During winter months, especially following the passage of a cold front, leave your worm box at home when going after bass, advises Ocala, Florida's Dick Hale, a tournament fisherman and ex-guide.
For many years Hale guided on lakes throughout the Ocala National Forest and admitted to being puzzled when shiner fishermen seemed able to catch bass on a cold front while everyone else was skunked--including even the top tournament anglers.
After studying the situation he gradually reached some conclusions that paid off when he quit guiding and devoted more time to competitive events.
"It's really quite simple," Hale explained.
"During cold months bass feed on other fish and, therefore, won't spend much time in shallow water if no food is available.
"If they're feeding on shad, shiners, small bream, or crappie, then it's basically an open-water situation where they are suspended 18 inches above the grass in anywhere from 3-10 foot depths, depending upon the clarity of the water."
By observation, Hall discovered that successful fishermen either drifted or free-lined shiners.
"A shiner will find its own depth, usually just a foot or two above the grass in most instances, and this is where you'll find bass."
Since largemouth are usually suspended above the grass, Hale reasoned that a worm fished on the bottom is next to useless.
"The bass is positioned to ambush food," said the angler, "and a plastic worm moving slowly across the bottom will go unnoticed.
"If it wanted to feed on the bottom then it would be on the bottom," Hale logically pointed out.
Through trial and error, as well as from tips from other anglers, he learned that a crankbait is the best bet during Florida's winter months or after the passage of a cold front.
"When a crankbait goes right by his nose, all a bass has to do is roll out and grab it," said Hale. "You can usually tell by the way you hook a fish whether it attacked the bait or just slapped at it.
"Sometimes, particularly when water temperatures are in the high 50s or low 60s, bass aren't particularly eager to strike.
"But, it's still an opportunistic predator and will rarely pass up an opportunity for an easy meal. When you're able to locate the fish, put a bait down on its level, bring it by its nose at a proper speed, and chances are good that you'll trigger a strike."
About the only time Hale will use a plastic worm in Florida during the colder months is when he's flipping in heavy cover.
"Heavy cover will always hold a few fish," he said. "But, if you concentrate on heavy cover during cold weather, you might miss a greater concentration of fish that may be suspended 18 inches off the bottom in open water."
During chilly months, Hale thinks the best spot is probably in the middle of a deep channel or canal where fish hold, waiting for waters to warm.
"So long as the bottom contains eel grass, brush, or anything a bass can relate to, this is where you're likely to find the most fish.
"If you never fish a plastic worm in Florida during the winter months, you probably won't go wrong..."
However, if you're one of those plastic worm diehards and won't use anything else, Hale suggests that you fish your worm on a 1/8- or 1/4-ounce Cotee Liv'Eye Action Jig with a piece of Pro-Bait Tippit and keep it swimming 18 to 24 inches off the bottom.
No, Hale doesn't feel that you have to use a shiner to catch bass in cold weather. But, he does think that whatever bait you use must be placed at the level in which the fish are concentrated.
Copyright (c) 1996 Herb Allen. All rights reserved.
Home | Library | Fishing | Freshwater Fishing