As ice starts to form on the edges of Lakes and reservoirs, and even
some rivers. Now becomes the time to slow down our presentation, and
tie on a
jig, or a Texas-rigged worm or craw.
During this time of year, Bass tend to move into deeper
water as the temperature drops and establish their wintering hole.
Deep coves, with a
detailed creek channel, long points that drop off, into primary,
secondary, or third creek channels, or bankline fast drop off are where
you should
start
your search for cold water bass. Another key factor in cold water
is
wood.
Wood is a fish attractant for Bass in the colder months. Look for wood,
stumps, brush piles, and sunken trees along drop off's, at the end
of points,
and edges of creek channels.
If fishing shallow to medium depth water doesn't produce,
it may be because of the water temperature. Find deeper water. Deeper
water tends to
cool off
at a lot slower pace, and isn't affected so much by the air temperature
resulting from the winter elements. Pay attention to your temperature
gauge
for degree changes in the water. This will affect how well you succeed
in catching fish.
There are various types of jig heads, which include
bullet, round, football, and darter. I personally prefer the bullet
head.
The colors that I would suggest are black and blue,
brown and orange, black and chartreuse, and blue, mainly because the
colors show true in
deeper water
better than any of the other colors on the market.
I would also use, some type of trailer to give the
jig fulness or bulk, and would use a color that either matches or clashes
with the jig for
definition.
I would suggest using a 3/8 to a 1/2-ounce jig. You don't want
to go too
heavy, it might hinder your sensitivity from detecting strikes, or the
bottom composition.
The line I would suggest using is 14-pound to 17-pound
test, Co-polymer line. Fish the jig the same way you would fish plastic
worms, by either
hopping the
jig, or crawling the jig across the bottom. Even a hop, hop, pause method
can prove to be successful during these cold winter months.
As always, the only thing I have to say about learning
a new technique is , "Just Do It," Nothing beats time spent on the water.
Until next time, set em' hard, keep the line tight,
and get them in the boat.
Donuel E. Bruno
