Alexei Volkov
Winter bass fishing is often associated with hard lures, but soft plastic lures can be just as effective. When fishing with plastics in the winter, it's important to use plenty of scent and take the bait to the fish, as there is less fish movement in colder waters. Anglers should also consider using darker baits with a flash, which can mimic potential food options for the fish. In addition, a handful of jig heads and a couple of popular plastic lure options can be a good strategy, as well as starting with live bait to help locate the target fish.
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What You'll Learn
Use scent to attract fish to your bait
Winter fishing with plastic baits is a great approach when it comes to inshore cold-water fishing. The fish are less fussy during the winter months, as their food options are more limited.
Using scent is a great way to attract fish to your bait in winter. Fish have an incredibly strong sense of smell, which they use to find food, so it's important to use this to your advantage. There are many different types of scents available, from water-soluble to oil-based, powder, and gel. Some scents are designed to mimic natural smells like baitfish or crawfish, while others work to neutralise smells that might repel fish.
Some scents that fish are attracted to include salt, anise, garlic, and human saliva. There are also artificial attractants like GULP products, which are known for their strong smell, and Pro Cure scents, which come in a variety of options like shrimp and mullet. Many lure companies add real baitfish to their lures, along with salt, to help attract fish.
You can also try using natural baits like live or fresh dead bait, which are known to be effective. If you're looking for a more unique approach, some anglers have found success with dairy products, like cheese. Additionally, coffee grounds are believed to be effective in attracting fish or at least neutralising repellent scents.
Remember to always check state and local regulations to ensure that the type of scent you're using is legal for fishing.
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Use darker baits with a flash to mimic potential food
Winter bass fishing is often associated with hard lures like crankbaits and jerkbaits. However, soft plastic lures can be just as effective in catching bass during the winter months.
When selecting a soft plastic lure, it is important to consider the colour. Using darker baits with a flash is a good strategy for winter fishing. This is because, during the winter, bass are sluggish and lethargic due to the cold water. They are slower to respond and get a good, long look at the bait. A dark bait with a flash will mimic a potential food source crawling on the bottom, attracting their attention. The flash created by contrasting colours, such as a black back and silver or gold sides, can be particularly effective in attracting bass, especially during the pre-spawn period.
Additionally, darker lures create contrast and work well in dirty or murky water. In such conditions, fish are not hunting by sight but are attracted to shadows and contrast in the water. A dark lure creates a silhouette that fish will strike. On the other hand, in clear water and calm conditions when fish are hunting by sight, a lighter or slightly transparent lure is more suitable.
When fishing with plastic baits in the winter, it is also important to use plenty of scent. This is because, during this season, the tactic is to take the bait to the fish, rather than attracting them to your bait. The colder water means less fish movement, so presenting the bait to the fish is key. By using scent and a dark bait with a flash, you can effectively mimic a potential food source for bass during the winter.
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Use smaller baits to catch hungry fish
Winter bass fishing is often associated with hard lures, but soft plastic lures can be just as effective in catching fish during the colder months. When selecting your plastic bait, it's important to consider the forage size and match your lure accordingly.
While you might assume that larger bait is preferable in winter to give hungry fish a big, slow meal, professional angler Mike Iaconelli recommends shifting to smaller baits when fishing in cold, clear water, even if bigger forage is present. This tactic can be particularly effective when fish are conserving energy and seeking out injured or dying prey, as they will be less inclined to chase healthy baitfish.
Smaller baits can be worked slowly and fished across clean bottoms, around rocks, and even near some woody cover. For bass fishing, finesse worms, miniature craws, creature baits, grubs, tubes, and stick baits work well when combined with a Ned rig or a dropshot setup. These rigs allow you to target fish along the bottom or suspended slightly above it, and their subtle movements mimic struggling or dying prey.
When fishing with plastics in winter, it's crucial to take the bait to the fish. Colder water means less fish movement, so you'll need to present your lure at their level. Using darker baits with a flash can help attract attention, as it resembles a potential food source. Additionally, incorporating scent and spice into your bait can be advantageous, especially during colder conditions when you want to create a concentrated area of attraction.
By using smaller baits and employing these strategic techniques, you can effectively target hungry fish during the winter months and increase your chances of a successful catch.
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Try a Ned rig with miniature craws, creature baits, grubs, tubes, and stick baits
Winter bass fishing is often associated with hard lures, but soft plastic lures can be just as effective. A Ned rig is defined more by the style of jighead than an exact soft plastic, so the emphasis is on the lure as a whole rather than the plastic. Miniature craws, creature baits, grubs, tubes, and stick baits work well in winter when combined with a Ned head to create a Ned rig. These soft plastics are good options because they are small and can be fished slowly across clean bottoms and around rocks and woody areas.
The traditional choice for a Ned rig is a stumpy straight-tail worm that resembles a stickbait cut in half. The most popular Ned Worm is the Z-Man TRD. Lures made from it will stand upright. The key advantage offered by the Ned Rig is versatility. Anglers can “match the hatch” by selecting styles of baits that resemble forage in the area. Many dedicated Ned lures are made from Elaztech, a super buoyant material that will keep lures standing upright on the bottom, even when the jig head is stationary. Bugs, crawdads, tubes, and shad patterns can be incorporated into your Ned arsenal. Experienced anglers can use these other lure styles to match the natural forage more appropriately.
There are two primary styles of Ned Rigs: open hooked and weedless. To rig a standard or “open hooked” Ned Rig, place the hook point into the center or base of the bait. Thread the bait onto the hook and exit through the side. Ensure that you thread enough of the bait onto the hook to precisely match the length of the hook’s shank. Threading too much or too little will create an unnatural presentation. When using a traditional Ned Worm, the hook can exit through any side. However, when using a creature bait, the hook should protrude out through the top or back.
When using a Ned rig, a good technique is to keep the Ned on the bottom with the rod tip down, then lift the rod upwards until it is directly overhead. Then, immediately drop the rod, allowing the bait to fall through the water on a slack line. Depending on the depth you’re fishing, a more subtle lift may be needed. Keeping the rod tip high will help control the fish.
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Flipping and pitching Texas-rigged soft plastics
When flipping and pitching, the hook is the critical component. The diversity of hooks available means you can find one that fits every type of plastic. The sharpness and strength of the hook are also important for good hookups and getting fish out of heavy cover. Brent Chapman, a four-time B.A.S.S. winner, matches his hooks on the Texas rig with a Picasso Tungsten Worm Weight and an Eagle Claw Bobber Stop for pegging his weight. He also uses a heavier weight than most anglers for his Texas-rigged soft plastics to achieve a fast fall.
Chapman's top three soft plastics for Texas rigging are the 3-inch Tightlines UV Beaver, Tightlines UV-Enko, and a 4-inch flipping tube. The 3-inch Beaver is his favourite as it is compact and can get strikes when other baits won't due to its small size. When flipping around shallow brush or docks, he uses a 1/8-ounce weight but switches to a 1 1/2 –ounce sinker for punching through thick grass mats.
When deciding whether to flip or pitch jigs or soft plastics, it's important to consider factors such as cover, forage, and water clarity. If you're fishing in heavy vegetation, a soft plastic bait behind a heavy sinker can be a better choice as it penetrates the cover better and creates a smaller splash. In clear water, smaller, more natural-looking baits are often more effective as the fish can get a good look at the lure. Matching the lure to the local forage by colour and type (e.g. crawfish, swimbait) can also increase your chances of catching more fish.
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Frequently asked questions
Using plastic lures in the winter is a great way to save time as you don't need to obtain live bait. The fish are also less fussy as their food options are more limited. It's important to use plenty of scent and take the bait to the fish, as there is less fish movement in colder waters. Using darker baits with a flash can be effective as the fish may mistake it for a potential food option.
Soft plastic lures are a good option for winter fishing. Miniature craws, creature baits, grubs, tubes, and stick baits work well when combined with a Ned head to create a Ned rig. Finesse worms and small shad imitators like Flukes and single swimbaits can be used with a dropshot.
Start by fishing with mud minnows or live shrimp. Once you start getting hits, switch to a plastic lure that mimics the live bait you were using and cast your line. Cover as much water as possible to present your lure to as many target fish as you can.
The size of the plastic lure depends on the forage size. In the winter, smaller baits tend to be more effective, even if bigger forage is present in the water.
Fishing with plastics in the winter is a game-changer for inshore cold-water fishing. There is less competition from other fishermen and lower plankton levels make for clearer water, making it easier to spot fish. There is also less competition with live baitfish.
