Big Fish Time of Year

Winter is a special time of year for catching massive fish; there is no time of the year that compares to winter fishing when you are hunting for size, and the one thing you should know is that the size of your bait matters. As winter slowly moves forward bass bulk up as the spawn nears and gain several lbs., they gain weight as they get ready to lay their eggs. If you are that person that wants a chance at a trophy fish, you must adjust your baits and go to big baits to do it. Baits like 7-inch swimbaits, ¾ oz. jigs with large trailers that give the jig a bulky look; even ¾ to 1 oz. spinnerbaits with large willow leaf blades will produce that big bite.

The thing many anglers do not realize is that slow lethargic large bass picks their prey and the bigger the better as their feeding is very selective and large presentations entice that gigantic fish. I know you all have heard that saying that this time of year (winter) you are fishing for a few bites; this is true so if the bites are limited to just a few then the presentation of large bait becomes even more important. Size does matter; bass are selective, they want slow-moving baits, easy prey, and that large presentation as they can lead you to that 30-pound sack we all hunt in winter fishing.

Some of the baits I like with large profiles are ¾ to 1 oz. Spinnerbaits that have big willow leaf blades that get to the bottom easily and become a great large profile bait to slow roll on the bottom this time of year. I also like ¾ oz. football jig you combine that with a D-bomb trailer it will produce big bites with this jig as it really entices those big females. Do not underestimate the power of a big swimbait, some of those expensive large swimbaits worked slowly along the bottom can become your best friend; these baits can be expensive, but wintertime proves their worth.

Big baits produce gigantic fish, and you will have a great on the water; you just must get on the water to prove it!