weather.” As the sun becomes higher throughout the day, bass will gravitate toward the warmest water available and slowly move onto shallow flats and cover in order to feed.
What lures to use in winter?
7 Winter Fishing Baits You’ll Need In Your Tackle Box
- Jerkbait. Explore Karl’s Favorite Jerkbaits.
- Underspins. Explore Karl’s Favorite Underspins.
- Blade baits. 10,000 Fish Death Stalker.
- Small Jigs. Tight Rope Baby Finesse Jig.
- Drop Shot Rig.
- Soft Plastic Grubs.
- Spybait.
When should I start throwing topwater for bass?
Topwater fishing is one of the best ways to catch bass during late fall, early spring, and late spring when they are in their spawning areas. Topwater baits will often entice a reaction strike from the bass during this time, creating some of the most memorable fishing moments.
When should you throw a Buzzbait?
Most people fish buzzbaits for bass in the spring, the summer and the early fall. However, I like to fish a buzzbait in the fall and the winter, especially in the Deep South where I live. The water temperature there generally doesn’t get so cold that bass won’t stop taking a topwater lure even in late January.
What temperature should I start throwing topwater?
“Basically, though, you want to focus your topwater efforts in water that’s 50 degrees or warmer.” As spring approaches, anglers are automatically drawn to topwater offerings; however, as fall transitions to winter, the question of when to put the surface plugs away can be tricky.
Where do smallmouths go in winter?
“Smallmouth are cold-blooded creatures and they migrate to warmer water, which means deeper holes,” he said. Regardless of whether its rivers, streams, or lakes, smallmouth bass are going to head to deeper water for the winter, where water temperatures are a few degrees warmer.
What attracts bass the most?
Shad, minnows, or shiners are some of the best live baits for bass, hands down. Baitfish come in different sizes and can be used in all types of bass waters, but they are incredibly productive in deeper water to target huge bass.
What colors do bass see best?
Bass apparently do see color. Their vision is strongest in the areas of medium-red to green. It fails rapidly moving into the blues and purples, as it does towards the far reds. If our picture of bass color vision is accurate, then color is meaningful to bass in some cases but not others.
How long does the spawn last for bass?
The bass spawn can often last around three weeks, or sometimes longer but they will usually lay on their nests for around two weeks. During this time they will guard their nests and will generally not actively feed.
Where do the biggest bass live in a lake?
Especially in the spring and fall, shallower points along the shoreline or at the mouth of small bays or pockets can be dynamite. Some points drop very quickly into deep water, so the bass will be close to shore. Other points have a slower taper and can run hundreds of feet into the lake.
Lorraine Wade is all about natural food. She loves to cook and bake, and she’s always experimenting with new recipes. Her friends and family are the lucky beneficiaries of her culinary skills! Lorraine also enjoys hiking and exploring nature. She’s a friendly person who loves to chat with others, and she’s always looking for ways to help out in her community.