Page 17 - ODUNovAndDec2018

have tagged a bass when the crappie slack off. In fact, it always seems like if you

are into bass there are very few to no bluegill and crappie caught.

If fishing for bass plan on tagging some larger crappie. The two go hand in hand
with the lures that I use for bass. I’ve caught a lot of bass on the smaller Custom
Jigs & Spins Ratfinkee, Demon, Ratso, Gill Pill and Diamond Jig, but there are
others that I use when targeting the species.

I will use basically 3 Custom Jigs & Spins lures when fishing strictly for bass.

These are the Pro-Glow Slender Spoon (my favorite-picture to the right), RPM
(Rotating Power Minnow-pictured below), and Striper Special. I will also tip the
Striper Special and Slender Spoon with a Crappie Nibble and/or wax worm.
There are other lures that can be used, but these have proven to be my best.
You need something with a large enough hook, but not too large as fish don’t
feed on large offerings at this time of the year.

This season I plan on using a Natural Forage Baits T-Shad with a small B-Fish-N
Precision H20 jig head, which is a soft plastic lure mainly for crappie, but through
the ice it should work for bass as well.

I’ll give all of these lures an application of Kick’N Crappie. For some reason I’ve
found this scent of Kick’N Bass Attractants to work the best through the ice. It
has been reported that the saltwater scent of shrimp also works well.

Locations that hold bass are fairly much the same, as you would fish in open water. Depending on the
weather, even shallow weeds and brush will sometimes hold a few bass. Points, deep brush piles off of
drop-offs, islands, old creek beds, and weed lines are all good holding areas.

I’ve also noticed that bass tend to hit
better towards the end of ice season, but

not during the very late times when spider
holes are opening, and water is running
into them.

Even ice clarity will help produce bass and
crappie. When there is very little to no
snow cover, I’ve fished on the edge and
middle of white “milky” ice, where it is

surrounded by clear ice. I think the fish are
holding under these areas because of light
and using them for ambush areas. It is
better yet if there is a weed bed under this
milky area.