I am frequently asked, “Is it a waist of time fishing for bass when the water is freezing cold?”
Being a
Socratic teacher I answer their question with this question. “Do you
have any buddies?”
I’m not talking about friends, pals, or chums. I’m talking about plain and simple blade baits. You know, that lure you thought might work once in a million years. The one you throw a couple times in the middle of the summer that does nothing but catch weeds. I have a secret! Blade baits are awsome when the water is frigidly cold. I recently went to a Northern Lake and absolutely whacked largemouth and smallmouth using silver buddies.
The blade bait is one of the most effective cold water lures but only if your using the correct technique. Blade baits aren’t simple cast and crank lures. A “YO-YO” retrieve is the best way to make a cold bass aggressive enough to strike. First, cast the lure out as far as you like. Then let it sink all the way to the bottom. On a tight line pull the lure about 2 ft off the bottom and let it flutter back to the bottom. The idea is to make the lure look like a wounded minnow fighting for its life. Continue this retrieve until the lure is back to the boat. Strikes usually occur when the lure is falling back to the bottom.
Like any
lure its not always how you’re fishing it but where. In
natural lakes when the water is extremely cold do you think the bass
are going to be under docks in shallow water? Or
will they be holding on the inside turns of wind blown drop offs, in
15-30 ft of water. If you picked choice two then
you’re right on the money. Wind blown, inside
turns, in 15-30 ft of water are prime areas to throw blade baits.
The absolute money spot is a wind blown
inside turn, with scattered weeds, that is adjacent to spawning habitat.
Use your electronics to locate these areas. My
goodness, the bass will stack up!!!!!!
When I’m blade baiting I tie it on a 7 ft medium heavy action G-Loomis Cranking Rod. Its soft tip absorbs the aggressive strikes and it has enough backbone to pull bass out of deep water. I line my Shimano Curado bait casting reel with 12 lb Gamma Edge Fluorocarbon. It is incredibly important to use good fluorocarbon to optimize your strike potential in bone chilling water.
Blade baits are one of the most productive lures to fish during cold water periods. Fished in the right spots using the correct technique blade baits are tough to beat. Have fun fishing, and take your buddies.