warming trends for winter bass fishing tips with andrew upshaw

Big bass, largemouth bass, double digit bass move up first early in winter in colder temperatures

Winter 2018

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Photo by Dan O’Sullivan

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then followed up with a slow crawl moving bait as a mop up.

He goes with the finesse application first, because he is more likely to get response from bass.

“I like a slender profile that time of the year, because bass respond more readily,” he said. “It’s not necessarily going to get me a big bite, but it will help me feel the bottom, and let me know if bass are around.”

That primary presentation is a 3/6-ounce Hardhead matched with a 6-inch TattleTail Worm by Gene Larew Lures. To throw the lure, he uses a 7’ medium- action Team Lew’s Custom Pro spinning

Photo by Dan O’Sullivan

rod paired with a size 300 Team Lew’s Pro spinning reel, spooled with 10-pound-test braided line tipped with an 8-pound-test fluorocarbon leader.

He fishes that setup much like a Shaky Head.

“I work it subtly along the bottom looking to come into contact with structure,” he said. “Once I bump into a rock or stump, or feel gravel on the bottom, I slow down and really work the area thoroughly.”

If he catches a few fish in the area, he focuses his attention on bigger fish by turning to a ½-ounce Nichols Football Jig with a Gene Larew Hammer