TAKEOFF
IN SEASON
seasonal tips and tricks
By Paul Strege other odds and ends
” TRAP DITCHES FOR WINTER BASS ” flW tour pro Joseph Webster ’ s favorite wintertime pattern is ripping Rat-ltraps through ditches in southern reservoirs .
“ fish are always positioned near the mouths of the ditches and will move up into those areas when the water warms ,” he explains . “ those ditches can be anywhere from 4 to 10 feet deep . the grass stays pretty green year-round because the pools are drawn down to lower levels in winter where sunlight can reach the grass . those weeds help to filter the water while the ditch provides a current break .” Webster throws a 1 / 2-ounce trap shallower than 6 feet and a 3 / 4-ounce model in deeper water . “ the heavier size allows you to maintain a fast retrieve . You are looking for a reaction bite , regardless of the depth .”
Pro choIce : Go-to WInter baIts
1 . bradley dortch Jenko Fishing Persues 110 Suspending Jerkbait “ it ’ s a killer bait ; a great alternative to a jigging spoon . i like to throw the chartreuse and orange colors in dirtier water , and shad patterns when the water is clearer .”
thIs or that
travis fox , 2017 forrest Wood cup runner-up , shares his selection process for his two favorite wintertime baits : the Rapala shad Rap crankbait and Rapala shadow Rap jerkbait .
|
shad rap |
shadow rap |
Weather : |
Warming trend |
high winds |
Forage : |
Baitfish in the shallows |
Baitfish offshore |
Cover / location : Main lake , creeks , sloping banks |
Main lake , deep drops , channels |
Shadow Rap
Shad Rap
2 . andrew upshaw 1 / 2-ounce Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap “ i always have at least one tied on throughout winter . the tight wobble gets a reaction bite regardless of the conditions . any of the red patterns like Rayburn red are dynamite in the months of January and february .”
home fIeLd advantaGe ? no doubt florida anglers have insight into the quirky behavior of florida-strain largemouth bass , but does that experience translate into tournament wins ? Will a florida pro win again on okeechobee when the costa flW series season kicks off on Jan . 4 , or at the flW tour opener on the same pond Jan . 25 ? here ’ s what the numbers have to say .
BREAKDOWN OF WINS IN FLORIDA BY STATE OF RESIDENCE |
|
FLW |
FLW Series |
Costa FLW Series |
|
|
Tour |
Eastern |
Southeastern |
Total |
Wins by Floridian |
3 |
3 |
9 |
15 |
Wins by Out-of-Stater * |
11 |
1 |
7 |
19 |
Winning Percentage |
|
|
|
|
By Floridian |
21.42 % |
75 % |
56.25 % |
44.11 % |
* Randall Tharp and Tom Mann Jr . have each won in Florida at a time when they spent a significant amount of their offseason in Florida , but were not Florida residents . Tharp now lives in Florida , and Mann guides on Okeechobee . Bradley Dortch lived in Florida for a spell before he won there , but he was living in Alabama at the time of his win .
3 . shane Lehew Shane ’ s Baits Blades of Glory “ fish typically feed on shad in the winter , and the [ umbrella ] rig is a great imitator . it has nine arms , which give it a large profile . i like to rig it with smaller 3- inch swimbaits .”
16 fLWfIshInG . com I january 2018