Bass Fishing Dec 2020 - Jan 2021 | Page 50

WINTERTIME STRATEGIES FOR CATCHING BIG SPOTTED BASS
LURE SELECTION
So far , Meyer ’ s and Connell ’ s approaches can be considered similar with some subtle differences , but when it comes to lure selection , they ’ re polar opposites in how they approach winter spotted bass . Meyer goes with finesse and Connell sticks with power fishing .
“ Everyone thinks spotted bass and light line with spinning gear , but that ’ s now how it is on the Coosa ,” Connell says . “ I ’ m either using a jig or spinnerbait with 20-pound test or fishing a jerkbait with 15-pound test during the winter months .”
Connell goes with a 1 / 2-ounce jig to target crawfish eaters and switches to a big spinnerbait or jerkbait when he ’ s after bass eating shad .
“ You can also throw swimbaits for them , or an Alabama rig is always good when it gets cold ,” he says . “ If I had to pick , I ’ d say a jig and a jerkbait or spinnerbait are the best ways to catch big spotted bass during the winter in Alabama .”
Meyer goes with finesse and soft plastics this time of year .
“ It doesn ’ t even match what they ’ re eating , but it ’ s the best way to target the fish ,” he says . “ I ’ ll use a small finesse swimbait or a wackyrigged soft plastic because you can fish it through the water column where the fish are . They ’ ll rarely go to the bottom to feed , and spend most of their time suspended .”
While Meyer typically uses light line and a spinning rod , he does have a trick up his sleeve that has to do with a giant swimbait .
“ I ’ ll fish a really big swimbait just to locate the fish ,” Meyer explains . “ You ’ ll rarely get one to bite it , but since they ’ re so curious , they ’ ll follow the bait in . Once you know where they are , it makes it easier to come back with a finesse bait and catch them .”
Catching a big spotted bass in the winter can be boiled down to finding the right location and making sure baitfish are present . Those two keys are the biggest pieces of the puzzle , no matter where you live , from California to Alabama and everywhere in between .
FINESSE
VS
POWER FISHING
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