Winter Lures 2025
roadwarrior reply :
From the Home Page:
https://www.bassresource.com/fishing/5-baits-winter.html
WRB reply :
Timely article that is in step with Bassmaster Jan/Fed and B.A.S.S. Times articles making the same or very similar lure suggestions, good article and it's free.
The common theme being medium diving crankbaits and jerk baits fished more aggressively and stating myths that cold water bass preferring slow presentations.
I couldn't disagree more, not with the lure suggestions but cold water slows the cold blooded predator down. The bass don't need to eat as often and usually unwilling to chase down fast moving steady paced lures like crankbaits. Bass are predators and will react to lures close to them, better off with a stop, pause and go retrieve IMO.
What all these articles over looked was swimbaits, not the A-rig swimmers, but the slow swimming Huddleston's. My guess is the swimbaits don't fit the more aggressive scenario being presented.
My old school lure selections; jig n pig (real pig), shaking big 9" straight tail worms Brass n glass T-rigged, 68 & 8" Hudds, ice jigs/structure spoon and drop shot finesse worms. When the water gets into the mid 50's I put away the ice jigs/ spoons and add the A-rig and deep diving crankbaits, for pre spawn.
The lure I am missing are jerk baits, need to consider them more often.
Tom
Bankbeater reply :
I use the first four, but I like a lipless crankbait instead of an A-rig.
BassWhole! reply :
In really cold water my best baits are blade bait, jerkbait, marabou/feather jig. If those don't work it's live bait, if that doesn't work it's hot chocolate and a movie. Once h2o temp gets into the 40s a lipless, crank, plastic or spinnerbait might get the nod at times.
Catt reply :
On 1/21/2019 at 12:12 AM, WRB said:The bass don't need to eat as often and usually unwilling to chase down fast moving steady paced lures like crankbaits
Explain to me why Rat-L-Traps are so deadly in cold water?
The only lure I would add to that list would be Lipless Crankbaits.
BassWhole! reply :
On 1/21/2019 at 11:55 PM, Catt said:
Explain to me why Rat-L-Traps are so deadly in cold water?
The only lure I would add to that list would be Lipless Crankbaits.
Lipless were not on a cold water lure list? That's just silliness.
Crestliner2008 reply :
I'll go one better. The blade bait. Folks tell me they are just for smallies. I disagree. Any bass, on structure, in cold water will hit blades.
TnRiver46 reply :
On 1/21/2019 at 11:55 PM, Catt said:
Explain to me why Rat-L-Traps are so deadly in cold water?
The only lure I would add to that list would be Lipless Crankbaits.
It's easy: it looks like shad they key in on during winter
the reel ess reply :
On 1/21/2019 at 11:55 PM, Catt said:
Explain to me why Rat-L-Traps are so deadly in cold water?
The only lure I would add to that list would be Lipless Crankbaits.
It's my #1 cold water lure.
Catt reply :
Kinda makes ya think they hiding something ????
WRB reply :
Lipless May come under medium running crankbaits? I use them mostly in cold water for verticals presentations, casting and letting it fall to the bottom and jig them like a structure spoon in lieu of cranking them.
Tom
Tizi reply :
ned rig and drop shot
Mobasser reply :
What about a tailspinner? Little George or similar?
TnRiver46 reply :
On 1/22/2019 at 8:13 AM, Mobasser said:What about a tailspinner? Little George or similar?
Those are good! My buddy always catches smallies with them when I am catching with a blade bait
Crestliner2008 reply :
On 1/22/2019 at 8:13 AM, Mobasser said:What about a tailspinner? Little George or similar?
The problem I have with tail spinners are that they tend to hang up a lot. I believe this is due to the large trebles in relation to the body size. But I could be wrong. In any case any blade bait will work just as well. Especially if you replace both trebles with one single inline hook on the rear hanger. And it will hang up less and make CPR easier. JMO. 
FCPhil reply :
On 1/21/2019 at 11:55 PM, Catt said:
Explain to me why Rat-L-Traps are so deadly in cold water?
The only lure I would add to that list would be Lipless Crankbaits.
On 1/22/2019 at 12:02 AM, reason said:Lipless were not on a cold water lure list? That's just silliness.
When you guys talk about lipless working well in cold water, does that go for really cold water, like the pond is partially frozen cold?
I have been been trying to figure out how to catch them at a small pond that freezes and thaws throughout the winter while other ponds stay frozen the whole time. Been thinking about trying a lipless.
How would you retrieve them?
TnRiver46 reply :
On 1/23/2019 at 12:42 AM, FCPhil said:
When you guys talk about lipless working well in cold water, does that go for really cold water, like the pond is partially frozen cold?
I have been been trying to figure out how to catch them at a small pond that freezes and thaws throughout the winter while other ponds stay frozen the whole time. Been thinking about trying a lipless.
How would you retrieve them?
On bottom. Im guessing in water that cold sweedish pimple and waxworm might work better
FCPhil reply :
On 1/23/2019 at 12:47 AM, TnRiver46 said:On bottom. Im guessing in water that cold sweedish pimple and waxworm might work better
Hopping a lipless along the bottom like a jig?
TnRiver46 reply :
On 1/23/2019 at 12:50 AM, FCPhil said:Hopping a lipless along the bottom like a jig?
Yes. They eat it when it's sinking. Got the one in my avatar that way this December. Water was 50 tho
FCPhil reply :
On 1/23/2019 at 12:56 AM, TnRiver46 said:Yes. They eat it when it's sinking. Got the one in my avatar that way this December. Water was 50 tho
Thanks, I’ll have to give it a try. I have a slow-sinking (supposed to suspend but it doesn’t) lipless should let me fish it extra slow if needed.
Catt reply :
On 1/23/2019 at 12:42 AM, FCPhil said:
When you guys talk about lipless working well in cold water, does that go for really cold water, like the pond is partially frozen cold?
I have been been trying to figure out how to catch them at a small pond that freezes and thaws throughout the winter while other ponds stay frozen the whole time. Been thinking about trying a lipless.
How would you retrieve them?
Couldn't tell ya it doesn't get that cold down here!
Low to mid 40s, occasionally upper 30s.
Retrieves are burning it under the surface, ripping it through grass, ricocheting em off stumps, & weaving em through brush.
Pretty much like a spinnerbait ????
Paul Roberts reply :
On 1/21/2019 at 11:55 PM, Catt said:
Explain to me why Rat-L-Traps are so deadly in cold water?
The only lure I would add to that list would be Lipless Crankbaits.
How cold? How fast? We run the gamut on this site, from the far N to the far S, from shad to bluegills, to perch. Curious, as always.
On 1/22/2019 at 12:03 AM, TnRiver46 said:It's easy: it looks like shad they key in on during winter
I'll add to that... weakened, or even dying, shad.
On 1/23/2019 at 12:42 AM, FCPhil said:
When you guys talk about lipless working well in cold water, does that go for really cold water, like the pond is partially frozen cold?
I have been been trying to figure out how to catch them at a small pond that freezes and thaws throughout the winter while other ponds stay frozen the whole time. Been thinking about trying a lipless.
How would you retrieve them?
In a half-frozen pond I've been using slow-sink blades and lipless, yo-yo'd. And let lay on bottom for a spell. Most consistent for me has been in early winter (just prior to first ice), although @Team9nine seems to be pretty consistent with tiny (light-weight) bladebaits in mid-winter. (But possibly not in all water bodies -maybe he'll chime in). He's at the same latitude as we are, but lower in elevation. Water conditions seems to be darn close though. I've been collecting up tiny blades, and small light lipless, to put to work. However, my waters have been iced, and when there've been breaks, I'm steeped in video editing. Looks like I'll have to catch it on the next go-round. If you find something, lemme know!
My half-frozen GoTo's are a hair jig, and a grub (Ned). They too seem to entice fish when fished nearly dead, sometimes dead. I can't seem to be able to get them to chase. I've even video'd them and they look like they are swimming through molasses, and pretty much are at 37-38F water.
Horizontal lipless picks up here as water warms in spring. It can get silly in early summer, and again in early-mid fall.
FCPhil reply :
On 1/23/2019 at 1:43 AM, Paul Roberts said:How cold? How fast? We run the gamut on this site, from the far N to the far S, from shad to bluegills, to perch. Curious, as always.
I'll add to that... weakened, or even dying, shad.
In a half-frozen pond I've been using slow-sink baits, yo-yo'd. And let lay on bottom for a spell. Most consistent for me has been in early winter (just prior to first ice), although @Team9nine seems to be pretty consistent with tiny (light-weight) bladebaits in mid-winter. He's at the same latitude as we are, but lower in elevation. Water conditions seems to be darn close though. I've been collecting up tiny blades, and small light lipless, to put to work. However, my waters have been iced, and when there've been breaks, I'm steeped in video editing. Looks like I'll have to catch it on the next go-round. If you find something, lemme know!
Horizontal lipless picks up here as water warms in spring. It can get silly in early summer, and again in early-mid fall.
Given what you said, you might want to look at the Ima Suspending Lipless Crankbait. I purchased one recently and mine sinks slowly, about as fast as a weightless worm.
It’s just a little smaller than average from what I have seen of lipless crankbaits.
BassWhole! reply :
On 1/23/2019 at 12:42 AM, FCPhil said:
When you guys talk about lipless working well in cold water, does that go for really cold water, like the pond is partially frozen cold?
I have been been trying to figure out how to catch them at a small pond that freezes and thaws throughout the winter while other ponds stay frozen the whole time. Been thinking about trying a lipless.
How would you retrieve them?
I like to have a mostly vertical presentation, but yoyoing it back near the bottom on a cast can work. Don't forget, cold water bass will often be bunched together, and can be seen on the FF so there shouldn't be much if any searching with the bait. Also I have a self imposed 6 shakes with lipless and blade baits, often more is a turn off for them. When the water gets really cold, I'll favor the blade over the lipless.
Paul Roberts reply :
On 1/23/2019 at 1:49 AM, FCPhil said:Ima Suspending Lipless Crankbait
Thanks, Phil. I picked up a couple of those last spring. I got them for fishing around vegetation in the warm months, since they are bigger than what I tend to use in winter. I've been collecting up little lightweight lipless, regardless of quality . If it's little, and weighs 1/8oz or less, I'll try it.
I was at Cabela's/BPS yesterday in fact, while my wife perused Ikea. I was asked by sales-folks if I was finding everything OK. I replied, "I'm finding more than I possibly have time to use." To another shopper, both of us looking at some nifty swimbaits, I said, "They sure get the mind going, don't they!" ???? "A-Yup!!" 
So, Phil. Go fishing, then tell me the story. So's I can sit here and edit and not feel like I'm missing so much.
On 1/23/2019 at 1:58 AM, reason said:I like to have a mostly vertical presentation, but yoyoing it back near the bottom on a cast can work. Don't forget, cold water bass will often be bunched together, and can be seen on the FF so there shouldn't be much if any searching with the bait. Also I have a self imposed 6 shakes with lipless and blade baits, often more is a turn off for them. When the water gets really cold, I'll favor the blade over the lipless.
^^^
If you are in a boat, vertical is the way to go. But those on shore, are stuck with going horizontal; Hence the yo-yoing, with dead pauses. My main "Winter Laboratories" have mainly pretty clean bottoms. But I've been adding double and single hooks this year -as Crestliner mentions above- to try out for my more cover strewn waters. I think Brian (Team9nine) is using trebles, but his baits are tiny, so they aren't as likely to stick.
Catt reply :
On 1/23/2019 at 1:43 AM, Paul Roberts said:How cold? How fast? We run the gamut on this site, from the far N to the far S, from shad to bluegills, to perch. Curious, as always.
On 1/23/2019 at 1:15 AM, Catt said:
Couldn't tell ya it doesn't get that cold down here!
Low to mid 40s, occasionally upper 30s.
Retrieves are burning it under the surface, ripping it through grass, ricocheting em off stumps, & weaving em through brush.
Pretty much like a spinnerbait ????
Team9nine reply :
On 1/23/2019 at 12:42 AM, FCPhil said:
When you guys talk about lipless working well in cold water, does that go for really cold water, like the pond is partially frozen cold?
I have been been trying to figure out how to catch them at a small pond that freezes and thaws throughout the winter while other ponds stay frozen the whole time. Been thinking about trying a lipless.
How would you retrieve them?
As Paul alluded to, I've had good success with small blade baits (arguably a type of lipless) in winter conditions, even on partially frozen waters. They are certainly worth a try. I retrieve one of two ways. Either slow hops in deep water (relatively speaking), or slow and steady up shallow. You'll have to try both.
As for hooks, the bait I throw comes stock with size 14s...basically bluegill hooks. I've played with upsizing one or the other, and both with no conclusive results. I'm leaning toward the front hook being more important than the back, and my next experiment will be a single upsized treble with no rear hook attached. Should have my answer after that.
Mobasser reply :
In past years for the coldest water, I had good luck on a Mann's Little George. They do hang up easily, and fish seem to throw them easily too. I've used Silver Buddy, and BPS blade baits with limited success . Catt posted about the Rinky Dink, which is a line through tailspinner. I'd like to try this, as it would be much harder for fish to gain leverage and throw the lure.A 2" or 3" plastic grub can be good too, reeled very slowly or fished as a lift drop retrieve
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