Quick answer: Early-winter bass fishing usually rewards slower presentations, stable water, nearby food and lures that can stay in the strike zone. Blade baits, jigs, jerkbaits, soft plastics, spinnerbaits and carefully worked floating minnows can all produce when matched to depth, cover and fish position.
Early Winter bass fishing can be a frustrating time of the year for the trophy bass angler. However, a suitable lake will make bass fishing you’re most rewarding at the right time. We were not internet anglers and were working-class fishing guides providing our account of what works for the best Winter bass fishing equipment. Good luck, and don’t forget bass doesn’t go big unless you keep it big.
These six lure categories give anglers several ways to cover early-winter conditions, from deep structure to shallow warming periods.
Winter Lures You Need to Catch Bass
At some points of the year, bass anglers become victims of “overthinking” fishing. The Wintertime can be the most miserable time to approach bass fishing. Cold water slows bass metabolism and can reduce feeding frequency, but fish still reposition and feed when conditions are favorable.
Many bass use areas that combine forage, stable water and nearby depth, but the exact location depends on the fishery. Bass eats in the winter and are always close to a food source. If a bass doesn’t eat today, they probably have a buddy that will.
6 Early Winter Bass Fishing Baits
Mastering the art of Coldwater bass baits will help you catch more bass during winter fishing. The lake is for your enjoyment, and you can catch the largest bass of the season if you’re willing to adjust to the weather. Mastering all five cold water fishing baits is an excellent way to improve your winter bass fishing results.
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. These early Winter bass fishing baits work for catching largemouth but are specifically known for being deadly on smallmouth bass and stripers. The best strategy to use with a blade bait is to let it sink to the bottom and allow it to rest for a minute.
You then want to pull up on the rod, make the bait swing upward, and then stop and let it fall to the side. With lipless crankbait fishing, it’s unnecessary to set the hook, take up the slack and load the rod. You can use the same method with deep divers in the water column. These bass lures should be dropped and rising until strikes occur for the best success.
Jigs
Black, blue, brown, green pumpkin and other natural or high-contrast jig colors can all work depending on water clarity and forage. Anglers should use this bait specifically to fish near the cover or rocky banks during a cold front. Ensure you keep fishing this bait slowly this time of the year. Pitch or cast between 5-10 feet around cover and other debris like thick weeds, branches, and downed trees. Use a fluorocarbon clear lighter line to detect sudden horizontal line twitch.
Watch for line movement, added weight or an unusual change in lure feel, then set the hook when a bite is confirmed. When fishing a jig slowly, a firmer hook set is necessary. Try to prevent a slackline; the bite is usually a very light bite to detect.
Jerkbaits
Suspending jerkbaits are useful for covering water while still allowing long pauses in the strike zone. They are best known for producing response strikes of bass. A better jerk bait method for cold water is to let the bait slowly sink or suspend. After some time, jerk the bait once, twice, maybe three times. During the retrieve, take a period of pause. This early Winter bass fishing method is incredibly efficient with jerk baits that suspend.
Jerk baits are excellent for working areas slowly while providing an appealing presentation to the winter bass looking for bait. The lure is ideal for frigid climates but will still produce bites. Jerk baits are usable with both traditional spinning reels and bait casters.
Rubber Worm
Texas or Carolina-rigged worms can produce year-round and are also go-to winter baits. Ideal for drop-off points and break lines. Cast to the structure, keep the lure in place, and let it settle down. Then, learn how they want it retrieved. Hoping slowly, such as a jig, while shaking the rod’s tip to permit brass and glass combinations to make noise is a favorite. It attracts fish in nearby thick covers or suspensions waiting for a meal.
It is also incredibly beneficial under docks, around logs, and various underwater structures being rigged weedless. When using Carolina-rigged worms, use glass beads with brass weights to create the most pleasing sounds for winter bass. Vary your brass weight dependent on the size and depth of the area fishing. When all else fails, slow down!
Spinnerbait
In stained cold water, white, chartreuse, darker silhouettes or natural baitfish colors are all worth testing. Slow retrieval during that period is a commonly practiced strategy because of low water temperatures. Slow rolling is a common cold-water approach, but retrieve speed should still match fish activity and depth. Spinnerbaits produce best when fished near covered vegetation such as logs, stems, downed trees, lilies, and sand bars.
Spinnerbaits remain a versatile option when bass are using shallow cover or reacting to vibration. It’s a bait that is easy to learn to use and has a lot of versatility all year long. Use medium to small profile spinnerbaits in the Winter; we like a twin blade, one Colorado, with one willow blade are most productive. Additionally, the sister chatter bait should not be overlooked.
Floating Rapala
A floating minnow-style lure can occasionally produce winter strikes when fish are active near the surface, but cold-water success is often more consistent with slower subsurface presentations. Black bass can be caught in the Winter, summer, spring, or fall on topwater. But your technique must change drastically to have success. In the Winter, they prefer easier-to-eat baits, such as a dying minnow. A Rapala twitched on the surface or near lily pads is an effective method.
Making a cast at the structure or shoreline, mildly twist the bait, letting it float on the surface and be completely motionless.
More than expected, the topwater bite will be very subtle. The bass sucks it in without almost any commotion. Please don’t set the hook hard; when a strike occurs, be cautious, as they miss the bait a lot on the first strike. Once they get it, the bass will get caught so easily and won’t be able to get it out of their mouth.
Remember, the key is to wait until the bait dies completely and be patient.
Beat the cold to Boat the Bass
Wintertime can be a challenge to catch bass. But, with the right bass lures and techniques, you can catch largemouth bass even in the cold months. Winter bass fishing can motivate people to get out of the house. While it might be cold outside, there is nothing like catching a big bass that makes you forget about it.
Time spent Winter bass fishing will be a great time to locate some of those underground structures underwater, so when spring rolls around and the bass moves up to spawn, you are ready. Give that topwater tip a try this Winter, but be sure to give it some time and use it on the right day. After a couple of successful bites on that floater, you will have the confidence to sling it all day in anticipation of another.
For broader winter structure, weather and cold-front tactics, see our cold-weather bass fishing guide. This page stays focused on early-winter lure choices.
In Conclusion
Whether you’re here to improve your growing skillset or preparing to try bass fishing for the first time, we hope the guide by the bass fishing experts helps you make the most of your wintertime experience. Cold water often rewards slower retrieves and longer pauses, but let actual fish response determine cadence.
Remember that your fishing depth is relative to the water clarity and location you decide to fish. It’s essential to know the lake’s cold water temperatures. Be observant; look for feeding patterns; this will support your choice of fishing lure. Finally, remember that going fishing is a gift for all of us. To manage your expectations and focus more on the experience.
