Going BIG for winter bass

[Gangly]

This winter I am going to try something new. I've tried going the route of "smaller is better" during the winter, and had some success, but this winter I am going to try out the "larger is best" theory.

I plan on using a mophippy style jig with a larger trailer, something along the lines of a Space Monkey, but I worry about the trailer having too much action in the colder water. What are some of the larger trailers that you prefer to use during the wintertime?

Also, what type of presentation do you normally use with the larger jig and trailer during the wintertime? I generally do a drag and hop, or straight drag, but what do you experianced jig men use during the winter? Drag and hop, drag, hop and sit, drag and sit, etc? I know "let the fish tell you", but until the fish tell you, what presenations do you generally start with.

I spent a lot of time this past year learning the jig, and have become pretty confident with it, but I just wanted to try something new, just to see if I can make a "good go of it". Even though many people say you cant fish big jigs with big trailers in winter, I plan on finding out for sure.

[Chuck7]

The winter bass bite is so slow...that I will do one of 2 things

A. Float sideways with 2 rods..using a 6-7 inch worm Texas or Carolina..I do have not fished the jig in the winter..I fish my most confident bait I have..

B. Have a worm rod over my leg { To detect a bite} and fish a Rooster Tail all day long..

I rarely fish for bass in the winter..there is prime deer hunting to be done...any fishing will be for Crappie..

Dec,. is the time to load the freezer with deer, hog and crappie

[Gangly]

I went last night from 5:15-5:45 (Dark) and did pretty good on a PB&J colored football jig with a Berkley Chigger Craw trailer. The largest was a hair over 2 lbs, but the bite was good again. It was 35 degrees outside when I left the house this morning and ice was covering everything which is highly unusual for Houston this part of the year........if that doesn't give the bass down here lockjaw, I don't know what would.

Looks like I might have to start looking for some deer Chuck

[Chuck7]

Certainly confidence plays a huge factor..last year my Rooster Tail did not do good at all...but the 3-400 bass boated the years before cause me to continue to use it...It's been my experience that the bass school up during the winter months..Many times I'd been striking out when I 'll try one more place..and usually that place has more than one eager bass to take the lure..

Notes from a few cold trips....Keven and I fished and got nothing..I had remember a friend of mine's dad was in the lead on a 3 day Toho classic..{ Secret lure was Little George } fishing it vertically...I tried casting the lure into an old hot spot..BAM!! 4 pounder..next cast 2 1/2 pounder..


Many times...wind is cold and breezy..I'll cast out 2 rubber worms to fish a certain old hot spot..simply drifting over and over..I generally catch 2 - 3 bass like that.


The Rooster Tail is good here because ,another cold biting fish for Fl is the Sunshine bass; very tasty. They love crappie jigs and rooster tails..Rooster Tails IMHO are very effective just before the spawn , during feeding frenzies, and when I fish new lakes. It does take an art to fish them..you must become the lure..that poor helpless shad lost and flickering helplessly about a foot off the bottom..

IF the structure allows it...It will always have a place in one of my top 6 rods that I take bass fishing...no doubt the jig would also be a good lure worth trying,..and would be also part of my top 6 as well as a decent attractive weedless spinner bait. 2 would be a Texas Rig and Pegged Rig rubber worm..6 inch...the 6th and another lure that has kept me from striking out on Dec. days..a Chrome deep diving { 8-10 '}black backed Norman crankbait.