Seasons come, and seasons go, but don’t rule November and December out when it comes to bass fishing. In fact, this month has got to be one of my best months when it comes to catching obese largemouths. Typically I don’t catch a lot of fish, but there is always a good chance I will land a solid eight pounder or two.
Dressing for the occasion is highly recommended and will actually increase your odds of having a good day. Let’s face it, when you are cold, you are miserable. When you are miserable, it’s impossible to give it 100%. I keep my dome and face completely covered, and wear my Costa Sunglasses to keep the wind and sun out of my eyes. Multiple layers are the name of the game. You can always take it off, but if you don’t have it, you will suffer. Now that I have that out of the way, let’s talk fishing.
The first mistake most anglers make this month is assuming they have to slow their presentations down to a sloooow crawl in order to get a bite. Wrong, on more than one occasion I have actually caught bass on a buzzbait in November. Thus proving, nothing is certain in the world of bass. Perplexing and frustrating can be the mood of a fish, so indeed there are times when that slow methodical approach may be your best bet. However, please don’t rule out the option of a good old reaction strike. Allow me to provide you with another example. Last November 20th I was out fishing with my buddy John. He is a great angler and we have boated countless bass together as well as a couple that most would have hung on the wall. When we shoved off that morning I saw that both of us had on a jig, plastic creature baits, and a spinning rod set up for shakey heads. The difference was that I had a reaction bait on one rod. When we pulled up to our first spot, a main lake point that had a lot of scattered rocks on it, John reached for his jig.
There was certainly nothing wrong with his choice, and that was in fact to be my second option. However, when the water temperatures hover in the 45 to 55 degree range, I never discount a rattle trap. Also, during the late fall and early winter we generally witness a shad die off that makes this lipless bait a great choice. Because I am trying to imitate an injured or dying shad, I need the bait to fall through the water column without “tumbling”, or spinning. Certain baits possess certain qualities, and the Strike King Red Eye Shad has the unique ability to fall straight down on a slack line. I love the jumbo XCalibur lipless baits in the spring, but Mr. Red Eye owns the fall and winter in my opinion. So as John inched and hopped his jig along the bottom, I started launching my ¾ oz lipless bait down and across the point.
Within three casts I missed one and boated one. My fourth fish on that point though was what made John rethink his strategy. A lovely fish pushing eight pounds engulfed my Red Eye Shad and nearly had me requesting a courtesy net job.
Location is certainly a critical factor any time of the year, but I pay strict attention to steep points, humps, creek channels, and sharp banks associated with deep water. My technique for the lipless bait this time of year is simple. Cast it out, let it sink to the desired level, and begin a lift and wind retrieve. You raise the rod tip, and then wind in the slack as you drop your rod tip back down. Now you see why it is imperative to have a lure that falls true. That bait is free falling when you drop the rod tip and represents an injured, easy meal that predators are hard wired to attack. I guarantee most of your strikes will occur on the fall so be aware and be ready. If you feel any weight on the end of your line when you raise the rod tip…..SWING!!
Word to the wise, when you are messing with a bunch of treble hooks it’s always a good idea to use a rod with a forgiving tip, coupled with a moderate action. I also use a 10 bearing 6.7 ounce Revo Premier high speed reel to pick up that slack line in a hurry.
Remember, versatility and an open mind is invaluable when it comes to the success of any angler. Example = I have used the same Yo-Yo technique described above to catch heavy, lethargic bass on swimbaits and spinnerbaits during the winter. I am not advising you to abandon your favorite baits or techniques; I am merely throwing options into the equation that have worked for me in the past. I still rely heavily on jigs, soft plastics, and I won’t hesitate to drop a spoon if I just want to have some fun. In fact, I will not leave home this winter without a bag of 6” Lake Fork Ring Fries. I have caught too many big bass on these bait to chalk it up as coincidence or luck. We all have our favorites, but if you rule out moving baits too early, you may be missing out on a real rod bending experience.
Chris Jenkins email sowbelly.hunter@yahoo.com.