Summer and fall have now passed and the recreational boaters and jet skis have been winterized and put away for the year. Now is our time to shine, with no more having to share the lake. If you are brave enough to put on a few more layers of clothing and stand in the cold, you could be rewarded with the biggest catch of the year! The bass have had all year to grow and the waters are no longer pressured. If you adapt to their patterns, they will have no problem getting out of the water for a minute to take a picture with you.
Where to find bass in the winter
When it is cold bass tend to school up even more. They will go where the most food is easily caught.
You will find bass moving to the deepest points of the lake during winter. The key to finding winter bass is to find food sources. Even though they are eating less, they will always follow the food.
Even during the winter months bass will look for concealment, whether it is the darker depths of the lake or cover such as wood, or rocks. Bass are predators that like to ambush their prey so concealing themselves is important.
How bass react to cold water
As the air and water start cooling off bass will become more lethargic and move into deeper water. Resident bass will still stay closer to their preferred area but will more than likely move to the deepest point with some sort of cover that will hold heat or the shoreline of a nearby river.
Bass do not need to eat as much during the winter months so they will not chase active fast-moving lures. Their metabolism slows down to an all-time low during the winter months so downsizing lures is a must.
How to catch wintertime bass
The big aggressive summertime crankbaits will no longer be working. Bass will now be targeting slow smaller meals while keeping to the warmer areas of the lake.
The best times to catch bass in the winter are in the afternoon when the sun has had a chance to warm the waters up. Using smaller lures, with a small presentation is the key to catching that wintertime trophy.
Best lures for wintertime bass
When fishing for winter bass downsized finesse presentations are the best way to go. Trying to rip a crankbait through the strike zone of a lethargic bass with low metabolism will normally not work.
Small hair jigs with no trailers are a good lure to entice a bite from winter bass. Small bladed baits or small crankbaits that will suspend at desired depths work well also.
Drop shot rigs are a staple of wintertime fishing. The ability to put your lure at depth and hold it there for as long as needed is invaluable. Patience is key when trying to reel in a wintertime trophy.
Imitating bluegill or shad is a better choice than craw patterns this time of year.
Can you ice fish for bass?
Yes, you can! Using the same equipment for catching smaller species such as bluegill and perch, you can pull in some mountable bass. The key when ice fishing for bass is knowing the location, and timing of your local lake.
Look for deep water along with some submerged rocks, wood, or weed beds. Bass will school up around these areas and become more active when there has been calmer weather for a period. Just remember when ice fishing for bass bigger is not always better. Downsizing lures will give you the edge when trying to catch these winter beauties.
Final Words
Winter doesn’t have to be a struggle of just waiting for spring to come so you can bass fish. Fishing for bass will be a lot slower during the winter months, but you will be rewarded with bigger bass. Just remember to downsize, slow down, and learn the patterns of your local lake.
