PRO TIPS
by
Dustin
January 2006
Cold water jerks
Jerkbait fishing in the winter can be awesome. The main limiting factor is the lure diving depth. Most deep diving suspending jerks (like Daiwa deep T.D. minnow, T.D. spawn, or Double Clutch) will only go about 6-7 feet deep without weighting them to sink. If the fish happen to be close to that depth range and you have plenty of patience – watch out bass! Winter bass like to come up slightly in the water column to strike a lure just above them. The water needs to be fairly clear (about two feet visibility or more) because of the bait’s thin profile. With a thin profiled bait, they cannot feel it as good and must see it to eat it. In really cold water (38 to 43 degrees) you might have to let it sit for 5 or more seconds between pulls (I like to pull slowly rather than jerk in water this cold). I’ve also found a small twitch during the pause often triggers a strike. Daiwa’s new Viento reel with twitchin’ bar is perfect for this action.
As the water temperature increases into mid and upper 40’s you can speed the bait up. At 50 degrees you’d be surprised how many bass want a fast moving jerk. The trick to getting reaction bites through this temperature range is throwing slack in your line between jerks to get the bait to “walk” side to side under water. I always experiment though. There are never any rules to fishing. I’ll still try slow, but I’ll be more alert to the fish becoming more active and wanting a fast bait.
I really like to fish jerkbaits over grass and on grass lines. If no grass is present, points, floating docks, creek channels and channel banks (bluffs) are good targets. Lure color can be important. I generally like natural colors, but I don’t overlook firetigers and chartreuse, even in clear water. These baits are thin and a little splash of color is sometimes a good thing. I like mono or a hybrid line that does not sink, and a medium or medium light action rod.
Going Super Shallow
Think you are fishing shallow in less than 3 feet? You are, but when to go super shallow is a key decision that could boat you a lot more bass. When do bass move shallower than a foot? Anytime, the number one key is water clarity. Some bass will spawn in just inches of water even in clear water. A lot of bass are caught all year by anglers casting to the shore. How many times have you got a bite as soon as you pulled a lure off the bank or as soon as it touched down? This happens a lot, and you should identify it quickly and make some key adjustments to maximize your time and catch more fish. Murky or muddy water is the key to making these fish feel safe in shallow water.
You can maximize your time in several ways. Try fishing parallel to the shore keeping your bait in the strike zone longer. You can also cast directly towards the bank, working your lure a few feet, then reel it in (flipping is great for this, it even eliminates reeling). Your tackle and lures can also help you cover this strike zone more efficiently. Super shallow cranks (like Daiwa’s new crank) are excellent for this as are spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, and topwater. Speed flipping a worm or creature bait is an often overlooked technique. I really like the new 3’’ Culprit Water Beetle with a ¼ oz weight and 2/0 hook. Super shallow bass are often feeding on small baitfish and craws, so I tend to choose smaller baits unless the water is super muddy (3’’ or less visibility). A fast retrieve 6.3:1 reel like a Daiwa Fuego is great for getting your lure out of the dead water zone fast.
Key areas to look for super shallow bass are the backs of creeks and flats close to a creek channel. Bass often use points early in the morning to ambush super shallow bait, even in clear water. Anytime shad are spawning, the strike zone is on the bank. Look for shad to spawn on clay and rock banks, usually about 2 to 4 weeks after the bass spawn.
Late summer and fall are the most dependable times to fish shallow. Other good times are after a warm spring or winter rain. Super shallow bass can also be caught anytime bream are spawning, using topwater poppers like T.D. Popper Zero and Culprit Jerk shad.
Don’t be scared to make the changes necessary to be more efficient in the shallows. You’ll catch a lot more bass.
Protecting Your Boat
Most of us bassers have fiberglass boats which can be torn up on virtually anything they touch. Rocks, trees, stumps and docks all tend to put a few scratches on our boats every year. I have found several things that help. First, wax your boat once a year to help protect from minor scratches. Next, if you fish tournaments, don’t park next to an aluminum boat at weigh-in. Thirdly, get yourself a Keelshield to protect your keel while beaching or stump jumpin’. You can even park on a concrete ramp with one of those things, they are amazing. Most of the Bassmaster Tour Pros ran a Keelshield last year. It is an inexpensive, highly effective way to protect your boat.
If you like to use a cover while towing your boat, be aware that they can cause more damage than they prevent if not secured correctly. The wind and a twenty foot long canvas cover can act as sandpaper on the boat finish and engine cowling. Additionally the cover can act as a kite, reducing the ever so valuable vehicle fuel mileage. I do not travel with a cover for these reasons. I stick it in the back of my truck and cover every night.
If you stay overnight or leave your tackle in your boat at home, be sure and cover your boat and lock all your compartments every night. A theft deterrent system bar helps protect your tackle from thieves. Skeeter’s new I-Class boat has an alarm system built in; something that has definitely been a long time coming for bass boats. I-Class boats also have personalized programmable codes that automatically set the alarm and locks all the lids at once – how cool is that after a hard days fishing? I used to dread going around locking each lid at night.
If you are tournament fishermen – remember to have a spare for everything --especially battery charger, T-motor, prop, extension cord, and your best bait!
Rippin’
Lipless Crankbaits and Buzzin’
in January?
I just had to write about this after a great day on the
water today (
