What are you guys' go to lures when you get on a lake for the first time in a while during the winter, or cold weather? For bass of course...

http://www.duhspot.com/users/smiley/s/otn/ez/ezpi_blueface.gif -leif- http://www.duhspot.com/users/smiley/s/otn/ez/ezpi_blueface.gif

A jig and pig is tough to beat. Also done well in winter with a brush hog trailer on the jig. Lots off bassfeast stinky scent all over it. Read Nicolo's article on Winter fishing. Good advice.

http://www.ichthy.com/article-winterbass.shtml

Here's some updates after this years winter so far...

4. Large bass are less influenced by weather systems than small bass.

Ok, so now I'm not so sure about this one. But I think it still holds some truth. Now I think stable weather is good for size and numbers, bad weather is good for size and not so good for numbers, prefrontal weather is great for size and not so good for numbers, and postfrontal weather is not so good for either. Pretty much popular thought I guess.

6. Winter bass like steep banks best.

I still think this is true. But as far as points vs. cuts both have been producing equally well this year for me.

7. The most consistent depth range for winter bass is 10-20 feet.

Depends a lot on the reservoir. McClure in the winter is probably most consistent at 50-60 feet. Lexington in the winter doesn't have water over 40 feet deep. Maybe it'd be better to say deeper water is more consistent, but you might hit bigger fish by sticking shallow all day.

Nico

Nico is right on the money. And a jig and pig is a good option for the winter. I, however, have had greater success dartheading 4" worms. I know its a slow and agonizing presentation, but when its cold and the fish are inactive, it has proven to be unbeatable. Hey Nico..... Do you have any more info on McClure? I have a club tourney there in Jan. and have never fished it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.


Tight Lines,

Clay

Here fishy, fishy, fishy......

Clay

*It is easier to locate bass on steep banks*. on berryessa , a buddy of mine fallowed the flats out hundreads of yards until it reached about 35 feet and he just trolled a grub and caught 60+ bass.
The good thing about what he was doing is that the fish he was fishin for probobly hadn't seen a bait in over a a month. maybe never at all!
tight lines
Ryan

...maybe. But it still doesn't change the fact that the better fishing is on steep banks. It's easier to find them because they're more concentrated. It's easier to catch them since it's easier to find them. In my book the fishing's better when it's easier to catch them.

But still interesting. Will have to experiment with fishing the deep end of flats next time out.

Nico

What lake was this? And when was this?

Ohh, Winter fishing...

Of course winter fishing varies depending upon the water you fish. Jig and pig is a good bait, but I think it's more of a mid to late winter thru spring bait. It's still fall by the calendar....

I think plastics are hard to beat in the winter. In San Diego County, you could have some fishless days throwing that jig. Of course, it's all relative. The lower Colorado River right now, boy, throw that jig.

Spoons and swimbaits could be argued as the best choice for winter bass in SoCal.

Matt

southernswimbait.com
BigBait Fishing in the South

1/4 oz. darter head with a 4" or 5" smoke sparkle grub 30' to 70' off of mian lake points and ledges!!!!!!!

I see a lot of patterns here for a lot of different types of water. I think that the type of impoundment and where it is located along with the forage base adding in the competitive factor of the other predatory species present will give you some idea as to where you need to start at your impoundment. Spoons are out at clearlake yet they are killer in the deep water impoundments. Jigs are better later in the year in so cal but up north you wouldn't be with out them now. While I'm hard pressed to say this and must of my co-horts might not believe I'm going to say this. A plastic worm is the through the year bait! Presentation wise you can vary your sizes,and areas"deep or shallow" and and the other factors for being in the zone,,,, splitshot,dropshot,carolina,texas,darterhead,weightless at naseum and the speed can be varied from nothing to anything. I don't use worms as much as I used to, very little in fact but there are times even I will go back to my roots and catch some fish on worms.

gotta be the most versatile bait on the planet, as you stated!