Winter Bass Fishing Skills

Just because the snow has started to roll in and the days are getting shorter, that doesn’t mean it’s time to pack up your bass fishing gear. 

In fact, winter bass fishing is some of the best fishing you’ll do all year - and best yet, you won’t have to fend off other angry bass anglers to get to your favorite spot, either.

To prepare for success this winter, consider these winter bass fishing tips - and start planning your next adventure. 

Dress (and Plan) for Success

It might sound silly to start an article about winter bass fishing with some fashion tips, but before you drop a single line into the water it’s important to suit yourself up appropriately. 

If you don’t wear the right clothes, at best, you’re going to have a miserable, unenjoyable day of fishing. At worst, you could be putting yourself at risk for hypothermia or frostbite. 

Consider the outdoor temperatures and conditions to figure out what kinds of clothes might be best.

Usually, layers will suit you well, start with a layer of insulated or thermal pants and tops along with some warm socks. 

Add a second layer made out of a fleece material for breathability, then a third waterproof layer. You might wear a rain jacket, rain pants, or bibs. 

Put a pair of fingerless gloves on to help you adjust your rod and reel more easily, as well as to cast. Make sure you are familiar with the area in which you plan to fish. 

Let someone know where you are headed and in which part of the lake you will be fishing. Ideally, you should find someone to go fishing with you. 

Again, dress in layers, and be sure to bring a few extra in case you get wet or fall in. Wait to put on your top layers until you get out of the vehicle.

Where to Find Bass in the Winter 

In the winter, bass are going to be headed out into deeper water. Of course, the word “deep” is all relative when you take into consideration the depth of the body of water you are fishing in. 

As a general rule of thumb, you will want to look for the spot that is the deepest spot of any fishing area.

Now, for some bodies of water, that might mean 13 or 14 feet. For others, it could easily mean 100. This will depend on the depth and contours of the lake or pond. 

By looking at a top quality ice flasher or topographical map, you’ll be able to find locations where baitfish tend to hide. 

This, of course, will also be a good place to locate bass. Bass tend to hang out deeper at this time of the year, but they'll move up and down around humps, underwater islands, and long points. 

You should also pay attention to changes in depth. Bass aren’t going to move hundreds of yards up a taper to feed. Instead, they’re more likely to move up and down in the water column. In doing this, they’ll likely be taking advantage of their shorter feeding windows. 

To find bass, you may want to look for creek channel swings. 

What Kinds of Baits, Tackle, and Equipment Should You Use?

When you’re fishing for bass in the winter, you won’t be able to be quite as selective when it comes to the variety of baits you throw. You’ll be fishing in a much slower fashion so don’t go overboard with all kinds of gear. 

Instead, stick to a few of your favorite swimbaits and jerkbaits. That’s really all you need. If you find a spot with a bit more action, feel free to use faster-moving worms like senkos and ned rigs or even jigs or drop shots. 

Hair jigs are particularly effective. They look like small baitfish and crawfish and work well in the winter since the subtle movement of the hairs draws the attention of bass in cold water. 

Another option is the drop shot rig mentioned above. A drop-shot rig is ideal for fishing vertically beneath your boat. However, you can also use it to cast and retrieve horizontally. 

Don’t forget the old standby jigging spoons, blade baits, and football head jigs, either!

Move your lure slowly along the bottom of the water to convince a lazy bass to bite. Choose colors that best imitate the colors of the crawfish in the water (usually, a light brown or green is the way to go). 

The main thing to remember here is that you are going to want to slow things down quite significantly. 

Everything under the water has slowed, so you want to go slow, too. If you think you’re moving too slow, guess what? You need to go even slower. 

You will want to arm yourself with a few different reels, as you might use a different type of reel for every different scenario. Of course, using a good rod for bass is recommended, too.

What Temperatures Are Best for Fishing Bass? 

You can fish for bass at any time throughout the year as long as you are familiar with the proper techniques. 

Between 50 and 60 degrees is usually the range that is best for bass fishing, as it’s not so cold that you need to dramatically change your fishing techniques yet not so warm that you’ll be uncomfortable on the water.

This time is usually associated with the changes of seasons from winter to spring or from fall to winter. You can use a wide variety of techniques when you fish at this time. 

When it gets a bit cooler, from 40 to 50 degrees, the metabolism of the bass will be a bit slower, yet they’re still going to be actively feeding. To target bass during this time, use a slower approach and focus on deeper water.

Finally, if you’re fishing in the winter, during temperatures of less than 40 degrees, you’re going to have a big challenge on your hand - but you’ll also likely enjoy this the most. 

Winter bass fishing is difficult since the bass will be moving more slowly and eating less often. 

You will need to use slower baits, and you can’t rely on bass chasing your lures long distances.

That being said, despite the challenge, it’s also one of the most enjoyable times of the year to go fishing!

Remember - Go Slow

Again, you can fish bass at any time of the year, but you’ll need to slow down and downsize your bait. In the winter, bass aren’t going to be as interested in putting up a fight for a large bit of food. 

Therefore, if you decide to use live bait, you’ll want to offer up something a bit smaller (ditch the large crustaceans!). 

You can use small baitfish like creek minnows and shiners, or you can rely on worms. Just make sure you have the right rig to keep them fresh, healthy, and wiggly before you drop them into the water. 

Slow down, too. You’re going to have to think like a bass here. If you had icy cold water moving through your body for several months at a time, you’d probably slow down, too. 

Keep the movement of your bait steady, lethargic, and slow. 

Keep your bait near the top of the water column and hold it steady. You can fish from shore or a boat, but you may have an easier time fishing from shore if the wind is blowing. 

When you fish from shore, it will be easier for you to sneak up on the bass without causing a huge disturbance. 

When To Go 

As soon as you’re ready! 

However, it’s important to note that you’ll want to select the time of day carefully if you want to have the maximum level of success. You can fish bass at any time during the day throughout the winter months, but it’s important to remember that their feeding windows will be a lot shorter.

Ideally, you will want to feed at one of two times: first thing in the morning, or after the day has warmed up and is as warm as it’s going to get (usually in the late afternoon).

At night, fish will push up into the shallows to feed on baitfish and crayfish. You may have a chance of catching a few fish before they sink back down. 

You’ll want to gauge all of this on the weather. If you have a string of 35-degree days followed by a surprising 45-degree day, you’re going to want to take advantage of that jump in temperature and head to one of your more productive winter fishing spots. 

Winter bass fishing is something that can be enjoyed by the most novice or the most experienced anglers around. 

Regardless of your experience level, grab your rod and reel, bundle up and get out there - these winter bass fishing tips should help you get started.  

-By Peter Sean Ward