Winter lure size? 2024

Taylor Fishin 4 life reply :

So I was reading a few articles and a lot of them say Go big when it comes to lures in the winter and the theory for this is that the bass want to feed on something worth the calories burned to get it.

Other articles were saying go finesse because their metabolism decreases and the need for food is way less

I wanted to hear yalls thoughts and ideas on this.

Taylor Fishin 4 life reply :

Other articles were saying go finesse because their metabolism decreases and the need for food is way less

I wanted to hear yalls thoughts and ideas on this.

Taylor Fishin 4 life reply :

Other articles were saying go finesse because their metabolism decreases and the need for food is way less

I wanted to hear yalls thoughts and ideas on this.

SeanW reply :

There is no golden rules in fishing. Generally speaking smaller will get bit more often then not. However there are winter days when the bigger bulkier baits really shine. Ya just have to try both and always keep that big bulky jig on hand. I usually down size my swimbaits until January.

SeanW reply :

Shane J reply :

For me, it seems smaller is better when the water is 45 degrees or under. That being said, this winter I plan on trying bigger profile jigs for bigger fish, and see how that goes.

Shane J reply :

For me, it seems smaller is better when the water is 45 degrees or under. That being said, this winter I plan on trying bigger profile jigs for bigger fish, and see how that goes.

Shane J reply :

For me, it seems smaller is better when the water is 45 degrees or under. That being said, this winter I plan on trying bigger profile jigs for bigger fish, and see how that goes.

WdyCrankbait reply :

I agree with the go big theory. I have recently caught bass (Thursday) that were in less then 3 feet of water. My point is, I was throwing a 1/2oz. 3-1/8" jerkbait, not something small. (I feel pretty safe in saying the water was about 50 degrees.) I think the bigger lure puts off more vibrations in the water to sturr their interest.

But, having said that, I am not a bass pro, KVD should not fear me, hahah!

WdyCrankbait reply :

But, having said that, I am not a bass pro, KVD should not fear me, hahah!

WdyCrankbait reply :

But, having said that, I am not a bass pro, KVD should not fear me, hahah!

DTack reply :

SeanW said it best, there is no golden rule in fishing.

How many times could we have possibly missed a bite because we were playing by the books? I say go for it fish hard fish for fish that you know are there and don't be afraid to experiment. I have gotten on some bites that I would never believe if someone else tried to tell me they did it haha, but hey you gotta go for it sometime.

DTack reply :

SeanW said it best, there is no golden rule in fishing.

DTack reply :

SeanW said it best, there is no golden rule in fishing.

Ima Bass Ninja reply :

Quote
There is no golden rules in fishing. Generally speaking smaller will get bit more often then not. However there are winter days when the bigger bulkier baits really shine. Ya just have to try both and always keep that big bulky jig on hand. I usually down size my swimbaits until January.

I agree with this..I will usually throw smaller lures to get some bites and then try something bigger for that "kicker" fish

Ima Bass Ninja reply :

Quote
There is no golden rules in fishing. Generally speaking smaller will get bit more often then not. However there are winter days when the bigger bulkier baits really shine. Ya just have to try both and always keep that big bulky jig on hand. I usually down size my swimbaits until January.

I agree with this..I will usually throw smaller lures to get some bites and then try something bigger for that "kicker" fish

Ima Bass Ninja reply :

Quote
There is no golden rules in fishing. Generally speaking smaller will get bit more often then not. However there are winter days when the bigger bulkier baits really shine. Ya just have to try both and always keep that big bulky jig on hand. I usually down size my swimbaits until January.

I agree with this..I will usually throw smaller lures to get some bites and then try something bigger for that "kicker" fish

BigEbass reply :

Yeah, there is no golden rule, BUT....

There is truth to the idea that bigger baits draw the fish up...

I was fishing with my neighbor saturday over 40 feet of water near an inlet of the lake - there were bass that had blown up on some shad way out there a few times - couldnt get them to take traditional offerings, got a strike on a small spook only when there was a blow up right closeby and got that bait right near and working to the blow up...got a strike, missed....could not for 20 minutes thereafter call up another bite....

Put on the lunker punker and 3-4 casts later working it very erratic - pulled up a 3.2 lb spot - he had 2/3 bait in his mouth! 10 min later, another GOOD spot hit right at the boat - missed him though as I had turned my head to look at the depth finder at the WRONG TIME.

Anyway...if you talk to the experienced big bait guys, they will tell you that big baits draw fish, but they do not always spell strikes, there is no "golden rule" for sure...but there will be certainly times when their drawing power will have its place I am sure.....

At the same time, I think a small spoon, float n fly, or a hair jig are just likely killer winter tactics as well....just get out there and let those bass tell ya....thats what I did saturday and was rewarded and I plan on keeping the big bait close by and continuing to learn when to key in on that bite....

My more skeptical neighbor was floored when those big spot blew up on that big hunk of wood on top

BigEbass reply :

Yeah, there is no golden rule, BUT....

There is truth to the idea that bigger baits draw the fish up...

My more skeptical neighbor was floored when those big spot blew up on that big hunk of wood on top

BigEbass reply :

Yeah, there is no golden rule, BUT....

There is truth to the idea that bigger baits draw the fish up...

My more skeptical neighbor was floored when those big spot blew up on that big hunk of wood on top

senile1 reply :

How you approach winter fishing is different depending on the region. The OP is in Georgia. I am in Northern Missouri. Winter fishing for me involves fishing in lakes with coves frozen over and water temperatures as low as 33 - 35 degrees. The warmer water at the bottom of the water column is about 39 degrees. In the dead of Winter the vast majority of the time I have to locate the fish and drop the bait in close proximity to the fish or I won't get a bite. There are days that are unseasonably warm where I may be able to do something different but generally this is the way it is. Lure size can vary. Sometimes large baits work but many times smaller baits are better. In the southern tier of states the water temperatures will be warmer and this should open up the playbook a little more, so to speak.

senile1 reply :

SeanW reply :

Quote
How you approach winter fishing is different depending on the region. The OP is in Georgia. I am in Northern Missouri. Winter fishing for me involves fishing in lakes with coves frozen over and water temperatures as low as 33 - 35 degrees. The warmer water at the bottom of the water column is about 39 degrees. In the dead of Winter the vast majority of the time I have to locate the fish and drop the bait in close proximity to the fish or I won't get a bite. There are days that are unseasonably warm where I may be able to do something different but generally this is the way it is. Lure size can vary. Sometimes large baits work but many times smaller baits are better. In the southern tier of states the water temperatures will be warmer and this should open up the playbook a little more, so to speak.

This is true to a point. However a bass is still a bass no matter where you live.. Here in California our water may get down to the mid 40's. Depending on the species(spots, LM, SM) has more to do with catching then anything other. Spots are much more aggressive and you can catch them a variety of ways. LM on the other hand are a different story, but they can still be caught. The colder water slows the metabolism, but they still need to eat, and an easy meal is usually what they will take in the winter.

Dead sticking bigger baits can be deadly at this time. There are always fish around or in grass. Dieing and decaying vegetation creates warmth and often a food source. Its a great place to fish a big jig and trailer combo.

Then again Ive caught plenty on steep rocky banks on a one ton jig fished fast in a lift drop manner.

That said I find that I usually have several rods rigged with smaller finesse stuff, and 2 rods with bigger offerings. My biggest winter fish have all come on swimbaits. Then again Ive caught fish over 8lbs on a 4.5in drop shot worm as well.

SeanW reply :

Quote
How you approach winter fishing is different depending on the region. The OP is in Georgia. I am in Northern Missouri. Winter fishing for me involves fishing in lakes with coves frozen over and water temperatures as low as 33 - 35 degrees. The warmer water at the bottom of the water column is about 39 degrees. In the dead of Winter the vast majority of the time I have to locate the fish and drop the bait in close proximity to the fish or I won't get a bite. There are days that are unseasonably warm where I may be able to do something different but generally this is the way it is. Lure size can vary. Sometimes large baits work but many times smaller baits are better. In the southern tier of states the water temperatures will be warmer and this should open up the playbook a little more, so to speak.

Then again Ive caught plenty on steep rocky banks on a one ton jig fished fast in a lift drop manner.

SeanW reply :

Quote
How you approach winter fishing is different depending on the region. The OP is in Georgia. I am in Northern Missouri. Winter fishing for me involves fishing in lakes with coves frozen over and water temperatures as low as 33 - 35 degrees. The warmer water at the bottom of the water column is about 39 degrees. In the dead of Winter the vast majority of the time I have to locate the fish and drop the bait in close proximity to the fish or I won't get a bite. There are days that are unseasonably warm where I may be able to do something different but generally this is the way it is. Lure size can vary. Sometimes large baits work but many times smaller baits are better. In the southern tier of states the water temperatures will be warmer and this should open up the playbook a little more, so to speak.

Then again Ive caught plenty on steep rocky banks on a one ton jig fished fast in a lift drop manner.

Catt reply :

Lure size in winter varies just like any other time of the year; it can change hour to hour.

Personally I prefer bigger lure sizes year round

Catt reply :

Lure size in winter varies just like any other time of the year; it can change hour to hour.

Personally I prefer bigger lure sizes year round

Catt reply :

Lure size in winter varies just like any other time of the year; it can change hour to hour.

Personally I prefer bigger lure sizes year round

farmpond1 reply :

Well, since winter here means mostly ice fishing, and since I've never caught a bass on any bait larger than a small swedish pimple, I have to go with small.

farmpond1 reply :

Well, since winter here means mostly ice fishing, and since I've never caught a bass on any bait larger than a small swedish pimple, I have to go with small.

farmpond1 reply :

Well, since winter here means mostly ice fishing, and since I've never caught a bass on any bait larger than a small swedish pimple, I have to go with small.

Raul reply :

Well, it depends greatly where you are from, northeners not only have to deal with very cold water but also even with ice and have to drill a hole in order just to drop a lure. For me it 's pretty simple, I fish with the lures I always fish, I may change speed or presentation buts as far as the lure size you never know for shure until you try, heck there are days during the warm months when I have to fish with itsy bitsy teeny tiny sized baits when they are supposed to be active and supposedly you do ( or should ) fish with bigger baits.

Raul reply :

NateFollmer reply :

I go big and slow. Not only big, but I like baits with a lot of arms and stuff hanging off that will move without much movement of the lure. Gotta let the bait soak to be successful though.

NateFollmer reply :

I go big and slow. Not only big, but I like baits with a lot of arms and stuff hanging off that will move without much movement of the lure. Gotta let the bait soak to be successful though.

NateFollmer reply :

I go big and slow. Not only big, but I like baits with a lot of arms and stuff hanging off that will move without much movement of the lure. Gotta let the bait soak to be successful though.

senile1 reply :

Quote

Quote
How you approach winter fishing is different depending on the region. The OP is in Georgia. I am in Northern Missouri. Winter fishing for me involves fishing in lakes with coves frozen over and water temperatures as low as 33 - 35 degrees. The warmer water at the bottom of the water column is about 39 degrees. In the dead of Winter the vast majority of the time I have to locate the fish and drop the bait in close proximity to the fish or I won't get a bite. There are days that are unseasonably warm where I may be able to do something different but generally this is the way it is. Lure size can vary. Sometimes large baits work but many times smaller baits are better. In the southern tier of states the water temperatures will be warmer and this should open up the playbook a little more, so to speak.

This is true to a point. However a bass is still a bass no matter where you live.. Here in California our water may get down to the mid 40's. Depending on the species(spots, LM, SM) has more to do with catching then anything other. Spots are much more aggressive and you can catch them a variety of ways. LM on the other hand are a different story, but they can still be caught. The colder water slows the metabolism, but they still need to eat, and an easy meal is usually what they will take in the winter.

Dead sticking bigger baits can be deadly at this time. There are always fish around or in grass. Dieing and decaying vegetation creates warmth and often a food source. Its a great place to fish a big jig and trailer combo.

Then again Ive caught plenty on steep rocky banks on a one ton jig fished fast in a lift drop manner.

That said I find that I usually have several rods rigged with smaller finesse stuff, and 2 rods with bigger offerings. My biggest winter fish have all come on swimbaits. Then again Ive caught fish over 8lbs on a 4.5in drop shot worm as well.

A bass is a bass no matter where you are and nothing I stated disagrees with that. Different regions have different temperatures. The same bass in 34 degree water is going to respond much more slower than if it were living in 45 degree water. Water temperature is controlled by region.

senile1 reply :

Quote

Quote
How you approach winter fishing is different depending on the region. The OP is in Georgia. I am in Northern Missouri. Winter fishing for me involves fishing in lakes with coves frozen over and water temperatures as low as 33 - 35 degrees. The warmer water at the bottom of the water column is about 39 degrees. In the dead of Winter the vast majority of the time I have to locate the fish and drop the bait in close proximity to the fish or I won't get a bite. There are days that are unseasonably warm where I may be able to do something different but generally this is the way it is. Lure size can vary. Sometimes large baits work but many times smaller baits are better. In the southern tier of states the water temperatures will be warmer and this should open up the playbook a little more, so to speak.

This is true to a point. However a bass is still a bass no matter where you live.. Here in California our water may get down to the mid 40's. Depending on the species(spots, LM, SM) has more to do with catching then anything other. Spots are much more aggressive and you can catch them a variety of ways. LM on the other hand are a different story, but they can still be caught. The colder water slows the metabolism, but they still need to eat, and an easy meal is usually what they will take in the winter.

Dead sticking bigger baits can be deadly at this time. There are always fish around or in grass. Dieing and decaying vegetation creates warmth and often a food source. Its a great place to fish a big jig and trailer combo.

Then again Ive caught plenty on steep rocky banks on a one ton jig fished fast in a lift drop manner.

That said I find that I usually have several rods rigged with smaller finesse stuff, and 2 rods with bigger offerings. My biggest winter fish have all come on swimbaits. Then again Ive caught fish over 8lbs on a 4.5in drop shot worm as well.

senile1 reply :

Quote

Quote
How you approach winter fishing is different depending on the region. The OP is in Georgia. I am in Northern Missouri. Winter fishing for me involves fishing in lakes with coves frozen over and water temperatures as low as 33 - 35 degrees. The warmer water at the bottom of the water column is about 39 degrees. In the dead of Winter the vast majority of the time I have to locate the fish and drop the bait in close proximity to the fish or I won't get a bite. There are days that are unseasonably warm where I may be able to do something different but generally this is the way it is. Lure size can vary. Sometimes large baits work but many times smaller baits are better. In the southern tier of states the water temperatures will be warmer and this should open up the playbook a little more, so to speak.

This is true to a point. However a bass is still a bass no matter where you live.. Here in California our water may get down to the mid 40's. Depending on the species(spots, LM, SM) has more to do with catching then anything other. Spots are much more aggressive and you can catch them a variety of ways. LM on the other hand are a different story, but they can still be caught. The colder water slows the metabolism, but they still need to eat, and an easy meal is usually what they will take in the winter.

Dead sticking bigger baits can be deadly at this time. There are always fish around or in grass. Dieing and decaying vegetation creates warmth and often a food source. Its a great place to fish a big jig and trailer combo.

Then again Ive caught plenty on steep rocky banks on a one ton jig fished fast in a lift drop manner.

That said I find that I usually have several rods rigged with smaller finesse stuff, and 2 rods with bigger offerings. My biggest winter fish have all come on swimbaits. Then again Ive caught fish over 8lbs on a 4.5in drop shot worm as well.

Bankbeater reply :

I tend to throw the same baits as I do in the warm weather, but I work them a lot slower.

Bankbeater reply :

I tend to throw the same baits as I do in the warm weather, but I work them a lot slower.

Bankbeater reply :

I tend to throw the same baits as I do in the warm weather, but I work them a lot slower.

Jigfishn10 reply :

Quote
I tend to throw the same baits as I do in the warm weather, but I work them a lot slower.

X2! I never bought into the "go smaller" theory. I'll mix it up between large and small until the fish tell me what they want. I do subscribe to the "go slower" theory.

Jigfishn10 reply :

Quote
I tend to throw the same baits as I do in the warm weather, but I work them a lot slower.

X2! I never bought into the "go smaller" theory. I'll mix it up between large and small until the fish tell me what they want. I do subscribe to the "go slower" theory.

Jigfishn10 reply :

Quote
I tend to throw the same baits as I do in the warm weather, but I work them a lot slower.

X2! I never bought into the "go smaller" theory. I'll mix it up between large and small until the fish tell me what they want. I do subscribe to the "go slower" theory.

Big Fish Rice reply :

Quote
I tend to throw the same baits as I do in the warm weather, but I work them a lot slower.

That's the key right there. Big or small, just remember that their metabolism dictates liveliness, so the slower the better during cold temperatures.

Big Fish Rice reply :

Quote
I tend to throw the same baits as I do in the warm weather, but I work them a lot slower.

That's the key right there. Big or small, just remember that their metabolism dictates liveliness, so the slower the better during cold temperatures.

Big Fish Rice reply :

Quote
I tend to throw the same baits as I do in the warm weather, but I work them a lot slower.

That's the key right there. Big or small, just remember that their metabolism dictates liveliness, so the slower the better during cold temperatures.

Nick reply :

Lots of variables here to decide what size baits to throw for me. Often winter water is clearer in my parts since most of the algae has disappeared turning the waters much clearer. When fishing streams with thrice the visibility as they have in summer, we tend to do better on much smaller lures unless we get a good rain to dirty up the streams. I'll downsize to a jig that looks more like a crappie bait.

In larger lakes such as Lake of the Ozarks which cools much more slowly, the preferred prey for really big bass is often large gizzard shad from 6-10 inches long. Those shad tend to come shallow and dote around and feed around the larger chunk rocks esp. with a little wind present. Here a large spinnerbait rolled around the large chunk rock can really produce often in water temps down to 44 degrees. Below that temp the bigger bass tend to follow the shad away from the banks so the jerkbait bite really heats up. With dirtier water, bites do come close to the banks, but with clearer waters often the angler is better paralleling the banks over 10-20 feet of water. Size of the jerkbaits is dictated more by angler choice and casting performance so most guys go with a decent sized 1/2 oz. model for longer casts. In summary, each fishery can fish differently so the angler must adapt accordingly.

Nick reply :

gobig reply :

Quote
I was fishing with my neighbor saturday over 40 feet of water near an inlet of the lake - there were bass that had blown up on some shad way out there a few times - couldnt get them to take traditional offerings, got a strike on a small spook only when there was a blow up right closeby and got that bait right near and working to the blow up...got a strike, missed....could not for 20 minutes thereafter call up another bite....
Put on the lunker punker and 3-4 casts later working it very erratic - pulled up a 3.2 lb spot - he had 2/3 bait in his mouth! 10 min later, another GOOD spot hit right at the boat - missed him though as I had turned my head to look at the depth finder at the WRONG TIME.

Strikes on a big top water in Dec? You must live in California.

gobig reply :

Quote
I was fishing with my neighbor saturday over 40 feet of water near an inlet of the lake - there were bass that had blown up on some shad way out there a few times - couldnt get them to take traditional offerings, got a strike on a small spook only when there was a blow up right closeby and got that bait right near and working to the blow up...got a strike, missed....could not for 20 minutes thereafter call up another bite....
Put on the lunker punker and 3-4 casts later working it very erratic - pulled up a 3.2 lb spot - he had 2/3 bait in his mouth! 10 min later, another GOOD spot hit right at the boat - missed him though as I had turned my head to look at the depth finder at the WRONG TIME.

Strikes on a big top water in Dec? You must live in California.

gobig reply :

Quote
I was fishing with my neighbor saturday over 40 feet of water near an inlet of the lake - there were bass that had blown up on some shad way out there a few times - couldnt get them to take traditional offerings, got a strike on a small spook only when there was a blow up right closeby and got that bait right near and working to the blow up...got a strike, missed....could not for 20 minutes thereafter call up another bite....
Put on the lunker punker and 3-4 casts later working it very erratic - pulled up a 3.2 lb spot - he had 2/3 bait in his mouth! 10 min later, another GOOD spot hit right at the boat - missed him though as I had turned my head to look at the depth finder at the WRONG TIME.

Strikes on a big top water in Dec? You must live in California.

WRB reply :

Lure size, how do you judge a lure size without knowing what the bass are feeding on?

Generally speaking any lure less than 5" is considered average size and most bass lures outside of soft plastic worms and swimbaits fall into that category.

We consider a 6" swimbait as a small lure, 8" average and 12" or over big swimbaits.

If the bass are feeding on small bait fish, than go small, large bait fish go big, average size go with your standard you use during any other season.

3" to 4" crawdads make up 90% of bass diet when they are eating crawdads. 3" to 5" bait fish make up a large % of bass prey, unless the big bass are targeting 6" to 12" large size bait.

Keep in mind a bass can't judge size until it gets very close or tries to eat the lure.

WRB

WRB reply :

Lure size, how do you judge a lure size without knowing what the bass are feeding on?

Generally speaking any lure less than 5" is considered average size and most bass lures outside of soft plastic worms and swimbaits fall into that category.

We consider a 6" swimbait as a small lure, 8" average and 12" or over big swimbaits.

If the bass are feeding on small bait fish, than go small, large bait fish go big, average size go with your standard you use during any other season.

3" to 4" crawdads make up 90% of bass diet when they are eating crawdads. 3" to 5" bait fish make up a large % of bass prey, unless the big bass are targeting 6" to 12" large size bait.

Keep in mind a bass can't judge size until it gets very close or tries to eat the lure.

WRB

WRB reply :

Lure size, how do you judge a lure size without knowing what the bass are feeding on?

Generally speaking any lure less than 5" is considered average size and most bass lures outside of soft plastic worms and swimbaits fall into that category.

We consider a 6" swimbait as a small lure, 8" average and 12" or over big swimbaits.

If the bass are feeding on small bait fish, than go small, large bait fish go big, average size go with your standard you use during any other season.

3" to 4" crawdads make up 90% of bass diet when they are eating crawdads. 3" to 5" bait fish make up a large % of bass prey, unless the big bass are targeting 6" to 12" large size bait.

Keep in mind a bass can't judge size until it gets very close or tries to eat the lure.

WRB

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