winter tactics

[EBEE ALI]

hi there

Ive been fishing a dam with good success in the summer and early autumn months.cranks and spinners mostly.
But now with the colder water the bites have dried up.this dam is not deep at all.you can walk to the middle of the dam and carry on to the opposite shore.lol.
What tactics can i use to get the bass on my bait.i was thinking of carolina rigging with a light sinker paired with a watermellon gold stickworm(along those lines).

Thanks in advance
Ebrahim

 

[cranky]

winter tactics...

remove line...then reel from rod

strip line and clean reel...and apply light coat of oil and wrap in clean rag put in a safe place...

take pipe cleaner and spray kvd spray onto rod eyes then use pipe cleaner to clean eyes...

store rod in safe location away from wife or girlfriend and kids...

spend lots of time in tackle shops with heaters...talking about about how you plan on catching pre spawn bass...

 

 

[Nemo77]

lol !!!

 

[Mal Vis]

Hi Abrahim

Dont worry, Cranky just gave away his age! Now for the under 75 year old's there is still some options if you are willing to work a bit harder. I cant comment on the dam your'e fishing because I dont know it, but I can suggest that you try some of the northen dams like rhenosterkop or arabie. Wait until the weather has been stable for a week or so and take a drive out. You might just be rewarded with a nice fish or two. Work that plastics a bit slower and go out with the mindset to "hunt" for that one monster. A lot of guys have caught the PB's in the middle of winter.

 

[EBEE ALI]

hi malvis.
This little dam is all im going to be able to fish until i get myself a car.you see the dam is quite close to my campus so on off days i fish there.
So later when the weather is colder i should just fish plastics in the deeper water?can i still throw my beloved spinners?

 

[Mal Vis]

Hi Ebrahim

If you are referring to the "old style" in line spinners like the mepps or fz, it might not be the best option. These lures need constant movement for the blade to spin and create flash and / or vibration to be effective. Most of the times they are also fitted with trebles which can get snagged very easily, especially if you fishing close to or on the bottom.  Two things to consider here is that first of all a bass will do the maths and, especially in winter, might decide against spending the energy to chase down a fast moving "prey". They will rather ambush or take a opportunistic snap at something that enters there "personal space".

Try something bigger and fish it slowly, like your'e creature type plastics, senkos, or slow roll a spinnerbait. Impart an action on the lure that makes it look sluggish and easy to catch. Make sure your'e lure bumps and crawls over the bottom structure and take you're time working a specific area. Bass are more tentative to move far during winter and could ignore a lure if it's not presented right on their noses.

Remember to concentrate and be ready for that very faint tap and constantly whatch you're line, as the bass just inhales the lure and sometimes you wont even feel the take. Strikes are for free, if you suspect, see or feel anything funny, strike!

Good luck man, and let us know when you got that fat lady.

 

 

[EBEE ALI]

i havent caught a bass on an inline spinner yet.i was referring to spinnerbaits like the booyahs.
I'll take your advice the next time i go.
Leka boet

 

[Koos Bass]

Can i also ask something with regard to winter bassing.

We have all read about go slow and then slow down more if the first one didn't work.

I love fishing MOJO plastics and light texas rigg's 

but i would like to know if we should size-up on weight during winter. should i rather fish a long carolina (say 500/600mm) instead of mojo to make the bait stick for longer because a mojo moves alot when pulled with heavy line and the arc (slack) in the line always make me nevous and then i take up the slack to soon but then the mojo moves again........

should bass be close to where they were in summer just near the closet deeper water or sould we "Re-map" the dam and find the deepest most suited "bass" water normaly overlooked in summer.

Thanks

 

 

[gt40]

cranky you getting very old quick mate.

i fish winter as-well and collecting the pigs.

what i do is go slow weightless.go small and thinner line.i fish 6lbs line 0.2thick.i caught many 3kg fish.with it being colder its just that 1 fish that makes my day. this is why i am addicted to bass

 

[Unlimited]

bounce a honry toad over weeds....

 

[Mal Vis]

Hi Koos

I must agree with GT on the small and light approach, especially when the water is very clear. When the water becomes more stained or when I fish really deep (12 feet and deeper) I'll go a bit bigger and darker. I love fishing the carolina as well in these conditions!

 

[cranky]

gt40 wrote:

cranky you getting very old quick mate.

i fish winter as-well and collecting the pigs.

what i do is go slow weightless.go small and thinner line.i fish 6lbs line 0.2thick.i caught many 3kg fish.with it being colder its just that 1 fish that makes my day. this is why i am addicted to bass

i dont know about getting old...just wise...a little cold weather has never scared me away from fishing...

 

 

 

 

 

[bblunt]

Hey Koos....in winter you want a slow presentation. This often means bigger baits that displace more water. Use less or preferably no weight. A weighless senko, creature or fluke will fall slowly and entice the lazy ones to bite. They are also good at mopping up suspending fish which are common in winter. Once the bait hits the water.......dead stick with all your might. We have caught nearly all of our good fish in winter fishing slow.

Cranky the only thing that beats winter bassing is the spawn (although it is absolutely uncomfortable)

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