pressured lakes...1/2 oz dragged on the bottom the way to go?

dragged hopped bounced and every other way to fish a jig!

Jeff

You seem to be searching for a silver bullet that will catch fish. You keep saying, "pressured lakes." Everywhere we fish is pressured. I dare say some of my local water, more so. One of the easiest lakes to fish locally, has a tournament just about every day throughout the season. I think you need to rethink how you are going about learning your water.

You could get 20 replies from well known members with a lot of integrity tell that dragging a 1/2 oz. jig will definitely get the job done. Or something else. What happens when it doesn't? What will you try then? What if you get 20 different baits, and none work? That's your starting point. Learn what locations the bass are holding in winter, and use a bait that gets to the fish. The silver bullet will be time on the water, and trial and error.

You seem to be searching for a silver bullet that will catch fish. You keep saying, "pressured lakes." Everywhere we fish is pressured. I dare say some of my local water, more so. One of the easiest lakes to fish locally, has a tournament just about every day throughout the season. I think you need to rethink how you are going about learning your water.

You could get 20 replies from well known members with a lot of integrity tell that dragging a 1/2 oz. jig will definitely get the job done. Or something else. What happens when it doesn't? What will you try then? What if you get 20 different baits, and none work? That's your starting point. Learn what locations the bass are holding in winter, and use a bait that gets to the fish. The silver bullet will be time on the water, and trial and error.

Perfectly worded

X3, plus there is no way one bait will work the best all the time. A jig is fine, but I wouldn't limit myself to 1/2. 1/8 and 1/4 work well in winter also. As do susp jerkbaits, grubs, hair jigs and silver buddies.

I'm gonna give you some of the best advice that I have. It's based on over 20 years personal experience and sadly it took me about 10 of those years to get-a-hold-of my own advice....If the lake you're fishing is so "pressured" that it is giving you frustration problems in finding and catching fish, then find a body of water (slough, pond, smaller lake, etc.) that's not so "pressured" and start catching instead of fishing.

You all keep talking about jigging but I have found the hokie-pokie to works just as well.

I have to drill a hole in the ice to get to my winter bass. Soooooooooooo no comment.