Nick

Like Marty said, lots of it is trial and error, but do keep in mind these basics: Make sure your lure does not rise back to the surface. Weight it accordingly. A very slow sinking bait falling butt first like a dying shad can get some really good bites for a patient angler. Do not be afraid to pause any jerkbait up to 10 or even 15 seconds occasionally, but try your best to deep that line semi-taut. Nearly all strikes occur on the pause, so watch that line like a hawk for any twitchy movements. The sunnier the day, the brighter colors work better, esp. clown; and last use very dark colors like a black/orange in stained water. Most guys I know get "sweet" on a certain brand. I'm guilty of that for a starting point, but try putting three different models on the deck and alternate every 4 or 5 casts for an hour. I'll try to pick a subtle wiggler like a Vision 110, along side a wider moving model like a LC 78dd, and then maybe go for a different sound like that of an Ima. Then change again if necessary. Sometimes one has to wait for the bass to move in to feed or the angler has to find an active group of fish to get bit regardless. When I've encountered good schools, usually both my partner and I score regardless of color or brand. Remember in winter 10 bites in a day can be good. THe bass are not as easy to catch often as they are in warmer waters, so one maight need to consider numbers of fish somewhat relative to the cold conditions. Speed of retrieve and depth to me are more key than any other variable, but I can also point out a few days that that one special color seemed to make a huge difference, and at times when the second bait through an area got the most bites. Them fish are moody! Don't be afraid to change up bothe in color, brand, and fishing locations. A really good finder can help you stay around schools of suspended bait which is imperative for a good jerkbait day.

You're lucky to have that kind of fishery with all those species close by!

Very good read to get all these opinions. I really support Senko Sam's ideas.... Now here's two interesting and opposing ideas that I received from two Ozarks anglers who has won lots of money in the clear waters of Table Rock Lake. We were discussing the premise that, if indeed, flourocarbon line is invisible to the fish, then why aren't we using heavier lines to avoid break offs... His answer was a new one on me. His response was that fish "can hear the line" and that thicker lines make more noise and therefore spook more bass. Now that's one interesting theory from a sly old veteran that given his stature as an angler, I wan't going to argue with. Good a reason as any to stay with the thinnest diameter one can get away with. The other angler who is perhaps as fine a jig fisherman as I've seen has his theory on fishing clear or dirty water. "I like 25 pound test, I like 3/4 oz. jigs, and that's what I catch fish with. Don't bother me if it's clear or dirty." Refreshingly simple and he is a really good big bass catcher in all colors of water. Both guys are highly successful using baits with lines that they have confidence in. Go figure.

Very good read to get all these opinions. I really support Senko Sam's ideas.... Now here's two interesting and opposing ideas that I received from two Ozarks anglers who has won lots of money in the clear waters of Table Rock Lake. We were discussing the premise that, if indeed, flourocarbon line is invisible to the fish, then why aren't we using heavier lines to avoid break offs... His answer was a new one on me. His response was that fish "can hear the line" and that thicker lines make more noise and therefore spook more bass. Now that's one interesting theory from a sly old veteran that given his stature as an angler, I wan't going to argue with. Good a reason as any to stay with the thinnest diameter one can get away with. The other angler who is perhaps as fine a jig fisherman as I've seen has his theory on fishing clear or dirty water. "I like 25 pound test, I like 3/4 oz. jigs, and that's what I catch fish with. Don't bother me if it's clear or dirty." Refreshingly simple and he is a really good big bass catcher in all colors of water. Both guys are highly successful using baits with lines that they have confidence in. Go figure.

Very good read to get all these opinions. I really support Senko Sam's ideas.... Now here's two interesting and opposing ideas that I received from two Ozarks anglers who has won lots of money in the clear waters of Table Rock Lake. We were discussing the premise that, if indeed, flourocarbon line is invisible to the fish, then why aren't we using heavier lines to avoid break offs... His answer was a new one on me. His response was that fish "can hear the line" and that thicker lines make more noise and therefore spook more bass. Now that's one interesting theory from a sly old veteran that given his stature as an angler, I wan't going to argue with. Good a reason as any to stay with the thinnest diameter one can get away with. The other angler who is perhaps as fine a jig fisherman as I've seen has his theory on fishing clear or dirty water. "I like 25 pound test, I like 3/4 oz. jigs, and that's what I catch fish with. Don't bother me if it's clear or dirty." Refreshingly simple and he is a really good big bass catcher in all colors of water. Both guys are highly successful using baits with lines that they have confidence in. Go figure.

So many variables! So much of what's on the end of your line should be matched to your rod, reel, and line. Before spending a dime, I would check to see if there is a local bass club in your area. Often some of the guys will offer to take you out for a day if possible and get you started learning the seasonal patterns around Grand Rapids. Your lures are simply tools to fit the season and conditions that you find on the water at the time you fish. You can save lots of time, frustration, and dollars by finding willing veteran bass angler(s) in your area to help speed you through the learning curve of lure selection. I would advise you to describe your equipment and when you like to fish before getting into specific lure recommendations. I know some guys with a box full of mismatched, shiny baits that have no more idea what to do with them than most of us would have in stocking a lab for an astrophysicist.

I get a kick out of those who "dress for the part." I usually fish the Pro side of tournaments and just wear sensible, comfortable clothes with no sponsor logos. Often I'm paired with co-anglers who sometimes wear the walking billboard, commercialized garb. At registration, I'm usually addressed as a co-angler, and at the weigh-in area, I often get asked to sign in for my "Pro" partner. By the way, it's pretty well known that the bass bite better for those who are dressed in their tourney dandies.

I get a kick out of those who "dress for the part." I usually fish the Pro side of tournaments and just wear sensible, comfortable clothes with no sponsor logos. Often I'm paired with co-anglers who sometimes wear the walking billboard, commercialized garb. At registration, I'm usually addressed as a co-angler, and at the weigh-in area, I often get asked to sign in for my "Pro" partner. By the way, it's pretty well known that the bass bite better for those who are dressed in their tourney dandies.

I get a kick out of those who "dress for the part." I usually fish the Pro side of tournaments and just wear sensible, comfortable clothes with no sponsor logos. Often I'm paired with co-anglers who sometimes wear the walking billboard, commercialized garb. At registration, I'm usually addressed as a co-angler, and at the weigh-in area, I often get asked to sign in for my "Pro" partner. By the way, it's pretty well known that the bass bite better for those who are dressed in their tourney dandies.

These reproduction models were closed out ( I recall from Norman?) and I guess Cabelas got stuck with a bunch. They discounted them for about $3 each, so I hope you didn't get fooled by these. The smaller size caught more fish for me, but nothing special. They seemed rather ordinary for a balsa lure with no "hunting" movement.

While not familiar with your patricular situation, I fish for winter smallies in the Ozarks streams, and I have determined through 25 years of doing it, there are some absolute truths to catching smallies when the water temps are below 50 degrees. In a nutshell, the bite stays good down to about 41 or 42 degrees. By the time it hits 39 or lower, get a new hobby. If we have from 2-4 feet visibility, we can catch them good, but by the time the vis. is over 6-7 feet, it gets really tough. We can go miles and never see a fish then. I think they go under rocks and rootwads and just don't feed. For catching, we use two groups of lures, the suspending jerkbaits (smaller is better), and hair jigs (smaller is better). All presentations are slow. We glide amd stop the small jig occasionally, and the jerkbait may sit still for 5-10 seconds. Last, the location is always the same (not counting for the spring holes), Fish the deepest and slowest pools in your fishery. Good luck, and maybe some of my learning can transfer to your situation.

I have not done well with the McStick although others have. It was the "go to" jerkbait on Table Rock when first introduced three years ago. Straight out of the package, you may have to weight your bait to get it to suspend, but it does cast very well. The Norman Flake color was the favored color in the clear waters of Table Rock. It has a pretty wide side to side action. I even tired shaving the bill a bit to get more bites, but that didn't work for me either. Always the tinkerer....

George, Your Minnesota waters are a dream to fish usually, but what's the deal with all that river weed clogging up the stretch above Little Falls? In three years, it's made that stretch almost unfishable on the Mississippi. Thanks.

Lots of variables here to decide what size baits to throw for me. Often winter water is clearer in my parts since most of the algae has disappeared turning the waters much clearer. When fishing streams with thrice the visibility as they have in summer, we tend to do better on much smaller lures unless we get a good rain to dirty up the streams. I'll downsize to a jig that looks more like a crappie bait. In larger lakes such as Lake of the Ozarks which cools much more slowly, the preferred prey for really big bass is often large gizzard shad from 6-10 inches long. Those shad tend to come shallow and dote around and feed around the larger chunk rocks esp. with a little wind present. Here a large spinnerbait rolled around the large chunk rock can really produce often in water temps down to 44 degrees. Below that temp the bigger bass tend to follow the shad away from the banks so the jerkbait bite really heats up. With dirtier water, bites do come close to the banks, but with clearer waters often the angler is better paralleling the banks over 10-20 feet of water. Size of the jerkbaits is dictated more by angler choice and casting performance so most guys go with a decent sized 1/2 oz. model for longer casts. In summary, each fishery can fish differently so the angler must adapt accordingly.

Lots of variables here to decide what size baits to throw for me. Often winter water is clearer in my parts since most of the algae has disappeared turning the waters much clearer. When fishing streams with thrice the visibility as they have in summer, we tend to do better on much smaller lures unless we get a good rain to dirty up the streams. I'll downsize to a jig that looks more like a crappie bait. In larger lakes such as Lake of the Ozarks which cools much more slowly, the preferred prey for really big bass is often large gizzard shad from 6-10 inches long. Those shad tend to come shallow and dote around and feed around the larger chunk rocks esp. with a little wind present. Here a large spinnerbait rolled around the large chunk rock can really produce often in water temps down to 44 degrees. Below that temp the bigger bass tend to follow the shad away from the banks so the jerkbait bite really heats up. With dirtier water, bites do come close to the banks, but with clearer waters often the angler is better paralleling the banks over 10-20 feet of water. Size of the jerkbaits is dictated more by angler choice and casting performance so most guys go with a decent sized 1/2 oz. model for longer casts. In summary, each fishery can fish differently so the angler must adapt accordingly.

Lots of variables here to decide what size baits to throw for me. Often winter water is clearer in my parts since most of the algae has disappeared turning the waters much clearer. When fishing streams with thrice the visibility as they have in summer, we tend to do better on much smaller lures unless we get a good rain to dirty up the streams. I'll downsize to a jig that looks more like a crappie bait. In larger lakes such as Lake of the Ozarks which cools much more slowly, the preferred prey for really big bass is often large gizzard shad from 6-10 inches long. Those shad tend to come shallow and dote around and feed around the larger chunk rocks esp. with a little wind present. Here a large spinnerbait rolled around the large chunk rock can really produce often in water temps down to 44 degrees. Below that temp the bigger bass tend to follow the shad away from the banks so the jerkbait bite really heats up. With dirtier water, bites do come close to the banks, but with clearer waters often the angler is better paralleling the banks over 10-20 feet of water. Size of the jerkbaits is dictated more by angler choice and casting performance so most guys go with a decent sized 1/2 oz. model for longer casts. In summary, each fishery can fish differently so the angler must adapt accordingly.

I decided to get back in a limited way for the FLW Tour next year provided I get confirmed in the co-angler division. Anyone else around here doing this? May need a travel partner or just someone to greet at some of the events. Thanks.

Find a cheap, accurate thermometer to check water temperatures and record those temps every time you fish when the temps are under 70. You will see patterns emerge based on this greatest factor of all winter fishing (esp. below 50) since bass are cold blooded. The water temperatures will force prey and bass into certain areas/depths of your local water, and really dictate the speed at often the depth needed to catch them. Every angler who pays attention to water temps in winter is a much better angler than one who guesses. It's that specific. For example I know what methods I can use in 42 degrees that I can't use effectively in 39 degree water based on several decades of getting out there. Lots of warm water fish movement, location, and methods is often done by trial and error, but in winter try using a bit of science to guide you. Learning the winter "curve of activity" is a great worthwhile objective for any young (or even mature) aspiring angler.

Find a cheap, accurate thermometer to check water temperatures and record those temps every time you fish when the temps are under 70. You will see patterns emerge based on this greatest factor of all winter fishing (esp. below 50) since bass are cold blooded. The water temperatures will force prey and bass into certain areas/depths of your local water, and really dictate the speed at often the depth needed to catch them. Every angler who pays attention to water temps in winter is a much better angler than one who guesses. It's that specific. For example I know what methods I can use in 42 degrees that I can't use effectively in 39 degree water based on several decades of getting out there. Lots of warm water fish movement, location, and methods is often done by trial and error, but in winter try using a bit of science to guide you. Learning the winter "curve of activity" is a great worthwhile objective for any young (or even mature) aspiring angler.

Find a cheap, accurate thermometer to check water temperatures and record those temps every time you fish when the temps are under 70. You will see patterns emerge based on this greatest factor of all winter fishing (esp. below 50) since bass are cold blooded. The water temperatures will force prey and bass into certain areas/depths of your local water, and really dictate the speed at often the depth needed to catch them. Every angler who pays attention to water temps in winter is a much better angler than one who guesses. It's that specific. For example I know what methods I can use in 42 degrees that I can't use effectively in 39 degree water based on several decades of getting out there. Lots of warm water fish movement, location, and methods is often done by trial and error, but in winter try using a bit of science to guide you. Learning the winter "curve of activity" is a great worthwhile objective for any young (or even mature) aspiring angler.

Fish all the handpours available, but that Sperfluke with salt in it is the best by far. From Canada to Florida to Texas, the bass agree, (and I have no connection with Zoom whatsoever). Any time the temps get above 60 degrees, it's always one of the top producers when fish are shallow around docks, brush, spawning, or just moving along banks or grass beds. If you're not catching them on this bait, you are probably trying to make it do too much with your retrieve. Let it fall and glide more on the fall. Less rod snapping is definitely better the majority of the time.

From your description of it's orneriness, it sounds like a spot, but it looks a lot more like a largmouth held by the "spotted" angler. I couldn't resist either. Anyway, it was a great catch. Call it what you want. I've seen a lot of redfaced tournament anglers here in MO trying to weigh in sublegal largemouths posing as 13 in. legal spots. Talk about embarrassing! And you'd think tourney anglers would know....

From your description of it's orneriness, it sounds like a spot, but it looks a lot more like a largmouth held by the "spotted" angler. I couldn't resist either. Anyway, it was a great catch. Call it what you want. I've seen a lot of redfaced tournament anglers here in MO trying to weigh in sublegal largemouths posing as 13 in. legal spots. Talk about embarrassing! And you'd think tourney anglers would know....

From your description of it's orneriness, it sounds like a spot, but it looks a lot more like a largmouth held by the "spotted" angler. I couldn't resist either. Anyway, it was a great catch. Call it what you want. I've seen a lot of redfaced tournament anglers here in MO trying to weigh in sublegal largemouths posing as 13 in. legal spots. Talk about embarrassing! And you'd think tourney anglers would know....

I remember that Billy Westmoreland advertised, and of course, used that bass magnet on his show. I think Norman lures got involved with it. Could be wrong though. Yes, Luhr Jensen began to buy out some other small companies like Ozark Mouintain and South Bend who made both the Bass Oreno and the Nippididee. My first Bass Boat was a tin one with stick steering too. Back in the 80'ss and 90's nearly every worm had a curl tail on it. We thought a straight tailed worm was worthless. We sorta changed our minds, eh? I've still got some bags of worms from the 70's and the plastic is so tough one could shoe a horse with them. Little Georges, anyone?