Fishing Cold Water Crankbaits For Big Winter Bass

Come along for a fun day chasing Cold Water Bass! The plan is to throw a Ned Rig, Jig, Dark Sleeper, and Crankbait. It doesn't take long before BIG bass start coming in the boat! Winter bass fishing doesn't have to be tough, let us show you the tricks along the way that will make all the difference. If you understand where the fish position in Winter and how to trigger a feed response, Winter bass fishing becomes a lot more fun! 

At the start of the day the plan was to use slow bottom contact baits to catch the majority of fish then try to get a bigger bite on a crankbait. It became apparent very quickly that the "traditional" methods of Winter fishing simply were not working. The bass were completely shut down and uninterested in biting. These are some of the best conditions for the crankbait because it does not rely on the bass' desire to feed, instead triggering a core reaction response. 

While many of the baits Matt threw didn't work well on this day, they are all proven producers in the Winter months so we've linked them all below. Additionally, we've included a detailed list of the potential "cold water crankbaits" that we have confidence in so that you can start cold water cranking right away if that is a technique you'd like to try. The Tactical Crankbait is backordered into March but it would still advisable to get in line if that is a bait you would like to try this coming season. 

Today's Baits... 

-River2Sea Tactical DD 75 Crankbait: http://bit.ly/37dclbX

(Ghost Minnow, Mirrored Minnow, DD Minnow)

-Megabass Dark Sleeper 3" 1/2 oz: http://bit.ly/2TyR1GT

(Donko, Wakasagi)

-Dirty Jigs Finesse Football 1/2 oz: http://bit.ly/2d2apsm

(Supermatt Brown)

-Yamamoto 5" Double Tail Grub: http://bit.ly/2db9w1p

(Cinnamon Black and Purple Flake)

-Roboworm Ned Worm 3": http://bit.ly/2j9F0Xy

(Oxblood Light Red Flake, Peoples Worm)

-Swagger Tungsten 3/16 oz: http://bit.ly/2KcIB6M

Other Cold Water Crankbaits... 

-Megabass Deep Six: http://bit.ly/2A3clKP

-Megabass Deep X 300: http://bit.ly/2sSQHpt

-Spro RK Crawler 55: http://bit.ly/2NFPA5t

-6th Sense Curve 55: http://bit.ly/37hZ1TD

Matt's Crankbait Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 906 CBR: http://bit.ly/2og0BmK

Reel- Shimano Bantam MGL HG: http://bit.ly/2H44yjG

Line- 12 lb Sunline Assassin: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

Budget Cranking Combo... 

Rod- Fury 7' Medium Heavy Cranking: http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

Reel- Shimano SLX HG: http://bit.ly/2NfdOnk

Line- Sunline Assassin 12 lb: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

Bass Fishing: Top 10 baits of 2019

In 2019 we fished more than 25 states and 3 countries. We had the opportunity to test lures against bass in every situation imaginable! During our travels a handful of baits stood out from the rest. These lures were the true "best of the best". They caught numbers of quality fish everywhere we went but they also caught the BIG bass we all dream of catching. 

When traveling everything familiar fades away. You know longer have "spots" to fish. You rely 100% on clues given by the fish to develop patterns. In addition to developing patterns on the water, patterns in the gear will emerge as well. By the time our 2 month road trip around the country ended, a handful of baits had proven themselves from coast to coast. Add in a few catches North and South of the border this Spring and Fall and its easy to identify this year's Top 10 Baits for consistently catching bass.

Below is a breakdown of the baits (in order of appearance) along with a few color recommendations for each lure. If you're looking for baits that you can trust to consistently get bit regardless of where you fish, look no further than this list. 

The baits... 

-6th Sense Mini Mag Squarebill: http://bit.ly/31KGyeC

(Ghost Threadfin Shad, Ghost Shad Scales)

-Megabass 3" Dark Sleeper: http://bit.ly/2TyR1GT

(Haze, Donko, Wakasagi)

-Blade Runner 1 3/4 oz Duh Spoon: http://bit.ly/2aKVLlG

(Morning Dawn, Electric Chicken)

-River2Sea 1/2 oz Bling Spinnerbait: http://bit.ly/2diSwqq

(Abalone Shad, I Know It, Iced)

-Jackall Kaera Frog: http://bit.ly/2Fz6SA3

(Glitter Bluegill, Glitter Hasu, White)

-Big Bite Baits Smallie smasher: http://bit.ly/2ZpCOCY

(Green Pumpkin Org Blk Purp Prl Bl, Smoke Purple Flake)

-Keitech 4.8 Swing Impact Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

(Electric Shad, Pro Blue Red Pearl, Tennessee Shad)

-River2Sea S-Waver 168: http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

(Light Trout, Warden Hitch, Bluegill)

-Yamamoto 5” Senko: http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

(Green Pumpkin Blk Flk, Watermelon/Green Pumpkin, Natural Shad)

-Dirty Jigs 3/8 oz Finesse Jig: http://bit.ly/2eJinXo

(Supermatt Brown, Go To, Brown Craw)

Winter Fishing for Bull Bluegill

We're chasing giant bluegill today! We usually focus on bass fishing but at the end of the day, we just love catching fish! During the Winter months, giant Bull Bluegill gather with the other predators and gorge on baitfish. These extraordinary fish are often overlooked but are amazing fighters and a worthy adversary on a cold Winter day. If you're tired of struggling this Winter, take a day off and  let us show you how to chase these amazing fish.

Bass fisherman often fall into the trap of only fishing for bass. While we don't recommend fishing for every tiny little fish that swims, branching out a little can be very healthy. These mental breaks help us to refocus before Spring arrives. Bluegill are a perfect candidate because they're plentiful all over the country and with relatively little effort you can learn to find the GIANTS. It doesn't matter what species it is, when you're catching some of the biggest, its going to be a good time. 

Fishing for oversized bluegill requires no specialized equipment. As a bass fisherman, your lightest dropshot or ned rig rods should be just fine. Carry a few downsized baits (we linked our favorites below) and be prepared for a suprisingly powerful fight. As soon as conditions allow, get back to bass fishing but don't hesitate to take a break and enjoy the plentiful fishing that is around you this Winter. 

The baits... 

-Kastmaster 1/4 oz: http://bit.ly/2PtUwi3

-Damiki Vault 1/4 oz: http://bit.ly/2rnO7e2

-Spro Phat Fly 1/16 oz: http://bit.ly/2mboisG

-Keitech 2.8" Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

-Dirty Jigs Guppy Head 1/8 oz: http://bit.ly/2nyUJRS

Matt's Combo... 

Rod-  Zodias 6'8" Medium Light: http://bit.ly/2jOUXAO

Reel- Shimano Stradic CI4+ 1000: http://bit.ly/2gu84t7

Line- Sunline Sniper 4 lb: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Budget Combo... 

Rod- Daiwa Aird-X 7' Medium Light: http://bit.ly/2P7Z3Vu

Reel- Shimano Sedona FI: http://bit.ly/2wgh50Z

Line- Maxima Ultragreen 5 lb: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Buyer's Guide: Ned Rig Baits and Tricks For All Seasons

The ned rig is one of the most effective lures ever created for bass fishing! Its fish catching power rivals the senko, chatterbait, and whopper plopper. You may not catch the biggest bass of your life with a ned rig but you're sure to catch a few fish when you pick it up. Its so effective in fact that it deserved a dedicated buyer's guide. Today we're simplifying Ned Rig fishing with a look at some of our favorite baits, hooks, and equipment.

The Ned Rig has been around a few years now but it exploded in 2019! Virtually every major brand in bass fishing introduced a "ned" worm or creature of some kind at ICAST. With all of the worms, creatures, craws, and heads on the market its hard to know which ones are worth the time. Today's buyer's guide is geared at simplifying the whole mess so that when you're on the water, you know you're throwing your best option. 

Below is a breakdown of the baits, hooks, and equipment Tim recommends for fishing the Ned Rig. Because this is a buyer's guide every product includes a link to the exact bait on Tackle Warehouse where you can see close up pictures, information, and color samples. In addition to the link we've included Tim's favorite color choices for each worm.  

Tim's Favorite Combo #1... 

Rod- Megabass Destroyer Flyssa: http://bit.ly/2B7NyFj

Reel- Shimano Exsence 3000: http://bit.ly/2iMtscV

Line- Power Pro 10 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Leader- Sunline Sniper 5 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Tim's Favorite Combo #2... 

Rod- G Loomis Conquest 902: http://bit.ly/2BiGUNi

Reel- Shimano Stella 2500: http://bit.ly/2U8Pkzg

Line- Power Pro 10 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Leader- Sunline Sniper 5 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Budget Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Intenza 7'6" Light: http://bit.ly/2s7kaQn

Reel- Shimano Nasci 2500: http://bit.ly/2g278cC

Line- Sniper Fluorocarbon 6 lb: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Ned Rig Baits... 

-Z Man Finesse T.R.D: http://bit.ly/2hs4RtR

(Green Pumpkin, Green Pumpkin Goby, Meat Dog)

-Z Man TRD BugZ: http://bit.ly/2oiavEE

(Canada Craw, Mud Bug, California Craw)

-Z Man TicklerZ: http://bit.ly/2mGyDAC

(Canada Craw, Green Pumpkin, Sprayed Grass)

-Robo Ned Worm: http://bit.ly/2j9F0Xy

(Desert Craw, TW Black Blue Pumpkin)

-Missile Baits Ned Bomb: http://bit.ly/2XCOGwd

(Fishalicious, Super Bug, Green Pumpkin)

-XZone Ned Zone Stick: http://bit.ly/2mRiYhF

(309, Green Pumpkin Purple, Minnow Magic)

Ned Heads... 

-Swagger Tungsten Flanders Head: http://bit.ly/2KcIB6M

-Owner Block Head Jighead: http://bit.ly/2qL0A8n

-Z Man HD Lockz: http://bit.ly/2kIgRYK