Winter 2023
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Tas targets steep, rocky banks, points, and offshore rock piles.
“These areas will hold more heat in the winter and will also attract slower moving forage like bluegills and crawdads which are easier meals for the bass,” he added.
Tip: I use my Garmin mapping to locate off-shore points and then find the rock piles with the down imaging. Good mapping is essential.
Jig Gear: My gear choice is a St. Croix medium-heavy, 7-foot rod and Revo STX reel, spooled with 15-pound Seaguar InvizX fluorocarbon.
Colors: I keep my jig colors simple:
• Brown
• brown with some purple
• brown with a little light red
• black and brown (when there is cloud cover)
I throw both a football head and a round head. Because their actions differ, one can get more bites than the other.
Size: I like a 1/2-oz jig; but the 3/4-oz and 1-oz can make the fish react because it moves faster and disturbs the bottom. A 3/4-oz jig tossed right on the bank and then hopped back to the boat can produce giant bass during the winter months. It’s like a reaction lure and the bass can’t let that heavy jig go crashing by without inhaling it.
Tube: When the jig bite appears to slow down, I will drag a tube around over the rocks. Hopping and snapping the rod tip can produce giant bass, just like the 3/4-ounce jig. Tas has the tube ready as a backup when the fish get finicky.
“It’s fished in the same areas as the jig,” Tas stated. “It’s basically my backup bait when the fish are really finicky and want a smaller profile bait. The tube is also a great follow- up bait behind the jig, to give the fish something different and get more bites.”
KAKAY A-RIGGING
The A-rig is a lure that just flat out catches big fish. I have had some of my best fishing days tossing it during the winter months. When throwing the A-rig from a kayak, boat positioning is imperative because this lure is very difficult to work efficiently.
Since I am right-handed, I’ll head down the bank and cast to my left. This gives me total control when I set the hook and fighting the fish.
Conditions: I prefer the water to be a little stained or to have some wind when working the A-Rig. I’ll fish it shallow to deep and deep to shallow, through balls of baitfish and dragged on the bottom. Once I find out what the fish want -repeat. However, like I said before, there is never an absolute when it comes to fishing. You can always change up profile or cadence to produce more bites.
As you have read, both Tas and I have the some of the same favorite lures for the winter months. Next time you’re out in the cold conditions, try our confidence lures during and you may find that perhaps you can put more fish in the boat. •
John Myers
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