Winter 2026
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Pay close attention to how you are triggering strikes. Are bass hitting on the initial fall, or are they biting as the jig moves across the rocks? These details will put more bass in the boat. I may also adjust jig head size. If bass are keying on the fall, I will try a slightly lighter or heavier jig to see how they react. If they prefer the jig moving along the bottom, I test whether a slower fall rate or a heavier, faster-falling jig gets more bites.
Another bait I have started using more in the late season when fishing rocks is a wobble head jig. The back- and-forth movement of the head not only gets the bass’ attention as it crawls across the bottom, but it also triggers strikes when a regular football jig will not. I also make an adjustment that few other anglers do: I downsize my wobble head and fish it on a 7’2” Denali Kovert MH rod teamed with a Denali Novus Pro reel spooled with 20 lb Sunline Asegai braid. I start with a 3/8 oz wobble head. Rigged this way, the added feel from the braid allows me to downsize my jig, slow its fall, and slow my retrieve. When the bite gets tough in colder water, this setup is a dependable option that will still put bass in the boat.
If you think the bass can see the braid, use an FC leader. If I am using 20 lb braid, I will use a 16 lb Sunline FC leader for added stealth.
KEY POINTS AND FINAL ADJUSTMENTS
I have a few final notes to call to your attention. First, I know not everyone makes their own jigs. There is nothing
wrong with buying jigs, but make adjustments along the way. Different brands make similar jigs with different hooks—use this to your advantage. You can leave the weed guard full or trim it to achieve different stiffness levels. You can also shop different jig brands to find head colors that better match craw or bluegill colors in your waters.
When it comes to skirts, I buy a few different versions to put on my jig heads—you can do the same. Browse Lure Parts Online or Barlow Tackle to see the different skirt makeups and materials they offer. Buy a few colors and see how closely they match the baitfish in your waters. This is important: skirts are made from different materials, and each behaves differently in the water. Buy a few and experiment. You can even test this at home in a clear container filled with tap water. Drop the jig in the water and watch how the skirt flares and how much it moves just sitting on the bottom. The insight you gain doing this homework will pay big dividends all season long, especially during the cold-water period.
One more point: pay close attention to what is working and which adjustments result in more bass in the boat. Test small changes to jig head color, skirt action, skirt color, and trailer selection. These little details will put more bass in your boat during the cold-water period. •
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