Holes: Use a fish finder to locate the deep holes in the lake and drag your lures through these holes, Grass Beds: Bass like to congregate near heavy grass beds, so tear a spinnerbait through these areas. gmoney13 3 Posted December 13, 2016. gmoney13. Although Terry Scroggins resides in the state of Florida, he still knows plenty about catching bass in cold-water situations. There are certain lures that are especially great for fall bass fishing. It's all about verticality. If you are a casual angler or someone just getting started in this wonderful sport, consider fishing with Wild Shiners. 6287 . Hackney finds bass will react to a jerkbait no matter how cold the water, opting for the shallower-diving but larger-bodied option from Strike King. A 4-inch curly tail grub on a 1/4-ounce jig head can be all that is needed to catch your share of bass. The color is a matter of choice, but a general rule is the darker the better. Jigging Spoons - are an excellent winter bass fishing lure. Jerkbaits Arguably the ultimate “go to” cold water bass lures are jerkbaits. Be the first to rate this post. A jig could mean anything with a lead head fastened on the top of the hook. Farther north, they lock themselves to the bottom in deep water. Getting bass to react to a lure is often key to triggering them to strike in cold conditions. Fishing First Aid: What You Need To Know And What You Need To Bring, How To Find Winter Largemouth Bass In Open Water, Mystery Tackle Pro Box Unboxing (Multi-Species January 2021), Mystery Tackle Box Bass Elite Unboxing (January 2021), Mystery Tackle Box Bass Unboxing (January 2021). The folks at RUNCL went above and beyond with the leg action that these lures provide, scooting along the top of the water in a way that is almost sure to catch the eye of a largemouth bass. Present the bait with a flip or pitch into holes of heavy cover and be ready for a jarring strike. You should have in your arsenal of lures for fall bass fishing. When the water temperature drops below 44 degrees, Dill relies on a Crock-O-Gator Swamp Bug, a 3 1/4-inch creature bait with lively legs and a plastic grub-style tail. I certainly feel that winter is the slowest and most difficult time to fish, however it can all be worth it if you are able to hook a bass from the bottom of the lake and fight it all the way to the boat. “When I am punching grass or mats I usually let the bait break through the top layer of vegetation and fall at its own rate of speed,” he says. When they're ready to feed, they move up on top of the points and gorge themselves on baitfish. These are the best lures for catching bass, trout, muskies, crappies, and saltwater fish. You also want lures that mimic important cold-water forage — baitfish and crawfish. It can help if you rip the lures through areas of heavy cover to provoke some reaction strikes from bass that are holed up in those areas. And he’s since won $2 Million dollars as one of the most decorated anglers in the history of the largemouth-rich Sunshine State. Bass anglers should consider two key factors when picking out lures for wintertime fishing in Florida. Heath lives in North Carolina and is an avid fisherman and all around outdoorsman. Of course, fishing differs depending on the lake and environment, however, here are some basic tips that can help you locate the winter bass with the right lures. “A Rat-L-Trap is a staple here.”  His favorite lipless crankbait is a Rapala Rippin’ Rap in gold or silver colors. A suspending stickbait becomes the ideal lure for Dill in this situation. Once you get the bass fired up, it's a no-brainer to toss a hooked shad out among them. Spinnerbaits - are best when fished shallow with a slow roll retrieve. Tackle is included in the price, but live bait is extra and ranges from $10-$20 per one dozen shiners. In my honest opinion, during the summer, nothing beats a black topwater frog lure for bass from the bank. As the lakes have cleared, Harris Chain top water fishing has greatly improved. These types of baits are known by bass anglers as “jerk baits” due to the manner in which they are retrieved. a spinner or … Spoons and blades are a great choice when fishing for bass in the winter for a few different reasons. I view points as a buffet line for bass. This great chain of lakes has a huge population of shad for the bass to feed up on and the typical fall season has always see some of the best schooling action around Florida. In fact, as largemouth bulk up for the winter, you may even catch surprisingly large bass during the cold weather months. Florida, like the rest of the United States, experiences cold fronts during the winter months. Without saying the best crappie and bass fishing action comes during the cooler months of winter where both species tend to bunch up along deep edges of aquatic weeds, ledges, boat docks and submerged brush. Amazingly, he doesn’t have a lure sponsor. Terry “Big Show” Scroggins won his first bass tournament in Florida at the age of 12. Also, the water below trees is a favorite bass hangout because it sometimes offers free meals from whatever falls out, Heavy Cover Areas: If a sudden cold front comes through, fish areas of heavy floating cover next to the areas that you normally find bass, https://www.bassgrab.com/wp-content/uploads/Inline-Spinnerbait-e1492631449689-620x350.jpg, https://www.bassgrab.com/wp-content/uploads/2016-05-14-07.28.29-620x350.jpg, Differences Between Largemouth Bass and Spotted Bass, https://www.bassgrab.com/wp-content/uploads/Cheek-Scales-620x350.jpg, Fishing from kayaks is our favorite. Remember, the fishing gets hot when the weather gets cold. #castnet #baitbucket #saltwater #f, Drop Offs: The bass like to be suspended near the deep drop offs. 0. "When you have winter bass suspended over a deep-water dropoff," he explains, "they may not be very active. A jig tipped with a plastic crayfish is one of the best lure choices when bass are in tight cover. Amazingly, he doesn’t have a lure sponsor. Sur le même sujet “In the last few years, swimbaits have really become popular in Florida… Slow it down. Winter bass fishing offers a great shot at BIG bass! Drop Shot Rig: Cast it out and make sure you don’t tangle the weight and lure, sometimes adding a swivel can be helpful. When bass suspend in vertical cover, a grub can be a dynamite lure to catch those otherwise stationary bass. Small Spinnerbaits Although spinnerbaits are in no way 'small' lures they are one of the few lures that will catch bass on any water and in any season throughout the year. If you find yourself on a lake between the beginning of May and the end of July, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll find yourself surrounded by people who are out there trying to land a large mouth bass. I’ve caught tons of fish with them on both the hottest summer days and the coldest winter days. Trees with Unique Cover: If a tree in shallow water can offer unique and thorough protection for a bass, there is a good chance that you may find one holed up there. A grub is such a simple and old faithful lure, that many anglers totally forget about them. A grub can be one of the most effective bass lures for cold water. Slow-rolling the blade bait works best for Schultz in cold water, but he reels the lure steadily at a faster pace in clear warmer water around grass. While you might be tempted to skimp on some things, you shouldn’t skimp on lures. Florida has a bunch of natural lakes, and they differ from most of the country. Both scenarios offer the same, very important characteristic that bass crave right now. A live shiner is most effective when fished around vegetation. Late winter bass fishing prospects improve everywhere as waters warm. While winter may not be the best time to catch bass, it is possible to catch these and other bass in the cold. How to fish it . The top lures for Harris Chain bass include spinnerbaits, Strike King 1.5 Rattling Square Bill crankbaits, Red Eye Shads, Ochos and Rage Blades. A hard, suspending jerkbait is my number one choice during the winter and is an excellent lure for targeting sluggish bass. Florida has a bunch of natural lakes, and they differ from most of the country. However, walking the aisles of your local sporting goods or fishing store can be an overwhelming experience, especially if you are new to bass fishing. We are sorry that this post was not useful for you! Here are five winter bass fishing techniques that you can use to catch more bass this winter. Pro Advice: Best Topwater Lures and Tips for Florida Bass If catching big Florida bass on topwater is on your must-do list, then professional angler Bobby Lane has some proven advice on the best surface lures to toss and tips for how to use them . Keep fishing. “When everybody else is having freezing weather the bass here start spawning in late October at Okeechobee and the spawn in this state can go all the way into May. We want every, We’re back to writing about our fishing experien, Redfish on a fiddler crab #fortfisher #carolina #i, Nice sheepshead #naples #bassgrab #kayakfishing, Name that fish! Angler of the Year, Greg Hackney, chose perhaps the most discussed winter fishing lure of all time, a suspending jerkbait. The bait was practically made for Florida’s shallow grass. Wacky Worm – Let it sink after casting it out, then slowly retrieve it with erratic twitches to create the action. Another key place bass tend to gather are near deep drop offs. It’s one of Alabama’s most beautiful and scenic bodies of water. What makes them such a great winter destination, though, is the weather is close to perfect. Winter, spring, summer or fall, the Florida Keys are one of the best spots for fishing, period. Late winter bass fishing prospects improve everywhere as waters warm. Jigs. “We just really don’t have a winter,” says Florida pro Shaw Grigsby. The Best Lures for Florida Bass ... Shiners are at their best in the winter and early spring, when bass begin to head to the shallow water to spawn. Use them parallel to bluffs, around logs, stumps and grass. Some bass lures work better at slow retrievals than others, so we broke down the best lures to use for winter bass. “I will let it sit on the bottom for a second and then I will hop it slightly.”. Here are the 7 best lures and techniques to catch monster bass this time of year! However, due to our unpredictable Florida weather, the temperature changes in our ‘winter’ can make bass change their behavior sporadically. Here’s a succinct rundown of those, with a focus on artificial lures and fishing open water in mid-winter before the spawn. The X-Rap Pop produces best for him when he twitches it a couple of times to move the bait 6 to 8 inches and then lets it sit. Schultz lists the following lures as his favorites for catching Florida bass from top to bottom in the wintertime. Works very well if the fish are holding close to the bottom in the 15 foot range, and the action imitates an injured bait fish. As a rule of thumb, it is best to slow down your presentation during the winter months. The best bass lures will not only help you become a better angler, but you’ll enjoy fishing more as well. An exception to this would be when bass move up to shallower water after a few warm days, and after a warm rain. This guide covers all of the best lures for trout. 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